Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Obama Denounces His Minister's Controversial Remarks
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 15, 2008
Modified Mar 15, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 15, 2008
Modified Mar 15, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
First, former vice-presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro stepped down from Hillary Clinton's campaign over her remarks about Barack Obama. Now, with Obama's campaign facing an outcry over inflammatory remarks by his minister, Obama said, “I reject outright the statements by Rev. Wright that are at issue," and by evening, Wright had left the campaign (he had been on the African American Religious Leadership Committee).
Obama is close to Reverend Jeremiah Wright of the Trinity United Church of Christ. However, an ABC News report (video above) reviewed some of Wright's sermons and found one where he said, "Barack knows what it means, living in a country and a culture that is controlled by rich white people. Hillary can never know that. Hillary ain’t never been called a [N-word]!” And then there's a sermon he made on September 16, 2001:
We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye. We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost.
In the same sermon, he later said, “No, no, no, not God bless America — God damn America!”
Yesterday, Obama wrote a lengthy essay for The Huffington Post, "I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies...The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity or heard him utter in private conversation."
Obama also wrote he was not leaving the congregation, noting Wright's imminent retirement and his own strong ties to the church (Wright married Obama and his wife, baptized his daughters, and gave a sermon that inspired the name of Obama's book, The Audacity of Hope). He told news organizations had he heard these sermons earlier, he might have left the church, but also emphasized that Wright is like an uncle to him.
Hoping that the Wright issue is behind him, Obama is now revealing that his embattled fundraiser Tony Rezko actually raised $250,000 for his previous campaigns, much more than previously thought.
Tagged
barack obama
controversy
election 2008
geraldine ferraro
hillary clinton
Politics
Reverend Jeremiah Wright
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman spar over immigration, cost of living in debate
The Democratic incumbent repeatedly invoked President Donald Trump. The Republican challenger largely avoided bringing up New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
By
Jon Campbell
Published Oct 13, 2026 at 9:05 p.m. ET
Manhattan neurologist charged with sexually abusing 2 patients, DA says
Prosecutors say Dr. Tariq Lamki abused two patients during appointments at a medical practice near Stuyvesant Town.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Manhattan neurologist charged with sexually abusing 2 patients, DA says
Prosecutors say Dr. Tariq Lamki abused two patients during appointments at a medical practice near Stuyvesant Town.
By
Giulia Heyward
Years of bus headaches start Thursday as Port Authority advances Midtown terminal work
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
and
Carol Chen
ICE admits to using Roxbury, NJ warehouse site to process immigrants
By
Mike Hayes
Dolan's offer: Donations to Blakeman for Knicks tickets
By
Walter Wuthmann
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .