Skip to content
quotesby

I've known Reverend Wright for almost twenty years. The person I saw yesterday was not the person that I met twenty years ago. His comments were not only divisive and destructive, but I believe that they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate and I believe that they do not portray accurately the perspective of the black church. They certainly don't portray accurately my values and beliefs and if Reverend Wright thinks that's political posturing, as he put it, then he doesn't know me very well and based on his remarks yesterday, well I may not know him as well as I thought either.

Barack Obama#57

LeadershipValuesSpeechControversy

About this quote

What does it mean?
Obama distances himself from Wright's divisive remarks, stating they do not reflect his values.
In plain terms
He criticizes Wright's comments as destructive and not true to his values.
What can you take from it?
Leaders often separate themselves from controversial allies to protect their image.

Where it applies

  • scandal response
  • press releases

Putting it to work

  • managing reputation
  • addressing past associations

Questions to consider

  • Can you truly disassociate from those you know?
  • When is it right to condemn an ally?

Another view

Disavowing allies can seem opportunistic or insincere.

More from Barack Obama

  1. You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, a lot like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's r…

    Permalink to quote #56
  2. Iran, Cuba, Venezuela - these countries are tiny compared to the Soviet Union. They don't pose a serious threat to us the way the Soviet Union posed a threat t…

    Permalink to quote #58
  3. I've got two daughters, nine years old and six years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't wa…

    Permalink to quote #55

Related quotes

  1. The politicians pontificate and manoeuvre with eloquent manifestos and pronouncements saying little about the challenges we must confront.

    Ratu Joni MadraiwiwiRatu Joni Madraiwiwi quote #1
  2. Of right and wrong he taught Truths as refined as ever Athens heard; And (strange to tell!) he practised what he preached.

    John ArmstrongJohn Armstrong quote #1
  3. America now is stumbling through the darkness of hatred and divisiveness. Our values, our principles, and our determination to succeed as a free and democratic…

    Gerald FordGerald Ford quote #2