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Faith

Report: Reverend Who Gave Benediction at Obama’s Inauguration Says He Thinks All Whites Are Going to Hell

Oct. 31, 2012 7:17pm
Report: Rev. Joseph Lowery Says He Thinks All Whites Are Going to Hell

Rev. Joseph Lowery gave the benediction at President Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009. (Photo credit: Reuters)

The reverend who delivered the benediction at President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration said Saturday he believes all white people are going to hell, according to a local Georgia newspaper.

Rev. Joseph Lowery, the civil rights icon who co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., said during a rally at St. James Baptist Church in Forsyth, Ga. that he’s arrived back at the same view he held as a “young militant,” according to the Monroe County Reporter:

Lowery said that when he was a young militant, he used to say all white folks were going to hell. Then he mellowed and just said most of them were. Now, he said, he is back to where he was.

The Reporter paraphrased Lowery’s comments and did not provide a direct quote relating to those remarks. It should be noted that the reverend appeared to be using hyperbole to drive a point home, not stating a factual theological conclusion. That being said, the statement is still extremely controversial and divisive.

TheBlaze contacted St. James Baptist Church for clarification on Lowery’s comments. Pastor Antonio Proctor told TheBlaze that he did in fact speak at the church but said Lowery should be the one to provide clarity to his comments, not the church.

Attempts by TheBlaze to contact Lowery were unsuccessful.

The 91-year-old Lowery was speaking at St. James Baptist Church to encourage others vote for Obama, according to the Reporter. Saying that Obama lost Georgia in 2008 by 200,000 votes, with 390,000 black people not voting, he couldn’t imagine why any black person wouldn’t support him for re-election.

“I don’t know what kind of a n—er wouldn’t vote with a black man running,” Lowery said. “All that he did with the stimulus was genius. Nobody intelligent would risk this country with Romney.”

Lowery also decried the harsh tone to come from this campaign cycle, saying: “I’m frightened by the level of hatred and bitterness coming out in this election.”

Lowery’s remarks came after he indicated last week that Obama’s race would be a deciding factor in the November election, the Augusta Chronicle reported.

“If Obama was white, there would be no question on who was going to win,” Lowery said at a similar get out the vote event.

Forsyth Mayor John Howard, who reportedly opened Saturday’s program at the church, said he was “pretty shocked” by Lowery’s comments. He said he would have gotten up and left if a speaker had made the same remarks about black people. He also said the Bible makes no mention of skin color when talking about Hell.

“I have great number of black and white friends. I’ve been in the military. I make friends with everybody. I’m too old for enemies,” the mayor said.

Obama awarded Lowery the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009, the nation’s highest civilian award. Here’s the video of Lowery delivering the benediction at Obama’s 2009 inauguration:

–

UPDATE (10 p.m. ET): Rev. Joseph Lowery told The Daily Caller that he was only joking when he said all white people are going to hell.

“It was a joke…When I said it, I said it was a joke, I identified it as a joke,” he said.

Lowery also told TheDC that he didn’t “remember” saying “I don’t know what kind of a n—er wouldn’t vote with a black man running.”

–

The Blaze’s Jason Howerton contributed to this report.

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Comments (523)

1 2 3 … 14
  • AmericanBorn
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:37pm

    Hey Rev, Obama is 1/2 white. Unless, of course, you know something we don’t. So does that mean only 1/2 of him goes to hell. Which half? Just asking? ‘splain that one. AND… what kind of Rev carries hate and Christ in their heart at the same time. My guess is, you may need a heart check to find out which diety is your guide post.

    Report this comment

    AmericanBorn  
    • Robinking
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:49pm

      Agree!

      Report this comment

      Robinking  
    • Patriot of My America
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:51pm

      I may be all wet here but if I were a betting man there is a demon waiting for him real soon, He has no love in his heart and that is a non starter for the salvation of Jesus. At least according to the scripture I have read. New testament and old. No where does god curse the race of Caucasian people for merely
      being Caucasian !

