WASHINGTON--Reaction to Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) quitting Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago:
Statement from Trinity:
"Though we are saddened by the news, we understand that this is a personal
decision. We will continue to lift them in prayer, and wish them the best as
former members of our Trinity community.
"As in the prayer of the Ephesians, the entire Trinity family asks that the
nation entrust Barack, Michelle, Malia and Sasha to God's care and
guidance, so that Christ may continue to dwell in their lives, in their
hearts, and in their work. We ask now for God's peace to be with them."
WASHINGTON-- Likely Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) explains his decision to quit Trinity United Church of Christ and his reaction to the Democratic National Committee Rules and Bylaws Committee decision on seating disputed Michigan and Florida delegates at a press conference in Aberdeen, S.D.
Click below for transcript.....
WASHINGTON--At a press conference in Aberdeen, S.D., Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), the likely Democratic presidential nominee, announced tSaturday night that he and wife Michelle decided to quit Trinity United Church of Christ. This comes after Father Michael Pfleger insulted Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) from the Trinity pulpit last Sunday and after he denounced Triinity's Rev. Jeremiah Wright for his controversial sermons.
Obama said the family will not be in any hurry to pick a new church--not until January, when he knows if he will be living in the White House--and in the meantime they will visit other churches.
"I have to say this was one I didn't see coming. We knew there were going to be some things we didn't see coming. This was one. I didn't anticipate my fairly conventional Christian faith being subject to such challenge and such scrutiny," said Obama. He said it has been months since he has been at the church, on Chicago's South Side. "I did not anticipate my fairly conventional Christian faith being subjected to such...scrutiny.
WASHINGTON--Under the deal being voted on by the Democratic National Committee Rules and Bylaws Committee on disputed Michgan and Florida delegates, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) will be about only 30 votes short of clinching the Democratic presidential nomination. UPDATE Harold Ickes, committee member and Clinton advisor said the deal is flawed and "is not a good way" to yield party unity towards the November election. In a dramatic moment at the meeting, Ickes just said, "Mrs. Clinton has instructed me to reserve the right to take this to the Credential Committee." That means Clinton is threatening to take this to the Denver Democratic convention in August.
Amidst talk of unity, the compromise means the nominee will need 2,118 delegates--up from 2,026. Obama campaign manager David Plouffe estimates that after voting is over Sunday in Puerto Rico--and Tuesday's primaries in South Dakota and Montana Obama will have a wrap. Plouffe projects that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) will need to win 90 percent of the delegates in the remaining contests to come close.
The DNC Rules and Bylaws deal--which the Clinton forces are expected to reject--comes after a day long meeting here. The compromise is "not insignificant," said Plouffe.
WASHINGTON--UPDATE--Obama spokesman Bill Burton confirmed that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) quit Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ. Obama "will answer questions this evening" about resigning from the church that helped Obama chart his course as a Christian, an Obama top adviser just told me. UPDATE 2 Obama campaign manager David Plouffe just told me Obama's availability--where he will talk about ending his long relationship with Trinity will take place at about 8:15 p.m. eastern time tonight, from South Dakota, where he is campaigning in advance of Tuesday's primary vote.
Obama quits his church following Father Michael Pfleger's sermon ridiculing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) from the Trinity pulpit last Sunday, reigniting stories about Obama's associations with the inflammatory Trinity pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who stepped down from his role as senior pastor to hand over the top job to the Rev. Otis Moss III. Obama's move comes as Moss praised for his "message" after Pfleger a scorched Clinton.
WASHINGTON—There’s been enough testimony at Saturday’s Democratic Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting—and backstage dealing—to see that a compromise to seat the Florida delegates is in the works but the Michigan situation will be harder to resolve. But if Obama forces want to forge unity with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton—who everyone knows is likely NOT to be the Democratic nominee—then the Obama folks talk of “concessions” they are making is not helpful.
WASHINGTON -- The Rev. Michael Pfleger's "I'm white! I'm entitled ... black man stealing my show" outburst about Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton from the pulpit of the Obama family church, Trinity United Church of Christ, created a political problem for likely Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama that won't disappear.
Pfleger's crusades against guns, prostitution, porn and tobacco have made good copy for years for a fairly admiring local press corps hooked on cheering for the underdog, the poor and the powerless.
WASHINGTON--GOP presumptive nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Az.) on Friday weighed in on the Father Michael Pfleger controversy, where the Chicago priest mocked Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) from the pulpit of Obama family church, Trinity United Church of Christ.
