memeorandum: Pressure and the Prophet — The economy is a rising issue … (Michael Gerson/Washington Post)

6:25 AM ET, March 15, 2008

Top Items:

On My Faith and My Church — The pastor of my church, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who recently preached his last sermon and is in the process of retiring, has touched off a firestorm over the last few days. He's drawn attention as the result of some inflammatory and appalling remarks he made about our country …

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:

Wright leaves Obama campaign — Spokesman Tommy Vietor emails: — “Rev. Wright is no longer serving on the African American Religious Leadership Committee.” — That cuts Wright's only formal tie to Obama, and answers what was sure to be a question in Obama's interviews tonight …

Discussion: Scared Monkeys, NO QUARTER, The Page, Gateway Pundit, Jules Crittenden, MyDD, Patterico's Pontifications and MSNBC

Andrew Sullivan / The Daily Dish:

What Obama Saw in Wright's Church — A reader says that we cannot know what is in Obama's heart, and to a certain extent, that's true. My reader believes therefore that Wright's racist anger is what Obama truly believes - and is now concealing. All I can say is that very …

Discussion: The Belmont Club and The Jed Report

David Kurtz / Talking Points Memo:

IS WRIGHT A “DEATH BLOW” TO OBAMA? — Like a number of emailers, TPM Reader JB is wringing his hands over Obama's Rev. Wright: … Late Update: TPM Reader KR defends JB: … TPM Reader MS foresees this line of attack:

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Steve Sailer's iSteve Blog, alicublog, The Huffington Post, Stop The ACLU, Little Green Footballs and American Power

Alex Johnson / MSNBC:

Controversial minister leaves Obama campaign — Presidential candidate condemns words but not ministry of former pastor — Editor's note: This article includes language some readers may consider inappropriate. — Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., condemned racially charged sermons …

Discussion: Wake up America, The Other McCain, Macsmind, The Daily Dish, Hotline On Call, The Jawa Report, A NEWT ONE and Political Byline

Dennis Sanders / The Moderate Voice:

Notes From a Black Pastor — Well, considering that I am an African American pastor, I should say something about the whole affair concerning the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, Barack Obama's church. — I have to state, in the interest of full disclosure …

Discussion: ucc.org, Too Sense and The Glittering Eye

Jodi Kantor / New York Times:

Obama Denounces His Pastor's Statements — In the handful of years Senator Barack Obama has spent in the national spotlight, his stance toward his pastor has gone from glowing praise to growing distance to — as of Friday — strong criticism. — On Friday, Mr. Obama called a grab bag …

Allahpundit / Hot Air:

Obama issues statement repudiating Wright, may appear on Hannity & Colmes; Update: Wright leaves Obama's campaign; Update: “You can get kind of rough in the sermons” — Not sure about the H&C rumor but DU looks to have picked it up from Hannity's radio show.

Discussion: michellemalkin.com, Sweetness & Light, Associated Press, Fox News, The Corner, The Sundries Shack and baldilocks

Rich Lowry / The Corner:
Wright in “Dreams of My Father”

Discussion: PrestoPundit and THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS

Hindrocket / Power Line:
OBAMA DISTANCES HIMSELF FROM WRIGHT

Discussion: The Huffington Post, The Anonymous Liberal, Lynn Sweet and The Jed Report

CBN.com:
Obama Sends Statement on Controversial Pastor to The Brody File

Discussion: American Spectator

Sister Toldjah:
Obama's version of the “iced tea” …

Discussion: Wizbang, NewsBusters.org, Hot Air and The Corner

Fox News:
Obama's Pastor's Sermon: ‘God Damn America’

Discussion: Right Wing Nut House, The Campaign Spot and American Power

Tom Maguire / JustOneMinute:
The Reconciliator's Judgment

Discussion: Political Radar and Power Line

David Jackson / Chicago Tribune:

Obama says Rezko played a bigger fundraising role — This corner lot at Hyde Park Boulevard and Greenwood Avenue in Chicago, formerly owned by Antoin “Tony” Rezko's wife, Rita, is next door to the home (right) of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama. (Tribune photo by Milbert O. Brown / March 6, 2008)

Discussion: The Blotter, NO QUARTER, Fox News, Corrente, Hot Air, Scared Monkeys, Spin Cycle, Pat Dollard, The Caucus, Rezko Watch and The Page

Jeralyn / TalkLeft:

Obama Says Rezko Played a Bigger Fundraising Role Than Previously Known — In a just published interview with Sen. Barack Obama, the Chicago Tribune reports: … Repeated lapses of judgment. The Tribune says that's how Obama views it. — The interview raises another question: Obama's naivite.

Discussion: The Swamp and Political Punch

Sam Stein / The Huffington Post: Hsu's Legal Process Continues As Rezko's Heats Up

New York Times:

Delegate Battles Embroil 2 States — Democrats in Michigan and Florida struggled Friday to resolve the impasse over their disputed January primaries, coming up with a plan to hold a June primary in Michigan while remaining deadlocked in Florida. — Reflecting how tense the situation has become …

Discussion: Don Surber, Oliver Willis, The RBC, Redstate and Classical Values

Jesse Lee / The Gavel:

House Passes FISA Amendments Act — The House has just passed the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 3773, to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to establish a procedure for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence, and for other purposes, by a vote of 213-197-1.

Discussion: Firedoglake, Think Progress, Big Brass Blog, CNN, protein wisdom, If I Ran the Zoo, The Newshoggers, DownWithTyranny!, TPMMuckraker, The Swamp and Daily Kos

Jonathan Weisman / Washington Post:
House Passes Surveillance Bill

Discussion: New York Times, The Washington Independent, Buck Naked Politics, Electronic Frontier Foundation and TalkLeft

Glenn Greenwald / Salon:
House Democrats reject telecom amnesty, warrantless surveillance

Discussion: The Huffington Post, Calitics, Firedoglake, Blue Indiana and The Reaction

Ben / Think Progress:

AP Says McCain Is A ‘Man Of The People’ For Taking Train Despite Noting He Rode First Class — Earlier this month, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) hosted a “thank you” Sunday cookout for over 40 reporters from a wide variety of news outlets at his vacation home in Arizona.

Discussion: Random House, Associated Press and Oliver Willis

James Carville / Financial Times:

Halt the political hara-kiri — In this, the most fascinating and longest-running Democratic primary process of our time, we were presented with a silly moment that unfortunately is all too reflective of modern American culture. Consider the case of one Samantha Power.

Discussion: Jules Crittenden

Talal Al-Khatib / Political Radar:

Pelosi's Delegate Stance Boosts Obama — ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos on Friday that it would be “harmful” to Democrats if superdelegates were to give the party's presidential nomination to a candidate who is trailing in the delegates awarded in primaries and caucuses.

Discussion: The Page