Political Diary
June 3, 2008

Pastor Problems
The Rev. Michael Pfleger was a busy preacher on Sunday, May 25. In
addition to his mocking criticism of Hillary Clinton in a sermon at
Trinity United Church of Christ – which yesterday Barack Obama severed
his ties with – he gave another sermon at his own church in which he
issued the following healing statement: "Racism is still America's
greatest addiction. I also believe that America is the greatest sin
against God."

Mr. Pfleger had earlier apologized for his Clinton
comments. It's unclear how he will react now that his second sermon has
been made public. While the 59-year-old radical preacher is no longer
affiliated with the Obama campaign, many are bound to ask why he was
involved at all. Mr. Obama had frequently appeared at public events
with Mr. Pfleger over the years and counted him as an adviser. Team
Obama brought Mr. Pfleger to Iowa last year to host several interfaith
forums on behalf of the campaign. As an Illinois state senator, Mr.
Obama steered over $225,000 in taxpayer funding to Mr. Pfleger's church.

Now Team Obama is responding to the latest Pfleger
outburst by once again saying the candidate is "deeply disappointed" in
what was said.

The problem here is that voters may begin to detect a
pattern in Mr. Obama's increasingly odd set of advisers and allies.
Jeremiah Wright. William Ayers. Michael Pfleger. As the political
blogger Jerry Fuhrman notes: "Traveling in this circle, is it any
wonder that Obama's wife Michelle never found a reason to be proud of
her country?"

Indeed, rumors are swirling on the campaign trail that
a new video will soon surface featuring Mrs. Obama appearing on a panel
with radical speakers during which she makes more controversial
statements.

Mr. Obama has performed brilliantly in all but
wrapping up the Democratic nomination. But he clearly has lost control
of the storyline surrounding his Chicago advisers. If he doesn't move
to address these problems more forthrightly, they will continue to
haunt his campaign.

-- John Fund

posted on June 3, 2008 1:46 PM ()

Comments:

Only during political campaigns are statements so flagrantly taken out of context! My government has done many things which deeply shame me- the internment of the Japanese during WWII for instance, and a few other things that deal with race relations- but I am still a Patriot and still serve my country as a volunteer, and am darn proud to do so! (This is in reference to the criticisms of Michelle)

comment by dragonflyby on June 6, 2008 3:17 PM ()

Amen,

comment by fredo on June 3, 2008 2:18 PM ()

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