Obama and the Gauleiter

We're given to understand that Barack Obama is to give a major policy speech this morning, partially because of the contretemps that has brewed up over the intemperate rantings of the former pastor of his church.

It's bad. It's really bad. No amount of parsing his words and talking about the role of preachifying in the traditionally black churches can mollify the abrasive and hostile words he's expressed.

We've heard that he served as a Marine, and that his words are not to be taken literally. But there's the problem of what he's said. There's just no excuse for saying mean, nasty, ugly, hurtful things, even if it is from a pulpit.

He's no more permitted to use his pulpit to advocate such things than Father Coughlin was entitled to besmirch his calling.

How Obama reconciles all these things will determine the trajectory of his career and presidential aspirations.