Obama’s Spiritual Guidance from Evangelical Pastors Since Parting Company with Rev. Wright

Otis Moss III, whose father is one of five pastors who currently provide spiritual guidance to Barack Obama, succeeded Rev. Wright as pastor at Trinity UCC.

Have you been wondering where Barack Obama has been receiving spiritual guidance and support since he parted company with Rev. Wright and Trinity UCC, the Chicago mega church that used tax-exempt dollars to support the Obama candidacy and trash Hillary Clinton from its pulpit?

Laurie Goodstein at the NY Times this morning reports:

President Obama has been without a pastor or a home church ever since he cut his ties to the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. in the heat of the presidential campaign. But he has quietly cultivated a handful of evangelical pastors for private prayer sessions on the telephone and for discussions on the role of religion in politics.

(Perhaps Obama’s fellowship with evangelical pastors explains the similarities of his oratory with that of former civil rights leaders and evangelical preaching – even the cadences are identical.)

All are men, two of them white and three black — including the Rev. Otis Moss Jr., a graying lion of the civil rights movement. Two, the entrepreneurial dynamos Bishop T. D. Jakes and the Rev. Kirbyjon H. Caldwell, also served as occasional spiritual advisers to President George W. Bush. Another, the Rev. Jim Wallis, leans left on some issues, like military intervention and poverty programs, but opposes abortion.

Take note regarding Rev. Otis Moss Jr.:

Mr. Moss’s son is the Rev. Otis Moss III, who succeeded Mr. Wright as pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Mr. Obama’s former church. Mr. Wright and the president are no longer in contact, said several people who know both men.

Rev. Otis Moss III is the pastor in the video featuring guest preacher Father Pfleger in his ugly rant against Hillary Clinton during the Democratic primary. Rev. Otis extends a rousing welcome to Father Pfleger and joins the crowd in its applause for his mockery of Clinton. Moss takes the pulpit to say, “Thank God for the message and thank God for the messenger. Thank God for Father Pfleger.” Watch the video.

We can always hope the son didn’t inherit his bigoted contempt for Hillary Clinton from his father who must have been at least somewhat aware of the impeccable record of both Hillary and Bill Clinton on civil rights throughout their years of public service. But of course, that fact didn’t stop the Obama campaign’s several attempts throughout the Democratic primary to smear the Clintons as racists.

Rev. Wright and Trinity UCC's Repeated Violations of Tax Law Provision 501(c)(3)

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s return to the headlines today reminds me of how Trinity UCC violated tax law provision Section 501(c)(3) during the Democratic primary.

Section 501(c)(3) grants exemption from the federal income tax to non-profit organizations. Churches automatically acquire 501(c)(3) status upon filing of proper organizational documents.

Organizations with this classification are prohibited from conducting political campaign activities to influence elections to public office.

Yet Rev. Wright actively campaigned from Trinity’s pulpit on behalf of Barack Obama while heaping racist and misogynistic scorn on his leading opponent Hillary Clinton (watch video). After Wright retired, his successor, Rev. Otis Moss III, applauded a similar performance by Father Pfleger who brought the house down at Trinity by preaching even more vicious mockery and scorn against Clinton (watch video).

Both Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary and John McCain in the general election were forbidden by the Obama camp, the DNC, and their media allies to even mention the trash talk from Trinity’s pulpit or to suggest the church had forfeited its tax exempt status by its political activities.

Yesterday, Dec. 7, Rev. Wright returned to Trinity to preach for the first time since his retirement. The Christian Post’s Jennifer Riley reports that Rev. Wright did not steer clear of politics:

“Reflecting on the Christmas season, Wright gave a message in which he cited the story of Mary and the angel Gabriel, who told her she would bear a child to be the son of God. Wright compared Mary’s disbelief to similar doubts by some about the future of Trinity Church after his retirement and the likelihood of electing the first black U.S. president.

“Our legitimate questions tend to be asked from the vantage point of limited horizons,” said Wright. “Mary had a limited horizon. She couldn’t see how it was possible.”