      Report this comment

      Patriot of My America  
    • db321
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:53pm

      Did the Messiahs Obama die and make you God Rev. I have news for you, God is going to kick every Dem and their voters out of Heaven until you learn to get that Vote at the DNC straight. It’s simple, all in favor of God and the Apple of Gods eye, say Yea!

      Report this comment

      db321  
    • SilverBlaze
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 8:02pm

      Amen

      Report this comment

      SilverBlaze  
    • Popp40
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 8:32pm

      What I find funny is how this guy calls himself a Reverend and a Democrat. Which party denounced God 3 times during their Convention? Plus, look at what the Democratic party stands for….it is not the same values that Jesus preached in the bible.

      I am not passing judgement but I have a feeling when “Reverend” Joseph Lowery stands before God….God will say “I don’t know you” because it is obvious that this “Reverend” does not know the real God is.

      Report this comment

      Popp40  
    • Max jones
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 9:26pm

      Actually, this is good for romney….since the 14 black republicans in the country will still vote republican, this may change some white democrat minds….

      Report this comment

      Max jones  
    • moonstruck2
      Posted on November 1, 2012 at 7:11am

      The white churches that refused Blacks to come and worship with them! Not only was this a DEVISIVE tactic, (this is where that term aptly applies) so those white churches who eventually opened their doors to Black worshippers allowed them to either sit in the back or way back in the balcony because they realized that Blacks could not be classified as a christian and be a slave at the same time!

      Report this comment

      moonstruck2  
    • The_Pointy_End
      Posted on November 1, 2012 at 1:13pm

      Obama’s mom was white. So he hangs out with people who openly say his mama is in hell? Classy!!

      Report this comment

      The_Pointy_End  
  • mydh12
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:37pm

    Lowery also decried the harsh tone to come from this campaign cycle, saying: “I’m frightened by the level of hatred and bitterness coming out in this election.”

    The hypocrisy and lack of self-awareness on the Left is simply astounding. Barack Obama and his close friends really are sick, disturbed racists.

    Report this comment

    mydh12  
    • Popp40
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 8:34pm

      Democrats suffer from a Psychological Defense Mechanism called Projection…..so it turns out that being a democrat is a psychological disorder.

      Report this comment

      Popp40  
    • MIBUGNU2
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 9:21pm

      Just more CLASS form this administration…
      Back To The Future 1953…Thanks BO !!!!!
      You Will go down in History, but I din’t think
      you will like it….Makes Carter SHINE !!!!!

      Report this comment

      MIBUGNU2  
    • GardenoftheGods
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 9:30pm

      Joseph Lowery marched with Dr. Martin L. King Jr. It’s a shame that he has forgotten all that man taught him. Judge a man based on the content of character & not on skin color is just words to Lowery…He’s now filled with hatred & makes statements like: “I don’t know what kind of a n—er wouldn’t vote with a black man running,’ If that isn’t the most RACIST statement I’ve ever heard, I don’t know what racism is! If Obama has done anything for me, he’s cured me of any white guilt I might’ve had. When an entire group of people claim they’re voting for someone based purely on skin color, that tells me they’re more racist than any other group I’ve ever seen. God Bless the black Conservatives who are making a stand now against evil men like Lowery & Obama

      Report this comment

      GardenoftheGods  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on November 1, 2012 at 9:13am

      What the black man doesn’t realize is that we ARE judging them by the content of their character.

      Report this comment

      Mil-Dot  
  • orionhunter
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:37pm

    This is who Obama aligns himself with – wake up people. He is the most divisive president in history.

    Report this comment

    orionhunter  
    • lexington_green
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 9:18pm

      this old codger’s comments at the inauguration were the some of the first real pieces of evidence that weren’t hidden that told us it was going to be a loooooonnngggg four years.

      what a loon. this is how the obamas see whites too.

      liberals are suicidal to vote for these freaks.

