Father Pfleger, Obama’s Longtime Confidante and Adviser, Is Back at St. Sabina
By SusanUnPC on June 23, 2008 at 3:30 PM in Alexi Giannoulias, Anti-Semitism, Barack Obama, Black nationalism, David Axelrod, Father Michael Pfleger, Jewish voters, Minister Louis Farrakhan, Nation of Islam, Rev. James Meeks, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., Rev. Michael Pfleger, Rev. Otis Moss, William Ayers, black liberation theology
Ultimately, this is an article about Barack Obama’s oft-vaunted judgment. Finally, this article poses the question if Barack Obama truly has the judgment to be nominated to be the Democratic party’s presidential candidate.
First, here is video of Father Michael Pfleger on June 22, 2008, at St. Sabina in Chicago:
Despite the “Statement of Cardinal Francis George” on May 30, 2008 — “concerning remarks of Fr. Michael Pfleger about Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton during an address at Trinity United Church of Christ on Sunday May 25, 2008″ — Father Michael Pfleger, a radical activist priest, was permitted to return yesterday, after a three-week suspension, to his St. Sabina parish in Chicago.
Always the self-aggrandizing showman, Fr. Pfleger made a grand entrance — invoking the image of legendary boxing champion Muhammad Ali.
St. Sabina’s ushers distributed “light-blue fliers with a silhouette of boxing great Muhammad Ali in fighting stance that read: ‘Ain’t nothing like a comeback’.” The congregation rose to its feet, cheering Fr. Pfleger on as if he were entering a Las Vegas boxing arena for the championship fight of his life.
So what, you ask. Here’s why it matters: Fr. Michael Pfleger is a decades-long intimate confidante and associate of Barack Obama — as well as Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, Mother Khadijah Farrakhan (Farrakhan’s wife, seen here with Michelle Obama), the homophobic Rev. James Meeks, Trinity’s new minister Otis Moss, and more.
Exhibit One attesting to the Obama/Pfleger closeness:
In April and May, when Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Barack Obama became estranged, it was Father Pfleger who spoke directly with and counseled both men, frequently. (It is astonishing, to me, that a presumptive presidential nominee would take regular phone calls from Fr. Pfleger, but it is true, according to Chicago media.)
Exhibit Two attesting to Pfleger’s involvement in the Rev. Wright/Obama saga:
Fox News’s Greta Van Susteran reported, on several shows, that she ran into Father Pfleger at Washington, D.C.’s National Press Club, during Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s now infamous Q&A, after which Obama finally severed ties publicly with the Reverend who “is like a father to me.” (At whose behest did Father Pfleger fly to Washington, D.C. for the press club appearance? And why?)
Further, Father Pfleger created quite a group for St. Sabina’s fundraising committee, including Chicago mayor Richard Daley, Illinois state treasurer Alexei Giannoulias, and — get this — Obama’s chief strategist David Axelrod.
From Truthteller’s “Saint Sabina Raises the Roof on Obama’s Den of Political Tricks and Corruption [Update]“:
[V]iew some of the names on this list of fundraisers:
- Richard Daley, the corrupt Obama backer behind
the Hired Truck Scandal, an elaborate network of cronyism and corruption that rocked Chicago City Hall in 2004, 2005 and 2006;
- David Axelrod, Lead Strategist of the Obama campaign and Political Consultant to Richard “Hired Truck” Daley who also served as Consultant for Exelon, the Illinois nuclear giant whose lobbyists convinced Obama not to regulate companies that contaminated groundwater with radioactive toxic waste; and
- Illinois state Treasurer Alexei Giannoulias, whose bank, the Broadway Bank, granted loans to known mobsters and to indicted political fixer and Obama patron Antoin “Tony” Rezko.
Father Michael Pfleger used to be featured on Barack Obama’s official Web site section for “Faith Testimonials.” Larry Johnson displayed the screenshot of Pfleger’s endorsement — now removed, of course, from Obama’s site — in his April story, “What Would Tip O’Neill Do About Barack’s Pastors? [Updated].”
Fr. Pfleger’s endorsement of Barack Obama is on Obama’s official Web site:
(Click on the image to see the full-sized screenshot of Pfleger’s endorsement [formerly] proudly displayed by Barack Obama.)
Barack Obama’s campaign staff hurriedly removed Father Pfleger’s testimonial after Larry Johnson’s story appeared.
Just as they’ve removed numerous other sections of their Web site when the material was exposed and became embarrassing to the Obama campaign.
These “now you see it, now you don’t” stunts ought to concern every voter.
Why on earth would the Obama campaign post the testimonial of a known radical priest who hangs out regularly — and constantly praises — Minister Louis Farrakhan, a known anti-Semite and black separationist?