Riley also reported:

“During the Sunday services (three were held), Wright also defended his right as a preacher to critique the government, pointing out that the biblical figure Luke had criticized the Roman government.

‘“Any preacher who dares to point out the simple ugly facts found in every field imaginable is demonized as volatile, controversial, incendiary, inflammatory, anti-American and radical,’ Wright complained.”’

That generality is false, of course. Ministers of both black and white churches avoid breaking the law by not supporting candidates for public office while regularly speaking out on behalf of social justice issues. For example, the congregation where I was a member at the time almost unanimously signed a petition opposing the invasion of Iraq.

I continue to wonder, though, why no one has called Trinity UCC to account for violating tax law provision Section 501(c)(3).

Does anyone out there have the answer?

In his Timely Re-emergence on Thursday, Rev. Wright Takes a Shot at the Media

Given the hate-mongering misogyny that emanated from Trinity UCC during the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s tenure there, it’s hard to take seriously anything Wright says months after Barack Obama separated himself from his former pastor. Nevertheless, Wright has managed to make a public appearance at a forum in Connecticut just two days after the election, knowing full well he’d steal at least part of the limelight from Obama.

Rev. Wright’s credibility for me was permanently damaged when I first watched the video of his vicious trashing of Hillary Clinton from the pulpit of Trinity UCC. Later on, I was shocked by Father Pfleger’s scornful mockery of Clinton from that same pulpit.

The Rev. Susan Thistlethwaite, president of the Chicago Seminary (UCC) and also a member of Trinity, was not to be outdone by Wright or Pfleger. Rev. Thistlethwaite abused her office in her post at On Faith (Washington Post) in which she used a Bible story to demonize Sen. Clinton even further.

Not one to miss an opportunity, Wright used his recent appearance to take a shot at the media. Gregory Hladky of the NY Times reports:

‘“In response to questions from the audience, Mr. Wright, who has made few public appearances since his controversial remarks prompted Mr. Obama to distance himself from him in the spring, said the news media had taken many statements from his sermons out of context in an effort to damage Mr. Obama. ‘Their intent was to use me as a weapon of mass destruction to destroy that man’s candidacy,’ he said.”’

As a seminary graduate who has served as an ordained minister, it’s my understanding that any church that supports a political candidate from its pulpit could lose its tax-exempt status. I wonder how Trinity UCC stands on that issue.

The Rapid Decline of Obama’s Favorability Ratings

Photo credits: blogs.bet.com

Dan Harris and Olivia Sterns at ABC News on Monday discuss the effects from the latest firestorm emanating from Trinity UCC in Chicago on Obama’s favorability ratings:

“The racially inflammatory remarks of a second preacher connected to Sen. Barack Obama have reignited a divisive racial debate that undermines his candidacy's unifying theme and appears to be hurting his chances in the general election this fall.”

Harris and Sterns quote NPR’s Juan Williams:

‘“People identify Obama as young, energetic, telegenic, intelligent, talking about change and unifying the races. Then the second thing that comes to mind is, 'Gee, what about this Rev. Wright? What about Father Pfleger? Why is he associated with these people who are so inflammatory and mean-spirited and even racial?”’

Williams added:

‘“Barack Obama's favorability ratings have been sinking, especially with the swing voters as we head toward the general election: white women, Jews, Latinos; it's a real problem," Williams said.”

Harris and Sterns cite the numbers:

“A recent Pew poll shows that the Democratic presidential candidate's lead has slimmed dramatically to 47-to-44 percent in a hypothetical general election matchup against presumptive GOP nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona. The tightening coincides with a dip in Obama's favorability ratings, which have slipped 8 percentage points to 51 percent since late February, just before the Wright controversy broke.”

Read the entire Harris and Sterns article here.

