President Barack Obama’s controversial former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, has backed off his published statements that blamed “them Jews” for keeping him from speaking to the president.
President Barack Obama’s controversial former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, has backed off his published statements that blamed “them Jews” for keeping him from speaking to the president. Wright, the former pastor of Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ, said he “misspoke” and apologized for the way he “framed” his statements. “Them Jews ain’t going to let him talk to me. I told my baby daughter that he’ll talk to me in five years when he’s a lame duck, or in eight years when he’s out of office,” Wright told the Daily Press of Newport News. “They will not let him to talk to somebody who calls a spade what it is. … I said from the beginning: He’s a politician; I’m a pastor. He’s got to do what politicians do.” This morning, Rev. Wright issued a statement apologizing for the remarks. “I am extremely disturbed and deeply saddened that once again my comments have resurfaced this divisive debate about my relationship between myself and president Barack Obama, whom I love as my son and support and honor as the president of the United States of America,” Wright said in the statement. “I apologize for the way I framed my comments. I misspoke, and I sincerely meant no harm or ill-will to the American Jewish community or the Obama administration,” said Wright, referring to the Daily Press article. “I have great respect for the Jewish faith and the foundational (and central) part of our Judeo Christian tradition.” Wright said he hasn’t spoken to Obama since he became president. Obama was a longtime member of the church but resigned from it and cut ties with Wright after videos surfaced during the presidential campaign showing Wright’s sometimes provocative sermons. Wright’s incendiary comment included shouting “God damn America” and accusing the government of creating AIDS.
Associated Press contributed to this report. ______ In photo: FILE – In a Wednesday, March 5, 2009 file photo, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright leaves the Selma Performing Arts Center, in Selma, Ala. Wright, the former pastor of Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ, and former pastor to President Barack Obama, said he hasn’t spoken to President Obama since he became president. (AP Photo/Jamie Martin, File) Copyright 2009 Chicago Defender. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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