Obama's Pastor: God Damn America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11

abcnews ^ | 3/13/08 | BRIAN ROSS and REHAB EL-BURI

[MittFan08]

Obama's Pastor: God Damn America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11

Obama's Pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Has a History of What Even Obama's Campaign Aides Say Is 'Inflammatory Rhetoric'

By BRIAN ROSS and REHAB EL-BURI

March 13, 2008—

Sen. Barack Obama's pastor says blacks should not sing "God Bless America" but "God damn America."

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama's pastor for the last 20 years at the Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago's south side, has a long history of what even Obama's campaign aides concede is "inflammatory rhetoric," including the assertion that the United States brought on the 9/11 attacks with its own "terrorism."

In a campaign appearance earlier this month, Sen. Obama said, "I don't think my church is actually particularly controversial." He said Rev. Wright "is like an old uncle who says things I don't always agree with," telling a Jewish group that everyone has someone like that in their family.

Rev. Wright married Obama and his wife Michelle, baptized their two daughters and is credited by Obama for the title of his book, "The Audacity of Hope."

An ABC News review of dozens of Rev. Wright's sermons, offered for sale by the church, found repeated denunciations of the U.S. based on what he described as his reading of the Gospels and the treatment of black Americans.

"The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing 'God Bless America.' No, no, no, God damn America, that's in the Bible for killing innocent people," he said in a 2003 sermon. "God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme."

In addition to damning America, he told his congregation on the Sunday after Sept. 11, 2001 that the United States had brought on al Qaeda's attacks because of its own terrorism.

"We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye," Rev. Wright said in a sermon on Sept. 16, 2001.

"We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost," he told his congregation.

Sen. Obama told the New York Times he was not at the church on the day of Rev. Wright's 9/11 sermon. "The violence of 9/11 was inexcusable and without justification," Obama said in a recent interview. "It sounds like he was trying to be provocative," Obama told the paper.

Rev. Wright, who announced his retirement last month, has built a large and loyal following at his church with his mesmerizing sermons, mixing traditional spiritual content and his views on contemporary issues.

"I wouldn't call it radical. I call it being black in America," said one congregation member outside the church last Sunday.

"He has impacted the life of Barack Obama so much so that he wants to portray that feeling he got from Rev. Wright onto the country because we all need something positive," said another member of the congregation.

Rev. Wright, who declined to be interviewed by ABC News, is considered one of the country's 10 most influential black pastors, according to members of the Obama campaign.

Obama has praised at least one aspect of Rev. Wright's approach, referring to his "social gospel" and his focus on Africa, "and I agree with him on that."

Sen. Obama declined to comment on Rev. Wright's denunciations of the United States, but a campaign religious adviser, Shaun Casey, appearing on "Good Morning America" Thursday, said Obama "had repudiated" those comments.

In a statement to ABCNews.com, Obama's press spokesman Bill Burton said, "Sen. Obama has said repeatedly that personal attacks such as this have no place in this campaign or our politics, whether they're offered from a platform at a rally or the pulpit of a church. Sen. Obama does not think of the pastor of his church in political terms. Like a member of his family, there are things he says with which Sen. Obama deeply disagrees. But now that he is retired, that doesn't detract from Sen. Obama's affection for Rev. Wright or his appreciation for the good works he has done."

Click Here for the Investigative Homepage.

[DM1]

he would love Zimbwabwe lots of white rights taken away by Mugabe
Wright should run for Mugabe’s position once he retires

[Oliver Optic]

This is devastating stuff ... used rightly, it could keep Obama from being elected dog catcher. If the GOP gives him a pass on it, they will deserve to lose.

Maybe Hillary will do the dirty work for us.

[maine-iac7]

I do believe that Revelation 17 and 18 may be talking about the US.

INteresting.

KJV: "5And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

6And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

"Blood of the saints"? "blood of the martyrs of Jesus"?

If you truly believe that America is the Mother of Harlots, the Great Whore, might I suggest you - get the he*l out.

[PLD]

I saw Obama on FOX a little while ago and he said this man is no longer my pastor..well Obama you and your wife went to his church for 20 or more years and and listened to every word this racist little pig preached, now since you are running for president he is no longer your pastor you said but I did not hear why he is no longer your pastor,Could it be people are finding out how racist you and your group are so you had the little pig fired..Lets see when he quit being your pastor Barack..Hmmmm Feb 10th 2008 is when he retired..and all that time the Obama’s went to his church..

Reverend Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. (born September 22, 1941) is a Biblical scholar, pastor, and community activist. He was the Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ (TUCC), an African-American megachurch in Chicago until he retired on Sunday, February 10th, 2008 after 36 years of service as the Senior Pastor of that congregation..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah_Wright

[Maceman]

Anyone who would voluntarily sit through such tirades is not even fit to vote, let alone be President.

