Obama Condemns Pastor’s Remarks In Speech Meant To Repair Damage To His Campaign
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Barack Obama has condemned divisive comments from his longtime pastor in a major speech meant to repair damage to his presidential campaign. But he says, “I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community.”
Obama said the sermons delivered by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright now circulating on the Internet and television “rightly offend white and black alike.”
Those sermons from years ago suggest the United States brought the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on themselves and say blacks continue to be mistreated by whites.
While Obama rejected what Wright said, he also embraced the man who inspired his Christian faith, officiated at his wedding, baptized his daughters and has been his spiritual guide for nearly 20 years.
