Obama: Resigning from Trinity

Posted: Monday, June 02, 2008 9:10 AM by Domenico Montanaro

On Saturday, Obama announced the news he was leaving his church in Chicago -- as most of the political press corps was covering the DNC meeting in DC. It sure looked like a bad news dump. The campaign is trying to deny it, but it's hard to argue otherwise. The Washington Post: “The resignation came Friday in a letter Obama sent to the church's head pastor, the Rev. Otis Moss III. ‘We make this decision with sadness. Trinity was where I found Christ, where we were married and where our children were baptized,’ the letter said. ‘But as you know, our relations with Trinity have been strained by the divisive statements of Reverend Wright, which sharply conflict with our own view.’”

Not surprisingly, plenty of news organizations yesterday camped out in front of Obama's now-former church. The Los Angeles Times: "As thousands of churchgoers gathered on a warm spring morning Sunday, some directed their anger toward those they blamed for the loss of a favored son: the media. ‘Why won't they leave?’ Melissa Dwight-Washington asked.”

“Block after block, along West 95th Street and the side streets leading up to Trinity, reporters peppered her and other anxious churchgoers with questions about Obama's departure. Glaring at the satellite trucks and clusters of news camera crews, she shook her head in disgust. ‘Leave us alone,’ she mumbled. ‘They've already driven one of our best away.’”

Father Michael Pfleger, who made mocking comments about Hillary Clinton at Obama’s Trinity United Church in Chicago eight days ago, apologized (sort of) at his church, St. Sabina’s, yesterday, "I apologize for anyone who was offended and who thought it to be mockery," he said, per the AP. “Pfleger said he's received more than 3,000 angry e-mails since he was a guest preacher last Sunday at Trinity United Church of Christ, Obama's former church.”

The New York Times explores whether Obama's more open policy on Cuba might allow him to win the support of younger Cubans. "Polls of the community have confirmed a tilt toward engagement, especially through travel. A survey in April 2007 by Florida International University found that 55.2 percent said they favored ‘unrestricted’ travel to Cuba for all Americans - a reversal from three years earlier, when 53.7 percent said they opposed it."

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Comments

This was a good move on Obama. He doesn't any additional negative press from his former church!!

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America for Obama (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 9:18 AM)

I'm curious when the media will start camping out in front of McCain's church. For that fact when was the last time McCain went to church?

Tim, Reading, PA (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 9:19 AM)

I know he is sad to leave his church, but I will say as a once avid church goer...church seem watered down.

You don't have the older mothers of the church guiding the way for the younger generation any longer. They are no longer sitting on the front rows passing out peanuts and peppermint/ butterscotch candy & telling those stories and giving advice which keeps you on the straight and narrow path.

Church is all about money and now it has joined the political circus; unbelievable! Father who ever, knew when he went in there to speak that church was under scrutiny, so he adds fuel to the fire!

Whatever! It's sad he through the church under the bus, but there are other churches. Church doesn't make the person and that man should have been escorted away from there and that new pastor need to get that church in order.

Michelle Zee (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 9:28 AM)

Some pundit on one of the political shows yesterday, kept referring to Barack as a ruthless politician.

He is certainly brilliant, and no nonsense, but ruthless?

Obama is about as ruthless as an Eagel Scout. He's among the gifted, and honorable elite. He's a winner!

Lastly, someone on these boards said that Obama ran for the Illinois senate as the only candidate on the ballot. But they did not tell us that the other candiates were thrown off of the ballot, by Illinois Justices, because the signatures on their petitions.were bogus. They were cheating. Obama would not let them con the system.

donna (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 9:29 AM)

That is good but he can't erase the 20+ years of damage that was done. I think that Michelle and Barack are in lockstep with the Wrights & Pfledgers of the world. They seem to be black liberationist and black supremacists.

