Rev. Jeremiah Wright Tells Selma Crowd "Barack's Name Ain't Jesus" - Video Report 3/5/09

Here is a video report on Rev. Jeremiah Wright's visit to Selma, Alabama to speak in observance of the 44th Anniversary of the Civil Rights March there. The report gives you the flavor of the visit, although Wright's lawyers would not allow video of his actual address. But in the article below, it says Wright said during his speech that "Barack's Name Ain't Jesus." Well, it's good there are some people beginning to recognize that. For once, I can agree with Jeremiah Wright!

Speaking in an interview with The Associated Press before a speech in a landmark of the civil rights movement, Wright smiled at the mention of the name of the nation's first black president.

"He's like any other president," Wright said. "He's a politician and he's got to do what politicians do."

Wright's remarks were similar to those he made after his fiery preaching became a campaign issue last year, forcing Obama to distance himself from his longtime pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.

Wright's comments came before he spoke to more than 700 people at a mass meeting that kicked off the 44th anniversary celebration of the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march. Many in the crowd lifted their hands as a gospel choir sang.

The event was held at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, site of the first mass meeting that led to the watershed voting rights movement in Selma.

During his address, Wright cautioned against putting too much faith in Obama.

"Barack's name ain't Jesus. Barack ain't gonna improve your child's reading score. There are things we've got to do on our own," he said.

"We are on the precipice of change we can believe in, but we haven't gotten there yet," he added.

Obama may no longer associate with Wright, but the program for the event featured a picture of the two, smiling together, on the front.