US News

CLINTON CAMP RAPS OBAMA OVER WRIGHT PIC

WASHINGTON — Hillary Rodham Clinton‘s campaign criticized Barack Obama‘s campaign Friday for “peddling photos” of former President Clinton and Obama’s longtime pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

A photograph of the former president and Wright shows the two shaking hands with at a White House prayer breakfast in September 1998. The New York Times posted the photo to its Web site on Thursday and said it was provided by the Obama campaign.

Excerpts of Wright’s sermons have been the source of controversy for Obama in recent days. Videos of the former pastor railing against the United States and accusing the country of bringing on the Sept. 11 attacks by spreading terrorism have appeared on television and the Internet.

Obama strongly condemned Wright’s most controversial statements in a speech on racial issues on Tuesday in Philadelphia. But he did not repudiate Wright or his overall ministry, saying the man who officiated at his wedding is like a family member.

“Less than 48 hours after giving a great speech calling for a high-minded conversation on race, the Obama campaign is peddling photos of an occasion when President Clinton shook hands with Rev. Wright, though President Clinton took tens of thousands of photos during his 8 years as president,” said Clinton spokesman Jay Carson.