Obama pastor defends sermons, slams media

WASHINGTON, April 24 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's former pastor says in an interview with PBS that portions of his sermons that have made him controversial were taken out of context.

Sermons by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright became a campaign issue in March after ABC News reported on several comments he made from the pulpit of his Chicago church, the Trinity United Church. The issue has dogged Obama's campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.

In one instance, Wright said blacks should not sing "God Bless America" but instead "God damn America." He also said the United States brought on the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks with its own "terrorism," ABC reported.

In an interview to be telecast Friday on PBS, Wright told journalist Bill Moyers "the persons who have heard the entire sermon understand the communication perfectly." He said the clips are being used "to paint me as some sort of fanatic."

Wright said he understood why Obama has denounced the comments.

"He's a politician, I'm a pastor. We speak to two different audiences. And he says what he has to say as a politician. I say what I have to say as a pastor," he said.