      Report this comment

      lexington_green  
    • phunkymunkey
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 10:02pm

      what a sad, sorry state of affairs we are in – MLK Jr. must be rolling in his grave! all this talk about race is just PERPETUATING racism! these liberals and their constant race speech is dividing the country worse and worse. when are they gonna realize that because of making race an issue in every single aspect of life, THEY are the ones who are causing more racism, rather than doing away with it???! It just absolutely boggles my mind! Until the day comes where every human being can be judged fairly regardless of whether they are black, white, red, orange, purple, or rainbow-colored, we are severely screwed. If I was african-american, I would be highly p-ssed off at these idiots turning everything into a race game. people should be judged – for better or for worse – on who they are as a person. WAKE UP, LIBERAL RACISTS POSING AS NON-RACISTS!

      Report this comment

      phunkymunkey  
    • moonstruck2
      Posted on November 1, 2012 at 7:38am

      Racial division started on the ships carrying the first captive africans to the new world!! Whites were on top and the captives were on the bottom, and it has been that way ever since!

      Report this comment

      moonstruck2  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on November 1, 2012 at 9:07am

      @Moonbat
      If you take the American blacks and pool them together they would be the 6th wealthiest country in the world. Look it up. The American black should fall to his knees and kiss the feet of the white man for bringing them here. Also, it was the black Africans that chased them down and sold them to the traders. It was their idea in the first place. So take your liberal commie crap somewhere else you fricking troll POS.

      Report this comment

      Mil-Dot  
  • AzThunder
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:37pm

    sounds like he may be there to witness weather they do or not

    Report this comment

     
  • momrules
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:36pm

    There is simply no use talking to people like this. They are as fixed in their hatred and their love of that hatred as any Muslim is fixed in theirs.

    These are Barack and Michelle Obama’s people, the kind of people they agree with, grew up with, attended church with and are friends with.

    They hate white people. They are true racists.

    Report this comment

    momrules  
    • john vincent
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:45pm

      mom-
      Didnt’ someone say a man is known by the company he keeps?
      This guy is a cross between Sharpton and the so called Rev Wright.
      Religious tomfoolerery with some bad politics;

      yep, agreed. You are being kind with ‘divisive.’

      Report this comment

      john vincent  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:57pm

      I guess Owebama doesn’t seem to mind that that this guy hates most of his family and wishes they would go to hell.

      Report this comment

      Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • momrules
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 8:07pm

      John……….I am one of those that gives God a lot of credit and am in awe of His mercy, love and power. I don’t think all of any race or religion is going to hell. I believe that He will judge the heart of every human being.
      It is appalling to me that a man who claims to be a Reverend, a man of God would make this kind of statement or let hatred of a race blind him to God’s word. God is the only one with the authority to judge a person guilty and send that soul to hell.

      I wonder how many souls this man has corrupted within his lifetime as a church leader.

      Report this comment

      momrules  
    • Goobergregory
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 8:24pm

      I agree Mom… the very first thing I thought when he said how divisive we have become… I thought… surely he has looked in the mirror right?? Ummm, he DOES know that Obama’s mom was white??? OMG.. the hypocrisy is thick!

      Report this comment

      Goobergregory  
    • phunkymunkey
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 10:13pm

      why is it considered racists of us to speak the truth? we all know that the truth is that if obama were white, he would have never ever made it this far in the game of politics. so the fact that skin color has given him a tremendous advantage – isn’t this racist? But of course, (according to the msnbc-ites) that’s racist of me to think that that’s racist! he has the trump card – if I disagree with him, I’m automatically branded a “racist” even though i don’t give a crap about what color his skin is! I care about who he is as a human being and what he says and does, and the fact that he has a different skin color than me has nothing to do with why i don’t like him! QUIT IT, YOU STUPID LIBERAL RACISTS!!! Can’t people just disagree and not have it be about race? YOU LIBERALS are the ones perpetuating racism and dividing the country.

      Report this comment

      phunkymunkey  
    • katzkiner
      Posted on November 1, 2012 at 5:26am

      Mom, you figured them out. They hate the “white devils.”

      Report this comment

      katzkiner  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on November 1, 2012 at 7:19am

      I wonder if he considers Jews white? That would be pretty difficult conundrum, considering he supposedly worships a Jew.