[Max7]

Yes, the future HAS been predicted, although there is not a definitive agreement upon the details and how they influence the West. However, the Scriptures tell us that we are to work for peace and “occupy until He comes.” We’re not instructed to blow it all off thinking that the Scriptures will be fullfilled (as far as the end times are concerned) immediately, but we are told to be aware of the signs of His coming and be Ready. No, sorry, we really shouldn’t “party” hearty. We should be ready to greet the King.

[RDTF]

This video was aired this morning on GMA.

Be prepared to be shocked and furious

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4443230

[maine-iac7]

I saw Obama on FOX a little while ago and he said this man is no longer my pastor

Double Speak!

He is no longer his pastor because he RETIRED!

WE have to give a heads up on this to RUSH, Hannity, et all.

This is NOT a repudiation of what the man said or what the church believes or what Obama believes.

Obama is speaking with a forked tongue =

Repudiate what the man said, Obama.

Repudiate what the church espouses, Obama.

Pledge allegiance to America, Obama, not "The Mother Country, Africa."

Salute the flag of the country you want to be president of, Obama.

(SOMEone, ask him THESE questions.)

[Miss Didi]

Thanks...I heard some clips on Fox and was screaming.

[steve8714]

Prophets of God were always sent as a reproach to the powerful, not as crystal-ball gazers. To ascribe such to them is unfortunate at best.

[RDTF]

And he was for 20 years! Obama has said this over and over to combat the muslim accusation. This man is dangerous.

[geezerwheezer]

They should put this a$$clown on a bus to Mexico or Venezuala.

[tflabo]

If there truly is a ‘Rapture’ of the true believers of God then the USA will be left with liberal perversions of every sort to run wild and free....just like when God removed Lot from Sodom and Gomorah before He lowered the boom on that cesspool. Great empires have fallen to due corruption...don’t think it cannot happen eventually to the USA.

[CedarDave]

This video was aired this morning on GMA. Be prepared to be shocked and furious

WOW!! I'm always suspicious of the MSM and their motives. However, this is just explosive and it will be hard to dismiss the cumulative impact of this radical preacher's rants over the 20-year period when Obama was a member of his church.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

I don’t see anybody keeping his ungrateful, sorry ass here.

[RobRoy]

>>”Blood of the saints”? “blood of the martyrs of Jesus”?<<

Abortion is a starter. But more importantly, Babylon is really more of a symbol. And we don’t always know what kinds of deals our country has made with other countries, like the fact that many countries get their power trading with us (like China) and in spite of bad stuff going on there (again, like China - or Iran or many others) we continue to trade with them and sometimes even give “most favored nation” status. It makes up complicent in and of their activity of which we are aware.

>>If you truly believe that America is the Mother of Harlots, the Great Whore, might I suggest you - get the he*l out.<<

Why do you think I specifically mentioned Revelation 18: 4,5?
“Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, so you will not take part in her sins and so you will not receive her plagues, because her sins have piled up all the way to heaven and God has remembered her crimes.”

With great power comes the ability to do both great good and great evil - and both carry consequences and responsibilities.

This nation is the most powerful nation EVER to exist on the face of the earth. It has done some great things. It also has blood on it’s hands. When one removes patriotism from their perspective and tries to view this nation and culture as it currently exists - from an historical and biblical perspective - there are, for lack of a better word, warts.

[Girlene]

From ABC News In a campaign appearance earlier this month, Sen. Obama said, "I don't think my church is actually particularly controversial." He said Rev. Wright "is like an old uncle who says things I don't always agree with," telling a Jewish group that everyone has someone like that in their family.

Yeah, he's like the crazy old uncle that everyone ignores except that....Rev. Wright married Obama and his wife Michelle, baptized their two daughters and is credited by Obama for the title of his book, "The Audacity of Hope."

...."We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye," Rev. Wright said in a sermon on Sept. 16, 2001.

"We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost," he told his congregation.....

Ruh-roh. Looks like Barack's, Michelle's, and the "Reverand" Wright's chickens are coming home to roost....wrotten eggs and all.

[Miss Didi]

WE have to give a heads up on this to RUSH, Hannity, et all.

Hannity has been talking about this for weeks now. And McCain will be on Hannity & Colmes tonight for the full hour...bet Sean will ask about this. Let's hope McCain is prepared.

[tflabo]

"How dare we accuse the Right Rev. Jeremiah Wright... the spiritual mentor to the sanctified One.... this is racist and hate-mongering speech against the Rev. How dare Hellary's supporters foist divisive politics on us all by questioning the Rev's patriotism. Shameful...."

I love writing commentaries for Keith Olbersham and PMS-NBC.

[Centurion2000]

just get a clip of him doing it and superimpose it next to obama on youtube.