Fiery sermons didn’t drive Barack Obama away from his church, but they did unnerve one other prominent parishioner — media mogul Oprah Winfrey.
According to Newsweek, Winfrey stopped attending Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ in the 1990s in part because she wanted to distance herself from the incendiary views of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
“She’s always been aware that her audience is very mainstream, and doing anything to offend them just wouldn’t be smart,” one anymous source tells the magazine. “She’s been around black churches all her life, so Rev. Wright’s anger-filled message didn’t surprise her. But it just wasn’t what she was looking for in a church.”
Wright, of course, is the preacher whose racially charged denunciations of the U.S. government have caused such heartburn for Obama’s bid for the Democratic nomination since they were made public in March. Evidently Winfrey, an Obama supporter, wanted to avoid a conflict of her own.
But Oprah had other reasons for leaving as well, another anonymous source tells Newsweek.
“There is the Church of Oprah now,” the longtime friend says. “She has her own following.”
Photo: REUTERS/Danny Moloshok (Winfrey campaigns for Obama in Los Angeles, April 2)
Trackback
65 comments so far
Previous | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Next
Good try Hillary supporter. Oprah has enough money to buy Hillary and Bill a few times over so I don’t think the media can hurt her even if she went down as being part of Hillary’s sleazy campaign.
- Posted by Jim“Bascially, Obama is unelectable”
You’re dreaming friend, Clinton has already lost the nomination. Come back to us.
Let me guess, you’re going to vote for McCain if Clinton doesn’t get it.
How petty of you.
- Posted by Steve BarryThats your opinion that he is not electable– Hillary or McCain fan. This whole Rev. Wright is blown way out of proportion. Obama does not stand for his thoughts nor his comments. Obama will make a good President. Hillary is a constant old school liar and McCain is G.Bush jr. Go Barack.
- Posted by A.G.RADER“if Oprah was smart” ?
I think we know Oprah is smart.
It’s shallow thinking to make decisions based on numbers of viewers and her “fans”.
“taking the high road” ??
translates to ‘keep me entertained” and keep your mouth shut.
I believe Obama will win the nomination but if Hillary cripples the Democratic Party with her behavior we can thank her for President McCain.
I’m an ‘older, white woman” and the polls may say I should fall into a category of support for her but I am ashamed of the Clinton campaign.
I support Obama but would have voted for any of the democratic candidates EXCEPT Clinton. She doesn’t seem to get it … IF she got the nonination, it does not mean she gets the votes. She has brought out the worst in politics.
- Posted by UrsaObama IS electable. Alice Walker was on C-Span In Depth for 3 hours today. She has written 25 to 30 books. She should be Oprahs guest immediately! She lives in Berkeley California.
- Posted by acai disagree,oprah wont be hurt by any of this,this is strictly between obama and his pastor,she didnt endorse the pastor or else that would be a different story.
Oprah is a clear example how the majority of black people are,which is open to peace and non rascist,the reverend is the opposite and he is the example of the dark side in the community.
- Posted by carmichaelhe WILL bring down obama because he is prejudiced and filled with hatred for not only the white americans but also his own.
we all know certain things he says/preaches may have been true or may be true even today as far as being oppressed as black people in america but his way is not the way to achieve peace,and thats what we need in america,not dwell on the past or putting eachother down,but we need peace
When someone makes such broad statements such as “Obama is unelectable”, I wonder just where they get their information. Where?
- Posted by VeeEach American due to their culture and experiences or their family ties have a right to choose the church that fits them for their personal reasons. That has always been our right personally and I absolutely resist any person, group or entity telling me where I should worship. That’s personal. So all of a sudden the press is concerned where folks worship and would like to guage Oprah and Barak in the “right” places to worship. Their faith and worship has nothing to do with the nosey public and media. At the end of the day if American public and media abandons both Oprah and Barak they know that a church like Trinity would be there in a supportive fashion because they are in the business of helping that sector of our society.
- Posted by AngelaIf it took Oprah only 2 years to see what Rev Wright is . Why did it take Obama more 2o years 0r 10 times longer . Wright had to show the public that Obama is just a polititian before he did some thing. How will he be able to make a serious decision for the Amercian people in a dangerous world ? Wake up Obama is not electiable he lack the judgement to lead Amercia
- Posted by D GraceBZ: “Obama is unelectable”
A study in how to destroy the message of an otherwise thoughtful post by committing the same crime you accuse Oprah of: abandoning neutrality.
- Posted by AndrewClearly BZ comment is partisan and suggests that Oprah should kick Obama to the curb. The person should invite on her show if such an action is intended to take the high road would be to invite Sen. Obama to reinforce her support for his candiacy
- Posted by Rogier GregoireRev.Wright = poor judgment by Obama. If Oprah was aware of Rev.Wright’s hate, why wasn’t Obama?
- Posted by goldenstateObama is the most electable candidate there is! No one cares about Wright, just the media.
- Posted by TrudyI too was turned off that Oprah took a political stand. I thought it was a bad decision that could (and in fact did) alienate many Oprah fans. I too am one. I still don’t see why Obama did not leave that Church sooner. He either was being dishonest with the Rev. Wright in having him believe that we condoned those views or he is being dishonest with the voters today. I don’t think Rev. Wright (in all his delusions) lied about what his views are on aids or that he thinks Obama supports his views. Rev. Wright has nothing to gain.
- Posted by LorraineObama is unelectable? And you think Hillary is? Nobody likes her, and she doesn’t care. Why is that you ask? Maybe because she doesn’t plan to win this November, or why would she be purposely making people hate her. That’s how it looks!
Nobody cares about Wright, just the media makes it seem so since they’re in bed with what’s everything wrong with politics today.
- Posted by TrudyThis is pretty much unrelated to this article, but I think it needs to come out just the same. How is Obama even running for president? He was born outside of this country. By federal law he is a “citizen of the U.S.” because his parents were citizens. However, since he was born outside of this country’s borders he is not a “natural born citizen.” This last bit is what The Constitution requires a person to have in order to run for president. Just something to think about.
- Posted by anonymousI have quit watching Oprah, reading the books that her book club recommends and I won’t be looking for her “favorite things” this year when I do my Christmas shopping.
- Posted by Mon_KiePerhaps we Americans should vote for Oprah instead of Senator Obama. She demonstrated better judgment by leaving Rev. Wright’s church years ago.
- Posted by GranitemanI think that you are wrong about Obama being unelectable. He is still in this race and is very much electable.
Obama’s beliefs, attributes and traits have not changed and I don’t see why she shouldn’t support him now with this Rev Wright.
America is smart enough to see what the media and others are doing and will make the right decision.
On Oprah — Obama hurting her? I doubt it… she’s rich enough. Not much could hurt her.
- Posted by Chasity D'AndradeIf Oprah was smart, she would invite Hillary on her show to illustrate that her backing Obama isn’t racist or polarizing. She is so influential, she could discuss how important voting is, and having a choice. She would be the unifier, and bring back some shine to her star, which is becoming very tarnished over this Obama- Wright issue.
- Posted by BZRight now, too many Oprah fans, like me are disappointed in her taking a political stand. It has hurt her. And I think her disappointed fans would appreciate her taking a high road on this issue.
She should step up. Bascially, Obama is unelectable and she will go down as being part of the Rev Wright team.
I think it hurts her.