      Report this comment

      Gonzo  
    • moonstruck2
      Posted on November 1, 2012 at 7:53am

      I would rather be a racist in my words rather than a racist by my deeds! And white people have the most horrible history of any enslaver in history! I have never heard of Blacks hanging whites, i have never heard of Blacks cutting off the genitals of whites after hanging them, i have never heard of any Blacks burning a white man at the stake while he was still alive, i have never heard of Black men stopping an automobile with 2white couples in it and they’re still wearing the uniforms of the US Military and force them into a nearby ditch and then shoot them to death! No! i have never heard of Black men doing any such heinous acts of depravity! So, I Ask All White People Will The Real Racist Please Stand Up!!

      Report this comment

      moonstruck2  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on November 1, 2012 at 9:28am

      @Moonbat
      Have you ever heard of FBI crime statistics? Here check it out.

      http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011

      Report this comment

      Mil-Dot  
  • dodgedart1966
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:36pm

    So, I guess our man-boy pres. is going to hell?

    Report this comment

    dodgedart1966  
  • dvwrld
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:35pm

    Love it!

    Report this comment

    dvwrld  
  • kettererbg
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:34pm

    I have never seen such a parade of hooligans that claim to be men of the cloth. Christianity doesn’t advocate what he and others like him preach, nor does it condone it. Let his words guide his fate, and all the others like him.

    Report this comment

    kettererbg  
    • BODYBAG
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 8:54pm

      This Rev does not serve God. Of that I am certain.
      No man knows the fate of another. It is God alone who judges.

      Report this comment

      BODYBAG  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on November 1, 2012 at 9:19am

      Ket is right. The core of Christianity is fairness. Getting what you deserve and not taking from others. Jesus worked. He was not a leech. I hate no man or woman. But I will not roll over for anybody.

      Report this comment

      Mil-Dot  
  • hslusher
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:33pm

    Amazing how r@cist you can be if your not white.

    Report this comment

    hslusher  
  • TerryDo
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:31pm

    Rev. Joseph Lowery…..Basically, translated what he said:

    I used to be a racist

    Then I was mostly a racist

    And now, I am back to being a full racist again.

    Bless his heart!

    Report this comment

    TerryDo  
  • Maximus_Delta
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:30pm

    Reverend my rearend… this fool is no man of God… maybe he is the devils messenger…

    Report this comment

    Maximus_Delta  
  • Neils60
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:30pm

    The Rev. Lowery conveniently forgets that those who initiated the civil rights movement were white. And, in three particular cases, those whites, who assisted, were murdered. I wonder if he feels that they went to hell, too? Shameful commentary, especially coming from someone who’s allegedly a religious and civil rights icon.

    Report this comment

    Neils60  
  • grams09
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:29pm

    I hope in his 2nd life he comes back as a white person.

    Report this comment

    grams09  
  • Carlinpa
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:28pm

    “all whites are going to hell” ? Yup, who are the Racist? The africans were selling their OWN people for 300 years before european even set foot on africas. They still sell, rape and butcher their own people ,but yet we are he ones going to hell!!? I can’t wait to see the look on this guys face when he dies…boy is in for a surprise.

    Report this comment

    Carlinpa  
    • Popp40
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 8:39pm

      Wasn’t the Arabs that were running the Mid-Atlantic slave trade that provided slaves to America and Britian.

      Report this comment

      Popp40  
    • usedCZARsalesman
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 10:26pm

      What’s your point POPP? It wasn’t the father, grandfather, or great grandfather of ANYONE living today either…what else you got?

      Report this comment

      usedCZARsalesman  
    • moonstruck2
      Posted on November 1, 2012 at 9:54am

      First of all you are a liar!! When John hawkins came to africa in the early 1500′s He lived among africans for twenty years just to learn the nature and ways of Black people and when he discovered their potential ability in becoming a great asset in white peoples designs for controling and eventually ruling the darker peoples of the Earth. They only had 6,000 years to do this and since they lost 2 thousand years living in the caves and hillsides of eu-rope they had to work very fast. Thats when we sent them Mossa to teach them of the forgotten tricknology on how to rule the Black man during this time. All of this took shape after Cristopher Columbus discovered the new world with people already living in it, And the caucasians was let loose out of the hills and cavesides of eu-rope to rampage all over the planet earth, even up to this day!! All we can say is that they have done their job and did it well; and now it is time for you to rest!! Thank God!!

