Rev. Wright might have had a challenging experience in his youth due to the severe racism of that time.Now his is saved by God's grace and ordained a pastor and I think that should afford him the opportunity to bring people together with his messages. There is a big difference between a bigotted personal doctrine and a godly,biblical teaching.Its a big disappointment having such words come out from a 'man of God'. Obama had Rev Wright as his spiritual counsellor then and that does not mean that whatever Rev does now should rub off on Obama.Permit me to say, Obama came in with a spirit of change and the song of hope for all.He is your man.DON'T CAST YOUR VOTE ELSEWHERE!

Effa Inyang, shomolu, nigeria

I do not blame Rev. Wright for what he preaches in his church. He is preaching the doctrine of his Trinity church, according to the bylaws and the Black Doctrine. I am upset with Obama, a man who wants to run a country of all races, that he would even join a church that owes loyality only to Africa and instills hostility toward white people. We are tired of being held responsible for slavery, and for the discrimination of the black man that existed, yes, and in some cases still does. But Obama needs to distance himself from this type of teaching. He can still be friends with his minister and the people of his church but at the same time he cannot and should never have accepted the rules of that church. He should make a statement that he can no longer accept the constitution of the Church as his mission has to be to encompass ALL NATIONALITIES. and thank them for their love and support.. He cannot stop racism by adopting Racist theology.

Marie Willard, Ballston Spa, USA

I think the problem with Dr. Wrights speach wasn't so much that it wasn't the truth: Rather perhaps more the interligence and tone in whih he spoke it!

Terrance V. Webb, Harrisburg, USA PA

OH PLEASE, you Americans who say you want change in your country are being served an incredible candidate on a silver plater yet you sabotage yourselves by harping on about Rev. Wright. Obama IS NOT Rev Wright. They are two seperate individuals of different generations and different experiences. Wright's comments were taken out of context to make him appear in the worst light possible. You all have to remember that Wright in his youth experienced severe racism on a daily basis and unless you are black having lived through that era you could never understand the pain it caused. However this did not break Wright but instead he continued to have hope and to cling to God in the darkest of hours. I think he deserves some slack here.

Obama is your man for change. The rest of the free world is waiting for a man like Obama. America needs to make up for the embarrassment of the Bush years and choosing Obama will be the first step in doing so.

K, london, UK

For cripes sake, someone who Obama is close to said something that outraged some people (I'm a Jew, and personally think Palestinians should get as much of the land that was taken from them as is possible). Whatever Wright said, I hail Barack Obama for sticking with a friend.

Marc Mannheimer, Lakewood, OH

No one expected Obama to get this far and now they feel they
must and can stop his momentum by showing Rev. Wright well didn't he say he's the candidate of change the way he's
handling this is part of a new policy of change because, back
in the day a candidate would disown Rev wright like Judas and say they don't know him. Rev. Wright is a man and should
take responsibility for his what he says. Let's interveiw Rev. Wright on CNN or MSNBC and find out what he think s about different issues.

Janet Benson, Austin, Texas

By the way, for those who know and have taking little time to find out about Obama. He has been around and in the mix with helping all kinds of people for a long time.... When the steel mills were closing in Gary, IN and Chicago. It was Obama as an activist who helped these people get job training and support to feed their families and keep their homes. And this was before he got into politics. I personnaly don't think this nation deserve Obama. Take that closet Rep. or John Mc. and when, they start the darft and you watch as your sons and daughters go off to die in a war that should have never been>>>> Your jobs shipped over seas, and you been put out of your house! Then we will see what's important you? Blame paster Wright! Right?

Kevin, Chicago, IL

In response to some of the above comments, I do not believe that Mr. Obama is being held responsible for Pastor Wright's comments. He has however proclaimed to be strongly influenced by this gentleman. We must admit that Pastor Wright has made some offensive comments. We need to remember that campaigns all end up with a certain amount of mudslinging. Unfortunately when others in a canidates life don't think before they speak, it's considered as a reflection of a candidates personal views.
As a white woman, if I were from a family known to be racist, people would assume that I am also a racist.
I am still undecided as to my vote. I can say that I would not count out Mr. Obama because of the viewpoints of Pastor Wright. I do believe that it would be best for him to distance himself from the Pastor. It almost seems that Pastor Wright is taking the oppurtunity in the spotlight to continue expressing personal, hateful views as publically as possible.

