Pastor Torpedoes Obama Campaign?

Is it possible that outrageous, politically-charged sermons by Rev. Jeremiah Wright, former pastor of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, will be the weapon that scuttles the Obama campaign? While Obama attempted to further distance himself from Rev. Wright’s inflammatory pronouncements in yet another speech today, a serious issue remains (as stated on various Fox News shows) regarding Obama: Is this not a question of character and judgment? Having attended Wright’s church for 20 years, how could he at first, claim not to have been exposed to Wright’s vitriol - then later, admit that yes, he had but didn’t leave the church? After hearing of his pastor’s statements of “God damn America” and “America is al Qaeda” etc., one wonders how he could still be a part of this church. Even Oprah Winfrey, ostensibly uncomfortable with the tenor of the oratory, left Wright’s church in the early 1990s.

How can Obama be involved in this church for 20 years, be married by the pastor and allow him to baptize his children, yet claim not to have been exposed to Wright’s racist diatribes? As the situation develops and more Wright sermon clips become public, one wonders what it is about this church that attracted Obama in the first place, yet makes him unable to take responsibility for having been a parishioner for so long.

And what of Michelle Obama’s statement earlier in the campaign - “for the first time in my adult lifetime I am really proud of my country"? The tone of that remark certainly takes on a strange new dimension when viewed within the context of Wright’s numerous “liberation sermons”.

Related questions: Considering the number of sermons in question and their obviously politicized subject matter, at what point does Wright’s former church jeopardize its tax-free status? Additionally, given Obama’s 20-year church relationship and his voting record in Congress, isn’t it reasonable to ask what exactly he has in mind for the U.S.?