But see, therein lies the problem. The dismissal of the willingness to believe such theories which can easily be linked to a person's race (which Hitchens wants to be completely colorblind about) and their experiences in this country. That is the issue I take with Hitchens inability to put those claims into context. Also, I am not sure why Obama should dismiss his friend of 20 years over a few sermons that people have taken issue with. Again, when viewing these sermons in full (and not the little youtube clips) there is actually nothing anti-American, racist, or hateful about them. Obama could cater to the whim of the ignorant that refuse to educate themselves, or he could stick to his beliefs and what he knows of his friend that the rest of America does not. I certainly have far more respect for the man as a result.