Democratic Party Leaders Rally Behind the Weaker Candidate

Dems dominate the headlines in Puerto Rico, Washington DC, and South Dakota:

Clinton Expected to Win Big in Puerto Rico Today

From the Trail (Washington Post):

“The Obama campaign has said consistently that it expected to lose the primary here, given Clinton's popularity with Hispanic voters and the high profile she established on the island during her husband's presidency. A poll released last week by the Democratic firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, conducted for the Puerto Rican newspaper El Vocero and the television network Univision, found that among all Puerto Rican adults, Clinton led Obama 55 percent to 42 percent, with the remainder undecided. But among those who said they were certain to vote, Clinton's lead expanded to 59 percent, compared with 40 percent for Obama.”

Clinton Campaign’s Statement on Results of Rules and Bylaws Committee Meeting

The Clinton Campaign deserves the final word about the action taken yesterday by the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee to resolve the Michigan and Florida dilemma. Pointing out the violation of the Committee's own rules and its flagrant disrespect for Michigan voters, Harold Ickes and Tina Flournoy issued the following statement:

"Today’s results are a victory for the people of Florida who will have a voice in selecting our Party’s nominee and will see its delegates seated at our party’s convention. The decision by the Rules and Bylaws Committee honors the votes that were cast by the people of Florida and allocates the delegates accordingly.

"We strongly object to the Committee’s decision to undercut its own rules in seating Michigan’s delegates without reflecting the votes of the people of Michigan.

"The Committee awarded to Senator Obama not only the delegates won by Uncommitted, but four of the delegates won by Senator Clinton. This decision violates the bedrock principles of our democracy and our Party.

"We reserve the right to challenge this decision before the Credentials Committee and appeal for a fair allocation of Michigan’s delegates that actually reflect the votes as they were cast."

Word from Clinton Supporters

Clinton’s supporters aren’t taking the Michigan resolution lightly. Taylor Marsh begins her response:

"Dear Rules and Bylaw Committee Power Brokers

"@(*D!!!#!

"*(!#!!!$%!!*@!!

"Whew, I needed to get that out before beginning.

"Could you be more out of touch? Seriously. Have you not talked to any Hillary Clinton supporters, read their emails in your inbox?

"For 4 lousy delegates? How small are you people? Could you not understand what was swirling enough to allow Clinton her due in Michigan? Four lousy delegates?"

Read More.

The Obamas Withdraw Their Membership From Trinity UCC

In response to the latest widely circulated, videotaped outrage at his Chicago church, Barack Obama announced in South Dakota last night that he and his wife Michele have withdrawn their membership from Trinity United Church of Christ.

I just watched the video of Obama’s statement delivered at a podium somewhat ironically bearing his mantra, “Change We Can Believe In.”

I got the impression that Obama was far more annoyed with the public outrage at Father Pfleger’s mockery of Hillary Clinton from the pulpit than he was with Father Pfleger, his friend and long-time supporter on the Chicago political scene.

Obama described Pfleger’s remarks about Clinton as “unfair,” which seems to drastically understate the cruelty of the priest’s racially charged sexist diatribe.

Obama also used the occasion to reaffirm his respect for Otis Moss, Rev. Wright’s successor at Trinity. Recall that following Pfleger’s sermon last Sunday, Moss stepped up to the pulpit and told his wildly cheering congregation that we "thank God for the message and for the messenger." In case you missed it, watch Father Pfleger in action here, and watch Obama’s statement here.

As Rules Committee Meets, Clinton Poised for Blowout Win in Puerto Rico

Photo credits: Getty Images

As the Democrats' Rules Committee meets today in Washington to resolve the Michigan and Florida dispute, the latest poll in Puerto Rico shows Hillary Clinton may be poised for another blowout win over Barack Obama this Sunday.

CNN reports:

“According to the new survey conducted for the newspaper El Vocero and Univision, Clinton is leading Obama there 51 percent to 38 percent among all adults in the primary.

“The poll also show 52 percent of Puerto Ricans view Clinton favorably while 42 percent view Obama favorably.

“The survey was conducted May 8-20. Given the length of the survey time, it is possible it may not reflect the current views of Puerto Ricans since both candidates have visited the island since the polling began, and other recent developments on the campaign trail may have swayed voters' minds there.

