the comparison seems a bit specious

Although I'd agree that, in situations like this, it's fair to apply the 'shoe on the other foot' argument, it's not very convincing in this case.

For the sake of argument, suppose Bush's personal pastor and 'spiritual mentor' for the last 20 years were known to go off on pro-KKK rants in church, denounce vaccines and fluoride in drinking water as part of a plan to sterilize people, etc.---then of course, you'd have to hear strong and unequivocal condemnation of those statements or game over. And condemnation alone would NEVER satisfy partisan critics: there'd be endless 'splainin to do. (Whereas in reality I have no idea who Bush's pastor is...is it graham? my bad. He's offensive but hardly to the degree i just made out).

From listening to Obama, I believe he does NOT subscribe to those views. Wright in effect says he's fibbing by calling Obama's statements 'politics' but I think Wright is just so unhinged he'd say anything.

On a certain level though, it's terribly disappointing and puzzling that someone who seems to have risen about the racial divide spent all those years in such a church. And utterly depressing that every Sunday, for some folks, is a chance to reinforce the worst beliefs about others. I'm an atheist who respects the freedom of conscience of others, but as time goes on, I'm starting to see virtually ALL religion as vile. (And christians may be the worst--what the hell happened to reconciliation and forgiveness? How did it all turn back to hate? Yeah i know about the dubs but they all seem just as bad nowadays. Despicable.)