Worry about real judgment issue

In the week leading up to the five-year anniversary of the start of the Iraq war, the media went bonkers over the sound-bite comments by Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the pastor of Barack Obama's church.

This faux controversy no doubt began with the Right Wing Scream Machine and as usual, made its way into the mainstream media.

Despite his unequivocal rejection of Rev. Wright's comments, Obama was still pilloried in a guilt-by-association smear campaign.

Forget about the fact St. John McCain actively sought the endorsement of Rev. John Hagee, a man whose equally offensive comments have included calling the Catholic Church "the great whore," an "apostate church" and a "false cult system" and who stated New Orleans deserved Katrina because it was holding a gay pride parade.

The Right Wing Scream Machine has come up with its narrative over the Wright/Obama issue.

Apparently, it's now an issue of "judgment."

Well, let's look at the judgment of the Republican nominee for president on an issue that actually matters.

The man who has actively supported George Bush every step of the way during the catastrophic war in Iraq. The man who is staking his entire presidential campaign on the false claim that The Surge has been a success.

So who is the one lacking in judgment here?

One who failed to leave a church over a pastor's words that, we can all agree, didn't harm anyone?

Or one who was an active cheerleader for a war that has now taken the lives of over 4,000 American soldiers, wounded another 29,000, and that will cost America over $1 trillion before it's over?

In a sane world, these questions would never have to be asked.

Robert H. Fredian

Arlington Heights