Pfleger did apologize. In fact I think he used the same construction Hillary used when she didn't apologize for wishing (in effect, we know what she meant and it wasn't a calendar reference) that Obama got whacked in June in California.

"So if anyone was offended by the comedy stylings of Father Pfleger, he apologizes and so do we, the proprietors of "Pun and Games: Showtime at the Trinity." Father Pfleger will be here all weekend long. Please tip your ushers."

"I regret the words I chose on Sunday," he said. "These words are inconsistent with Senator Obama's life and message, and I am deeply sorry if they offended Senator Clinton or anyone else who saw them."

Pfleger Apology

I must say I found Pfleger's performance way more offensive than Wright's. Pfleger seemed to be patronizingly affecting a stereotypical dialect and style, much as Senator Clinton did in Selma some months back.

Count me among those who view Pfleger as a cretin.

Jesus Babbling Christ. More faux outrage. Enough with the apologizing already. This is a battle for the White House and ending a goddamn war where people are dying. When Hillary Clinton apologizes for the deaths of 4000+ Americans and scores of thousands of dead Iraqis we can talk. Until then I don't want to hear more of this outrage over sermons at a church.

The line from the movie Unforgiven is most apt for this post and the endless fawning over poor Hillary (she of the 'enough with the speeches and big rallies' line).Hillary has played the game as hard as she possibly can so she can complain about nothing:

as the corrupt Marshall is about to die he says
"I dont deserve this " and Eastwood's character replies:
"deserve's got nothing to do with it"

"Jesus Babbling Christ. More faux outrage. Enough with the apologizing already. This is a battle for the White House and ending a goddamn war where people are dying. When Hillary Clinton apologizes for the deaths of 4000+ Americans and scores of thousands of dead Iraqis we can talk. Until then I don't want to hear more of this outrage over sermons at a church."

Amen, bro'.

By the way Fran, I've been black my entire life and you want to lecture ME on white entitlement? How Clintonesque.

If people cannot see that this is nothing more than an attempt to make the UCC look like the Taliban, then I don't know what's going on with liberals anymore.

Have the Republicans fucked everyone's head up so much they think this kind of thing is Ok?

You can't see what is going on here - so you perpetuate it?

Thanks for making this easier for the GOP and McLame, ya idiot.

Fr. Pfleger owes no one an apology. He spoke the truth. Hillary's adolescent behavior over the past 2 months would not have happened had she lost to a white male candidate. Her behavior, her racist language, is representative of the old guard feminists... old, middle class and above, damaged white women. The fact remains, Hillary is a loser and is a loser because she is the weak candidate. Her claim to entitlement is repulsive to decent Americans. Americans want change, not just by party, but within the Democratic Party. Decent Democrats understand that the Clintons have harmed the Party and the America... this is why a vast majority of Democrats have voted for Senator Obama and have rejected Hillary Clinton. Decent Democrats do not want to have to apologize for anymore stained blue dresses. Hillary's failure to address Bill's serial cheating has demonstrated her unfitness to lead this country. Hillary's failure to control Bill's runaway mouth over the primary demonstrates her unfitness to lead this country. If she cannot deal with Bill, she sure as hell cannot deal with our international enemies.

HusseinTenaX,

You're right. This is only a calculated attempt to pull super-delegates from Obama just before the last primaries.

Ripper,

Don't presume that black women don't know REAL racism or sexism when we see it. As I said before: "You haven't been to many black churches, have you?". You should hear the sermons I hear on Sundays. You see, we don't just sit around listening to dry little discourses on salvation. We actually get to hear calls for justice as a necessary part of our faith experience.

Without the liberation theology of the Black Church, where do you think the Civil Rights Movement would have been without those of us who actually had to fear being fire-bombed while we worshipped? Do you know why our churches were targeted? One key reason: voting rights! During this same time period, guess who was an avid "Goldwater Girl" who supported segregation?

Without those of us who made real sacrifices, neither Clinton nor Obama would be running for president. Since I'm not a Democrat, party unity is not my greatest concern. Besides, if the Democratic Party was so unified, you wouldn't have the Florida and Michigan delegate mess to resolve,hmm? What DOES concern me is that Hillary Clinton will use any means to maintain her hold on power by demonizing people who look like me or who support our viewpoints.

You recognized the Pfleuger "text" on entitlement and white supremacy but you missed the entire context of the message. In light of Clinton's coded phrases designed to appeal to her supporters, some of us recognize how dangerous her tactics are to OUR personal health and safety. The Great Panjandrum brought up another critical point. When is Clinton planning on apologizing for the blood on her hands?

Oops,I meant "Phleger".

Translation: Hillary can say/do/insult/threaten whenever and whoever she wants, all with impunity.

This makes her just like George W Bush.

Do we want 4 more years of Bush?

Hell NO.

Father Phleger was speaking in a church to a congregation, not to MSNBC/CBS/ABC etc.

