Rev. Wright Rattles Critics at NAACP Dinner While CNN Swoons
Fox News
by Mosheh Oinounou and Bonney Kapp
Rev. Wright Defends Sermons
The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the embattled pastor of presidential candidate Barack Obama, called his sermons ‘descriptive’ rather than ‘divisive’ during his keynote address at the NAACP freedom fund dinner in Detroit.
“I’m not here for political reasons,” Wright said. “I’m not a politician. I know that fact will surprise many of you because many in the corporate-owned media made it seem like I am running for the Oval Office. I am not running for the Oval Office. I’ve been running for Jesus a long, long time, and I’m not tired yet.”
Wright also was the subject of political dispute on the campaign trail, as Republican John McCain criticized some of Wrights earlier remarks that have recently surfaced, and Obama taking a swipe at McCain.
McCain has been fighting the North Carolina GOP over an ad set to air Monday that links Obama and Wright, saying the ad is unfair. But on Sunday, McCain made the most confident steps so far on the subject, criticizing Wright over comments he made comparing Marines to Roman soldiers who killed Jesus, and comparing Al Qaeda flags to the American flag.
Of the Roman comparison, McCain said, “It’s beyond belief. And then of course saying that Al Qaeda and the American flag were the same flags. So I can understand, I can understand why people are upset about this. I can understand why Americans, when viewing these kinds of comments, are angry and upset.”
Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugnan said McCain had “broken his word to the American people” in his criticism of Wright, according to a statement from the campaign.
“By sinking to a level that he specifically said he’d avoid, John McCain has broken his word to the American people and rendered hollow his promise of a respectful campaign. With each passing day, John McCain acts more and more like someone who’s spent twenty-six years learning the divisive, distracting tactics of Washington. That’s not the change that the American people are looking for,” Sevugnan said.
“I am sorry your local political analysts and your neighboring county executives think my being here is polarizing and my sermons are divisive, but I’m not here to address an analyst’s opinion,” he said. “I am here to address your 2008 theme … (of) change is going to come.”
