If the tables were turned and it was Hillary Clinton's pastor being a 'white supremist' Hillary would have been asked by the Democratic Party to leave the race. Why is it different and our 'freedom of speech' is questioned when she is speaking of Mr. Obama's 'black supremist' minister?
Even the relaxed Catholic will hear some of their priest's comments during Sunday sermon. In 20 years Mr. Obama never listened to a sermon? What is really frightening here is that Mr. Obama didn't think this would be an issue in a US Presidential Race! If Mr. Obama's minister's comments are acceptable, I can only imagine what a friendly political chat amongst his colleagues and associates include. Let us stop being blind sided by Mr. Obama's 'charisma' and begin seeing his real ineptitudes and prejudices.

Sent by MariLynn Bagienski | 10:14 AM ET | 03-26-2008

It's a sign of her desperation. She can't build herself up without lying, and she's been caught lying, so she's got to resort to trying to throw mud on everyone else. She looks so haggard in the video clips, too; she's at the end of the line.

Sent by Will Donaldson | 10:28 AM ET | 03-26-2008

The Clintons talk about others.
Chelsea Clinton when asked about her parents judgement on the Lewinsky issue told a student in a PA college that it is none of your business. Like mother like daugther.
Her mother did not part ways from Bill despite all his exploits.

Sent by Ty | 10:41 AM ET | 03-26-2008

That was a bad move on Clinton's part. She should have at least been more cautious with her response. I thought her and Obama both would be willing to stop slinging mud now that everyone in the playing field is pretty much covered with it, but apparently not.

Sent by Karen | 10:51 AM ET | 03-26-2008

Ty, your comments regarding Chelsea Clinton are really out of line. Chelsea was a child when that occurred, and I'm sure she's had to endure a lot of crass words from people and personal heartache over the years because of her father's indiscretions. And despite all that she has by all accounts turned out to be a stable and successful young adult. She did entirely the right thing by saying it's none of that person's business. Leave the kids alone.

Sent by Karen | 10:59 AM ET | 03-26-2008

I'm tired of people trying to minimize Obama as a great "orator." It's WHAT the man says not how he says it, the American Public responds to. Unlike the people who attempt to do this, he actually has something of substance to say, and doesn't just give us the same'ol hide-behind-the-flag fluff speeches we're use to getting from poloticians.

Sent by Herrera | 11:21 AM ET | 03-26-2008

Seems like Hillary Clinton is the last politician that should be talking about another politician's personal relationships. There are lots of women who have a problem with the fact that she has stayed with her husband even given his history of womanizing.

Sent by Rusty Bienvenue | 11:32 AM ET | 03-26-2008

Ms Bagienski and those who think like her forget that all the comments we hear from Rev Wright are taken out of context. What have we really heard? A few comments plucked from hour-long sermons that speak to the rage and horror of racism from a black perspective. I find it sad folks are so impatient with anger - how would you act in a world and a city where you were constantly denigrated and dishnored?
The definition of racism is prejudice plus power and privilege, and in that operative definition African Americans cannot be racist. They can be separatists, but Rev Wright never advocated separatism or violence against anyone. He only expressed outrage at America's continuing racism.

It appears to me that being unable to hear righteous anger is a sign that Ms Bagienski has much residual racism to work out (as do most white Americans like myself). No one should be held completely accountable for someone else's words - period. An intelligent, compassionate and clear examination of Rev Wright's career and ministry demonstrate a love of people of all colors and a REAL desire to help a community in desperate need. I know because I was honored to meet him while in seminary in Chicago and saw his love for all people. Freedom of the pulpit and of speech are near absolute, and if white folks like Ms Bagienski cannot deal with the real hurt and anger the black community expresses because of the horror visited on them by our racist nation, that is her soul work she must engage and not a reason to toss out the best candidate for president either party has had so close to nomination in ages. I pray some day she and all White Americans can hear the truth about this country without wanting to kill the messenger. I pray that racial reconciliation will be ushered with the compassion to allow oppressed peoples to express their anger. Senator Obama never said those things; he even repudiated some of those statements - which I think is going too far. He should not be held accountable for them. He should be praised for his eloquence, courage and the refusal to throw one of his long-time associates to the wolves for politcal expediency.

Sent by Rev Scott Sammler-Michael | 11:35 AM ET | 03-26-2008

For people who believe Sean Hannity of Fox news, read about Sean Hannity and his close relationship with Hal Turner the Neo Nazi group leader (Guilt by association). Also read about Ambassador Edward Peck and his influence on the Wright sermon.
The sermon of Wright in its entirety has quite a different message.
It helps us to understand how the electorate decision making is been affected by some media channels.

Sent by Ty | 11:41 AM ET | 03-26-2008

Karen,
The reason why this is everyone's business is because anyone in a key position especially in the white house could lend themselves to blackmail (pictures etc). Hillary could bend over backwards to the demands to avoid that (embarassment). I hope you get that.

Sent by Ty | 11:45 AM ET | 03-26-2008

Haven???t we had enough of the Clinton???s hypocrisy?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/25/pastor-of-clintons-forme_n_93418.html

On Tuesday, Sen. Hillary Clinton re-stoked the flames of the controversy surrounding Sen. Barack Obama's former pastor, saying she would have long ago distanced herself from Rev. Jeremiah Wright if she had attended his church.

