In interviews at churches in cities and towns including Charlotte, Greensboro, Lumberton and Goldsboro, ministers expressed the view that Obama and Wright had been attacked by a superficial and biased news media. Many said they were teaching Wright’s sermons in Bible study classes. They are delivering lectures on the roots of Wright’s style of ministry and preaching against what they see as attempts to make Wright a divisive figure.<\/p>\n
“People get fired up when they see people trying to scapegoat a presidential candidate because of a pastor,” said the Reverend Dr. William Barber II, the pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro and the president of the state branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. “And No. 2, the fact that you’re beating up on someone that’s very profound and very prophetic.”<\/p>\n
But many parishioners are not nearly as sympathetic to Wright, saying they are disappointed with him for taking a personal dispute public with little concern for the harm it would do to the Obama campaign. (This sentiment is particularly strong among younger voters.) Others call Wright arrogant and untrustworthy, and still others say he is fighting old fights.<\/p>\n
“He needs to take the political and keep it separate from the spiritual,” said Rita Harrison, 48, an Obama supporter who was cutting hair at Allison’s Salon in Whiteville. “Why would you risk this man’s campaign because of some personal comments? Because that’s what it is, it’s personal.”<\/p>\n