At the core of GOP attacks on Barack Obama this fall in the controversy over remarks by Rev. Jeremiah Wright will be the issue of judgment. Just as liberals criticized conservatives for exercising poor judgment when they remained members of private clubs that excluded African-Americans, Jews and women, the GOP attack machine will say that Obama exercised poor judgment by remaining a member of Wright’s congregation at Trinity Church for 20 years, even though Wright espoused beliefs like his assertion that HIV was a bioweapon developed by the U.S. government targeted at African-Americans.
“She’s been around black churches all her life, so Reverend Wright’s anger-filled message didn’t surprise her. But it just wasn’t what she was looking for in a church.”
– Friend of Oprah
Now Newsweek is reporting that Oprah Winfrey, who joined Trinity Church in 1984, stopped attending about 10 years ago, in part because of concerns over Rev. Wright’s message:

Winfrey was never comfortable with the tone of Wright’s more incendiary sermons, which she knew had the power to damage her standing as America’s favorite daytime talk-show host. “Oprah is a businesswoman, first and foremost,” said one longtime friend, who requested anonymity when discussing Winfrey’s personal sentiments. “She’s always been aware that her audience is very mainstream, and doing anything to offend them just wouldn’t be smart. She’s been around black churches all her life, so Reverend Wright’s anger-filled message didn’t surprise her. But it just wasn’t what she was looking for in a church.” Oprah’s decision to distance herself came as a surprise to Wright, who told Christianity Today in 2002 that when he would “run into her socially … she would say, ‘Here’s my pastor!’ ” (Winfrey declined to comment. A Harpo Productions spokesperson would not confirm her reasons for leaving the church.)

But Winfrey also had spiritual reasons for the parting. In conversations at the time with a former business associate, who also asked for anonymity, Winfrey cited her fatigue with organized religion and a desire to be involved with a more inclusive ministry. In time, she found one: her own. “There is the Church of Oprah now,” said her longtime friend, with a laugh. “She has her own following.”

The Obama campaign hopes that the Wright controversy will be old news by the time the campaign in the general election begins in September. That’s possible, unless there are more revelations like this one to come.