This commentary is so true, yet so sad. Over the weekend, I visited the Jefferson Memorial, and marveled at the wisdom of the man in recognizing that there were certain principles that were necessary if this democracy was to survive. Personally, I feel the Constitution and the ideals of our founding leaders has been under assault for many years, and an irresponsible, sensation-seeking press has been a large part of the problem. Of particular concern has been the erosion of the first amendment and the assaults on Constitutional rights to freedom of expression that were meant to apply to both speech and religion (as well as the printed word).

Newscasts and modern media reportage, now that they can be prepared to spin a particular point of view by the owners of networks, is anything but enlightening or objective. Instead, it is designed to amuse, delight and pander with the purpose of generating ad revenues rather than enlightenment. Worse yet, it disguises itself as objective reporting while intending all the while to be expressing a particular political point of view. That this administration has paid journalists to write according to a desired political stance is now a matter of record.

One of Jefferson's quotations at the beautiful memorial erected in his memory reads as follows:

"No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship or ministry or shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but all men shall be free to profess and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion."

There has been little mention in the mainstream press of the right of Reverend Wright to profess his beliefs, to preach his own brand of religion, or to emphasize what Senator Obama has observed rightly: That when a person attends church he or she is there to worship God, not a pastor, priest or rabbi.

There is a troubling double standard in this country. It is one that seems to condone the outrageous declarations of the religious right even to the point of giving voice to the unconstitutional cries against mixing church and state.

There has been too much fear, too much tolerance of extremism, and too many incursions trodding on the sanctity of Constitutional rights over these past eight years, for any of us to feel comfortable. And the press corps, who often call themselves watchdogs of accountability, have failed miserably in their responsibility to be guardians of freedom of expression. Instead, they have become part of the problem, as the handling of the Reverend Wright episode has so painfully revealed.

There is a groundswell of discomfort rising up from the ranks of ordinary Americans, demanding change and accountability in government, and a respect for the Constitution. I pray that this movement is successful so that Jefferson's dream about the people being served by responsible government will be achieved. This is only likely to happen if the press holds itself accountable to higher standards than those it currently observes, and the population demands better than it is getting.

Please, have some respect. The man is not a victim. Agree with him or not, he has a point of view and is perfectly capable of defending it.

If Rev, Wright is aware of particular cases of racial discrimination he should name names, dates and places and file a complaint.

Mr. Mark - surely there are more substantive responses to Dr. Jennings than spelling/syntax errors. Her point is an indisputable one - the press manipulated a personal relationship for the benefit of extending the false narrative of the crazy, dangerous Black guy within Obama's circle. The casual arrogance of journalists - even in this discussion - who dismiss Rev. Wright as ego-driven, money-hungry, crazy, jealous, etc. is breath-takingly superficial and venal. There is no empathy amongst those who report on the election season as though it was sport. No one has tried to imagine themselves in the shoes of Rev. Wright or Senator Obama, so happy are they to revel in snarky observations about a complex issue they neither understand nor have the journalistic ethic to educate themselves and their readers about. Obama and Rev. Wright have been subjected to treatment so unfair and so destructive that it defies parameters of sense or taste. This is gut-check time, not spell-check.

Slightly OT, but what are we to think when we live in an age where a heavily credentialed person like Dr Jennings writes the phrase, "poor salt on the wounds of an old man?"

When the internet rains errors, it pours them, even among the heavily educated.