Obama Quits Trinity United Church of Christ
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James Joyner | Saturday, May 31, 2008 |
CNN has issued a Breaking News alert: “Barack Obama has resigned as a member of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, his campaign says.”
The story itself is on their Political Ticker blog:
Barack Obama resigned Saturday from his Chicago church — where controversial sermons by his former pastor and other ministers had created repeated political headaches for the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination — his campaign confirmed.
The resignation comes days after the Rev. Michael Pfleger, a visiting Catholic priest, mocked Obama’s Democratic rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton, for crying in New Hampshire during the runup to the primary there.
Previously, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright — former pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ and Obama’s minister for about 20 years — drew unwanted attention for the campaign when videos of several of his fiery sermons surfaced. In them, Wright suggested the U.S. government may be responsible for the spread of AIDS in the black community and equated some American wartime activities to terrorism.
Obama has said he was not present for the controversial sermons by Wright or Pfleger and had condemned both — most recently saying he was “deeply disappointed” by Pfleger’s “divisive, backward-looking rhetoric.”
This was inevitable, of course. Indeed, I was under the vague impression that Obama had resigned weeks ago after his most vigorous denunciation of Wright.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.
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Why do liberals go to church any how?
So, after 20 years, and after he has sought the presidency, he decides that his church is a liability. How's that for being a chameleon?
How's that for being a chameleon?
Welcome to politics manning! Pull up a seat and join us!
"....but I'll hide my collection of my favorite Rev Wright sermons until after November Michelle,..."
Could this be indicative of how deep his faith was to begin with? For some reason it always seemed this was all part of his political being, not his true self.
Thanks, Firewolf for the invitation. Been at it far longer than you have, I will wager. Branding is an ancient political tactic, and Mr. Obama needs a negative one very badly indeed. "Chameleon" may suit well enough. Anything to help defeat him in November!
"Chameleon." Great. Wouldn't want to leave *color* out of this, would you?
Why do liberals go to church any how?
Same reason conservatives do, they believe in fairy tales.
Dude why, their ain't no fairies in the bible.
lol you sound like my teachers when I was in public school.
Dude why, their ain't no fairies in the bible.
Are you sure about that? I thought they were the reason He took out Sodom and Gomorrah.
"Dude why, their ain't no fairies in the bible."
but there are giants, dragons, and magic users, still doesn't make it any more real.
but there are giants, dragons, and magic users, still doesn't make it any more real.
Are you trying to tell me that there ain't any giant, dragon, or magic user skeletons that we dug up laying around here some place.
Are you sure about that? I thought they were the reason He took out Sodom and Gomorrah.
yes I'm sure.
I am a conservative who supports everybody's right to practice their religion, but if it comes down to a choice between Jesus casting out demons or taking a course of antibiotics, I'm going with the medicine.
