In the comments on an earlier post on Barack Obama’s viciously anti-American pastor, Jeremiah Wright, various people complain that Obama is getting tagged with Wright’s words while John McCain is getting a free pass when it comes to the anti-Catholic and homophobic remarks of John Hagee, a pastor who has endorsed him. This is entirely specious. Obama credits Wright with his religious awakening. Obama had Wright officiate at his wedding. And he donated $22,500 to Wright’s church in 2006. McCain has no personal relationship with Hagee whatsoever. Wright is one of Obama’s mentors. It is true that Obama has now forthrightly condemned Wright’s words. But it is not credible that Obama knew nothing about Wright’s incendiary views, as he claims; even if he had not beenpresent for the sermons that have caused such a ruckus in the past few days, he was close enough to Wright to be entirely aware of his opinions. One doubts Wright is a shrinking violet about them in private conversation. The difference between Wright and Hagee is that while Hagee endorsed McCain, Obama has long endorsed Wright.