Pat, the reason it's a joke is Obama did not say these things Wright did. It's been blown up beyond all reason. The folks that want you to think about this are selling it like all Wright did every Sunday for 20 years was stand in front of his congregation and yell "God damn America!" and then they play the same clip from a single sermon again and again. That is a post 9/11 and Iraq war sermon and loads of people including our president have said a boatload of stupid stuff in the wake of that. "Bring it on!" probably qualifying as the ultimate dumb phrase.

They try to sell you this concept that Obama is "brainwashed" and sat there nodding along every Sunday for 20 years and Wright has him eating out of the palm of his hand. It's quite clear this is a load of bullshit. The "evidence" they claim proves Obama "agrees with Wright" is that he did not quit the church. The fact is Obama is a busy guy and I'm sure he has missed many Sundays and I think it's probably safe to say has not always agreed with his pastor.

Everybody I know that goes to church claims one of the biggest reasons they go is for the "community" feeling they get being part of a church. Many of them say they don't always agree with their pastor or priest but they have friends there and take part in a lot of activities. It also gives their children a sense of being part of something bigger than themselves. So, as the church going guy that you are, Pat, I'm sure you know better than I what that may be like. I've heard pastors and priests say things I don't agree with but I don't always confront them on it. I pretty much do what a lot of people do and figure that's how they see the world and they are welcome to it. How Obama gets "judged" by a few sound bytes from his pastor is beyond me and seems pretty dumb. If he's been there 20 years I'm sure he goes there for reasons beyond whatever Mr. Wright has to say. Wright is welcome to his thoughts and feelings and Obama to his, that's what being an American is all about isn't it? What you hear from Wright in those few sound bytes is a man very upset about the mistakes America has made. We're not a perfect country and we've made a lot of mistakes and it was obvious to me when he was saying "God damn America!" he was saying damn those that would bomb innocent civilians, damn those that would torture, damn those that would oppress people...and then he says he can point to the bible in backing him up on those kinds of activities being pretty bad things...is he wrong?