People keep talking about Obama spending 20 years in the pews and how that is a reason to hold him accountable.
I'd like to go beyond that surface level for a moment.
I'm interested in a timeline of when these inflammatory sermons/speeches were actually given. I'm not trying to excuse or explain away Rev. Wright's statements, but I am trying to put it in a perspective that people can understand as to why Obama might not have "walked out the door" when he heard of (or heard) the statements of Rev. Wright.
Bear with me... please keep an open mind.
I've tried searching for a timeline of when these hate filled speeches of Wright's occurred. I haven't found anything comprehensive yet, but the earliest reference I can find so far is the sermon right after 9/11.
Most of the other statements that are offensive seem to be from even more recent sermons.
Obama met Wright in 1988. He and Michelle were married by Wright in 1992. Their first daughter was born - and presumably baptised by Wright in 1999. Their second daughter was born - and presumably baptised by Wright in 2001 - quite possibly before 9/11 and the sermon by Wright the following sunday.
So the important events that the critics like to call out - being married by him, baptizing the daughters - quite possibly all happened before the truly radical statements from Pator Wright started appearing. By the time the 9/11 sermon occurred, Obama had known Wright for 13 years.
My point is this: if Obama was as close to Wright as it appears, isn't it likely that Wright is more than just his pastor? When a close friend says things that are hateful or vicious, do you immediately abandon that friend?
If so, then I would not value your friendship.
If there are references to extreme, hateful speech from Pastor Wright prior to 2001, please help me find them. It will affect my opinion of Senator Obama.
If not, then please consider that the relationship (for many) between a pastor and congregant is not as simple as your local grocer. It might be easy to abandon your grocery store because the manager or owner is a racist and you only see them once in a while when you are getting groceries.
But if the pastor of your church is a close personal friend, then it's not easy to hit the road when radical, hateful things come out of his mouth.
Many critics talk about timelines - Obama was concerned enough that he knew about Wright's statements and took him off the program of the campaign kickoff event, Obama was or wasn't there for a given sermon, etc.
I want to know about the timeline from 1988 on, not the last 18 months.
If you want to talk about character, then tell me what positive character trait is indicated by walking out "after one sermon of hate" on a man you have known, learned from, been counseled by and become friends with for 13 years, or even 5 years, or even 2 years. To me, that is being a fair-weather friend, and being politically motivated.
The true test of character is to be open to the positive aspects of someone who is flawed (as we ALL are) and to try to focus on the good points.
Ted