“Her popularity on the island caught the attention of one of the island's most famous pop stars Thursday.

‘“Ricky Martin endorsed Clinton for the Democratic nomination, saying, ‘Whether fighting for better education, universal health care and social well-being, as first lady and senator from New York -- representing millions of Latinos -- she has always fought for what is most important for our families.”’

Other developments since the latest poll taken in Puerto Rico might include Father Pfleger’s outrageous performance at Trinity UCC caught on video last Sunday.

In today’s Boston Globe, Scott Helman recaps: ‘“Just as he tries to begin uniting a fractured Democratic Party, Senator Barack Obama is suffering from another damaging outburst from the pulpit of his longtime church, where outspoken Chicago priest Michael L. Pfleger said in a guest sermon last Sunday that Senator Hillary Clinton was a ‘white’ and ‘entitled’ politician staggered to see ‘a black man stealing my show.”’

It remains to be seen how much the latest scandal emanating from Obama’s church will influence voters in the final three Democratic primaries: Puerto Rico on Sunday and Montana and South Dakota this coming Tuesday.

USA Today Has More on Father Pfleger

Ken Dilanian at USA Today has more on the Rev. Michael Pfleger. Dilanian reports that “the left-leaning Chicago Catholic priest who ridiculed Hillary Rodham Clinton this week in a racially-charged speech from the pulpit of Barack Obama's church, has contributed to Obama's state Senate campaigns, backed his ill-fated run for Congress and stumped for him in Iowa.”

Dilanian goes on to say:

“The episode has become fodder for right-wing bloggers and commentators, who call it the latest example of Obama's association with extremist views. Pfleger is a longtime Obama supporter who, until recently, served on a Catholics for Obama committee. Pfleger embraced the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama's longtime pastor, even after Wright's controversial comments led the Democratic presidential candidate to disavow him.”

Additionally, Dilanian reports:

“Obama's spokesman, Ben LaBolt, was unable to say when Obama last spoke to Pfleger. LaBolt said Pfleger stepped down from the Catholics for Obama committee a few weeks ago, but he could not say why.

“He confirmed that Obama steered a $100,000 state grant in 2000 to a Pfleger-affiliated community program.

“Pfleger contributed $1,500 to Obama's state Senate campaigns from 1995-2001, Illinois records show.

“In 1999, Pfleger broke with many of Chicago's Democrats and supported Obama in his losing attempt to unseat U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush.

“Last year, Pfleger invited the Rev. Louis Farrakhan to speak at his church, St. Sabina, which encompasses a large, inner city African American parish.

‘“In response to the latest flap, Colleen Dolan, a spokesman for Cardinal Francis George's office told the Chicago Sun-Times: ‘The cardinal has made it clear to Father Pfleger in the past on more than one occasion that it's inappropriate to speak about political issues from the pulpit and that his own personal opinions are his own personal opinions.”’

Once can only conclude from watching the video of Pfleger’s tirade last Sunday, that many in the Trinity UCC congregation share the priest’s opinions; they rose from their seats repeatedly to applaud and shout their approval.

On Faith’s Berlinblau Names Pfleger the Finalist in Trinity’s Video Competition

It’s not surprising that Jaques Berlinerblau blogging at On Faith (Washington Post/Newsweek) has chimed in on the Father Pfleger controversy ignited by a rapidly circulating video of the Father’s Hillary bashing from the Trinity UCC pulpit last Sunday. Berlinerblau has little patience with this latest episode in the saga of Barack Obama’s faith journey in the Christian tradition:

“By the time you finish watching this YouTube video (which had about 95,000 showings as of this morning) it will be well on its way to reaching: 1) its one billionth viewing, and, 2) its one millionth close reading by Clinton and McCain staffers.

“The action took place last Sunday at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. Yes. That Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago! This time, however, the valedictory is made not by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, but by a white Chicago Catholic priest by the name of Rev. Michael Pfleger.