What kind of judgment does that show about Obama? And his staff?
Why did Obama and his staff ever post this extremist’s photograph and words in the first place?
Surely Barack Obama himself saw the Father Pfleger testimonial and personally approved its appearance on his official campaign site.
We know that the two men are longtime close friends and fellow collaborators — for at least two decades — so perhaps Obama okayed the testimonial in honor of their friendship. But any politician with even minimal common sense would know better than to put this radical’s photograph and words on prominent display on his official campaign site.
By the way, Larry Johnson wrote in his must-read April story that his own former pastor told him about a conversation he once had with Tip O’Neill. The great Speaker of the House told Larry’s pastor this:
Politicians need to learn an important skill. If you are hearing things that go against your values you get up and walk out.
The troubling problem is that we do not know what Barack Obama’s true “values” are. Are they those of his longtime extremist friends Father Pfleger, Rev. Wright, and Bill Ayers? Or did Obama betray his own true “values” for over two decades by continuing to associate with these radicals and extremists?
In either case, Obama’s judgment is in serious doubt.
::::::
Thanks to V for the video, now up at NoQuarter’s channel at YouTube.
A bit off topic, but I just had to…
Oops! Obama Did It Again
So Obama’s new ad, the first of the general election, “cites Public Law 110-181 when he talks about his efforts to extend ‘health care for wounded troops who’d been neglected.’” The problem? Obama never showed up to the vote. He was actually too busy campaigning to make it back to Washington to vote for the bill, but wants the American people to think he deserves the credit. Sounds a lot like the 2005 Energy Bill, which Obama has the gall to attack John McCain on even though the junior senator from Illinois voted for it and McCain voted against it.
LINK: http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2008/06/oops_obama_did_it_again.asp
http://www.newsweek.com/id/142884
In their “Fact Check,” Newsweek doesn’t even mention that Obama didn’t vote for this vote … so much for “reporting,” or “journalism.”
Extra Extra … READ ALL ABOUT IT
POSSUM SEAL THROWN UNDER the BUS!
http://dakiniland.wordpress.com/2008/06/23/talk-about-your-quick-change-possum-seal-road-kill/
Yes, folks the POSSUM seal is UNDER THE BUS
news at 6 …
LOL. The Repubs were taking pot shots at him for the seal. They said it’s time we get a real contenders for president instead of this whimpy guy into ‘make-believe’…LOL
Newsweek is a rag and has been for years.
Because he was instrumental in forming the bill…it would pass for sure, and it was not vital that he show up to vote for it. again, noquarter serves up the lies. how much do you guys get paid for your postings? all sound the same, probably written by the same person, on the same payroll as…….??
WHAT?!!!! Are you fucking kidding me…he “helped form a bill” (whatever the hell thast means) but doesn’t show up to actually ensure it passes…are you fucking stupid? Just what the hell is his job supposed to be BUT to vote on bills? God, please tell me you haven’t spawned.
I think if Pfleger were 20 or so years younger he would be named Vanilla Ice.
Guy’s a flat-out embarrassment.
And this is the quality of person whom Barack entrusted as his long-term spiritual adviser/ACORN buddy.
GetOuttaHere!
anyone associated with Daley is a criminal and fraud…
corruption can take hold of anyone, even a catholic priest….
Daley’s brother, William, was sec of commerce under Clinton….so is Clinton a criminal now too?
He was “performing” as usual. I can’t for the life of me figure out HOW they can be called Father - Pastor - Brother..etc..you get the point and continue to ACT this way ESPECIALLY in church!
Speaking of embarrassments, the great Seal of Obama is no more: http://adage.com/campaigntrail/post?article_id=127944
Wonkette had called it: “definitely the lamest stunt we can remember from Hopey” http://wonkette.com/400673/obama-nixes-stupid-great-seal-remake
Maybe he can use it as artwork for the grillwork on the bus?
Make a great toilet seat cover.
Let’s not insult toilet-seat covers.
LOL …. he can practice peeing on it!
A dart board maybe?
ding dong the wicked sign, the wicked sign is gone!!!
So much for Toto and those Kansas values…
Too late, the Possum King association has grown roots.
Obama was playing “dress up President”, wannabe.
Hey, it worked for Bush, didn’t it?? He got to dress up as a Cowboy, and a Pilot, and, well, basically all of the Village People!
BeeBop, love the idea of the seal being the new grill!!
O/T but CNN just reported that Obama’s SEAL was a one time use for a one time event…LOL! Bet LOTS of people complained about the nonsense of Obama’s Seal
Bark..Barky!
