WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Engulfed in fresh controversy over new inflammatory remarks by his former pastor, Sen. Barack Obama made a public break yesterday with the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., denouncing the minister's latest comments as "outrageous," "appalling" and a contradiction of the senator's life work.
Obama, appearing visibly pained, did in a hastily called news conference what he had been reluctant to do since controversy initially erupted more than six weeks ago over Wright's sermons, repudiating not merely the words but the world view of a clergyman who had once been a close spiritual counselor and, by Obama's account, inspired him to embrace the Christian faith.
Obama was confronting news media coverage of Wright's fiery appearance Monday at the National Press Club, in which the minister reaffirmed his view that the U.S. government might have initiated the AIDS epidemic to wipe out racial minorities and praised Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan as one of the most important voices of the 20th century.
"When I say I find these comments appalling, I mean it. It contradicts everything I am about and who I am," Obama said, adding that Wright's comments "end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate."
In earlier statements about Wright, Obama appeared to be walking a careful line, criticizing Wright's most inflammatory rhetoric but refusing to dissociate himself with a man who had been so close to his family. But after Wright's defiant performance Monday, in which he mocked his questioners and accused critics of attacking the black church in America, Obama was left with little choice but to denounce Wright more forcefully and make it clear that his relationship with the minister had fundamentally changed, or risk having his presidential campaign engulfed by the controversy.
Obama said yesterday that he was incensed that Wright had dismissed his earlier criticism as the actions of a typical politician. "What particularly angered me was his suggestion that my previous denunciation was somehow political posturing," he said, calling it "a show of disrespect for me."
Asked whether his relationship with Wright had been irreparably damaged, Obama responded, "There's been great damage. It may have been unintentional on his part. But I do not see that relationship being the same after that."
