By Charles Coulter, Kansas City Star Editorial Board
Bill O'Reilly was kind enough to invite me on "The O'Reilly Factor" to discuss my post from Monday that generated so much heat.
His basic question for me was why should Barack Obama, a sitting U.S. senator, empower the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his controversial comments by attending Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago?
And at the end of the segment, he asked me did I understand why so many white Americans were angry at Wright for his remarks critical of this country? They are, according to O'Reilly, particularly incensed by Wright's references to al-Qaida and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
I recognize and understand that sensitivity, but I will ask a question in return:
Why are so many people empowering Wright by paying attention to the rantings of an old, black preacher in Chicago?
Does Wright have a political power base or effective organization outside of his church? Does he represent a legitimate threat to the future of the United States?
Wright was/is a mentor of Sen. Obama. But Obama has rejected Wright's world view. What more is there to say?
Let's move on to something more productive.
Charles Coulter is Opinion Page Editor of the Kansas City Star.







I think once again Obama has said how he feels about his pastors statement now if anyone talks about it that tell you where they are coming from.
Why has nothing been said about Hillarys person being reponseable for Rev Wrights coming to the press club.