Nobama
That’s hilarious. Maybe they should go back to reporting news, not trying to make it up?
Ba ha ha. Blowback’s a bitch, eh?
Stick Man and his fake seal got rejected like Kobe Bryant got stuffed by Paul “Finals MVP” Pierce.
Gang that couldn’t shoot straight is back.
What a joke he and his Chi-town posse is.
Axelrod only THINKS he can play in the big leagues!
Totally agree with that.
Obama on Kimmel stated Kobe was the GOAT.
Obama is from Chicago.
Womanizing, adulterating, gambling Michael Jordan is still GOAT.
Everyone knows that.
Except Obama.
Then Kobe lost and had a pity party on national TV. Obama’s pity party will be really awful.
Yet another reason to nominate Hillary.
Yes, Obama sure did, didn’t he.
The catholic priest, still arrogant as ever says he will continue to preach for justice (at least his brand of it). No word whether he’ll be teaching/preaching the words of Christ. Why is this church still (so far as we know) receiving tax exemption? Using your pulpit for blatant politics is a no no. When will the IRS step in?
Farrakhan, although pandering to and using Pfleger, must internally despise this white man who mimics speaking as an AA. A real life white devil.
Unrepentant after a 3-week vacation suspension, the boxer man of God returns to the arena church to pick up where he left off. If the church can’t rein him in, the IRS should.
I’ll try this again.
Unrepentant after a 3-week
vacationsuspension, theboxerman of God returns to thearenachurch to pick up where he left off. If the church can’t rein him in, the IRS should.LMAO!
The thing that is disconcerting abt all of this is the response of his CONGREGATION. They were handing OUT the Ali flyers, and were dancing wildly in their seats. It seems almost cultish to me.
As for the Wright/Moss thing, I thought Moss was cut from the same cloth as Wright, but without the “showmanship” of Wright. I still have to wonder just where the heck these people went to seminary, though, and UCC ministers MUST go.
And given that the UCC has congregational polity, it makes WAY more sense that Wright and Moss could still be THERE than it does that Pfleger is still at St. Sabina.
Pfleger should be defrocked and excommunicated…..and that will most likely require vatican intervention.
Hmmmmmm…..It sems as if most of Pfleger’s controversial sermons occurred at TUCC and elsewhere. He may not be preachin quite the same at St. Sabina’s. Still think he should be defrocked and excommunicated though.
A couple of thoughts. The Catholic Church in the words of Dick Cheney is in it’s final death throes. The Holy Church will no more denounce this man than denounce and excommunicate the rest of the congregation. The shame is that Pfleger is a nickel and dime con-man who has used the Church to afford himself an infamous lifestlye. It is the nature of the Beast in Chicago. Where doing good is done not to be done, but to be seen being done. Or even still, in Obama style politics you just need to say you’re going to do something about it. How’s the I-290 bottleneck? Is it fixed yet? I haven’t been to Chicago since 2007. Blagojevich do any better than Ryan fixing the roads?
I’d wager most people didn’t know most roads into Chicago are Tollroads also; They start taking it before you’re even in the city limits.
“Chicago: The City That Works” Still the slogan? Ha.
Nitwits from Arkansas did a fabulous job balancing the budget and creating a whole gaggle of millionaires. You want Bush policies vote Obama. Because he really has no idea how to fix them.
Obama is an embarrassment, a poseur.
Wright is no longer retired either. He doesn’t think Moss is quite ready to handle the job. How convenient that Wright suddenly goes back to the church once Obama claims he is looking for a new church.
I want to know more about all the federal monies these hate mongering churches are getting from the “white” taxpayers that both Pfleger and Wright deplore.
Hey I heard that Obama picture is on Church magazine 3 times 2 twice with Farakhan any truth to that?
That would be Trumpet Magazine.
OH really?
I have to tell you that, if I were a “believer” at Trinity and dug “black liberation theology,” I’d find Otis Moss a sorry substitute for Wright. Moss’s sermon about the lepers was so pathetic, so lame, and … uh … boring.
Yeah, what a coincidence Rev. Wright isn’t retiring after all now that BO is gone. I was wondering about that for awhile because the date kept changing for Rev. Wright’s retirement.
They’re getting SOMETHING to make them keep coming back. Sheesh…this is getting old…it’s going to be a long year!
sad, really sad:
Voters are inured to presidential nominees from both parties who pander, flip-flop and equivocate on the campaign trail. If that’s all they see – a typical politician – then that candidate is in trouble, as John Kerry and Al Gore can attest. But Obama is an entirely different candidate, the first Democratic nominee since Clinton – and the second since Carter – that most people instinctively like.
