Politics

Obama In Chicago Spends Evening On Damage Control

Obama Decries His Pastor's 'Inflammatory' Comments; Reveals Full Extent Of Rezko Fundraising

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Sen. Barack Obama is back home in Chicago. He met Friday with the editorial boards of both major Chicago newspapers.

CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports Obama was trying to put out one fire while stopping another from spreading. He spent the evening on damage control, stopping to talk to CBS 2 after a stop at the Tribune to clarify his dealings with indicted developer and political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko.

He'd told the Tribune that Rezko had helped raise $250,000 for his first three political campaigns. The campaign had previously put the figure at $150,000 but now says that amount was only for Obama's 2004 Senate race.

But, he told MSNBC, "There's nothing in my relationship with Mr. Rezko that in any way relates to the corruption trial he's involved in right now."

Obama admits Rezko was a significant fundraiser; and friend, but claimed he got no discount on his Hyde Park home because Rezko bought the adjacent lot from the same developer for a lot more money.

In interviews with the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times, the Democrat again said it was a judgment lapse to involve Rezko in his purchase of a new home.

The Illinois senator says it was a mistake not just because Rezko was being investigated by federal prosecutors but because he was a contributor and political activist.

But it was his pastor, Jeremiah Wright, his so-called "sounding board" and source of inspiration, who's bringing more heat on Obama Friday.

As CBS 2's Mike Parker reports, the comments of Wright are suddenly all over the Internet, the cable news channels and talk radio. In a masterpiece of understatement Friday's Chicago Tribune calls them "controversial."

Obama said, "I have never heard those kinds of statements made when I was in the pews. They were brought to my attention. Those statements were beyond the pale. They don't reflect me, don't reflect what I believe in."

Wright is about to retire and no longer preaches, but his past sermons are coming back to haunt Obama.

"Governments lie about inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color," Wright had said.

Obama, a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, is decrying statements by its former pastor. Obama says they are "inflammatory, appalling remarks about our country, our politics and my political opponents."

Consider one of Wright's final sermons, where Obama's race -- something his campaign considers off limits -- is cited as a reason for supporting Obama.

"Barack knows that it means to be a black man living in a country and a culture controlled by rich white men," Wright said. "Hillary can never know that. Hillary hasn't ever been called a n-----."

Wright also charged that former President Bill Clinton has "not been good" to black people.

"Bill did us just like he did Monica Lewinsky," Wright said.

Illinois State Rep. Monique Davis (D-27th) is a member of Wright's former congregation. She says that some comments like using a profane expletive invoking God have been taken out of context.

"I don't think he meant God d--- America but I think he feels disappointed sometimes in the way America has acted in the past," Davis said.

Obama says the Wright comments have "pained and angered" him. He's calling on Americans to judge him on his values, judgment and experience, not what someone else has said.

Asked what the wisdom of using Wright as a sounding board Obama said, "Those aren't the conversations I've had with him."

"That doesn't detract from the real problem of those statements and I have to be as unequivocal as possible in saying they do not reflect my beliefs," he added.

The Rev. Wright is a respected theologian. Obama said he came to him for moral guidance. Now that he's heard or heard about those statements, he's removed him his spiritual advisory committee, calling the statements inflammatory and appalling.

Rev. Wright has been unavailable for comment.

CBS 2's Mike Parker and Jay Levine, and the Associated Press, contributed to this report.

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