Controversy follows Obama, not GOP

The media seems to be clamoring for some sort of major repudiation of Barack Obama's former minister (Rev. Wright) from Barack Obama himself. Sen. Obama has already rejected the reverend's controversial remarks via several media outlets recently. He has explained his relationship with Rev. Wright repeatedly and has denounced Rev. Wright's sentiments regarding this country repeatedly. Nothing short of Obama taking out a weapon and inflicting physical harm on Rev. Wright would satisfy, I would suppose.

Several Republican presidential hopefuls, including Sen. McCain, have sought and received endorsements from various controversial mega-church preachers such as John Hagee and Pat Robertson. Rudy "Mr. 9/11" Guliani was tickled pink with the endorsement of Pat Robertson, who along with Jerry Falwell, said that it was homosexuals and abortion that brought about the attacks of Sept. 11th. Likewise, John McCain seemed all too happy to receive the endorsement of Rev. John Hagee, a man who believes that Hurricane Katrina was God's way to punish homosexuals, believes that there is a "clear record of history linking Adolf History and the Roman Catholic Church in a conspiracy to exterminate the Jews," has called the Catholic Church "the great whore," and who believes that a coming nuclear showdown with Iran "is a certainty." It seems that Republican candidates can court and receive endorsements from the most radical and divisive religious leaders in America and no one seems to object, but when Barack Obama denounces and rejects repeatedly his own minister's comments, it just won't satisfy.

Tom Boyd

Hawthorn Woods