I know the Reverend Wright controversy has already been written about extensively, including on the other side of this blog. However, though I may be late to the topic, I feel the need to share a few thoughts on the matter. It’s not because I’m excited that a politician from the opposing party has found himself in a bad position. This issue goes beyond being fodder for the talk radio and blogging pundits. Instead, I have grave concerns about Barack Obama’s character in light of this entire debacle. My reasons for not wanting him to be our next president now go way beyond disagreements over policy.

First, let me agree that you cannot be held accountable for the words spoken by your pastor. But, you can decide that he is not going to be your pastor anymore. During our search for a home church, Nathan and I walked out in the middle of a couple of services when we got offended by the words or actions of the pastor. Several other times, we stayed until the last “Amen” (probably to avoid banging into several families while exiting a pew) but never returned.

Second, maybe the preacher did have plenty of sermons during which he advocated Christian love and social justice. Bully for him! I still think that just one of his now infamous comments would be enough to drive me away for good.

It seems to me that you have to accept one of two ideas about Senator Obama at this time:

1. He’s a liar. Are we really supposed to believe that he never heard Reverend Wright share any of his racist and inflammatory views during private conversations? They undoubtedly discussed politics and current affairs … I’m sure that Obama got a glimpse of Wright’s strong opinions during that time. For Obama to get on TV and say that he never heard Wright say anything offensive, and certainly would have spoken up if he had, is just ridiculous. If someone is that angry at society and the perceived power structure in this country, it would be darn near impossible to know him for twenty years and have no clue.

or

2. He is the least perceptive human ever to walk the earth. If Obama was oblivious to his controversial pastor’s words, he did not do his research before deciding on a pastor/mentor. I guess he never interacted with his fellow churchgoers, who eagerly cheered and applauded Wright’s hateful rhetoric. He must have let his mind wander to baseball or an upcoming speech during Sunday services. Barack Obama is a very smart man, so I doubt this second option is possible.

I know that liberals detest our current president, whom they believe to be a liar and a dense man incapable of analyzing a Dr. Suess book. Why would they want to elect another president who must share at least one of these same traits in order to make his current story plausible?

To go ahead and address what I imagine will be a response to this post, I am not just “some white girl who doesn’t understand black churches”. I have attended services in black churches. Heck, I worked for the Democratic Party in Maryland for years so I’ve done plenty of campaigning in black churches. I will happily embrace a candidate who attends a black church, a white church or no church. I am saddened and frightened, though, by the thought of a United States president who would attend, adopt and financially support Reverend Wright’s church.