We have seen it many times in the past where a staff member of a prominent politician makes an inflammatory statement in public followed by a public outcry. Usually the end results is an apology from the politician and the staff member is forced to resign. Situations like these also tend to cast a poor reflection on the politician. Many people will wonder out loud if the politician doesn't harbor similar views.

So now it is Barack Obama's' turn to face this type of scrutiny. Now that Obama is the front runner in the Democratic primary, people are starting to take a closer look at his background. It wasn't that long ago when many people were wondering why Obama seemed to get a pass from the media. But the recent release of speeches by Obama's "spiritual adviser", the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. cannot be ignored. Mr. Obama quickly released a message saying that Wright's statements were inflammatory and appalling. So far in his campaign I have not see or heard of Mr Obama saying anything that could be construed as being racist. However there was the comment by Michelle Obama saying something to the effect that for the first time in her life she was proud of America. This statement seems to be a distant echo of the speeches made by the Rev. Wright.

But what about Barack? Does he share the views of Rev. Wright? In Barack's public statement he says," the sermons I heard him preach always related to our obligation to love God and one another, to work on behalf of the poor, and to seek justice at every turn.” But there are two questions that bother me about his statement. First, after hearing some of the speeches, I find it hard to believe that in 20 years Mr. Obama never heard any of this rhetoric. A man with opinions like the Rev. Wrights usually does not keep them quiet. Second, when you listen to the recordings of the speeches, you can hear the audience agreeing with his outrages statements. Is this Obama's congregation cheering? If it is wouldn't Barack have heard some of them talking about the Reverends words?

If a white man attended an exclusively white church, and the leader of the church gave sermons that railed against minority groups, would you think that man a racist? You know the answer is yes. So is Obama a racist? Is he guilty by association? I don't know. Until now, the thought didn't really cross my mind. But I don't think that Mr. Obama's explanation is adequate.

But I do believe that this will hurt his campaign. He is going to have to do a better job of explaining his association with the Rev. Wright and other questionable people in his life if he wants to gain the trust of all Americans.

- Thomas Paine 2

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