Too little way too late.

no Obamas in the white house. (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 9:31 AM)

All these preachers acting very un-Christianlike. That's the real story here. Why do they get away with it? Who allows this? Don't get my started on the Catholic Church. I was raised Catholic and I never heard any talk like I heard from Pfleger. There is simply no excuse.

This is not an Obama story...this is a "what is happening to organized religion" sort of story.

Very sad.

And I empathize with the Obama's. It is hard to find a church with all the right stuff. Some people are lucky and find it right away, others of us struggle with it.

For me sprirituality is internal, churches can be for community if they are good ones.

One of the many white middle/older women for OBAMA (yes, we are here, not making a ruckus but we are here)

Lisa, New Britain, CT...really really really for Obama :) (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 9:32 AM)

Anybody who actually goes to church knows what its like to sit in a pew and think "I can't stand this minister." Sometimes you end up leaving a particular church, but that doesn't mean you leave your faith. Trinity Church will survive and Obama will too.

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 9:38 AM)

Do you believe now that Obama is nothing but a POLITICIAN? Interesting, his resignation was about saving the church from frustration. Didn't hear him say he renounced what they stand for. A visiting pastor comes into the pulpit there and knows it's acceptable to say racist, sexist things. If a VISITING pastor knows that, how can you say Obama sat there for 20 years and didn't know? He's a fake and a fraud and a very dangerous person. It's too little, too late.

Go McCain (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 9:39 AM)

Seems like more politics than religion going on at that church, maybe they should lose their tax exempt status.

20 years, and $4 million in ear marks to Pfleger's church are hard to erase. Wonder how Barak will double talk himself out of this one.

Imagine if this had been Hillary's pastor, talking about BO ...old Washington (Barak's back)would be screaming...but so what its just Hillary were are talking about

Lisa (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 9:41 AM)

After 20 plus years he finnaly sees this?
I am sorry all the Obama supporters who want to brush this under the rug, this is an issue. He was a member of this Church for that long, did this rethoric just start? He had no idea that it preached these views.

Itsd about his Judgment

GDI in Michigan (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 9:42 AM)

This is terrible news. Who is going to provide Michelle's and Barack's daughters their spirtual guidance? It sure looked like Wright and Pfleger had those two little girls on the right track.

Stevens Hollings, Vermont (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 9:45 AM)

To Lisa, New Britain, CT...really really really for Obama :):

You really need to stop drinking the Kool-aid...this is a Barak story. This is/was his church, his supporters jumping in church clapping, his Illinios legislative support to Pfleger's church for for $4 million dollars.
He refsued to leave this church long ago...because he could not afford to lose any of his African American supportors. (even Oprah has the sense to leave that church for the sake of white viewers)

These are his people using the reverse racism card.

I for one am sick of him and all his double speak about changing Washington...he is the Manchurian Candidate, only in this version of the story Nancy Pelosi and Ted Kennedy are pulling the strings.

Lisa, NY (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 9:49 AM)

Jimmy Carter taught Sunday School at the First Baptist Church in DC when he was President. The Clintons periodically attended Foundry United Methodist in DC when they were in the White House, despite the fact that both Clintons maintain church memberships in Little Rock, where they haven't lived for 15 years. At both churches, there was a mob of people who cared more about seeing the President rather than worshipping God.

Both Bushes, Reagan, Ford and Nixon didn't attend a DC church. Nixon, to his credit, quietly held a weekly prayer service in the East Room because he knew the chaos that a President attending church could be.

As for McCain, earlier in the campaign, his campaign website claimed that he was Episcopalian, but only after the Rev. Wright controversy bubbled up did McCain promote his membership in the North Phoenix Baptist Church. It's not clear where McCain worships when he is in DC.

Now that Obama is free of the Trinity controversy I hope that he can find a church where he and his family can find the spiritual nourishment that all of us need.