Chris, Louisiana, US

Nancy, rev wright is a problem because he delibratly stops the black community from progressing. He abuses there trust. Believe or not, but the government really didn't create AIDS to put the blacks down. When he says stuff about jews or Italians, people listen. The problem is that he uses his pulpit to stop progress. While historically white men have dominated politics, today that has changed, Look at the dem primary and the fact there are now two muslim house members despite muslims being a very small minority. Promoting defeatism and aggression destroys the blacks who listen to him potential to change. If Obama is going to solve the race issue, he needs to change this, he has had twenty years to do so. Vote McCain.

david , Indianapolis, Indiana

An earlier poster claimed that Bloomberg wasn't Jewish. He is Jewish. Go read his wiki profile.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Bloomberg

It does make me wonder how a man calling him self a uniter sat through hate filled sermons and calls the pastor his mentor. A bigger problem for me in regards to Obama are the views of his foreign policy advisers not the pastor. Also how the hell is he going to pay for all his promises?

MJ, East Meadow, New York

I've never understood the Jewish vote in America. Why do they vote Democrat? The democrats have shown that they will not even fight for this country when we are attacked. Why would the Jewish Americans think they would try and help protect Israel when it's attacked?

Ed, Atlanta, US

'The only reason I can see that people are using Obama's pastor to impugn Obama is that they have nothing else to criticize him on'

That's because the guy really hasn't done anything in his life, except maybe write a book with a title that's a quote from this very pastor.

Accomplish much, Obama?

Strange that people think that the lack of all accomplishment is a qualification for office.

Laurenf Fourier, New York,

I'm beginning to question Obama's judgement and honesty. Someone who is trying to obtain the highest office in the land should distance him/herself as far away from someone like this. They knew he was a liability a year ago and did nothing to disengage themselves from this bafoon. There's my doubts about his judgement. Initially when this story broke Obama said he was not in attendance when this kook made offensive and racial remarks but when he made his speech last week he stated that he was there when some of this very angry man of god spouted his hatred. That's by take on his honesty.

John Belo, Carpentersville, Illinois

As a practicing Irish-America, grew up on welfare, M.A. wielding Roman Catholic, I have found myself disagreeing with my pastor many times, but I don't leave the church. I even had to sit through a sermon that sounded like it was supporting Mr. Bush--Holy Communion comes after the sermon--and that's the bit I wanted.
I've listened to only to a bit of Wright's original controversial sermon and felt--well, he should stop screaming, and isn't he an old black revolutionary kind of guy, but what he's saying is TRUE. Hillary has never been called the n-word. Rich white men run the country. So I figured what's the big deal PLUS he's not how the black people I know. When he gets to ethnic slurs, he sounds even more ridiculous, but come on, Italians know better than get insulted by this. This whole controversy is pulling the bandaid off the hate and intolerance and ignorance in America.
I still support Obama 100%. McCain would be a disaster-a war on Iran, a depression. He's Bush 3.

Nancy O'Donnell, Rochester, NY

Who is running for president is it Jeremiah Wright or Barack Obama?. Why is everybody tying Barack to him. I think Barack is a gentleman of good character to not desert his FRIEND in this time of crisis.The Roman Catholic Church was and is responsible for some of the most barbaric chapters in history and lately a rash of homosexual behaviours on the part of some of their priests. I still see people attending mass. Our country America is indebted to the Communist Chinese government for large sums of money/trade deals and this Chinese regime is responsible for some of the worst human rights violations in the current world, indeed a repressive regime. I don't see anyone leaving America to go to another country that is not indebted to Communist China. Surely the communist ideology that China embraces is not embraced by America, why not hold America responsible for this rhetoric.Does the Communist Chinese influence the United States?.
Why hold Barack to the rhetoric of his former pastor.

Rod, Camden, NJ/USA

I don't think Obama has "proven" anything. These politicians speak out of both sides of their mouths. Obama is doing damage control now.....Why? Because he has to.... You become the company you keep... How many more "poor souls" has Barak Obama associated himself with that no one knows about yet? Amazing how all things political today are coming down to religious basis....

