WEST CHESTER, Pa. - Barack Obama said on Wednesday it was “fair game” for his rival 
Hillary Clinton to bring up the controversy over comments from Obama’s pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
Some of Obama’s supporters have suggested the Clinton campaign has been playing the race card against Obama, who would be the first black U.S. president and is battling Clinton to become the Democratic nominee.
Those critics said Clinton’s recent comment that Wright would not be her pastor were an attempt to stoke the controversy in order to stir misgivings about the Illinois senator among white voters in states like Pennsylvania.
Obama has been hurt by video clips showing Wright using phrases like “God Damn America” as he railed against the country’s history of racism.
But the Illinois senator said he did not think Clinton, who would be the first woman U.S. president, was playing the race card by discussing Wright.
“I think that’s fair game, in the sense that what my former pastor said was offensive,” Obama said in an interview with MSNBC’s Hardball program during a campaign swing in Pennsylvania.
“And I think that, in politics, whether I was white, black, Hispanic, Asian — somebody would be trying to use it against me,” Obama said, adding that he fully expected Republicans to bring up the issue in the general election should he become the Democratic nominee.
Obama has rebuked Wright for what he said were incendiary comments in the videos but also said he could not disown him. He has said that while he has heard his pastor make controversial remarks he was not present for many of the comments in the videos that are garnering attention.
The Illinois senator said in the Hardball interview that there needs to be some “perspective” on the pastor issue because the country should be focusing most of its attention on bigger issues like the Iraq war.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage
Photo credit: Tim Shaffer - Sen. Barack Obama speaks during an appearance at the 38th constitutional convention of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 2, 2008.
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18 comments so far
Of course. This is in preparation for the Obama campaign strategy to soon bring up all of Hillary’s past associations and dirty-handed “clean up” role in her husband’s scandles. Look for this in the the later primaries - and it will utterly kill Clinton’s chances, utterly.
- Posted by BookwertThe two camps have to be careful not to be so remarkably lame at point-counterpoint that voters decide neither of them have enough class and smarts to become president. The Obama campaign I think has been conducted better than the Clinton campaign, and still Obama will likely not go into the Dem national convention with enough delegates to win outright. And conservatives from the git-go consider Obama to be no better than Ron Paul with regard to his congressional scorecard, which is, basically, zero.
- Posted by CrenelleLet’s just face the facts: Obama joined a Chicago church 20 years ago to launch his political career. In doing so, he sold his soul to the devil. Jeremiah Wright is a confirmed racist and an anti-American. I am not convinced that Obama truly embraces the views and philosophy of Wright; but he accepted and tolerated those views in return for Wright’s political support.
Barack Obama, with all his brilliance, intellect and Harvard credentials, would have us believe that in twenty years he wasn’t able to figure out that Wright was spewing poisonous racist venom from the pulpit he hides behind. That is unmitigated crap and Obama insults the intelligence of the people he is asking to go to the polls and elect him the leader of the free world.
People: We are surrendering our country. We must get beyond this political correctness and challenge hate speech whether we find it in a KKK meeting, a White Supremist Convention, or a black church in Chicago. If this issue is not properly addressed and resolved the moral authority to challenge any other person is lost. Rev. Wright cannot be given a pass because he is black and Obama cannot be given a pass for his failure, up to this moment, to acknowledge the harm Wright has done with racist rants.
- Posted by JanetP“This is in preparation for the Obama campaign strategy to soon bring up all of Hillary’s past associations and dirty-handed “clean up” role in her husband’s scandles. Look for this in the the later primaries.” - Posted by Bookwert
If it does come up, it will not be because of what you say but rather due to the Clintons’ own tax returns and her earmarks - if ever they are to come out.
- Posted by BujObama threw stones at Imus for racial remarks but he couldn’t do it at Wright because of his deep relationship with him. Instead, he let that pass without punishment. He put Imus in disgrace to the extent that he asked him to be fired from his job. Isn’t that simple racism?
- Posted by joll0586JanetP, you have no right to say Pastor Wright is a confirmed racist. When you make such an accusation, you’re no better than the person spewing hatred you speak of. This is a country where you are allowed to speak your mind! He was doing what his Constitution allows him to do. It is his opinion and in no way was a racist comment, but was a true comment and Obama should not be held accountable for what someone else says. Now, if Obama had said these statements, it would be very different! You cannot simply expect someone to control another person’s actions. Why should someone be expected to leave a church and a man that he’s known for 20+ years because of some sound bytes? Alot of people condemn America but their friends, lovers, children, parents all still stick by them! You don’t disown someone because you don’t agree with their opinion.
- Posted by JosephBTo JosephB
So, you’re saying that Imus should be spared for his racial remarks because this is a country everyone is allowed to speak his mind and he was just doing what his Constitution allows him to do? Don’t we have a law for racial discriminitation? What Wright did was racial discrimination against whites, false accusations against government, insults to Italians and more importantly back stabbing the Clintons. Who has graver issues and who should be penalized more?
