I heard the whole speech and press question and answer and he was more concerned with the media scrutiny of Trinity than the hateful Black Liberation Theology yelled from the pulpit to the cheering congregation. Wow...Wright is right....Obama does what he has to as a politician. He's had more renounce, denounce, reject moments in this campaign than in any I can remember in my 49 years. The one I see coming next is angry Michelle on tape blaming whitey....then what, he'll have to throw her under the bus to get to the WH?

What to self-indulgent pastors have to do with worship?

This is something he should have done a long time ago. He is still going to be smeared with the brush of that church, & he is too smart to not know it. This is a church of hatemongers. If this was a white church, everyone would be all over them like a dirty shirt, wondering why they still have their tax-exempt status.

What is very unfortunate is how the new media has become a news story creator vs. a reporter. They way the different news stations cover the news to continue to generate controversy, ratings, and profit is truly disgusting. The US media should be ashamed, but corporations serve a different function as we all know.

Obama describes the tirade against Hillary as "unacceptable"?

Such an understatement is in itself "unacceptable" - and outright offensive.

And yes, he seems to be saying that he's cutting ties with his church because it's not fair to the church to get scrutinized like this. That seems to be his main concern!

Also, this Father Pfleger is someone who Obama has previously described as one of his main spiritual mentors, along w/Wright!

So I don't try to pass him off as some random 'guest pastor' - if this is one of Obama's friends/advisors then just imagine what the real fringe loonies of his church must be like!

Let me second what Ryan said. "Except?" "Sighting?" Seriously, I know some good copy editors who'd love the work, and it'd make it easier to focus on your reporting if I didn't flinch every other paragraph.

It's kind of amazing how much questioning Obama has to go through on the same non-issues simply because he's capable of giving an intelligent, thought-out response. I like the fact he's not spitting out phony canned responses, which is characteristic of more "experienced" politicians. On this issue, Obama has been hounded by the press about happenings in his church that have NOTHING to do with the American people. Whatever some guy in his church is railing about this week isn't going to change the amount of dollars in my wallet or the number of our people dying in a foreign country. Either the press is too robotic to ask questions about real issues, or Americans are too comfortable to care.

There are too many misspellings and typo's in this article, like the use of "except" where it should be "accept", and "seperatation" instead of "seperation".

Damage Control.

Not because of the scrutiny of the church. Because Of the reflection of the Extreme Racist the church portrays publicly.

The Cheers and Applause for Racism, The Pastor Thanking God for the Sermon on Racism. making it evident it is and has been acceptable in the church and hearts and minds and souls of those attending the church.

Mr Obama says what he has to politically.
He leaves his church Not because his does not believe what they teach, and believe in. Rather he leaves because it might lose him a vote.

He has Failed miserably at Addressing the main issue or controversy. He leaves his church to insure votes.

He blames the media and the people of the country for this. Not the beliefs and teachings and sermons or the doctrine of the church are wrong, unacceptable and Racist, vile and hateful. To him it is only controversial.

Rev Wright was right about Mr Obama, he says what he has to as a political.

He Has failed, the people, His church and himself miserably.

He turned and ran, and not addresses the issue and serious problem and outrageous and evil practices behavior of his church, his friends and himself.

He Failed to tell them they are horribly wrong. What they are doing is Absolutely Unacceptable, Hateful, and evil.

That inciting racism, Attacking people with personal attacks, and spewing Political attacks from a pulpit, a church from people is something he can not accept, be part of and is wrong on every level. That they need to stop and never do it again.

He has failed again.

If he handles matters of state and government this way. The country is doomed. Distancing himself from it so he does not have to deal with it, and that it might look unfavorably on him.

He severed Ties and ran.

Telling the country and the world, racism is only controversial. It is best Not to deal with it head on and solve the problem. If you run away from it Hopefully you do not have to deal with it personally.

Mr Obama you are absolutely worthless!

This is a person aspiring for the country’s highest position. Supposedly such a person should have character, own judgement and at least some form of moral guidance. This is not hope for a new politics this is the hope of a weather vane, a change we can believe in.

Matutu - Obama left the CHURCH. He left the BUILDING and the PEOPLE. He did not leave his faith. Obama probably left that churche because his campaigning has taught him that he doesn't want his daughters poisoned by the crud and horror being spewed out of that church every Sunday - and other days of the week, if they'r like other churches. "RELIGION" is belief practiced in public.
"FAITH" is belief practiced alone.

My suspicion at that time, and Michelle shared this concern, it was going to be very difficult to maintain membership there so long as I was running for president. The recent episode with Father Pfleger just reinforced that

KEY WORDS -SO LONG AS I WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT
WRIGHT IS RIGHT.

"no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States Constitution"

I think this means that the delegates cannot use this type of "news" at the convention. I wonder if the media can be held accountable for sensationalizing ignorance.

Freedom of religion is what this country was founded on, yet the only thing the media is concerned with is what OTHER PEOPLE SAY AND DO at Obama's former church. What a shame. What a pity.

Obama '08

obama has dumped his church because he's a scum.The chuch had done all it could to help him, now it's not, so
bye bye Christ and church

Now that his poll numbers are sinking, Barack Obama is throwing Trinity UCC off the bus alongside his grandmother. What has become clear is that Senator Obama built his political career in Chicago by associating with the most extreme elements in the city. As a lifelong Democrat, I cannot vote for Obama. John McCain in 2008.

I imagine the pastors at his church are just very excited that Obama is going to be our next president.....And knowing how crazy pastors can be and get when they are excited, They do seem to go a bit over board!

It is a wise decision for Obama to distance himself from these very excited pastors. I'm sure they do more for the community than any elected official, That's a positive thing.

Its a good idea to look at the good in people instead of the bad. But some are just so bitter in their own lives they cant get past their own bitterness to see the good in others.

"It's clear that now that I'm a candidate for president" PERHAPS CLEAR IN HIS MIND BUT CERTAINLY NOT THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. Hillary Clinton now has more popular vote and sometimes Obama, Superdelegates can change their minds although it appears that the DNC committee members (27 people) have "decided for" us all who they want as their candidate, and it does not matter what the voters want. So why have the primaries?

Obama believes the long held views, statements and principles of his church and he will not denounce the church, although he is resigning from the church well for now, to win the Election.

His judgment is about as bad as it gets people.

Anne,

How do you figure Hillary has more popular vote than Obama?

Excellent post G.N!!

Something positive, When Hillary is finally pushed aside, She will then use her time to reverse the hate she has caused. That's a given...

He might make a bad judgement to go to this church though his mistake didn't cost hundreds of thousands of american lives