A media sampling below of the press response to the sermon/speech/pledge
to “fight” by Bishop Eddie Long today. The stories may seem somewhat similar as most reference an AP story or AP compiled reports. But there has been some opinion injected.
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“I have never in my life portrayed myself as a perfect man, but I am not the man being portrayed on television,” Long said Sunday morning from the pulpit of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. “That’s not me. That is not me.”
Brown found that comment potentially revealing.
“It seems to be setting the stage that there’s something you may not like that’s going to come out,” said Stephen Brown, senior vice president of media strategy at Manning, Selvage & Lee.”
– Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Long also spoke during a second service later in the morning, during which a young man in a blue shirt stood up and shouted: “We want to know the truth, man!” He was quickly escorted out and did not return.
But most of his welcomes were warm. As Long entered the cathedral, a group of people shouted, ‘We love you bishop!’
– MSNBC
“Long did not address the allegations directly but spoke at length about enduring painful times. He used the word “painful” nearly 20 times. The term “difficult” came up seven times.
“We are all subject to face distasteful and painful situations. Bishop Long, Eddie Long — you can put your name in that blank — will have some bad situations,” he said. “The righteous face painful situations with a determined expectancy. We are not exempt from pain, but (God) promises to deliver us out of our pain.”
“The famed pastor of a Georgia megachurch said Sunday that he will fight allegations that he lured young men into sexual relationships, stressing that he’d be back to lead the church the next week.”
There was no unequivocal denial of the allegations, only an implied one. Never did he state that he was absolutely innocent of the charges. In fact, Long didn’t even speak for 20 minutes. Although he referenced scripture, he never preached a sermon. He never offered a specific prayer for his accusers, young men he had once taken a personal interest in.
It didn’t get better at the “press conference” either. Once again, referencing his attorney’s advice to not address the situation directly, Long, again joined by his wife, re-emphasized New Birth’s record of service. Although he did say that he would fight the suits “vigorously,” he did not submit to questions and, even ignored a reporter’s direct question of his innocence. In fact, the usually loud-spoken Long almost whispered. His voice was so low that the digital recorder barely captured it, a marked contrast from the rest of the morning. Even his attorney Craig Gillen spoke directly into the microphone for all to hear.
Sunday marked the first time Long has spoken out about the accusations.
“There have been allegations and attacks made on me,” he told the crowd, who responded with thunderous applause. “I have never in my life portrayed myself as a perfect man. But I am not the man that’s being portrayed on the television. That’s not me. That is not me.”
Long’s remarks seemed far more tame than a statement released last week, in which he called the accusations “false.”
The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. For more Mo’Kelly, https://mrmokelly.com. Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at [email protected].