Thursday morning, Obama and his wife, Michelle, appeared on the "Today Show." In a joint interview with Meredith Vieira, they denounced Rev. Wright. Barack Obama said:I think that the sequence of events was the right one, because this is somebody who had married Michelle and I; who had baptized our children. When those first snippets came out, I thought it was important to give him the benefit of the doubt. If I had wanted to be politically expedient, I would have distanced myself and denounced him right away. Right? That would have been the easy thing to do.Michelle Obama added:
We hear time and time again that voters are tired of this. They don't want to hear about this division. They want to know what are we going to do to move beyond these issues. What made me so proud of Barack in this situation is that he is trying to move us as a nation beyond these conversations that divide us so deeply.Meanwhile, a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found that 32 percent of respondents have "major problems" with Obama's ties to Rev. Wright.
Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, a Hillary Clinton supporter, warns that if Obama is the nominee, Republicans will use those ties to "swift-boat" him. Bayh told the Washington Post:
You're running for president and people want to get a sense of who you are, and when you're new to the public stage you're a little more susceptible to having the canvas painted in by your political opponents.It may be too late for Obama to distance himself from the audacious Rev. Wright. Six weeks ago in his speech on race in Philadelphia, he said:
As imperfect as he may be, he has been like family to me. ...I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community.Still, with polls showing him losing ground, Obama threw Wright under the bus.
Obama's
"You Said It!" on BV Members Rev. Wright
"After viewing his latest speaking engagements, I have to admit, I'm a slightly embarrassed but highly disappointed in fact that it appears as if he doesn't give a darn about Obama becoming America's FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT! His comments seem a bit hostile toward Obama, a man I thought he loved. His timing for speaking out seems 'out of season' and I have to question the TRUE motives of Rev. Wright at this point." - bettyboo2687
Getty
"What do you think is Rev. Wright's motive for speaking in the manner that he is speaking right now in public? To cause Obama harm!!!!" - MizzDelaney
Getty
"His comments are not hostile towards anyone and he does love Obama that is why he is speaking out the people who started this nonsense are the ones who don't give a darn about Obama. why people can't understand that I do not know why." - gilcrease11
Getty
"If you want to know what Wright meant you should ask him. Obama is not his top priority. His top priority is too God, himself and his flock. ( Yes I know that he has retired.)" - nsimone
Getty
"I know I am going to catch heck for this but so be it!!!! I think Wright wants to have his say and if I were in his shoes, I would also want to clear my name. However, Wright before this fiasco was an unknown( outside of Chicago) retiring minister. Now he is probably the most well known black minister in this country. He rarely made the front page of the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper now he's on the front page of most newspapers and covered in magazines. He will get paid speaking engagements and interviews." - pecanmermaid
Reuters
"Rev. Wright showed out for the cameras. People keep saying that he should speak out in his own defense but when you defend yourself, it should help you not hurt you more.He had a wonderful platform to defend himself and his legacy but he chose to act for the cameras." - addedtouchll
Reuters


1. Rev. Wright needs to seek Jesus. His speeches are him being stuck in the 60's. Jesus forgive all of us. Rev. Wright is teaching hatred and truly doesn't know history. His comment on Aids is so profound and out of touch. I cant believe that half of the things he is saying that he believes them himself. Rev. Wright needs to do so research and stop trying to become a bootleg polictian go to theologian school. It is sad that this is 2008 and we still have people stuck in the early 50's and late 60's with racism. This is the behavior that Senator Obama is talking about it is time for a change. It's time for the young generation to take over and move this country forward. It's time for the O'Reily's, Hillary, Ferraro, and all others that are stuck in the 50's, 60's and dealing with their on racial bias to allow them to stay stuck. Let the young generation take American and build this country where we can have jobs, health care, retire someday, and not have poverty control our schools, communities and becoming the working poor class as our parents were and still is today. LET'S MOVE FORWARD.
SENATOR OBAMA 08
jane at 11:01AM on May 1st 2008