[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/04/25/art.rev.wright.ap.jpg caption=" Rev. Jeremiah Wright."]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Just when it seemed like the controversy surrounding Barack Obama and the Reverend Jeremiah Wright was dying down it's back. Reverend Wright is now speaking out for the first time since the story broke.
Wright, who was Barack Obama's pastor, was thrust into the political debate a couple of months ago when clips from some fiery sermons he has given in the past suddenly appeared on YOUTUBE and immediately afterwards almost continuously on television. The controversy forced Barack Obama to give a speech on race relations which seemed to quiet things down.
Now, in an interview tonight on PBS, Wright says the repeated airing of these sound bites is "unfair" and "devious." He doesn't apologize for anything he said. Obama has called Wright's words wrong- and has said that they "express a profoundly distorted view of this country."
When asked how he feels about what Senator Obama has been saying about him- Wright said quote:
"It went down very simply. He's a politician, I'm a pastor. We speak to two different audiences. And he says what he has to say as a politician. I say what I have to say as a pastor. But they're two different worlds." unquote
This isn't all we can expect to hear from Jeremiah Wright. He is scheduled to speak at the National Press Club on Monday and is the keynote speaker at an NAACP dinner in Detroit this weekend.
This is all happening while North Carolina Republicans are airing an ad in their state focused on the Obama-Wright relationship.
Here’s my question to you: Does Rev. Wright speaking out now help or hurt Barack Obama?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Lindy from California writes:
I think the interview could help, if it makes people slow down and be more curious about who this person really is. I was initially shocked by the Wright sound bites, but I knew that there was more to the story. Today, I took Roland Martin's suggestion and listened to the complete post 9/11 sermon–and I suggest that you and your media buddies do the same. The sermon is nothing like the sound bite. For most of the 35-minute sermon, I found it to be very moving and even healing.
J.T. from Atlanta writes:
Excuse me Rev. Right is off his rocker, huh?? Ask the Bell family. Sean Bell was killed in a hail of 50 gunshots and today a judge found the three New York cops involved innocent. Until you live 24 hours in someone else's shoes, mainstream America has no earthly clue. I hope Barack doesn't go to any black church in America this weekend because it will certainly be headline news on Monday. Most will be preaching from Rev. Wright's script.
Brad from West Lafayette, IN writes:
It certainly does not help him right now in his fight with Senator Clinton as it makes it headline news again. It could, however, help in the general election against Senator McCain because it may bring a sense of closure to the issue now.
Chuck from Alabama writes:
Every time he utters Obama's name, he hurts him. His comment about them speaking to "two audiences" is intriguing. Who does he see as the members of those two audiences? As I understand it, the word of God is for all of us and anyone trying to be the leader of "all of US ought to be speaking to all of us.
Francie from Greenville, South Carolina writes:
My guess is it's because he missed the excitement of the media attention which suddenly died down. Being in the "resurrection business," he wants to resurrect his fleeing celebrity. It's as though he used his pulpit for performances- peppering his sermons with controversial issues which attracted even more churchgoers. Hallelujah! – pass the basket.