With all the focus during the primary campaign season on the words of the candidates' ministers, whether it was Jeremiah Wright for Barack Obama or John Hagee for John McCain, one has to wonder when the press will start focusing on Sarah Palin's pastor. As a member of a conservative, evangelical congregation in suburban Alaska, there is a decent chance Palin was present for some controversial sermons from time to time. Much as Obama was hit with the content of Wright's sermons, one would expect Palin to receive the same treatment from the media in terms of her pastor's remarks.
--David Gray directs the New America Foundation's Workforce and Family Program. An attorney and ordained Presbyterian minister, he is a chaplain at American University in Washington, DC.
Jeremiah Wright was Obama's pastor for many years. John Hagee was not McCain's pastor. Please be more accurate in the future.
Steve - you are correct John Hagee was not McCain's pastor - John Hagee was brought in to PULL IN the evangelical vote - or at least those evangelicals that don't use the "MIND" - think for themselves - part of loving God that Jesus said is the MOST important command: "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, with all of your MIND and with all of your strength."
Jesus said the second command is like the first, "Love your neighbor as yourself."
This is the main part of Jeremiah Wright's teaching - but somehow this message got lost in the mess of his hurt and pain for the disenfranchised, the poor, the child without proper food or good education, broken people with no hope.
While I am caucasion, I've been privileged to teach Af-Am children and to know their parents. I've seen in the city of St. Louis "the least of these" that Jesus taught us to care about, to love - the very ones that Obama talks about. These are NOT throw away children or people, they are loved by my Lord and made in his image.
Look at the heart of Jesus as he daily taught, healed, loved all people who would hear him and also ORGANIZED 12 Men to be the starters of his church - I'm looking at Paul as #12 Apostle.
"When you give a cup of water, it like you have done it for me," Jesus teaches. Why then are we so greedy so selfish - we CHRISTIAN Americans who have MORE and MORE?
Gov Palin's pastor have made several statements that need media attention. Palin will not receive the same amount of attention for several reasons. Fox News is owned by the Republicans, the sexist card is already being played, and most people never heard or understood Rev Wright's sermons.
Rev Wright was attacking the Bush administration, not the American people, for an unjust revenge that killed thousands of innocent people.
A couple weeks ago when Palin attended church, the pastor said the terrorist killing of Jewish people may have been God's judgment for not believing in Jesus.
Palin has not begun to get the same level of vetting by the press that Obama received. McCain is keeping Palin away from the press to prevent voters from getting needed information about someone that could be our President. Why???
Unfortunately, you're very biased. Evengelical Christians don't follow anything controversial. Too conservative for some, but there's nothing controversial about prefering having a baby to abortion, there's nothing wrong with hunting ect. I have NEVER hear anything controversial from a conservative christian church. Jeremiah Wright was a radical, anti-american speaker. Watch those videos.... and Obama considered him his "Spiritual Advisor" right up until those old sermons started coming out. Now THAT is something to be afraid of.
Sharon - Obviously you have not seen Jeremiah Wright's speech in its entirety. As most people have not, and only saw what the media showed!If you were to watch the entire sermon you may have a different point of view. Please dont be like many... uninformed and not interested in the truth, and in some cases prejudice, some people are more than willing to except what they hear instead of researching for them self. Pat was absolutely right about Wright it was about Bush not America. Whereas Palins pastors comments have been about America and certain races. Look into Sarah Palin, and Mcain, you might really be interested/shocked in what you find out! Don't listen to the media an don't fall for their camp just because she's a woman, its still Bush ideas, don't be fooled because shes a woman.. what about substance and experience as Mcain push so hard to make a point of before selecting her after only speaking on a single phone call for 15 minutes. Check into her bridge to no where, her being investigated, her trying to fire her brother in law, her pastor. Look into how she left her city 30 million in debit. And spent $249 per person on earmarks but says Obamas $25 per person was wrong! Please do your research and look at Wrights entire sermon. God Bless
I wonder if anyone who has commented on this actually lives in Alaska? Personally I live in the city that was to have one end of "the bridge to nowhere" actually it was to somewhere and very necessary for our city but it was shot down because of people in the lower 48 not really knowing what they were talking about. Her ex-brother in law was also fired because he got caught drinking in his squad car, illegally hunting, tasering his 11 year old stepson, etc. I personally don't see a problem with him getting fired! There is much more people aren't getting right but I don't want to waste anyone's time since they don't want to hear it anyway
You guys have been drinking too much of that Obama Kool-Aid. He is a socialist plain and simple. And Wright made a clear statement G-D America. Not G-D Bush. Palin and McCain have made mistakes, but at least they have the opportunity to learn from them. Obama dosen't have the experience. The only piece of legislation he has passed is "Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act." TELL ME HOW THAT HELPS AMERICANS!!! Mrs. McCain helps thousands of people around the world. Mrs. Obama spends her time helping a few under priveledged blacks move up. Sounds a bit racist to me. Then there's her thesis paper. Yes I've read the whole thing in context. But why try to hide it? Why spend so much time and energy focusing on race rather than making the most of yourself and bettering the country as a whole? Affirmative Action is promoting racism. What ever happened to hiring the most qualified person?
Why do you assume that her pastor must have said something controversial. I have attended church for years and have never heard anything even close to what Wright said.
How is it you seem to assume all pastors make outrageous statements because he did.
Then you state there is a decent chance she heard a controversial sermon sometime, yet I expect you believe Obama when he says he wasn't there when any of the hateful statements were made.
Your bias is too obvious for belief.