Obama Resigns from "United Church of Christ" over "backlash" and supports AIPAC!

[KoKo]

What's going on with him? :shrug:

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Obama resigns from his church
Buzz up!


Barack Obama's campaign just confirmed for us that he has resigned from the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, news that was first reported earlier today in a blog written by Chicago journalist Monroe Anderson.

Trinity United, of course, is the church that was led by controversial pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright and which Obama and his wife have attended for more than 20 years. It's also where Catholic priest Michael Pfleger last Sunday mocked Hillary Rodham Clinton from the pulpit.

Wright's controversial comments about race, the U.S. government and other issues led to a major speech by Obama on March 18 in which he addressed race relations in the nation today. He also condemned Wright's statements. This week, Obama said he was disappointed by Pfleger's actions.

CNN spotted Anderson's blog post a short time ago, and is also reporting that it has confirmed the news. We got confirmation from Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan.

More as it comes in.

Update at 7:05 p.m. ET. The Associated Press writes that "Obama campaign communications director Robert Gibbs said Obama had submitted a letter of resignation to the church and would discuss his decision in a session with reporters later Saturday. It happened 'over the last few days,' Gibbs said."

Update at 7:30 p.m. ET. Lynn Sweet at The Chicago Sun-Times reports Obama is expected to talk to reporters about his decision at 8:15 p.m. ET.

Update at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Chicago Tribune's The Swamp blog writes that:

Dwight Hopkins, a theology professor at the University of Chicago Divinity School, who joined Trinity 12 years ago, expressed shock and regret about the senator's decision.

"I thought he would stay because of the good works of the church," Hopkins said, noting Obama's frequent affirmations about the Trinity community. "He had a baptism and marriage connection. I guess the Pfleger thing took it over the top. Maybe Sen. Obama thought the church should not have provided that platform."

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And Here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4912705

[Duke Newcombe]

1. "Obama rejects Christianity, now Godless Heathen, not Muslim (as far as we know)...

Just wanted to get out in front of the next RW narrative.

Duke

[Hola]

21. lol

[Bolo Boffin]

2. He wants to be President.

This way, the church can schedule who they want to preach, and Obama can continue to run for the presidency.

I hate it for him. I hate it for them.

[Occam Bandage]

3. Good. If they, and Wright, want to keep undercutting him for their own publicity,

then he should stop giving them the chance.

[FrenchieCat]

4. time to find another church. God is portable, you know.

God doesn't live at UCC.

Obama will be living in Washington DC.

[babylonsister]

11. "God is portable" - perfect! nt

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

13. funny how Hillary's "church" is never criticized, isn't it?

and she only uses "faith" to pander, as far as I can see.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

16. Criticized?

It hasn't even been discussed(outside the blogosphere).

[madrchsod]

20. the meaning of the fable of the exodus...

the kingdom of heaven is within you

[my3boyz]

5. If he did not do this every single time someone said something inappropriate there

it would be blamed on him. It is the same reason he had to cut off from Wright. If he did not every single time he said something inappropriate they would say Obama's pastor said this or he said that and blame that on Obama too.

[anonymous171]

6. They (Media and the GOP) would just keep on digging shit up about TUCC

and use it against him.

[trof]

7. Obama denounces ALL religion.

Becomes atheist.
"It was the only choice left to me."
:eyes:

Rises in polls by 5 points.
:-)

[anonymous171]

10. At this point I think that would be the only way to stop them.

[Drum]

8. Drum thinks the church should not have provided that platform.

See also:
http://www.au.org/site/PageServer
americans united for the separation of church and state

:)

[KoKo]

17. He says that now...but then many of us have gone to churches we had to leave....

so it's not that I fault him on that...but that he made so many "connections" through that church...that I worry with his renouncing his church and his AIPAC TOTAL Support for ISRAEL that he's being "boxed int a corner" and he keeps giving UP who HE IS...to PANDER to the ECLECTION CYCLE.

