May 2, 2008
Posted: 12:45 PM ET
A group of black ministers has announced support for Sen. Obama in the wake of the Wright controversy.
A group of black ministers has announced support for Sen. Obama in the wake of the Wright controversy.

CHICAGO (AP) — About two dozen black ministers from the Chicago area say they're behind Barack Obama despite his split from the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

The ministers said Friday they're speaking out because they believe media attention on Wright has detracted from important issues in the presidential race.

The pastors refused to answer reporters' questions about Wright. They only mentioned that the rift between Wright and Obama has been a distraction ahead of Tuesday's critical Democratic primary in Indiana.

Over the past week, Wright has characterized criticism of his fiery anti-government sermons as an attack on the black church.

Obama has denounced Wright's comments as "divisive and destructive."

Filed under: AP • Barack Obama • Jeremiah Wright


Adam in INdy   May 2nd, 2008 1:20 pm ET

Thank Goodness…
we almost went a full day without a Rev. Wright Headline.

Thanks CNN!

Jean, CANADA   May 2nd, 2008 1:23 pm ET

Impressive….very impressive.

OBAMA 08, 12 ….THE TRUTH

Obama will be President   May 2nd, 2008 1:24 pm ET

P.s. I now realize the irony/hypocracy in my last post. I apologize.

richard   May 2nd, 2008 1:24 pm ET

Obama current Pastor Moss is just as controversial as Wright. Look it up. Next step for Obama is to leave his church altogether to control the damage.

Unite the clans!   May 2nd, 2008 1:24 pm ET

Obama-Clinton 08

Jeremy   May 2nd, 2008 1:25 pm ET

This clown will always be an issue as long as CNN keeps putting his face online. Grow up, and move on CNN.

JCB   May 2nd, 2008 1:25 pm ET

There is nothing new here. They support him because they are black ministers, and he is a black candidate. Just a little more racism going around to divide the party. People need to vote for the best candidate based on the issues — and Obama is not the best candidat. Clinton '08

Anonymous   May 2nd, 2008 1:26 pm ET

Then these churches have violated their tax exempt status since they are endorsing a candidate.

Herman in LA   May 2nd, 2008 1:26 pm ET

About time someone comes out and back him.

Obama 08!!!

anon   May 2nd, 2008 1:27 pm ET

NOW can we let this go? If not:

TO ALL THE OBAMA SUPPORTERS:
Since the media is refusing to reveal/report the Paul vs Clinton fraud case in court right now, we need to create our own movement and flood every blog on CNN and every blogging website on the World Wide Web with information from the case regardless of what the topic is. For those that don't know - Google Paul vs Clinton and hold on to your shirt with what you read!! L.A., California Case #BC304174

For those of you who think this case has been thrown out – is hasn’t, or is irrelevant – think again:

"In the landmark civil fraud case against Bill Clinton in Los Angeles, where the former President is charged with defrauding a Hollywood dot com millionaire to help Hillary Clinton obtain more than $1.2 million from him for her 2000 Senate campaign, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Aurelio Munoz ruled on Friday, April 25, 2008 that Hillary Clinton would not be required to testify in a sworn deposition as a material witness in the case until AFTER the November election!."
“Had Senator Clinton be forced to testify under oath, as a material witness and beneficiary of the fraud that her husband is being sued for before the Democratic Convention, her remote chances for being nominated the party candidate would have been unquestionably destroyed.”
“Paul contends his case will expose "the institutional culture of corruption embraced by the Clinton leadership of the Democratic Party," which seeks to attain "unaccountable power for the Clintons at the expense of the rule of law and respect for the constitutional processes of government."
All the court documents/evidence is here: peterfpaul.com

lilahenna   May 2nd, 2008 1:27 pm ET

omg they do anything to win

Tick Tock Tick Tock, Indiana   May 2nd, 2008 1:27 pm ET

Trying to hide the news!!! Just like the supporters of Obama on this site!

Obama/Wright is not the ticket Americans want in the White House!

New polls show Hillary leading Obama in North Carolina for the first time and extending her lead over him in Indiana! Ouch!!!

uc   May 2nd, 2008 1:28 pm ET

Thanks My beloved ones, this Media I have start to feel are still against barack and is doing everything posible to promote hillary and see Obama down. which is imposible.

Thanks beloved Pastors

Wayne, Greenville TX   May 2nd, 2008 1:28 pm ET

FINALLY!!!!

It's time for us all to ignore the distractions and get back to DISCUSSING THE ISSUES!!!!!

Shock!   May 2nd, 2008 1:28 pm ET

Obama and Larry Sinclair
Google it NOW!!!!!!!

Jan   May 2nd, 2008 1:28 pm ET

Don't Blame them, keep obama's crazy uncle, "which he agrees with" in the closet, and out of sight.

Chukwuma Onyemkpa - Brussels   May 2nd, 2008 1:28 pm ET

Good…very good! The Media should go "fish" elsewhere for negative headlines!!!! ' WRIGHT' or 'Wrong', OBAMA will win the nomination.

KJ   May 2nd, 2008 1:28 pm ET

No, I don't think I will, as my mind is already made up–Barack Obama.

Rose - Baltimore, MD   May 2nd, 2008 1:28 pm ET

Great job pastors. God bless you!

Obama '08

nancy   May 2nd, 2008 1:29 pm ET

Let's hear it for TRUTH!

OBAMA 08

Cephas Reeves   May 2nd, 2008 1:29 pm ET

The media need to stop giving Rev, Wright air time. They also need to finally put this down. Remember this is not the people, this is the media. Please , please, please put Rev. wright story down and lets focus on the mean issues.

Rose - Baltimore, MD   May 2nd, 2008 1:29 pm ET

I am with you Anon.

SLO Bear   May 2nd, 2008 1:30 pm ET

Something good. The media really needs to break out of their co-dependent relationship with the Clintons. Experience some healthy change we can believe in.

Tony   May 2nd, 2008 1:30 pm ET

The world is outraged at how the American people can be snowballed by it's media's coverage of Wright while Clinton threatens to obliterate a whole civilization of people. Clinton can't even begin to negotiate after her comments.

Jacob   May 2nd, 2008 1:34 pm ET

Well there isn't a single white, hispanic, or asian in this group. Nevermind a rabbi. Obama says he wants to get past the race thing but then does this. Reminds me of some other guy who claimed to be a uniter not a divider and then pretty much did the latter for almost 8 years.

Gore 2008

yael   May 2nd, 2008 2:27 pm ET

Wright was betrayed by Obama. He had every right to trust in their mutual support and loyalty. Obama has let him be the scapegoat for something that Obama himself perpetuated for almost 20 years. To the degree that Obama himself called Wright his mentor, his dear friend, part of his family.
If Black ministers want to speak up, they should speak out against blind ambition that allows a candidate to destroy his mentor for mere political expediency.

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