John (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:00 AM)

It seems the like white supremist have hit this blog today. Listen, before the black church started protecting themselves, and preaching this anti-america; the whites created thier churchs around hate against any one who wasn't white, and is you were jewish.

boogeyman, mamaroneck, ny (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:02 AM)

Too sad the we know Obama church too late, if the media covered before FEB. The whole campain could be changed. He won't be the winner for sure. This is the evidence since March!!

Wayne (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:04 AM)

One has to wonder how many other church ministers around the country are making the same type of comments as the Rev. Wright. Senator Obama has been the highlighting force at one church but thousands of other church leaders accross the country could be saying the same thing. No wonder there remains racial division in the country if this is what is preached every Sunday.

Cilla Ray (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:05 AM)

donna said "Obama is about as ruthless as an Eagel Scout. He's among the gifted, and honorable elite. He's a winner!"

He is about as old as an eagle scout as too, donna the dork!
I would never vote for a man who would turn his back on his own god to win a popularity contest. He is either just doing it to win or he changed his mind about his religion. That means either he flounders on issues or Bush was right and he is an appeaser. So sorry! You lose Obombya!

bill, seattle, washington (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:07 AM)

It would have been better for him to have left that church before getting into the Presidential race. Now, we know what he has been sitting under for 20 plus years, and that can't be resigned away from. Someone can't listen and sit under that radical teaching and preaching and have so many close relationships with the people and higherarchy without it taking a toll, nor would they stay all that time and not be in agreement with it. That just makes so sense whatsoever.
He should have had the intellect to leave so no one would ever have know to begin with.
He has definitely got some unique thinking for such a proud and patriotic American!!

Lori , Shreveport, LA (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:07 AM)

we love you obama and we gonne turn white house to blak house!!!!!!!!

hana (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:09 AM)

Im no Obama supporter, but it is sad that a candidate has to disassociate himself from his church, because it is not politically correct. Yet on the Republican Side of the aisle - you can give a commencement speech (BUSH BUSH) at a University which forbids interracial dating, and it is considered perfectly fine. Amazing how this nation deems a double standard for what is convenience and what is not.

John - NYC (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:10 AM)

Throughout the campaign Obama's responses to his pastor and church difficulties have been transparently opportunistic. His family's 20-year membership in a "church" that subscribes to hatred and racism cannot be so easily dismissed. Such hatred and racism cannot be dignified or sanitized by calling it "liberation theology". It is difficult to escape the conclusion that the Obama's belonged to this church because they agreed with its teachings.

Bubba Nelson, Canon City, CO (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:13 AM)

To Lisa in NY,

The kool-aid remark is insulting to me. I have reasons I back my candidate, you have reasons you back yours. I don't need to insult you to make my point.

I do think this is an organized religion story, do you think preachers are behaving inappropriately only at Trinity.

I do not believe this to be a Barack story because I see no evidence that Barack holds any of this talk in his heart. I don't believe in guilt by association. If you do, that's fine, but I don't.

You have no evidence that anyone is pulling Barack's strings and the Manchurian Candidate reference is another insulting remark. And please leave Ted Kennedy out of it as he is undergoing brain surgery this morning and he should be in our collective thoughts and prayers.

Feel free to insult me some more as that is how many Clinton supporters apparently choose to spend their days.

PS, I still tell my daughter a woman can be President someday.

One of the many white middle/older women for OBAMA (yes, we are here, not making a ruckus but we are here)

Lisa, New Britain, CT...really really really for Obama :) (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:14 AM)

20 + years and only now he "discovers" there are teachings he strongly disagrees with?

Give me a break

Chip (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:16 AM)

Why didn't he leave before he ran for president? Let me guess, Rev. Wright just started this kind of preaching magically at the same time Obama runs for office??? That is so weird! Unbelievable!
Wake up people

chris, va (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:17 AM)

People who say he's turning his back on God are just beyond clueless. Last time I checked, God was omnipresent, meaning that you can have a relationship with God without going to church on Sunday.

