Last night on MSNBC's election coverage the issue of McCain and his unreported gaffes came up. A legitimate point for anyone wondering why the media is so fixated on Reverend Wright but cannot bring themselves to give Pastor Hagee even a moment's notice.

They repeatedly ignore McCain's gaffes such as confusing Sunnis with Shi'ites and admiting "I Don't know much about the economy. I turn to my advisors." when the Economy is supposedly one of if not the top issue in the campaign.

Matthews and Russert (to their credit) are quite candid about the free pass that McCain has been given. Russert points out that it's a long race, though. He seems to imply that the media will become more critical of McCain at least on issues like the war and the economy.

I'll believe it when I see it, but for now this is a pretty great video:

While our nation is at war, American families are being forced out of their homes, and gas is inching towards four dollars a gallon, we have more important issues to talk about than Obama's ex-pastor. I was personally troubled by Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s warped view of the world, and I understand why many Americans were angered by his message, but it’s ridiculous to think the former pastor's sentiment is a representation of Barack Obama's values or judgment. We would be no more justified in criticizing the whole of Christianity for Reverend Wright's comments than pundits and rival campaigns have been in criticizing Obama for vitriol the former pastor spewed. This election is about war, the economy, healthcare and our global climate crises. It's time we focused on these issues instead of what Obama's outlandish ex-pastor said.

This may shock you, but not all rabbis are ecumenical peace loving progressives. I have twice left congregations because the Rabbi was too right-wing on Israel and peace issues. But others who work hard fulltime on these issues have not, such as the estimable MJ Rosenberg have stayed because of the overall community. Even when they are both proudly Jewish and specifically "Litvak-centric."

If you are Catholic who goes to church regularly, you have probably attended mass overseen by pedophiles and their enablers. You certainly have gone to services run by rabid anti-abortion rights activists. Furthermore, not only are they proudly Catholic, some Boston Irish parishes have been known to be proudly "Celtic-centric."

We all now about the many right wing extremist America hating Protestant ministers who have had most Republicans and some Democrats davening and kissing their rings for years: Parsley, Hagee, Schaeffer, Falwell, Robertson, Doug Coe and Sun Myung Moon to name just a few.  

Every Sabbath in America people attend services at their regular place of worship where the person in the pulpits says things we disagree with, particularly homophobia, ethnocentrism, patriarchy. Some of us stay there for years, for many different reasons. It is actually pretty complicated:

Last night the Daily Show w/ Jon Stewart devoted a large amount of their headline coverage to how the news media is devoting a large amount of their coverage to Reverend Jeremiah Wright day-in and day-out.

It's a pretty well done segment complete with priceless phrases like "Wright... who has been dominating cable news like a missing white girl." While some might wish the Daily Show would focus their attentions elsewhere I disagree - this is what the Daily Show is, a mockery of the news networks. This is precisely why the Daily Show exists - to call out the news media for their stupidity, obsession and shallow coverage.

I've been watching so much Wright nonsense on TV over the past week or so that I find this kind of spoofing very cathartic.

This isn't much of a diary entry but I enjoy sharing clips from the greatest news show on television (it kind of is). Last night the Daily Show had some very funny coverage of the Jeremiah Wright media frenzy and the comments he's been making over the past few days.

Jon Stewart also sits down for a more substantive Jimmy Carter interview than you would find on FOX, Larry King or ABC. Check it all out below and weigh in with some thoughts/reactions!

Earlier today Reverend Jeremiah Wright spoke at the Press Club where he touched on many different issues. The role of the black church, racism, Barack Obama, sound bites in the media etc. etc.

For those who had never seen Jeremiah Wright outside of his sound bites it was probably an interesting and eye-opening experience. The guy actually holds his own quite well, even when being asked some pretty hard questions about past statements and so forth.

I've decided to share the Question and Answer segment of the coverage to let everyone here see for themselves. While I may not agree with everything that Wright does, I respect him for his honesty and conviction. The only thing is that this will probably hurt Obama who I am supporting for President. Hmmm

Start here.

Trinity United Church Of Christ
info@tucc.org

This list ncludes some media contact information, because I've been hearing some want to let it be known how they feel about how the media has handled this issue. It is far from complete, of course. More a sample of what is out there.

The biggest offense in the Wright tapes - when played in longer segments than Fox or ABC (which supposedly played it before Fox or CNN) or any other outlet has played them - is no one has captured the sentiment around the words beyond the Noise Level. Wright is talking to a community that feels like America has left them behind - economically, politically, socially, demographically. As Jimmy Boegle put it, "Why do you think it's impossible to love your country, yet still be ashamed of it?" Which a poster on Reddit added "I remember Trent Lott saying something like "It's possible to support troops while opposing the president." Which are variations of exactly what Wright was saying in the 'God Damn America' speech. Using the quote of a Reagan appointee.

I am completely saddened by the horrendous coverage of Rev. Wright’s sermon. Let me be clear. The tone used by Wright is vitriolic, non-inviting, and caustic. That said, most of what he said in the sermons are hard to stomach, however true. You must listen to the entire sermon in context. You can view some of the offending sermons at http://www.PoliticalTruths.info.

This is my first diary. I've been reading and commenting for a few weeks, and was moved by something this morning to try a diary.

Please be gentle with me! I've heard this is a "hate site!" (Well, at least that's what my father-in-law who has BillO talking points tattooed on his prefrontal cortex says, so, my first "snarky-snarkity-snark" to both of them!)

The priest in Easter mass this morning said this, as he pointed at the crucifix behind the altar: "Damnation does not come from the cross. Christ is the resurrection, not the damnation. Love and rebirth are your birthright in Christ."

The wingers are going to keep bringing up this Wright controversy, and I believe the only way to combat it is to educate people about what he said and the truth and appropriateness of it. I am a little upset that the wingers got to Obama, and that he felt he had to distance himself from this stuff. Thanks to this diary that pointed me to the actual offending sermon after 9/11.

After watching the video I am not offended at all. I'm convinced that those who are offended either didn't understand it/couldn't stomach some of the metaphors or are ignorant about America's history. His sermon is all true and good.

The Reverend begins by talking about the tragedy and the innocents lost and then moves toward a discussion of what America is about to do -- to get even. He uses bible quotes to illustrate a point about hating the enemy's army but not the innocents, the "babies." It is all very fiery and he uses strong language. I can see how it might be hard to follow what he is talking about but I tried and to my ears he is saying something that I really want my President Barack to hear.

Mike Huckabee makes some surprising comments on the Reverend Wright flap on Morning Joe.

Could 527 groups legally play ads with Rev. Wright's sermons in them?

McCain's Campaign Manager essentially says the brouhaha over Obama's Pastor is no big deal.