      Report this comment

      moonstruck2  
    • usedCZARsalesman
      Posted on November 1, 2012 at 10:19am

      huh?

      Report this comment

      usedCZARsalesman  
  • RightUnite
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:28pm

    Aaahhhhh…… Another silly knee grow…

    Report this comment

    RightUnite  
  • jim6058
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:26pm

    Thank God, once again, for Dr. King. If it weren’t for him, people like Lowerey would have been leading the civil rights movement.

    Report this comment

    jim6058  
    • mrunner
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:36pm

      Spot on comment! This nation was blessed with King. I have to believe he would be hugely impressed at how far this nation has come and angry as hell what the race baiting, dependency peddlers the current so called “civil rights leaders” are.

      Report this comment

      mrunner  
    • LeadNotFollow
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:53pm

      .
      Joseph Lowery co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
      Why would Dr. King partner with a racist?
      Possibly, they shared the same views.

      Report this comment

      LeadNotFollow  
  • 702TruthSeeker
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:26pm

    what about all the “white folk” that are immigrants or first generation americans? them too? why does a black skinned immigrant have more benefits/rights/protection than a white skinned immigrant who comes to this country at the same time? because of black opression? the same black oppression got obama elected? these black community organizers don’t really believe that they’re oppressed, they’re just using their skin color to get more free stuff. those damn white people are just so racist!!!

    Report this comment

    702TruthSeeker  
  • DoctorRon
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:26pm

    The Rev. Lowery is also famous for saying that Blacks could not be racist because ALL racism is directed against Blacks.

    Report this comment

    DoctorRon  
    • DEFCON4
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:38pm

      Hey, “DOC” I guess, thats why it’s usually black “dealers” playing the race-card.

      Report this comment

      DEFCON4  
  • Metallicat
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:25pm

    If Obama had been a white President,there would be no doubt he would be facing impeachment over Libya. But our politicians are too afraid to upset the delicate sensitivites of the “real racists” in this country who put skin color above the truth.

    Report this comment

    Metallicat  
  • SBR308
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:24pm

    This is one white person who does not care what this fool thinks

    Report this comment

    SBR308  
  • mrs.janet.murgatroid
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:23pm

    Did you know that if you give children a black doll and a white doll that both black children and white children will play more with the white doll than the black doll.

    Report this comment

    mrs.janet.murgatroid  
  • AvengerK
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:22pm

    Obama keeps the best company doesn’t he?
    Perhaps if we all do an Al Jolson and just put on black face..God won’t send us to hell?
    Imagine…God choosing a color to damn..all fathers do that to their children right?

    Report this comment

    AvengerK  
    • DIR
      Posted on November 1, 2012 at 2:02am

      @AVENGERK

      Rev. Joseph Lowery is the racist and his statement gives him away. He’s a hypocrit of monumental proportions. Lowery is not a real preacher he’s a con artist pretending to be a preacher. Sadly there seems to be a lot of them lurking around. What he says has no weight with God and that’s obvious. Unfortunate for Lowery, he’ll get his, then he’ll be all bitter at God. He’s just an old miserable bitter person making a fool of himself. As far as Barry is concerned, amoung other things he will become known as the great pretender, to go along with lier, fool, and Jackass, to name a few.

      Report this comment

      DIR  
  • exfire
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:21pm

    Just one more reason to go with Mr. Romney…..Obama and everyone around him are a sick bunch of people !!!

    Report this comment

    exfire  
    • The_Hut_In_Co
      Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:35pm

      Simply Amazing! I guess I missed the part of John 3:16 that says “except white folks”! This guy is probably sharpton and jackson’s mentor!

      Report this comment

      The_Hut_In_Co  
  • Advection
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:21pm

    Meet the poster boy of racism in America.

    Report this comment

    Advection  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 7:20pm

    Radical beliefs are what turn people away from the gospels and give a bad name for people to hang on the folks who try to live the biblical ideals in their lives each day.

    Report this comment

    Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
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