Politics of Hope?

Just how much attention should a candidate's preacher receive? I thought at first soem of the things said about Obama's preacher weren't entirely fair. We've worshipped at a congregation here the minister was a pacifist, and we are certainly not pacifists.

But when the minister is actually part of the candidate's campaign (in a symbolic role similar to that Ferror played for Clinton), and when he says things like this, and when what he says from the pulpit almost certainly violates the IRS rulings that every church I have ever been a part of has felt compelled to comply with, then I don't think it's out of bounds after all.

Listen to the video, read some of the linked blog posts (mind the minister's language), and ask yourself, if a Hilary or McCain went to church where a white minister said exactly the same thing, only he said it about blacks, would it be off limits? If they chose to sit their children down in front of that kind of preaching, would everybody be okay with that? And is this really a message of unification and hope, compatible with the feel good speeches Obama has been running on?

Update: Rick at Right Wing Nuthouse explains why this is more than guilt by association.