Obama on pastor: If he hadn't left, I would have
March 28th 2008 AP
Barack Obama with his longtime pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright of Trinity United Church of Christ, in Chicago. The candidate now says he would have left the church if the Rev. hadn't retired.
WASHINGTON - Democrat Barack Obama seemed to suggest in an interview aired Friday that his former pastor has acknowledged that his controversial remarks were inappropriate and hurtful, although there are no public accounts of the minister having done so.
Obama discussed his relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright on ABC's "The View," which was taped Thursday and aired Friday.
"Had the reverend not retired and had he not acknowledged that what he had said had deeply offended people and were inappropriate and mischaracterized what I believe is the greatness of this country, for all its flaws, then I wouldn't have felt comfortable staying there at the church," Obama said.
Obama spokesman Bill Burton said the senator's remarks did not imply that Wright has expressed misgivings about his statements.
Sen. Obama was clearly saying that were Rev. Wright not retiring, he would need to be assured that the reverend understood why what he had said had deeply offended people and mischaracterized the greatness of this country," Burton said.
Wright, who officiated at Obama's wedding and his been his spiritual mentor for years, recently retired from the
In a highly publicized speech last week, Obama sharply condemned Wright's remarks. But he did not leave the church or repudiate the minister himself, who he said was like a family member.
Like that other ole' boy said when he was caught in the act: "Who are you goin' to believe, me or your lying eyes?"

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