CHICAGO, IL (Catholic Online) - Rev. Jeremiah Wright is controversial because he has a history of making anti-Semitic statements and has even called the state of Israel "genocidal" and "illegal". Also, Jeremiah Wright is Obama's pastor.

According to the New York Post, Obama told Wright that his preaching could hurt the presidential campaign. Obama's staff contacted Wright offering him $150,000 for his silence. 

An interview taken from an unauthorized Obama biography, "The Amateur" by Edward Klein, describes Wright explaining Obama's attempt to bribe him.

"Who sent the e-mail?" I asked Wright.

"It was from one of Barack's closest friends."

"He offered you money?"

"Not directly," Wright said. "He sent the offer to one of the members of the church, who sent it to me."

"How much money did he offer you?"

"One hundred and fifty thousand dollars," Wright said.

According to Wright, Obama later visited him at his church, and asked him directly to stop speaking until after the election. Obama said, "I really wish you wouldn't do any more public speaking until after the November election. I wish you wouldn't speak. It's gonna hurt the campaign if you do that."

To which Wright replied, "I said, 'I don't see it that way. And anyway, how am I supposed to support my family?"

"Well, I wish you wouldn't speak in public. The press is gonna eat you alive."

Despite the request, Wright wasn't silenced. 

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