“During his sermon, Father Pfleger mocked Hillary Clinton's tears before the New Hampshire primary. He opines that she cried because she felt "entitled" because she is white "and there's a black man stealing my show.' Father Pfleger apologized late Thursday for the remarks, saying his sermon was "inconsistent with Senator Obama's life and message.’

“But by delivering his remarks, Father Pfleger seems to have officially submitted his entry to the What Else Can We At Trinity Do to Further Assure that the United States Does Not Have Its First African-American President Any Time Soon? video competition. And this application has ‘Finalist’ marked all over it.”

Read More:

Obama Supporter: “I guess we’re just not nice people”

There are a few of us who continue to be shocked by the comments by Obama supporters who swarm the message boards across the internet. I picked up the comment
below from the Huffington Post this morning. The writer was responding to the video of Father Pfleger’s tirade against Hillary Clinton last Sunday at Obama’s church, Trinity UCC.

“Father Pfleger was so funny. I swear I tried to be appalled but I couldn't hold back the laughter. Neither could my husband. I guess we're just not nice people.

“Independent for Obama 08”

I guess not.

Clinton Campaign Statement on Father Pfleger’s Offensive Comments

Watching the videotape of Father Pfleger’s diatribe last Sunday against Hillary Clinton at Obama’s church, it’s apparent the congregation grooves with their guest preacher’s politicized sermon; they laugh boisterously, applaud, stand up, and shout approval.

Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ, led until recently by Rev. Jeremiah Wright, is where Barack and Michele Obama have been members for 20 years. The Democratic party’s presumptive nominee, rapidly approaching coronation, stepped out of that religious context to present himself as a post-racial candidate with the power to unite the nation.

Following this latest embarrassment by one of his religious mentors, Obama issued a lukewarm statement of regret for Pfleger’s outrageous performance from behind Trinity’s pulpit.

Not surprisingly, the Clinton campaign – probably still in shock from this latest demonstration of bad faith by Obama supporters – has deemed his apology inadequate:

Here’s the statement issued by Howard Wolfson, Clinton’s communication director:

"Divisive and hateful language like that is totally counterproductive in our efforts to bring our party together and has no place at the pulpit or in our politics. We are disappointed that Senator Obama didn't specifically reject Father Pflegler's despicable comments about Senator Clinton, and assume he will do so.”

In the run-up to the DNC Rules Committee meeting this Saturday and the party’s last three primaries, Obama and company has already been planning its strategy against John McCain in the general election.

Once again – and with good reason - Clinton supporters are shouting, “Not so fast!”

Obama Apologizes for Pastor’s Mockery of “White” Hillary

Jeff Zeleny posts this afternoon at the Caucus (NY Times):

“Senator Barack Obama apologized on Thursday for new controversial statements delivered from the pulpit of his Chicago church. This time, the words were not from his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., but rather from a Catholic priest who was mocking Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.”

The Catholic priest was Father Michael Pfleger who was videotaped last Sunday at Trinity United Church of Christ. Watch the video here.

Zeleny reports:

‘“Mr. Obama, through a statement released to reporters, said he was ‘deeply disappointed.’

‘“As I have traveled this country, I’ve been impressed by not what divides us, but by all that that unites us,’ Mr. Obama said. ‘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.’

Apparently Father Pfleger also apologized:

‘“Mr. Pfleger, who is the pastor of Saint Sabina Catholic Church in Chicago, a largely black congregation, said he regretted the words he preached last Sunday.

‘“These words are inconsistent with Senator Obama’s life and message, and I am deeply sorry if they offended Senator Clinton or anyone else who saw them,’ he said in a statement released to reporters by his church.”

Father Pfleger is sorry if his words offended Senator Clinton…

Father Pfleger Mocks “Entitled” and “White” Hillary at Trinity UCC

After calling white America to account for the sins of its ancestors, Father Michael Pfleger mocks "entitled" and "white" Hillary Clinton at Trinity United Church of Christ. Seeing is believing: Lynn Sweet has posted the video at her blog; to watch Father Pfleger in action, go here.