Politics played no role in the decision to invite Rev. Jeremiah Wright to appear Monday at the National Press Club, the club said in a statement Tuesday evening.
Club president Sylvia Smith said Wright was invited because he's in the news, not because his remarks might hurt the campaign of Barack Obama.
“Let me re-emphasize that the people who are invited to address a Press Club luncheon receive their invitations because of their news value," Smith said. "We do not in any way try to advance or impair a candidate’s campaign. The Rev. Wright became newsworthy in the context of the Clinton-Obama campaign. The National Press Club wishes to hear from and question newsworthy people. Therefore, Wright was invited to be a speaker.”
Smith was responding to a report that Wright's appearance was organized by a club member who supports Hillary Clinton.
She said Wright was actually first proposed as a speaker two years ago - long before his inflammatory sermons became an embarassment to Obama. She also said that the Clinton supporter who organized the luncheon was playing a routine role, acting as the club's contact person with the guest, rather than the mastermind of the appearance.
Of course this was a Hillary devised concoction to shed a negative light on Senator Obama. But guess what Hillary, every trap you set for Obama with be to your demise. Now that's biblical!!
Posted by: nuday | April 30, 2008 at 04:47 AM
It just may be that all of the negatives coming from the Clinton campaign and the Republicans will backfire in their respective faces. Our country loves the underdog and Senator Obama may just survive the current load of offal being flung at him; weathering it all and burying both McCain and Clinton.
So let's just wait and see. In any event, Senator Obama's inspiring campaign to stem the tide of Washington drech which constantly threatens to drown all of us has brought to attention the kind of change which needs to take place.
Posted by: Christine | April 30, 2008 at 11:32 AM
We need to finally choose candidates according to their character and their record. We voted Bush in and look what we go in return. We need a candidate that shows leadership and tell the American people the truth. Obama 08
Posted by: Jack | May 01, 2008 at 03:28 AM