Politics really is an interesting thing to watch. Its almost like watching a contact sport, although the all too often incredulity it provokes reminds me more of a sitcom. This election year the daily chicanery that describes the path to the democratic nomination has proven to be a late-night comic’s dream. No where is this more evident than in the inconvenient presence of the Reverend Jeremiah Wright in the political life of Barak Obama. When Hillary Clinton was First Lady she penned her name to a ghost written book (actually written by Barbara Feinman) entitled, “It takes a Village.” The main point was that we all have a role to play in the development of children; each of us brings something unique to contribute to their upbringing. In this sense the role of Reverend Wright must be the village idiot.

Reverend Wright, you may remember, is Barak Obama’s pastor and worst political nightmare. After several examples of his pulpit pathology became public Obama was forced to distance himself from Wright. Obama’s followers in the liberal media worked hard to make sure in their reporting that we knew he is Obama’s “ex-pastor.” Obama and company hoped that the damage from the first round of comments was contained. But just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...

Last week Wright had every opportunity to compliment Obama’s damage control efforts. On Friday PBS’ Bill Moyers golly-geed so much over Wright that - as Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly said - “...when old Bill got through with the reverend, he had morphed into a combination of Ozzie Nelson, Bill Cosby and Santa Claus.” So far, so good. But the self-righteous reverend was not to be contained so easily. His ego had been bruised. His buddy Obama, in distancing himself earlier, had “dissed” his former pastor.

I happened to catch most of his appearance before the National Press Club last Monday where he let it all hang out. He neither recanted nor apologized for any of his statements or remarks. He still believes that God should damn America, that HIV/AIDS was created by the government to exterminate blacks, and that America is a terrorist nation. And he went one step further: he insinuated that the attacks on him were really attacks on the black church. This is a desperate and arrogant attempt to manipulate African-American Christians into his heretical theology and crazy cause. Thankfully it will not work. The black pastors I know and work with are too well-grounded in Scripture to buy this nonsense.

As for Obama’s distancing himself? Wright said Obama is a politician and that’s what politicians do. In other words, Barak Obama has become an “Uncle Tom” who has sold his soul to white plantation democrats. Its quite obvious from Wright’s words that he only cares about himself and his ego. Infuriated, Obama said, Wright showed "little regard for me" and seemed more concerned with "taking center stage." Yep.

I wasn’t surprised by Wright’s performance. I knew he was going to dig his heels in and show defiance. He is the crazy uncle that pops up every chance he gets so as to never let you forget he is there. But that this man is an ordained minister is the most disturbing aspect of all this. It is a sad testimony about the credential standards of his denomination, the United Church of Christ. But mainline liberals seldom care about such things. Political correctness and ministerial quotas guarantee an ecclesiastical tenure for Wright, thereby allowing him an endless forum to spout vapid theology and inane conspiracy theories. And Wright is certainly not alone. Expect that after his forthcoming book is published a liberal seminary in the northeast will offer him an honorary doctorate and a professorship. (That’s right: he’s written a book. Coincidence? Nah.)

As with all social narcissists Wright’s antics guarantee him instant celebrity in our culture. Such egomaniacs thrive on attention and will stop at nothing to get it; and the more shocking they are the more we pay attention. Some are even tricked into writing op-eds about them.

Sounds like a conspiracy.

Marty Fields is pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Reach him at pastor@westminsterepc.com.