McCain said, "And I think that kind of language and that kind of treatment, of Senator Clinton, is unwarranted, uncalled for and disgraceful."
WASHINGTON--After attacking Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) from the pulpit of the Obama family church, Trinity United Church of Christ, Father Michael Pfleger on Friday was rebuked by Chicago's Cardinal Francis George. Pfleger promised the Cardinal to muzzle himself when it comes to politics--and not even mention any candidate by name.
This episode--triggered by the media savvy Pfleger--comes as Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is on the verge of clinching the Democratic presidential nomination and is working to win Catholic votes. The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee meets Saturday here to wrestle with how to seat the disputed Michigan and Florida delegates.
George wanted to avoid having the Catholic Church caught in a political dispute.
"Racial issues are both political and moral and are also highly charged. Words can be differently interpreted, but Fr. Pfleger¹s remarks about Senator Clinton are both partisan and amount to a personal attack. I regret
that deeply," George said.
WASHINGTON -- The Rev. Michael Pfleger mocked Sen. Hillary Clinton from the pulpit of Trinity United Church of Christ -- earning him a reprimand Thursday from Sen. Barack Obama as his comments threaten to resurrect the politically radioactive Rev. Jeremiah Wright as a campaign issue.
WASHINGTON--After first decling to comment on the fiery rhetoric of Father Michael Pfleger mocking Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, on Thursday night the Clinton campaign said Sen. Barack Obama's saying he was "disappointed" in Pfleger did not go far enough.
From Clinton spokesman Phil Singer:
"Divisive and hateful language like that is totally counterproductive in our efforts to bring our party together and have no place at the pulpit or in our politics. We are disappointed that Senator Obama didn't specifically reject Father's Pflegler's dispicable comments about Senator Clinton, and assume he will do so."
WASHINGTON--Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) said in a statement he was "deeply disappointed" in Father Michael Pfleger, after the priest --in a scene caught on videotape-- mocked Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y) from the pulpit of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago--the home church of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. UPDATE Click below for Pfleger apology
“As I have traveled this country, I've been impressed not by what divides us, but by all that that unites us. That is why I am deeply disappointed in Father Pfleger's divisive, backward-looking rhetoric, which doesn't reflect the country I see or the desire of people across America to come together in common cause," Obama said in a statement.
For video http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/05/father_michael_pflager.html#more
WASHINGTON--Hat tip to Politico's Ben Smith for the video. Last Sunday night, Chicago's Father Michael Pfleger ended his sermon at Trinity United Church of Christ--the Obama family church--home pulpit for years for the Rev. Jeremiah Wright-- saying, "sorry....don't want to get you into any more trouble."
This comes after Pfleger--a crusader for Chicago's down and out--who has known Barack Obama since his days as a community organizer--just wrapped up mocking Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and may have sensed he strayed into trouble for his friend Obama.
Of Clinton, Pfleger said, pretending to be speaking in her voice, "I'm white, I'm entitled, there's a black man stealing my show."
WASHINGTON--Likely Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is in "excellent health," according to a summary of Obama medical records released on Thursday. The 276-word summary was written by Dr. David L. Scheiner, the Chicago doctor who has been Obama's personal physician since March, 1987. Obama has not had a check-up in more than a year. Scheiner described Obama as "lean and muscular with no excess body fat." Obama is still using Nicorette gum to stay off cigarettes--he has quit smoking several times, his doctor notes.
HIghlights:
*Triglycerides of 44(normal under 150), cholesterol 173 (normal under 200), HDL 68 (normal over 40), and LDL 96 (normal under 130). Chem 24, urinalysis and CBC were normal, PSA was 0.6, very good. An EKG was normal.
The Obama campaign decided to release this summary of Obama's health status at this time to contrast with the long medical history of GOP presumptive nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Az.). The McCain campaign last week allowed a select group of reporters to study McCain's more complex medical history, complicated because of his skin cancer and injuries suffered while serving in the military and as a prisoner of war in Viet Nam.
click below for full Scheiner letter....
WASHINGTON---On a Saturday afternoon--it was Jan. 7, 2006-- I got an alert from the office of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) that he would be doing a conference call with reporters from Baghdad. A little later, the call came through. Obama told us about how the plane maneuvered to land in Baghdad without becoming a target. Obama was on a swing through Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait and Israel and the West Ba
