McCain Criticizes Obama’s Former Pastor’s Remarks

Senator John McCain stated it was, “beyond belief,” that Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., related the Romans at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion to the Marines and had suggested that the United States was acting like Al Qaeda under a different color flag. McCain, until now, had avoided speaking about the controversy of Mr. Wright’s sermons. He says he wanted a “respectful” campaign and even called on the North Carolina Republican Party to pull an advertisement that focuses on Mr. Wright. McCain understands why people are upset and angry with Wright’s remarks. He also said that he did not believe that Democrat of Illinois, Mr. Obama, agreed with views of Mr. Wright, but that he made it fair game to discuss as “a legitimate political issue,” after his interview shown on Fox News Sunday. The Obama campaign accused McCain of breaking his promise to have a respectful campaign. They said, “By sinking to a level that he specifically said he’s avoid, he has broken his word to the American people and rendered hollow his promise of a respectful campaign.” At a recent news conference, McCain said he still did not believe the advertisement pertaining to Wright should run, but he would not continue to try to be “the referee.” There are some Republicans that have worried that by not using the Wright controversy; McCain was denying himself a potentially potent weapon.

I think that McCain does have a place to comment or put in his opinion, however, not after he stated that he wasn’t going to. I believe that once you make a statement like that, publicly, you should stick to it. He said he would not comment on the Wright controversy and he should have gone with it. To be honest though, I do not even think it should be an issue at all for this campaign. Wright should have his freedom of speech to preach about what he wants and Obama should have his freedom to have practiced his religion with Wright if he wanted to. It’s not really of anyone else’s business.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/us/politics/28campaign.html?scp=5&sq=&st=nyt