Kate White, Connecticut (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:17 AM)

So is this what we can expect from Obama? As soon as something makes him look bad he's just going to dump it? I thought he is the bringing "new" politics, a change to washington? this seems like the same old political bull crap we've come to know and love. Obama is a fraud, and just telling you what you want to hear, and doing whatever it takes to get elected, nothing new here.

John Doe, Seattle, Wash (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:18 AM)

I feel this was a good move to change his membership; the pulpit is not a place to make such negative comments about another human being. That pulpit should had been leading the congregation into prayer for all the candidates that God will make the right choice for the most highest office in the country. They are using the pulpit as a sideshow or comedy show, hi fiving one another and laughing at such negative comments. The Church is suppose to make a difference and show the love of Christ, even when you don't naturally like the individual. I feel the pastors have misused their positions and the pulpit. Remember the seeds you sow, will have a harvest and that's scripture; putting Senator Clinton down was not scripture, but a worldly and cheap shot. And by the way, I am an Obama supporter and I applaud his move for the sake of the entire country. He just recently had to break from Rev. Wright because of those type of comments, why in the world, would the church allow such a political jokester to defame their pulpit? The Bible says not to let your good be evil spoken of and Trnity all the good that you have done is hidden because of what you do and say in your pulpit. He came to Trnity because of your good that you were doing and to receive the Lord and maintain a spiritual loving relationship with God. You people at that church hung him out to dry, so sad, so sad.

Hattie Johnson, Cleve., OH (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:18 AM)

Now there's a video circulating of Obama's hateful, anti-American shrew of a wife giving a speech at Trinity that makes Jeremah Wright look like Billy Graham.

Though I doubt it'll ever see the light of day on MSNBC, the Obama Network.

Slappy White, St Louis, Missouri (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:20 AM)

As a True Believer of Allah and His Way, I am of great Hope that America has a Muslim as leading candidate for President. Hussein Obama must and should open the doors wide for unlimted Muslim immigration to help us in the USA with Jihad against the West.

Mohammad Ibrihim (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:21 AM)

The absolute problem with these relationships (not incidental by definition) is that they reflect a problem with his judgement. He tried to distance himself as if he did not have anything in common other than Father Pfleger speaking at his "former" church. Father Pfleger was on his Catholic committee and did fundraising for Senator Obama. They worked together in the past on "community projects". The problem is that Senator Obama was very aware of Father Pfleger's reputation and it is not the first time he has stirred controversy. Senator Obama did not apologize to Senator Clinton, nor did he apologize for the remarks of entitlement and race. Anytime anyone uses the terms acting as if these remarks "may" have been hurtful, I feel as though you may as well save it. "If" anyone was offended is an out. No thanks Father Pflger, no thanks Senator Obama, it was political in timing and action.

charlieb (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:21 AM)

Dear American Voters,

Hon. Senator McCain and Obama, besides each having many attributes and characteristics. The critical differences in my professional, political, and personal opinion are as under:

1. Presidential "Temperament and Composer".
2. Little Washington "insider Versus outsider" connectedness.
3. Vision and mission for our nation future rather than past.
4. American policies first USA centric than other countries centric.

In my professional opinion one senator has it and the other does not. We need one for our Greatgrand Nation to address our all these challenges with a fresh, clean and new slate.

God Bless America. its diverse people, and our Greatgrand Nation.

Yours truly,

COL. [retd] A.M.Khajawall
Forensic psychiatrist, Las Vegas NV

COl.[retd] A.M.Khajawall (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:25 AM)

Lisa, NY (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 9:49 AM)
-------------------------------------------------------
The only candidate running that meets the definition of "The Manchurian Candidate" is John McCain. The story is about a prisoner turned many years previous to do his captures bidding later.

-------------------------------------------------------
As far as candidates and churches perhaps the last paragraph of the released statement by, the Rev. John H. Thomas, UCC general minister and president, should give us all pause. The entire statement is available on http:/www.ucc.org/

"It’s also important to name the painful reality that many candidates and public officials now find it nearly impossible to be an active member of a particular religious community, given our divisive political culture. Faith is rooted in community. Persons in public office should have the same opportunity, as the rest of us, to experience the worship, prayers and close personal friendships that congregational participation affords."