He owes Hillary NOTHING. However he was kind enough to issue an apology for his comedy routine similar in construction/sincerity to Hillary's apology for invoking the assassination of Barack Obama.

We wouldn't even be talking about any of this if Hillary wasn't the wife (in name only) of a former president. She is a mediocre senator who voted to send our troops to a war that never should have happened.

She is Nixon in a pantsuit.

So you pat yourself on the back for your intellectual honesty as you offer Hillary some backhanded sympathy. Well, all hail to thee, oh honest and noble one! But what you miss is that no one is surprised at the depths to which some Obama supporters will sink. The damage of that video of good father Pfleger's hatefulness wasn't done to Hillary, and it wasn't done by Pfleger. The damage was done to Obama by his fellow parishioners as they cheered approvingly at Pfleger's blatantly racist bilge. As the parishioners shouted "Amen" Pfleger blamed white success and black failure on slavery, and conferred the full weight of it upon all of white America. There was no sense of shock evident in that church as they waved their arms and shouted, "Yes sir!". Clearly those parishioners had heard this kind of rhetoric before, and approved wholeheartedly. Obama can claim he never heard the worst of Jeremiah Wrights's words. Obama can claim he never before heard Pfleger speak. But he can not deny being a part of that congregation that holds such outrageously racist views. So once again the question is what Obama and his family were doing sitting in those same pews for 20 years. You speak of those who tarnish all that Obama stands for. Wake up! It is Obama's fellow parishioners who tarnish Obama's reputation. Obama willingly chose to be one of them and to raise his children among them.

Archbishop of Chicago tells Father Pfleger to STFU.

Like it or not, Obama is trying to secure an election by winning over voters who are unsure or unaware of him. No one gives a shit about Phleger. His life experiences are of no consequence to the voters Obama is trying to appeal to. Phleger owes no one an apology for speaking, whether truthfully or not.

However, if Phleger hopes that Obama gets elected, then he owes Obama a huge apology. Put yourself in the position of the so-called low information voter. (Low information? We elite can certainly condescend.) This voter thinks what? That Obama seems like a nice young man with nice ideas. But who are these crazy people he hangs around with?

As an instance of black liberation theology, there may be merit to Phleger's [performance, perhaps justification, maybe even obligation. But to Obama, that performance is unbelievably stupid.

Pride? Or Obama? Can't have both here.

I agree with you Ripper. Phleger was stupid, stupid, stupid for making those comments at this point in the campaign. I mean WTF Father? How out of touch can you be?

I think part of the issue is that Obama has liked hanging out with intellectuals and activists who are not politicians and have never concerned themselves with being politic. To me, that's cool, that's a positive character trait. "Stand up for the stupid and the crazy," Walt Whitman said, meaning that the "stupid" and "crazy" often have something of real value to contribute. I like the fact that we've got a politician who gets energized being around more incendiary types.

But as Obama heads into the general election and as he prepares to govern, these folks have to understand that their comments will come to represent him (as unfair as that may be.) They will particularly represent him when they are talking about his political opponents.

Phleger was stupid and reckless in not understanding that he's got a bigger stage now. Its his responsibility either to become more politic or less visible (good luck) over the next 8 years.

I for one am sick and tired of people being so quick to tell Barack Obama when he needs to apologize for unauthorized surrogates speaking out of turn. If Obama had said those remarks then I would be concerned, but he didn't.

If you want every unauthorized surrogate to apologize for speaking or writing things out of turn, then why not start with TPM or CNN or the person or entity of your choice. Enough already!

I absolutely agree with you, Ripper ... these comments were way out of line. And I suspect that Sen. Obama was even more sickened than we.

And while I guess it's a good thing the sorta apology is on record, it doesn't suffice - no apology would. Nor, in my opinion, was it addressed to the true victim: Sen Obama.

This was carefully crafted and intentional ........... and I do believe that the intention (conscious or not) was to harm Obama and his chances. Same with Wright’s comment at the press conference not long ago.

These men (Wright and Pfegler) are weird but not dumb -- they have to know who this stuff will hurt. Especially with the timing of Pfegler's 'performance' - right before the DNC committee meet and SDs are (hopefully) going to put an end to it. Gimme a break.

Why? It was speculated on another thread
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/05/obamas-church-back-in-the-news.php
that this may be personal anger that Obama stepped away from Wright back when he made his announcement – or it may be the fury of people who have power if the country is divided and angry, who won’t be so powerful if Obama succeeds – or it may be simply the overwhelming desire of people who are obviously showmen to have their time in the spotlight.

I don’t know - or particularly care. But let’s call it what it is: a calculated move to injure Sen. Obama’s chance to be come the Dem. nominee and/or to win the election in November. They have given Clinton and the Republicans a more valuable gift than the biggest of the fat-cat donors.

CNN is reporting that Obama has just resigned from his church.