"He would not have been my pastor," Clinton told a gathering of the campaign press corps, repeating a line she used earlier in the day on a Pittsburgh radio program. "You don't choose your family, but you choose what church you want to attend."

But the pastor at the church that Clinton did once attend has recently expressed public support for Wright. He's even proclaimed it a "grave injustice" to make a judgment on Wright based off of "two or three sound bites," and criticized those who would "use a few of [Wright's] quotes to polarize."

Last week, Dean Snyder, the senior minister at the Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington D.C. -- which the Clintons famously attended while in the White House -- released a little noticed statement offering a sympathetic defense of the totality of Wright's work.

"The Reverend Jeremiah Wright is an outstanding church leader whom I have heard speak a number of times," Snyder wrote. "He has served for decades as a profound voice for justice and inclusion in our society. To evaluate his dynamic ministry on the basis of two or three sound bites does a grave injustice to Dr. Wright, the members of his congregation, and the African-American church which has been the spiritual refuge of a people that has suffered from discrimination, disadvantage, and violence. Dr. Wright, a member of an integrated denomination, has been an agent of racial reconciliation while proclaiming perceptions and truths uncomfortable for some white people to hear. Those of us who are white Americans would do well to listen carefully to Dr. Wright rather than to use a few of his quotes to polarize."

Snyder, it should be noted, was not the pastor at Foundry during the Clinton years. That was the previous minister, J. Philip Wogaman. Moreover, there seems to be confusion as to exactly what church Clinton now attends. Her campaign did not return requests for comment.

However, Foundry was cited on numerous occasions as a steady presence during the first couple's time in the White House. And in January 2001, Bill Clinton gave a farewell speech to the congregation, thanking the church for its work in the city as well as for its "courage" to welcome gay and lesbian Christians.

Sent by Jerry | 11:57 AM ET | 03-26-2008

Ty, yes, there are many, many politicians who have skeletons in the closet. But I fail to see how that makes it okay to pick on their innocent children. Let's be a good example and refrain from that.

Sent by Karen | 12:16 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Yes, you have a choice to pick your pastors. You also have a choice to pick the following:

--your spouses
--your campaign managers
--your campaign strategy
--your Iraq war vote
--the accountant who will release your taxes
--the archivist who will release your WH records
--the Senate aide who will release your earmarks

Now, let's see which of the last three Mrs. Clinton CHOOSES to do next.

Sent by Margie | 12:42 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright isn't racist nor is Obama and he's definitely not a liar that I've been able to detect. Rev. Wright is an ex-Marine, an ex-Navy Surgeon and very well educated!!! He just has differing opinions and different colored glasses that he views the world through! BTW his old church is a 10,000 member mega-church are you sayin all those people are racist??? I can't imagine that, I can imagine that they're inspired to do things for Americas forgotten based on the fact that a pastor of there's has opened their eyes!

Sent by Christopher | 12:53 PM ET | 03-26-2008

It's a shame that Hillary is "demonized" because she is someone married to (though controversal personality), a man who was a VERY good president when compared to where we are today, a woman and is white... Why must it always be connected to racism because a white person addresses something with a person of another color...what's going on in America? She did nothing wrong with addressing the question she was asked, after all, we are trying to elect a president and his "associations" will matter...good judgement will be paramount. Regarding the Boznia situation...it happened 12 years ago...very likely she didn't really remember...but since she was in the spotlight as First Lady, she was able to "jog" her memory, perhaps thru articles written about the trip, unfortunately, the papers and info published about that trip was incorrect...that's the media for you...getting it wrong again. Lastly, why is Donna Brazile pretending to be the uncommitted Superdelegate...it is clear she is a supporter of Obama and shows hints of being radical...remember her vailed threat to quit the Democratic Party...honestly Donna, come clean and let us all know the oblivious. Obama has the advantage of having some powerful influential people who are doing everything in their power to "talk up" a Hillary quit...Hillary don't do it. It's insulting and there are essentially just as many people in this country that want Hillary as want Obama...and with so much smoke coming from the camp of Obama...we all need to take time and let this run it's course...by the way, it really is harder in this world to achieve greatness as a woman...just do the math around the world and it doesn't matter what your race...

Sent by ard | 1:26 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Karen
Point well taken. They should stop sending their children on the campaign trail to make statements which could end up in the media or influence the elections.

Sent by Ty | 1:36 PM ET | 03-26-2008

MariLynn Bagienski,
I guess for all those relaxed Catholics, they have also heard about the abuses commited to little boys in the catholic church and the coverup. Why are they still attending the church? are they in support of the abuse? (Guilt by association).

Sent by Liza | 1:41 PM ET | 03-26-2008

to ARD...yes it is clear that Hillary has a memory problem. I too was beamed up by aliens and we had to duck bullets on the way to the mothership, that's why I was late for work today. It is also clear to me that obviously you are oblivious to whats going on today in the world. Go Obama

Sent by ELG | 4:15 PM ET | 03-26-2008

ELG,

As an Obamanite, you should always remember to take the "higher road"...tsk, tsk...

Sent by ard | 5:31 PM ET | 03-26-2008

behind every good man there is a great woman. this phrase has been around for years. was bill really running the country or was hillary? if she gets elected who will run the country then? the elected president or the good man behind her?

Sent by alan | 4:18 AM ET | 04-27-2008