No, Thom, and it's less, er, pardon the pun, "black and white" than that - I don't know the church - I don't live in Chicago - but based on what I read, it's a largely black church, but Obama noted in his book that Wright told him when he joined that there were all sorts of people in it.

And again, I do not believe that what was said was so shocking, nor did the people at the church.

I think that if you can have various vewpoints and still not be shocked by what that guy said.  In a city like Chicago, you will hear that in all sorts of places.

I grew up in San Francisco, and I would hear that kind of talk EVERYWHERE.  I'm not saying it's correct talk, but it's not shocking.  It's not something that I hear, and I grab my wife and kids and run out of the chuch.

And, Thom - nice try, but if someone was so shocked by these things, would they stick around?

And, before someone tries to parse my words - I noted a few pages back - it's not the most honest thing Obama ever did, but he parsed his words pretty carefully - he said he didn't hear the specific 9/11 talk, but he also said he knew this guy gave some pretty whacked out speaches.

I was a part of a congregation growing up for roughly 10 - 15 years.  The same one, mostly white.  That was just the state and neighborhood I lived in.  Anywho, there wasn't a single thing that wasn't a part of the general, overall gossip in the church from the biggest events (divorce, death, adultery) to the smallest (color of a house, shoes, etc.).  Also a part of gossip was what the pastor believed and preached at the pulpit.  Remember, this is a church with a bunch of white people in it, so I'm likening it to Wright's church with a bunch of black people in it.  Everyone had heard this particular pastor's political posturing.  We heard the same thing on the street and in the coffee shops for years.  Doesn't mean we all agreed with it.  Some did.  Some didn't.  So when he would choose to go off on a politicized sermon, you can bet the congregation talked about it. 

I just can't see an entire body of people collectively not thinking comments are worth talking about simply because, in this case, Wright is a black man preaching to a black congregation.  That notion doesn't sit well with me, Mike.  Sorry.

From the church's website

We are a congregation which is Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian... Our roots in the Black religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an African people, and remain "true to our native land," the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. God has superintended our pilgrimage through the days of slavery, the days of segregation, and the long night of racism. It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a Black worship service and ministries which address the Black Community.

The Pastor as well as the membership of Trinity United Church of Christ is committed to a 10-point Vision:

1. A congregation committed to ADORATION.
2. A congregation preaching SALVATION.
3. A congregation actively seeking RECONCILIATION.
4. A congregation with a non-negotiable COMMITMENT TO AFRICA.
5. A congregation committed to BIBLICAL EDUCATION.
6. A congregation committed to CULTURAL EDUCATION.
7. A congregation committed to the HISTORICAL EDUCATION OF AFRICAN PEOPLE IN DIASPORA.
8. A congregation committed to LIBERATION.
9. A congregation committed to RESTORATION.
10. A congregation working towards ECONOMIC PARITY.

Click here to read about Dr. Wright’s talking points for Trinity United Church of Christ its Web site and the Black Value System.

Doesn't sound like a church for anyone who isn't black.