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Barack Obama has sent the Christian Broadcasting Network's Brody File a statement distancing himself from his pastor Jeremiah Wright. Obama asserts, "I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies. I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it's on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Rev. Wright that are at issue."

Indeed, Obama says "[a]ll of the statements that have been the subject of controversy are ones that I vehemently condemn." Obama claims he never heard Wright make such statements while he was in attendance at Trinity United Church of Christ and also defends his decision to continue attending the church. That Obama was not aware of Wright's statements until he began his presidential campaign is a bit hard to believe, and any evidence that Obama was in fact present for controversial sermons or speeches could be damaging. It's also hard to believe that this statement would be enough to end the controversy if it was a Republican attending, say, John Hagee's church. But we'll see how persuasive people find it coming from Obama.

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Barack Obama