UPDATE: Steve M. notes that the Bush White House, in addition to consulting with Robertson, also consulted with the anti-American Jerry Falwell, including on the question of whom the administration should nominate to the Supreme Court. It even appointed a White House liaison for Falwell. When Falwell died, President Bush "said he was deeply saddened by Falwell's death, calling him 'a man who cherished faith, family and freedom.'"

Shouldn't we be very concerned about American children hearing our President praise an American-hating radical who believes that our country is a sick and wicked land that God wanted to be victimized by the 9/11 attacks? Again, the issue here is number (2) above, not number (1).

UPDATE II: Frank Schaeffer, son of highly influential Religious Right figure Francis Schaeffer, writes (h/t FPL-Dan):

When Senator Obama's preacher thundered about racism and injustice Obama suffered smear-by-association. But when my late father -- Religious Right leader Francis Schaeffer -- denounced America and even called for the violent overthrow of the US government, he was invited to lunch with presidents Ford, Reagan and Bush, Sr.

He goes on to chronicle his father's long history of extreme "America-hating" statements, ones which never caused Republicans to repudiate him, and says: "Every Sunday thousands of right wing white preachers (following in my father's footsteps) rail against America's sins from tens of thousands of pulpits."

Yet Schaeffer, like hordes of similar, America-hating white Christian ministers, are celebrated as cherished figures among the very same right-wing faction feigning such outrage and offense over Wright's far more mild statements. White, right-wing Christian evangelical rage against America is understandable, respectable, and noble. Liberal black Christian anger towards America is scary, subversive, and despicable.

Jeremiah Wright has doomed Obama's run for the presidency and Bill Clinton has done the sme for Hillary. The Democratic leaders must wish they had held both of them off at the pass. what is needed is a white male with real experience and no clerg problems: Joe Biden or Chris Dodd.

Jeremiah Wright is not running for president. He is a surrogate for boneheads like Joan Walsh to write her petty, recyclable, non-issue laden hogwash in a column (it is her job……unfortunately, for the rest of us) and a pacifier for newsy-bodied morons to suck on whenever they need a fix to support what our political discourse has become: A sewage pipe with a never ending trickle of bullshit from the MSM. Grim view of America, indeed! Grim view of Salon.com as well. Well Ms Walsh, another penny-ante piece if ever I read one. Please fire yourself.

Here's what Obama himself had to say about Wright when he went on Fox with Chris Wallace today:

"Do you think Wright is just a victim here," Walllace asks Obama.

"No...people were legitimately offended. The fact that he is my former pastor makes it a legitimate political issue," Obama says. "I think it's also true that he was simplified and caricatured."

Obama denounces the specific comments again, but adds, "I go to church not to worship a pastor but to worship God." He also added that the church does things for poor people, and Wright isn't all bad.

However you Clinton supporters and Joan Walsh can't seem to get this through your head. It's a clear, rational, reasonable response that anyone with a working cognative process would be able to understand.

It's also the reason Wright hasn't sunk Obama no matter how much some of you (including Joan Walsh in her usual passive-aggressive manner) want him to. Now Obama might lose, I don't have a crystal ball. But Wright cleary HAS NOT BEEN and IS NOT the game-ending factor you thought he was. Sorry. Americans are smarter than that and they're clearly thinking (thank God) this time around.

If I thought you could cover the wonderful interview and responses Obama gave this morning without passively-aggressively trying to turn everything good he does against him by some poor excuse for a backhanded comment I would encourage you to cover it Joan Walsh.

But, alas, we all know that's not what we get here on Salon. It's all Clinton, all the time. And if it's about Obama and good, time to right some ridiculous article on "Obamaboys" throw some passive-aggressive critiques of Obama in there, and ever so lightly sprinkle just a little bit of race-baiting on top.

... where Wright announced he would be Obama's running mate.

Because that's the ONLY POSSIBLE way his thoughts and words can even arguably be fairly attributed to Obama.

One would think someone as bright as Joan would realize that the only reason Obama has had to answer for Wright in a way that no other presidential candidate has ever had to answer for an associate of theirs is institutionalized racism. Plain and simple.

As Joan should be able to recognize, institutionalized racism - that subtle, non-overt undercurrent of black inferiority that pervades our culture - is just as damaging and important to eradicate as institutionalized sexism. And it is purely institutionalized racism that makes us question Obama because of his connection to Wright in a way that white politicians will never have to worry about.

Name the last time a white presidential candidate had to answer for things said by someone associated with them in a way that even approaches how Obama has had to answer for Wright. You can't.

Another transparent anti-Obama article from Joan. Yawn. I renew my challenge to just endorse Hillary and get it overwith, and I renew my theory that Joan will not endorse Hillary because it would be intellectually dishonest of her.

Joan,

I'm sure your article fulfills some vital public service, though for some reason I'm having a hard time discerning what that might be.

Most of the people who are judging Wright are doing so based on ignorance. It is important to understand the history of the Christian church to have a basis to correctly decide about him. An understanding that Joan Walsh lacks, along with almost everyone who is gleefully using Wright as an excuse to promote either Clinton or McCain.

My minister gave a sermon a few weeks ago that put Wright's comments in context. Not that it will change the minds of anyone who is using Wright against Obama, but for those whose minds are open, click on my name to go to the website and read the real story on Wright.

Full disclosure: Not an Obama supporter, not a Wright supporter, not a Christian.