----------------------------------------------------
As far as Father Michael Pfleger, this also became a Catholic Church issue. A discussion between he and his Cardinal has resulted in no more political statements for the Father. They did not run it all the way to Rome.

OBwan, IN (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:26 AM)

I hear alot of talk about how can he sit the pews for 20 years and listen to Rev. Wright. Well what make you think that was all Rev. Wright talked about. Where are the other sound bites from the other sermons? You know they are recorded also!!! Oohhh I see there is only 1 soundbite taken out of context and then magnified negatively!!! Wake up folks you are being fed garbage!!!! Base your view off the candidates position on the main issues...

Gee, manhatan, Kansas (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:26 AM)

Hey Tim Reading... McCain was in direct communication with God for 5 1/2 years back in the 60's in Vietnam! Only a person of immense faith could and would survive something like that! What has B.O. ever experienced... OH a couple of years in the Senate!

Big Daddy, PHX (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:29 AM)

So sorry. Way to little and WAY to late. if you run with dogs then there is no way you won't be seen as a dog with fleas.

Margi Dyer, Mayfield, Ky (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:32 AM)

Barak said early on that his pastor was always like a favorite uncle to him, one that he loved fondly even though he disagreed with some of his feelings. I do not believe that his revelation is just now showing up, but nor do I blame him for attending there. Sometimes love or respect for someone can be a powerful pull to stay around. Is that so wrong? This church means a lot to him and remember it is not just the pastor that makes a church, but the rest of the congregation. This has been his extended family for 20 years. Yes, he is a politician. He is also human and I think it sucks that this has even been brought into the campaign.

I do think his pastor should be asked to resign, not the Obama family having to quit because the pastor has gotten carried away in his old age. As a Christian, he is failing to lead his flock onto a path of understanding and love. I think he has abused Obama's loyalty by his actions.

25 Year Old, White, Female - California (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:34 AM)

Lisa from CT:

I am happy that you tell your daughter she can be president. personally I tell mine the same but sadly history says otherwise.

I am not a raging feminist...ironically I was a supportor of Biden's originally. That said Hillary is more qualified than Barak.

I too feel for Ted K, but even he in his statement before going into surgery indicated that he would be back to fight for BO(its all about politics)

Feel free to support whomever you chose. I am angry at the way the media has protrayed Hillary. Even Howard Dean this weekend supported the notion that the MSM has made sexist remarks.

I would guess we are about the same age...that said I have witnessed women strugle to be equal with men.

If Barak were a women with the same resume...we would not know who s/he was.

this is what the world thinks re the importance of our gender...

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/boy-boys-girls-2056513-women-obama

Lisa, NY (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:35 AM)

Obama said that he left the church because he didn't want the media to scrutinize the church. And the decision to leave that church didn't come lightly.

Hmm. If I were Obama, I won't hesitate to leave that kind of church that obviously full of hatred.

Some said that Obama is the victim of guilty by association. But heyyy, he doesn't have that much track records like Hillary or McCain, where else should we go to get to know him. Of course, by looking at people or anything Obama chose to surround himself. Just BELIEVE TO WHAT OBAMA SAID and DON'T LOOK AT OTHER THINGS, it seems to me that the best strategy to be a victim of a con artist.

Danny, Atlanta, GA (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:35 AM)

Why does your biased fathead Chris Matthews feel he can chirp out Hillary Rodham Clinton's middle name but not Barack Hussein Obama's?

He pulled that stunt four times during the coverage of the Democratic rules meeting on Saturday.

Omar Sharif, Milwaukee, Wisc (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:36 AM)

You can take the man out of the church, but you can't take the church out of the man.

Marlene, Arkansas (Sent Monday, June 02, 2008 10:39 AM)

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