Tom V, Philadelphia, Pa

I strongly disagree with comments saying that we are fully held responsible for what our Pastor's may or not say! - someones Faith as is mine is Personal with "My Maker" not my Pastor, these attacks are pure propaganda from a most desperate Clinton campaign, "People on Glass Houses - Should not Throw Stones" both Hillary and Bill are culprits of lies! how did Bill face the American Public and tell us such lies, Hillary is now Tainted the same purely for Self Interest!

John B Sheffield, Newton, LA

The only reason I can see that people are using Obama's pastor to impugn Obama is that they have nothing else to criticize him on, and in the case of the Clinton campaign to try to get people to forget her lies, er misstatements about being shot at. I have gone from Edwards to undecided to Obama.

If the only thing wrong with Obama is that his pastor has said some dumb things during his life of good works, then I'm one white male who is comfortable with that.

Jim Sweet, Alanson, MI

I think that Obama has proven himself enough to show that he does not share the same views as Jerimiah Wright. We all have had friends that have said and done things that we don't agree with. Sometimes we just learn how to disect the good from the bad. None of us are any better.

kofi, norwalk, CT

Wright may be his former pastor but WRIGHT IS OBAMA'S CURRENT SPIRITUAL ADVISER. What kind of advise is he getting and has he been getting for 20 years?

FJ Stratford, King Of Prussia, PA

May I correct the Obama supporters? This is ONLY his former pastor because the Rev. Wright retired. Had he not retired, Rev. Wright would continue to be Sen. Obama's pastor -- and friend, and mentor. Like it or not, we ARE judged by our friends and, moreover, are especially judged by those whom we claim as our mentors.

Sharon, Houston,

Since when does being poor and white qualify someone as belonging to an ethnic group?

Rob, Budapest, Hungary

There must have been hints and clues to this pastor's mind
set long before he erupted.
Maybe and maybe not, but if there were Obama didn't have
the good sense or rather the sensitivity to leave the church.
And that with a parting shot at the pastor.

Jerry Scroggin, Phoenix, Arizona/USA

Mayor Bloomberg is not Jewish, even though his name suggests it.

Loretta, NY, NY

How can anyone say that Obama would unite the country when the things that his Reverend/Spiritual Advisor has said are dividing the country? And how can anyone say that someone's Spiritual Advisor for 20 years has not had some kind of influence on them. If they haven't had an influence, then what kind of a Spiritual Advisor are they? I don't know a single religious person that would say that their pastor, priest, rabbi , or whomever they seek for guidance, hasn't had some effect on them.

Don't get me wrong folks, I'm not saying that Obama is unpatriotic, hates America or anything like that. I'm just saying that you don't spend that much time with someone without being influenced in some way by them. The longer this goes on, the more we are finding out about him and the more it scares me.

Obama is running on words and judgment and he has shown really bad judgment having kept Wright on his campaign for the past year after knowing about the inflammatory statements he has made.

Cinni, New York, NY

"Many rabbis and professionals have told me recently that they fear for their jobs should they even begin to articulate their doubts about Israeli policy--much less give explicit support to calls for an end to the occupation."

-- Rabbi Michael Lerner
April 28, 2002 in the Los Angeles Times

michael santomauro, new york, NY

As a voter truely looking for change, I have a problem reconciling Rev Jeremiah Wright's obvious racist "liberation theology" with Senator Obama's statements. How can I, as a voter, vote for a man professing change when he is a long-standing member of a church preaching a doctrine that does not promote racial healing and personal responsibility? The answer is, I cannot. USA

Ted Strickland, Baton Rouge, LA/USA

I'm a disabled white woman and I would hate to be judged by the things that have been said by some of the members of my own family!! They are NOT my viewpoints and I don't feel that we should judge Barack Obama by the things his former minister has said and continues to say!! These are NOT Mr. Obama's viewpoints and he has said so!! How many times does he have to say it America?? If you haven't guessed by now Barack Obama is my choice for President and NOTHING his former minister says will change my mind! Personally, I think his former minister is the reason there is so much hate in this country!! And these are my viewpoints, and NOT those of Barack Obama!!

Karen B., Schererville, USA/ INDIANA

Why should Barack Obama be responsible for every statement that his former pastor made? Barack is the one candidate who can unite the American people. But if he doesn't win the nomination because some do not wish to have a president of colour, America would have missed an opportunity to be healed from a history that it could never have beeen roud of.

jaye, Homestead, Florida