Wright and Obama: What black clergy here think

Democratic presidential front-runner Barack Obama's public rebuke Tuesday of his former pastor was met with strong -- but varied -- reactions by suburban black clergy.

Some consider Obama's condemnation of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright an unfair media machination that distracts voters from true political issues such as the economy and the war. Others complain about the lack of scrutiny of the white candidates' religious advisers. Some believe Obama made the right decision.

The Daily Herald contacted individually the following clergy:

• The Rev. Reginald Blount, Trinity AME Church, Waukegan

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bull; The Rev. Nathaniel Edmond, Second Baptist Church, Elgin

bull; Bishop Keith Russell Lee, Destiny Church of Hoffman Estates

bull; The Rev. James Miller, DuPage AME Church, Lisle

bull; The Rev. Charles Reid III, Bethesda Worship Center, Des Plaines

bull; The Rev. Gerald Wilcoxen, Mount Sinai Baptist Church, North Chicago.

Q:What do you make of the remarks the Rev. Wright has made and the impact it has had on Obama's campaign?

Reid: He's speaking as an individual. People are giving him much more of a platform than perhaps he deserves.

Blount: I don't view Rev. Wright in the same way that is being expressed in the media. I know his church. I know his work.

Wilcoxen: I think the way he said it and the way the media promoted it, it was disturbing.

Lee: To me, it's all political posturing and propaganda to a degree. To me, it's ridiculous that a candidate is being held responsible for the words of his pastor.

Edmond: Wright does not speak for Obama. Obama does not speak for Rev. Wright. And it is time for the media to get to the campaign issues.

Miller: I think that without the election there wouldn't be much controversy.

Q:Do you believe this controversy has racial overtones?

Miller: It's obvious that it has, and that's unfortunate, too. I wish that the statements and situation could be observed in an academic or town hall setting with rules governing emotional outbursts so that rational thoughts could be shared.

Blount: I believe that (Obama) has been placed in a no-win position, and I believe he's answering questions that would not be asked of a candidate of a different hue, so to speak.

Edmond: No other candidate, pastor or religious adviser has been given the same scrutiny. (Former Republican candidate Rudy) Giuliani was not asked about his conflict with the Catholic church. (Former Republican candidate Mitt) Romney was not attacked about the beliefs of his church. (Republican presidential nominee John) McCain was not attacked for (the Rev. Jerry) Falwell's stand on gays.

Reid: I think there is a tenor of racism, and the country is struggling with how it relates to African-American leaders. There are people (in the media) that are allowing this to fester.

Q:Do you believe Obama made the right decision to disavow his former pastor?

Edmond: I agree it was necessary for Obama to make it very clear that his views are different than Rev. Wright. I believe Rev. Wright necessitated the break by his behavior and demeanor over the last few days.

Miller: I think we'll find that out in November.

Blount: I'm feeling that it's very disappointing where Sen. Obama had to make a choice between his pastor and his responsibilities for running for president.

Q:What are your parishioners saying to you about all this?

Lee: This is not news. In the Northwest suburbs the people I pastor that are African-American, Anglo-American, Latino-American, Asian-American -- they are dealing with bigger issues with life. Whether their homes are being foreclosed. #8230; They're dealing if United Airlines are going to lay off, they're dealing with gas prices increasing. And they are looking for spiritual insight to how they are going to make it.

Edmond: The word of God and the need to save souls, care for the needy, help who Jesus called "the least of these" is far greater than the media feeding frenzy of this debate. Yes, we are very politically astute and involved, but it does not dominate our worship experience.

Miller: You know, there's actually not a whole lot of discussion about it. Most of my parishioners support Obama. The controversy that threatens the success of his campaign is a concern, but we know Rev. Wright to be a champion of social justice issues and it's just untimely for those efforts of his to be overshadowed.

Wilcoxen: We want to put this baby behind us and move on.