Obama Rips Rev. Wright

(CBS/AP) Democrat Barack Obama said Tuesday he was outraged and appalled by the latest comments from his former pastor, who asserted that criticism of his fiery sermons is an attack on the black church and the U.S. government was responsible for the creation of the AIDS virus.

The presidential candidate is seeking to tamp down the growing fury over Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his incendiary remarks that threaten to undermine his campaign.

"I am outraged by the comments that were made and saddened by the spectacle that we saw yesterday," Obama told reporters at a news conference.

"Obama's decision to address Wright's recent comments after several days of trying to stay away signals concern over the damage that was being done to his candidacy," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. "His strong denunciation of Wright's remarks, particularly those made yesterday at the National Press Club, was aimed at voters in the upcoming primaries, a national audience and the Democratic superdelegates who hold so much power in the nominating process. It may bring even more attention to the issue but Obama clearly felt he needed to make a very clear and public break with his former pastor."

After weeks of staying out of the public eye while critics lambasted his sermons, Wright made three public appearances in four days to defend himself. The former pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago has been combative, providing colorful commentary and feeding the story Obama had hoped was dying down.

"This is not an attack on Jeremiah Wright," Wright told the Washington media Monday. "It has nothing to do with Senator Obama. It is an attack on the black church launched by people who know nothing about the African-American religious tradition."

Obama told reporters Tuesday that Wright's comments do not accurately portray the perspective of the black church.

"The person I saw yesterday was not the person that I met 20 years ago," Obama said of the man who married him.
Obama Rips Rev. Wright, Dem Candidate Says He's Outraged By Ex-Pastor's Remarks, "Saddened" By "Spectacle" Of Recent Appearance - CBS News

As Clinton and McCain do a dance the people wonder who Obama really is.;)

Have a good one!:s4:

i for one, could not beleive he waited so long to say.....all of this, i cant beleive it took the Rev. on TV agian, to get him to actually distance himself.....on another point, Obama finally took off his jacket, rolled up his sleaves and talked, forgot to loosen his tie tho.

and i agree....after yesterday, clinton and mc cain must be doing the dance of joy!