He and his campaign have calculated that a broken promise here and there won’t fundamentally change that. They’re probably not wrong.
http://www.observer.com/2008/calculations-barack-obama
I must live in a city that isn’t America, because I don’t know anybody here who “instictively” likes him.
Ditto… where am I?
I immediately DISliked him.
I think I just heard collective laughter from the 527 peanut gallery.
Exactly. The repubs haven’t even begun to go after bo, & probably won’t til Sept. When they do, it should be a hoot. They probably have people scanning sites like this looking for ideas.
I don’t like Obama.
The Observer says that we won’t see Obama as “a typical politician” so long as he only breaks a few promises? How about if the promise broken is that he’s different? He has revealed that hoping for change is nothing more than a campaign slogan. It’s not like he said “read my lips” but then raised taxes. He said, I am the change you have been waiting for, but then turned out to be just another politician trading our hopes for good government for power. It’s not a minor policy glitch. It’s the essential reason why we were supposed to vote for him.
I think his campaign’s calculation is probably wrong.
He sure has a lot of people making a lot of excuses for him.
All this nutty stuff [fake seals and even faker religious leaders] makes Pelosi, Brazile and Dean look like dumb/dumber/dumbest to me!
Hey guys what do you make of this Video Feed Back Please. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hCwYLTd_vE
Kind of a loopy interview. It did sound like she was inferring (by way of telling everyone that we need to “wait & see”) that something might come out against bo before the convention. Still, what does she know? We’re all hoping that something happens to force bo out before the conv. Lastly, I think she should’ve rehearsed more…she wasn’t dreadful or anything, but her demeanor did give off the impression that her xanax had just kicked in. Just my 2 cents.
That would be implying. You infer from someones implication.
true
When asked if she knew something…
Her laugh said she knew something; But I think she was also trying her best to say absolutely nothing at all (Body language flat, long pause before each statement). “It was an act” - IMHO, but to what purpose IDK.
It certainly sounds like Hillary fund raisers will not be giving money before the convention.
The fund raiseers need assurance that she will have a place at the convention table and are holding out on funding support until the convention.
Anything could happen is right. As is always with candidates who go to converntion. Nothing new.
Obama Campaign Drops Faux Presidential Seal
http://adage.com/campaigntrail/post?article_id=127944
What? The Baby Jesus doesn’t *think* he’s entitled to the PResidential Seal?
The candidate who is “renouncing politics” is renouncing government!
Why does the Obama camp keep removing information from their website? That in alone screams of shadiness.
http://www.obama-wire.com
THANKS for adding that link, Paul. I should bookmark that site and add it to the story.
That’s a fascinating site — a history of ALL the materials that the Obama campaign has dumped from the official site whenever it’s gotten them in hot water.
obama is and continues to be a joke. and miss pfleger is a big joke herself. as is the catholic church for not kicking her out. but then again, pedophilia rules the church. still voting for McCain. eat my shit Barky & Co.
Cavuto is dense.
What did Cavuto say? I have his show saved on my DVR but haven’t watched it yet.
Laura Ingraham has a funny send-up at the top of her show on BO’s new endorsement today (snort) and his blatant attempt to put every white person in America on the defense re racism — which RUINS the term racism for the REAL instances. But BO — just like Al Sharpton — doesn’t care if he’s harming the causes of people suffering from REAL cases of racism. He just wants the attention and any advantage he thinks he can gain by intimidating white voters and politicians by hitting them with the race card.
That circus is a Catholic Church? You could have fooled me.
Yes it is hip hop Catholicism. Actually it looks like a lot more fun than those boring high masses with the incensed clouded cathedrals.
I was hoping a few elephants would storm in and stomp the holy devil out of Father Flaker!
Father Flaker is a man with an problematic, identity crisis.
Compare his website to his life: Made Up.
Ice ice baby.
ice ice baby…father freakie IS Vanilla Ice!
Paul V, I think you hit it on the head. Another Fraud on the Fraud bus.
Damn straight, Vinnie.
Sad stuff.
Wright’s church is a disaster, but I also fault the Catholic Church for not having the guts to get rid of him. I guess the problems with young children didn’t teach the church anything.
We have no choice in this country if you are in the middle anymore. You either have to be left wing or right wing.
There were protests by his parishioners. And maybe the church doesn’t have another priest willing to walk into St. Sabina and lead its congregants back to reality and common sense practice of the Catholic faith. It’d be a TALL order!
There is also the possibility that Pfleger’s connections played a role. Besides Mayor Daley, state treasurer Alexei Giannoulia, and mix-and-match-politician-modeler David Axelrod, Pfleger is also buddies with Jesse Jackson, Sr. (There’s video at YouTube of Pfleger with Jesse Sr. protesting at a gun shop.)
