The more I read about the new Democrat frontrunner for that party's nomination for president of the United States, the more convinced I become that he's little more than an empty vessel that a lot of people seem to pour their own hopes and dreams into.

Barack Obama got some press this week after Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen revealed that Obama's minister at Chicago's Trintity United Church of Christ is a big fan of bigot and anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan.

Its minister, and Obama's spiritual adviser, is the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. In 1982, the church launched Trumpet Newsmagazine; Wright's daughters serve as publisher and executive editor. Every year, the magazine makes awards in various categories. Last year, it gave the Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Trumpeter Award to a man it said "truly epitomized greatness." That man is Louis Farrakhan.

Maybe for Wright and some others, Farrakhan "epitomized greatness." For most Americans, though, Farrakhan epitomizes racism, particularly in the form of anti-Semitism. Over the years, he has compiled an awesome record of offensive statements, even denigrating the Holocaust by falsely attributing it to Jewish cooperation with Hitler -- "They helped him get the Third Reich on the road." His history is a rancid stew of lies.

Obama responded to the criticism -- by muddying the waters. The Illinois senator stated:

I decry racism and anti-Semitism in every form and strongly condemn the anti-Semitic statements made by Minister Farrakhan. I assume that Trumpet Magazine made its own decision to honor Farrakhan based on his efforts to rehabilitate ex-offenders, but it is not a decisions with which I agree.

Problem: Farrakhan's work with criminals wasn't why he was honored. According to the magazine (found here in PDF format):

"When Minister Farrakhan speaks, Black America listens," says the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, likening the Ministers influence to the E. F. Hutton commercials of old. "Everybody may not agree with him, but they listen...His depth on analysis when it comes to the racial ills of this nation is astounding and eye opening. He brings a perspective that is helpful and honest.

"Minister Farrakhan will be remembered as one of the 20th and 21st century giants of the African American religious experience, continues Wright. His integrity and honesty have secured him a place in history as one of the nations most powerful critics. His love for Africa and African American people has made him an unforgettable force, a catalyst for change and a religious leader who is sincere about his faith and his purpose.

Nothing about helping criminals there.

I've noted before that Obama appears to harbor some anti-white bigotry, and it's pretty clear where some of that is coming from -- his minister.

You can tell something about people by the company they keep. If the pastor of the church I attended revealed that he thought that klansman David Duke was a pretty OK guy, I wouldn't be attending that church any more.

Obama's got a similar problem, but it doesn't appear that anyone in the media -- apart from Cohen -- is willing to call him on it.

In fact, many on the liberal left are calling foul on Cohen, without making a whole lot of sense. I encourage you to check out some of David Bernstein's coverage of the issue over at the Volokh Conspiracy.