Obama's Other Pastor Problem

By Ethel C. Fenig

In this era of diversity, pluralism and multi culturalism, promoting interfaith relations with the clergy of one religion appearing at an institution of another religion or an individual of one race or ethnic background speaking to a group of another background is quite common. At worst these events engender some temporary feel good moments, some heated exchanges and then most participants continue their separate ways.

But when white Roman Catholic priest Michael Pfleger spoke at neighboring black Trinity United Church of Christ (yep, Barack Obama's church for 20 years) last Sunday hate was in the air.

In his best white man imitating black preacher role, Pfleger roared

...When Hillary was crying (gesturing tears, uproarious laughter from audience)-and people said that was put on-I really don't believe it was put on.

I really believe that she just always thought ‘This is mine' (laughter, hoots). ‘I'm Bill's wife. I'm WHITE. And this is mine. And I jus' gotta get up. And step into the plate. And then out of nowhere came, ‘Hey, I'm Barack Obama.' And she said: ‘Oh, damn!' WHERE DID YOU COME FROM!?!?! (Crowd going nuts, Pfleger screaming). I'M WHITE! I'M ENTITLED! THERE'S A BLACK MAN STEALING MY SHOW. (SOBS!) SHE WASN'T THE ONLY ONE CRYING! THERE WAS A WHOLE LOTTA WHITE PEOPLE CRYING!

I'm sorry. I don't wanna get you in any mo' trouble. The livestreaming just went out again...

And the congregants loved it. Remember, this is the same church Jeremiah Wright preached a similar brand of hatred to an approving crowd while Obama ostensibly snoozed in his seat.

Pfleger is a priest at a predominantly black Catholic church not far from Trinity; he has spoken at Trinity several times previously and several admiring profiles of him have appeared in Trinity's church magazine Trumpet. Pfleger and Obama are good friends; Obama has, in the best of interfaith, inter ethnic relations, referred to Pfleger as one of his spiritual mentors. And Pfleger has solidly returned/ the favor.

Pfleger's support of Obama is well known in Chicago, and an Obama aide confirmed Pfleger contributed to Obama's state Senate campaign during his years in the Illinois legislature.

The aide told FOX News that when Obama was a state Senator in 2000, he secured a $100,000 earmark for the ARK Community Center, a center attached to Pfleger's St. Sabina church. The aide said the initiative was awarded to help keep at risk kids off the streets by giving them a place to play.

Pfleger was also once a member of the Catholics for Obama Committee, which is a voluntary advisory committee to the Obama campaign, the aide said. But the aide said Pfleger decided to step down a few weeks ago from this committee, though the campaign did not request the resignation.

But given Pfleger's many previous antics--he's an "activist" priest--his endorsement will probably not help Obama much with the white ethnic Catholic vote.

In his best Sharon "Karma" Stone mode, Pfleger has given a half hearted apology although he has uttered similar speech like this in the past. Perhaps other videos of his similar sermons at his own church or at Trinity will surface.

Obama condemned the sermon, expressing his disappointment, stating it was "divisive and backward-looking. Of course Obama never said much during all the years Wright uttered similar thoughts.

Meanwhile, all those liberals who piously invoke separation of church and state when conservative clergy express political opinions or become involved in the political process have been deafeningly silent about Obama's relations with Wright and Pfleger. And what will they say if the IRS should come knocking at Trinity's door, removing its tax exempt status because of its political activity?