Them Jews aren’t going to let him talk to me. I told my baby daughter, that he’ll talk to me in five years when he’s a lame duck, or in eight years when he’s out of office….They will not let him to talk to somebody who calls a spade what it is….I said from the beginning: He’s a politician; I’m a pastor. He’s got to do what politicians do.

–The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, United Church of Christ pastor, explaining why he hasn’t spoken to Barack Obama since his inauguration

(Via Hot Air.)

UPDATE: According to the Religion News Service blog, United Church of Christ president John Thomas thought today was an appropriate day to speak out about anti-Semitism. He doesn’t say why today is a good day to do so, but I’m sure he must have had something specific in mind:

The General Synod of the United Church of Christ has consistently called on its members to speak and act in ways that honor God’s enduring covenant with the Jewish people, that nurture deep relationships with the Jewish community, and that recognize how careless readings of our sacred texts, our own use of language, and the perpetuation of negative stereotypes can lend support to persistent anti-Semitism in our culture. Years of rich and thoughtful Jewish-Christian dialogue locally, regionally, and nationally has taught us much about how we speak to and about one another with respect even in the midst of disagreement. … that important prophetic witness, no matter how difficult for our Jewish partners, will be effective only within the context of disciplined speech and behavior that honors the broader Jewish community.”

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