When judging the character of a political figure - or anyone for that matter - how much influence should his or her friends and associates have?

It’s a question frequently asked in the political arena, with no clear answer. So often it is simply evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

The lightning rod at hand: The often fulminating and controversial Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright - also known as Barack Obama’s pastor.

These two are more than mere acquaintances. Wright married the Illinois Senator and presidential candidate, baptized his children, has taken donations from him, and serves on his African-American Religious Leadership Committee.

So when a tape of Rev. Jeremiah Wright delivering an inflammatory sermon to his Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago - Wright implied that the U.S. brought the 9/11 attacks on itself through its own “terrorism,” and “the government gives [blacks] the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing ‘God Bless America.’ No, no, no, God damn America!” - it’s no shock that his close relationship to Obama became a national story.

Oh… and Wright also said, in defense of Obama’s candidacy prior to the Iowa caucuses, that “Hillary Clinton has never been called a n!gger.”

Gulp.

For his part, Barack Obama has likened Wright to an old friend, an eccentric but lovable uncle whose words his family doesn’t necessarily heed.

Personally, we wonder why people care so much what Jeremiah Wright or other pastors - men and women who hyperbolize for a living - say or think.

We believe Barack Obama’s feelings and views about race are sincere and presented emphatically and clearly on the campaign trail and in his books (one of which, The Audacity of Hope, was titled after a sermon given by - who else - Wright).

The church (and the concept of faith) means different things to different people, and to associate every member of a church congregation with their pastor’s political views or remarks - however inflammatory - seems silly, if not patently unfair.

However, Obama should draw very strong, clear distinctions between himself and Wright for American voters, because some many not see it this way, and it’s he remains a hard sell for millions even without such association.

Nationally, Jeremiah Wright will be seen as a kooky loose cannon at best, and at worst (according to some of his most vocal critics) a racist demagogue.

Specifics aside, the political tack embraced by opponents will be to paint Jeremiah Wright as an extremist, angry black man with ties to Barack Obama.

That’s the opposite of the presidential campaign Obama has been running, which is the single greatest reason for its success. A uniter and not a divider, in many ways Barack Obama is the personification of our nation’s dream.

He’s the American candidate, not the black candidate. After all he’s shown us during his campaign, Obama should receive some slack over his relationship to Wright. But as the American candidate, he needs to distinguish the difference.