Oh god. There’s another whiplash for BO’s supporters: BO is for gun ownership in Idaho, but in Chicago was for lots of gun regulations that would so infuriate Charlton Heston that he’d rise from his grave with his shotgun in his cold dead hands.
Ah, expediency. When he’s talking to you, he’ll tell you what you want to hear. When he’s talking to your opponent, he’ll tell them the opposite.
But his followers still think he’s going to bring the country together. I have two educated, somewhat well-read friends in “real life” who still believe that he’s going to bring us all together.
Lordy.
has anyone tried playing the “pork invaders” game on the John McCain website?
http://johnmccain.com/videogame/invaders/
There is a huge shortage of Catholic priests. Finding a replacement would be difficult.
Hillary thanks you. Will you thank her? Donate to retire the debt. It goes only to her until Labor day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2HRsLVb4TA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLZGpZScvKA&feature=related
Please send $5 to retire the debt.
https://contribute.hillaryclinton.com/form.html?sc=1898&utm_source=1898&utm_medium=e
On the Neil Cavuto Show today, a democratic pollster was talking about Obama’s comment to democratic women upset about his nomination. The pollster was criticizing Obama’s comment that the women would ” . . . get over it.” While the pollster (a man) decried Obama’s poor choice of words, he said that Obama’s handlers would help him “polish” his message, and that Obama was probably “tired” from the long primary campaign (thus his comments were a mistake). WRONG. MSM types may like giving this guy a pass, but we get it: Obama’s a mysogynist. Too much time spend in Muslim countries during his formative years, no doubt. Why do I keep getting the feeling that his real views on women are more in line with his Kenyan cousin who wants to reimpose Sharia law in Kenya than a main-stream American politician?
WJC told 0bie to saddle up! Guess he didn’t get the Memo.
Poor “Sweetie”, this is just the begining.
The exibition games last until after labour day.
After that it’s full contact every day!
Presidential politics is a blood sport!
Why is Obama surrounded by race-baiting Marxists?
Because he’s tired.
Let me try this.
Periodically, um, people play games, try to distract from the fact that I am the Messiah, so naturally, did I mention I was black? Um, in Chi-town! Love ya! It was inevitable, that um, some race-baiting Marxists may have - not the race-baiting Marxists I knew - but some may have known someone I knew at some time, possumly, hey.
Back off Barky, Bud. It’s not his fault!
I read post after post about retiring Hillary’s debt. I read post after post about how someone is on a fixed income or can’t make ends meet. I read about Obama telling poor people they can afford to send 5 or 10 to his campaign. I ask you this…what about the money that was already given to Hillary..those who donated to her campaign did so in good faith that she would keep fighting for them. Why then is she campaigning with Obama and making it harder for us to fight him. She could leave the Dem party and take all of her votes with her. I bet she would win the GE, but instead we not only have to fight the Obama crowd, we are fighting against Hillary supporters who are now backing Obama because she told them to. Even in her message today, she wants us to go to her site, and what is there, support Obama….NO THANKS!!! When Hillary is alone I will support her again then by donating, but there is NO WAY I will help her out right now.
Are you willing to throw her under the bus and blow her chances at the convention?
Please people. It doesn’t go to Obama. It goes to her debt for fighting to the end for us. She has no choice but to go on the trail with Obama. It strenghtens her position down the line to make a come back for us SOON. I can’t say exactly what I mean but without the support now it jeopordizes her chances later if you can guess what I mean.
I am not supporting Obama ever! I was one of the very first responders before Solis Doyle got the boot and I have fought a long hard fight. Now it’s time to help her out one last time.
She hasn’t given up on us. Why should we give up on her? The media and the DNC threw her under the bus. Let’s not be guilty of that too. Make a statement and let her know you are still with her. $5 ?? She needs to know we are still with HER. Bill is not going to stump or endorse..Hillary has no choice.
None of it goes to Obama or DNC.
Please send $5 to retire the debt.
https://contribute.hillaryclinton.com/form.html?sc=1898&utm_source=1898&utm_medium=e
“Comment by Lou | 2008-06-23 17:13:27
Hillary thanks you. Will you thank her? Donate to retire the debt. It goes only to her until Labor day.”
Lou,
Are you sure? How do you know $ got only to her until Labor Day? I really don’t want my $ to be ued for the OB camp or the DNC.
We already know this priest, he does not deserve the title, is a racist. What is more disturbing is the interviews with the congregation members, they are totally racist if they support his “speaking out”. Totally racist.
Obama Drops Seal
http://www.obama-wire.com