Obama Leaves Trinity United Church of Christ

First the Pastor, now the church.  Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama and his family resigned their membership from Trinity United Church of Christ (TUCC) on Saturday, in the wake of the video of guest speaker Father Michael Pfleger mocking Hillary Clinton’s tearing response to a question just before the New Hampshire primary.

I guess Obama had to do it, but the reality is that this is a form of capitulation that may reveal something about how Obama would conduct himself as president.  It’s unfortunate that he felt the need to leave.  It’s as if he’s trying to run away from his problems with the church.  Moreover, it may just embolden those who feel that they may be able to hound someone into submission. My political friends tell me that it was TUCC that helped give Obama legitimacy and credibility as he launched his political career.  I'm curious to see how this plays out on the South Side.

There is another angle to this as well.  Yes, Pfleger’s comments were incendiary, but the reality is that there are plenty Black Obama supporters, and probably more than a few White ones as well, who take the position that Clinton believed she was entitled to the presidency.  I hear it all the time.  Indeed, the “she acts like she is entitled to it” is a significant, if not dominant, undercurrent among some Obama backers in explaining why they don't like Clinton.  In that way, Pfleger told the truth.  But in politics, it is often the truth that gets one in trouble.

Here is video of Obama’s statement discussing his resignation from TUCC.

Here are Father Pfleger's comments that marked the beginning of the end of Obama at TUCC.