This is how the "Establishment Neuter's ALL OUR DEM CANDIDATES"...they go after you with a "thousand cuts" so that there's nothing left once you become President. They did it to Carter and to Clinton for TWO TERMS...when do we Dems stop allowing this to happen.

Obama should not be caving so much...in his interest of Unity...because it will bite him in his butt eventually. The Repugs ALWAYS GET BACK what they've TAKEN FROM DEMS...

I want OBAMA TO STOP THIS! If he caves on EVERYTHING SO SOON...what's Left? When will he throw his LEFT UNDER THE BUS...like Carter and Clintons? :shrug:

[stillcool]

25. It is not "Obama's" Church

I think he is doing a favor to the Church. Maybe now they will be left alone. I have to read what he said about AIPAC, before I can comment.

[Ravy]

9. He picked a great day to do it, seriously....

looks like he has controlling the news cycle down. He is up a couple of points today in my book.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

12. AIPAC is afraid that they can't control/rule Obama

regardless that they cannot order him around, they don't have any other complaints against him.

Here:

"Like other powerful lobbies, AIPAC is threatened by Obama’s ability to raise large sums of money from everyday Americans, thus reducing the need of Washington politicians to hold out their tin cups to AIPAC’s legendary network of wealthy donors."

There are new pro peace groups from Israel who are lobbying the US to stop the fighting
and stop the settlements on Palestinian land.

AIPAC has a loud voice, a well funded voice but they are not the only voice.

[Hola]

24. AIPAC will

until his second term. The only Pres who ever was tough on Israel was Eisenhower, and he only could do that because he had just won re-election and wasn't running again.

Jimmy Carter did try to be fair, but AIPAC hated him for that so they switched to Reagan in 1980.

Even Bill only tried to resolve the Israel-Pal issue in his second term, he probably would have leaned on Israel more if Hillary had not been running for the senate and needed AIPAC support.

So Obama will have to follow their line for his first term atleast. Same for McCain & Hillary.

[blonndee]

14. He really didn't have much of a choice.

Also, as much as I agree with the church (the little I've seen, anyway), I don't think church is the place to be politicking, so both Wright and Felgar (sp) were in the wrong, from my point of view. We all strenuously object to the RW fundies advocating for their candidates or against "ours" in their pulpits, and for me this ought to extend to liberal churches as well.

So, as unfortunate as the situation is, I think he made the right decision, as well as the politically expedient one.

[Rose Siding]

15. He resigned from Trinity. That's different than resigning the whole "United Church of Christ"

The resignation was church "home" specific. He could still choose another church in the same conference.

[KoKo]

18. Do you think the Media Whore Pundits and Repugs will get your and my "Nuance" of that?

NO...they don't deal with "conscience" ...look at how the RW treats McClellan who seems to have a personal, moral epiphany...in coming out with his book trashing "the President who Made him."

Repugs will look at Obama "now wearing flag pin," Obama, "now renouncing his church," Obama...saying Israel is the Top Banana in ME and should be protected even if it means MORE TROOPs and NUKING IRAN!"

How much more "pandering" will Obama do to win. And, why should he need to do this since he has millions of "Individual Donors" and is the "darling of our Lefties on Dem side."

Why does he do this? Why does he FEEL he NEEDS to DO THIS? :cry: I don't want another Clinton I and II. Will someone STOP OBAMA and TELL HIM NOT TO KEEP CAVING?

[madrchsod]

19. crap all he has to do is give a three minute

explanation of the exodus from egypt and all will be forgiven. that`s the only one i can think of right now..

[Rose Siding]

23. Did you see his explanation?

It's for the benefit of the church. The members are being scrutinized and dogged by the media.

*This* is exactly the kind of decision that makes me want to donate to him :shrug:

[FarCenter]

22. "Paris is well worth a mass" -- Henry of Navarre

And Washington is worth a yarmulka.

[Beregond2]

26. He didn't resign from UCC,

he resigned from Trinity Chicago. Big difference.