Gov. Mike Easley said the Rev. Jeremiah Wright will not be an issue for North Carolina voters.
Easley appeared on Wolf Blitzer's CNN Late Edition with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. Easley supports Hillary Clinton. Richardson supports Barack Obama. Blitzer asked Easley about Wright, Obama's controversial former pastor, according to a transcript of the show.
EASLEY: It's not going to be an issue in North Carolina in the primary. We don't take that race state. We know the Republicans down here, maybe you don't know that Republicans are running ads on that already and trying to -- some are trying to tie it to our Democrats running for governor to replace me. But it will be an issue in the fall if he's the nominee. But it's not going to be in this primary. And Senator Clinton has not tried to make any political gain out of it. I admire her character for that.
The most important thing, I think, is that Senator Obama finally did what he had to do. He has two competing interests here. He's got a spiritual adviser and friend for 20 years on one hand. On the other hand, he's got a man who said some things that he just cannot condone, needed to denounce.
Those are the kind of tough decisions you have to make in politics and in executive positions. I think he made the right one this week. But it's not going to -- it's not going to be an issue.
The only thing I want people to understand is that the African- American churches in North Carolina, this is not emblematic of that. They are -- they're welcoming, they're open, they're uplifting. It's based on scripture. It's about forgiving God, a good god and I don't want people across the country to get the wrong idea about the African-American churches.
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Obama on Wright – A Profile in Cowardice
There is a huge difference between language in sermons that expresses the pain and anger felt in the hearts of many African Americans, and other people of color, and language that crosses the line into "hate speech." Rev. Wright's "hate speech" had continued for an extended period of time during his association with the Obamas.
It was disingenuous of Barack Obama to claim otherwise.
In addition to this lack of honesty, Barack Obama's delayed, protracted response to the reverend's remarks made evident that Barack Obama is not endowed with the kind of J.F.K.–style leadership ability that so many of his highly visible supporters have bestowed upon him.
Barack Obama was not willing to do what was right in the face of great political risk. If he had, he wouldn't have waited until Philadelphia to denounce Rev. Wright's "hate speech" -- a time when there was greater political risk to remain silent about it than there was to speak out against it. He remained silent when it was to his advantage to do so and he spoke up when it was to his advantage to do so. Moreover, Barack Obama waited to reject the good reverend himself until it was of absolute political necessity.
This should not go unnoticed. It does not signify moral leadership ability. It signifies cowardice not courage -- it was a Profile in Cowardice. More importantly, it portrays the kind of leadership we can expect from him if he becomes the president. UGHH . . . the thought is appalling!!!