Obama Calls Minister's Comments 'Outrageous'

In the weeks that followed, Wright said little. But he surfaced very publicly late last week, explaining himself in a lengthy PBS interview and declaiming boldly in an NAACP speech in Detroit on Sunday and at the press club on Monday.

Obama said he was troubled by many aspects of Wright's recent appearances, including his decision "to command the stage for three or four consecutive days in the midst of this major debate" about such issues as health care, education, energy, economic policy and the fight against terrorism.

"After seeing Reverend Wright's performance, I felt there was a complete disregard for what the American people are going through and the need for them to rally together to solve these problems," he said. "What mattered to him was him commanding center stage."

The news conference was Obama's second on the subject within 24 hours -- he said he had not learned of Wright's most incendiary remarks until Tuesday.

"I have spent my entire adult life trying to bridge the gap between different kinds of people. That's in my DNA, trying to promote mutual understanding," Obama said. "That's who I am. That's what I believe. That's what this campaign has been about. Yesterday, we saw a very different vision of America."

Obama said he was "particularly angered" by Wright's allegation that the candidate was engaging in political posturing when he denounced the minister's earlier remarks.

"If Reverend Wright considers that political posturing, then he doesn't know me very well," Obama said. "Based on his comments yesterday, well, I may not know him as well as I thought, either."

Fears reported from Washington. Staff writer Hamil R. Harris in Washington contributed to this report.