It's not clear to me how much time Joan has spent in the black community. She mentions "a lot" of black pastors who achieve the kind of success in empowering people that Jeremiah Wright does who do it without acknowledging racism and putting into the context of a nation that has exploited and continues to exploit its people. So I challenge you to give some examples, Joan--who are these pastors? And please spare me the inclusion of famous "gospel of prosperity" preacher T. D. Jakes.

Second of all, to not say "God Damn America" when following the Biblical formula in which prophets rail against the sins of Israel (not the kings of Israel, not the policies of Israel, but Israel) would make the condemnation sound trite. You may not like shouting pastors and noisy congregations, but there is nothing wrong with people who do. This is what Wright was trying to explain when he talked about separating "Christianity from culture" but clearly you just didn't get it. The original Jeremiah offended people too, and did things like lie in sackcloth and ashes in front of the temple for weeks on end.

I'm guessing back then that people in Israel complained about the kings who dared to associate with real, controversial prophets instead of the yes men false prophets that people like you would prefer them to associate with.

one could parse out endlessly how horrified you are by Mr Wright and his 'damning' of America, but the simple fact that is in plain view is that America is a rogue mass-murdering nation that likes to protray itself as a beacon of salvation and unimpeachable integrity. This is of course uttterly absurd.

America has a long culture of nefarious and nasty regime change around the world, about 100 years ago, US Marines were waterboarding Phillipine insurgents (who, surprise surprise did not want to be occupied), the attack on vietnam was an odious exercise in mass murder, one of its biggest proponents in public life is the unrepentant and grim nutcase called McCain.

I don't want to add too much, but get over your outrage at Wright's correct denunciation of America. When longer histories are written, the truest patriots are the ones that speak the truth, not the ninnies who nurse egotistical wounds, or more appropriately in your case, defenders of the unspeakable status quo.

I have always felt that Obama's real problem with his pastor is political, not racial. To me, and to many left wing democrats, the politically charged sermons from his church were not shocking in their point of view. Though I wouldn't have stood up in a pulpit and proclaimed it as fact, when the AIDS epidemic first struck my friends and I wondered aloud if it was a government plot to get rid of "undesirables." To hear someone say, God damn America, just didn't shock me. What did shock me was the naivete of a presidential candidate who wouldn't consider this a political liability. Obama has eschewed the liberal label but his entire background and voting record belie the claim of being "post partisan."

I didn't think it was his grandmother he through under the bus in his Philadelphia speech, I thought it was his political ideology. I understand why, but I think it would take more years in the public eye and a more centrist voting record to change his stripes.

People like Tom Hayden are correct to point out that Hillary's start in politics reflect similar alliances and hard core left wing associations. The difference is the amount of time she has worked hard to forge a less liberal, more centrist persona. Some call it cynical of her to court republicans, to embrace non-leftist positions. I call it smart. This is a two party system and you don't make it into the White House if you're perceived as a candidate who only represents one extreme of your party. Obama has tried to overcome his liberalism with rhetoric and a let's move beyond labels (especially the one that applies to me) approach but it's not enough.

Oh, Really?

I'm reminded of one of my favorite slogans from the 60s: Your left is still my right.

Either that or Joan Walsh was watching a different program to the one I saw.

"God mend thine every flaw". Can we still sing that stanza? I still think we can criticize this country. For those stating that Wright should be quiet now for Obama's sake, you couldn't be more wrong. If he were to retreat and go quietly into the night, the Republicans would claim he was scared. John Kerry learned what happens when you try to ignore the lies.

Wright is right that 9/11 was blowback - but just don't talk about it...

Wright is right that America has inflicted great harm the world over - for many years - but 9/11 is somehow "indefensible," as if the millions we slaughtered in Vietnam can be explained rationally...

Wright is right that black Americans were given the short end of the stick - but expressing that anger - even in over-the-top rhetoric is SO Wrong....

Go vote Republican - after all John McCain never uttered a bad word about America - he just dropped bombs on Vietnemese peasants!

"Who loves America? Jeremiah Wright loved it enough that while Dick Cheney was getting his string of five deferments, Wright voluntarily gave up his student deferment, left college and joined the United States Marine Corps. Wright was valedictorian of his class in Corpsman School. When asked about the sacrifices he'd made, Wright said he was inspired by the words of John Kennedy that he should "ask what he could do for his country." And he did that at a time where there were many restaurants in this country that wouldn't serve him food, hotels where he could not get a room, neighborhoods where he could not hope to live, and whole states where he could not obtain justice. That, damn it, is how much Jeremiah Wright loves this country. What Stephanopoulos asked isn't fair, because there are very few people who have expressed their love for America as clearly as Reverend Wright, especially when America -- then and now -- rarely seems to appreciate their dedication."

You should be ashamed to have written such a piece. When the day come where conservatives and Republicans are called upon to attone for the filth and venom spewed by the evangelical Christian right...for YEARS, please by all means, then talk to me about Rev. Wright,