- Posted by joll0586It is difficult for me to figure why the staff at Reuters can not find a better picture to add to this link. Reguardless if it is a picture of Sen. Hillary, Sen. Obama or Sen. McCain. Please use some common sence when making a choice of a picture of our candidates.
- Posted by RobertI find it interesting that Jeremiah Wright has served more time serving his country in the military than most of the people who try to call his patriotism in to question.
- Posted by MusicisourhighAmazing. Someone just used KKK, white supremacists and black church in the same sentence. As if all black churches were bastions of bigotry and hatred. How ignorant and insulting.
- Posted by Balanced0222Give me proof that what he said was racist and I’ll concede your point. This is a man who fights for people’s liberties for christ’s sake! He stands up for what he believes in, the same way MLK did! How is he a racist? Because he said this country is still racist? I don’t recall him calling out any particular race. Where are you getting your facts from? Don Imus on the other hand, did call out a particular race. Of course what Imus’ said wasn’t that bad and was blown up by the media, but its no different then what is going on right now with Wright! I am hoping you were being sarcastic when you say the biggest issue is that he backstabbed the Clinton’s. Let us not forget that it’s the Clinton’s who are backstabbing America.
Now, please, provide me the documentation that shows Wright being racist towards whites and Italians. Please!
- Posted by JosephBHow can someone be “un-american?” This country is all about diversity of thought and opinion. Some one can be “anti-govenment” or any number of other “anti” or “un” things, but they cannot be “un-american” because that is the spirit of this country–to speak your mind whether or not it is popular and well received or spiteful and ill received. You may not agree with what the Rev. had to say, but you have to respect his right to say it. That’s what this country is about. To call him “un-american” just displays your own ignorance about what it means to be american.
- Posted by GeorgeWright is Right - GOD DAMN AMERICA !
- Posted by Mike MangenaIt is also fair to remind voters that Clinton’s own pastor has defended Rev. Wright and the National Council of Churches is rallying around Trinity. By November enough people will have viewed the complete sermons on YouTube or just plain be fed up with the whole thing. This issue will be of no value for Republicans and Rush and Sean will look like the boobs they really are if they continue beating this dead horse.
- Posted by Uncommitted in MichiganThank you, George. I agree with your points wholeheartedly. I am SICK of hearing folks refer to Pastor Wright as racist! He has a right to express and have his own opinion. He lived thru the Civil Rights Era! Put yourself in his shoes…if you had the same experiences, you may feel differently too. It does not make him un-American. It’s okay for Obama to be associated with him without agreeing with all of his views. Let’s get real!
Obama 08
- Posted by BrandyI wasn’t going to say anything but, I can’t take it anymore. In reference to Rev. Wright…..I have known about him for years, have been hearing his tapes since the 80’s I’m black. Have been to his racially charged church several times….I know SEVERAL Pastors that fly to Chicago to hear Wright preach on a regular basis…Use some of the SAME exact jargon in their services as Wright. Jeremiah Wright has NEVER had a problem telling you how he felt BELIEVE ME! Did I agree with him no. Personally I don’t think the church is for your political venting. But, I’m not going to sit here and say what he said he didn’t mean because that’s a lie, I know for a fact it is. Obama ought to be ashamed of himself the man has been speaking a STRONG political message for years. None of this is new,
- Posted by CRichI love Obama’s ability to accept the good with the bad and vice versa, then move right along. Time is too crucial to allow an unimportant matter to inherit to much of your needed time. There are big issues that Obama has been anticipating in the midst of the lies, cries, toilet seats and the like from Clinton. Good he spent as less time as possible to accommodate those issues. We really need concerns relating to tax-cuts, healthcare, the NAFTA affairs and the likes on the table. Then too, we need Hillary to step aside, so that Obama can prepare for the upcoming debates with McCain. Stop giving McCain the artillery to work with Hillary, he claims to be a war vet. Let him have his fair shot. Hillary needs to stop crippling the democratic party and stop wasting the tax payers money. How she expect to help the economy, when she is steadily wasting people’s hard earned dollars now. True, the campaige has been a bit nasty, that’s politics at it’s best. But between two in the same party that’s a bit wacky. Despite it all, my feet is still anchored on the ground with Obama as the man. Hillary is just not presidential material.
- Posted by Nisey01Hillary and Bill had no problem with the pastor at the congressional dinner while Bill was shaking the pastor’s hand.Bill even confessed his sin for the lust for the young. Apparently, after Hillary realized that Obama actually had potential to ‘win’, she immediately turned into the exorcist. Loss all train of thought, so did Bill and went blatantly beserk. High risk alert would ring off with a person of that caliber handling my affairs not alone the affairs of the American people should a crisis arise.
- Posted by Nisey01