what controversial remarks he heard from Rev. Wright while he was present in the Church? By listening to his March 18th speech, I inferred that he backed away from his original contention from March 14th. The statements as quoted below seem contradictory. However, it is remotely possible that he never heard the comments in the tape in the 20 years of Church visits, before he decided to run for President but has heard other controversial comments. This seems stretching reality. But then I'm willing to give the Senator the benefit of the doubt. Now it is upto the Senator himself to clarify what controversial statements that he talked about that Rev Wright spoke in his presence. I'll let Senator Obama's own comments speak for themselves. Others might have already caught this contradiction and shown it.

NPR March 14, 2008
http://www.npr.org/blogs/news/2008/03/ob ama_condemns_comments_made_b.html

"The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity or heard him utter in private conversation. When these statements first came to my attention, it was at the beginning of my presidential campaign. I made it clear at the time that I strongly condemned his comments."

CNN interview with Anderson Cooper, March 14, 2008
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0 803/14/acd.01.html

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: "Well, first of all, Anderson, you know, I strongly condemn the statements that have been shown on the tape.

I have to confess that those are not statements that I ever heard when I was sitting in the pews at this church. This is a church that I have been a member of for 20 years. This is a well-established, typical, historically African-American church in the South Side of Chicago, with a wonderful set of ministries."

Mayer Ed Koch has an excelent analysis of what is wrong with Barack Obama.

First he sums up what we is known about Reverend Wright:

"Many of Rev. Wright's incendiary statements are on videos sold by his church. Minister Louis Farrakhan, a friend of Rev. Wright with whom he traveled to visit Muammar Khadaffi in Libya, also makes his sermons and those of others associated with the Nation of Islam available for sale. Their attacks on the U.S. and Israel often coincide with those of Rev. Wright.

Rev. Wright's sermons charge that the U.S. government gives African-Americans drugs, created AIDS and is deliberately infecting blacks with that disease. His sermons claim that the U.S. unjustifiably nuclear bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II, and that 9/11 and the deaths of 3,000 Americans were caused by U.S. foreign policy. He alleges Israeli state terrorism against the Palestinians; calling Israel a "dirty word" and "racist country." He blames Israel for 9/11 and supports the divestment campaign against it, denouncing "Zionism." His venomous thoughts are summed up in his most discussed sermon in which he says the U.S. government "wants us to sing God Bless America. No, no, not God Bless America. God damn America. God damn America for killing innocent people."

I have been appalled at the responses from supposed Democrats and Hillary supporters in regards to the Rev. Wright situation. As an African-American I have been deeply offended by the comments and even more offended by the lack of outrage from supposed Democrats for so many other REAL issues that face African-Americans and others every day.

I ask you:

The news media and several dairies here have picked up on the controversial remarks that Rev. Wright made about 9/11, USA, race relations and the plausible conclusion that Obama's campaign was making appeals based on race identities. I share some of these concerns, but I  am most troubled  by the fact that he appears to be using the church to further his political views. That reminds me very much of Jerry Falwell kind of crowd and in fact his sermons look exactly like one of those televangelists taking advantage of vulnerable people. The last thing I want to see is whacky religious kinds controlling the Dem party.

This is my first diary entry so go easy on me.

I know that many are upset and confused by what Rev. Wright has said and probably blame Obama but you shouldn't.  Don't call him a phony or say that he "should have known."  Why? I attend a predominantly Black church and the sermons like those of Rev. Wright do come up but not as often as the media would like to portray.  If you notice, his speeches are usually around some event--9/11, Katrina, Christmas. I personally have missed a number of my Pastor's controversial speeches and have only heard about them months later.

These speeches do happen in black churches because unfortunately there are two America's --a black one and a white one. African-Americans view America in a completely different way than whites do and that is the truth. I'm sure that my Pastor has gotten caught up in the moment at times like Rev. Wright and I'm glad that I wasn't there to witness it but it doesn't mean that I should be ashamed that I am a member of XYZ church. Why should Obama? I am sure that Rev Wright has done a lot of good for the community and he may at times go "off" but why should people not vote for Obama because of his Pastor? He rejected and denounced the man immediately so what more is there to do?  

I honestly believe that white liberals are uncomfortable with Rev. Wright because many are unfamiliar to Black America. It's okay to be uncomfortable and I think this would now be a good time to address many of the issues that Rev. Wright and other black Pastor's bring up in their sermons.

All thoughts are welcomed.