Pastor John Hagee has apologized to Catholics. Read all about it. Hagee’s a hypocrite. Fine. Seems that he just realized finally that calling the Catholic Church “The Great Whore” was misunderstood. An oops moment, if you will. It was another Catholic Church whose honor he questioned and image he desecrated. Or something. Fine. But who cares one way or another what this fellow says. Well, Obama fans for one. They think it’s a big deal. They think this is a big “gotcha” moment. See! McCain has Hagee; Barry has Wright. It’s a wash. No. It’s awash in differences.

It seems that Obamans are suggesting that since Hagee made the apologia and his contrition was ostensibly accepted, Reverend Jeremiah’s jeremiads should be overlooked as well by anti-Obama/Hillary/McCain folks. Sorry. As we say in the South, that dog don’t hunt. Here’s why.

First, Wright never apologized; Hagee did.

Second, Psychotic rants from preachers are a dime a dozen. Each one has its own beauty in embracing various hues of hate and absurdity. In fact, we’re used to it. Falwell, bless his heart, warned us that one of the Teletubbies was gay. Quick: Which one? Come on. Even my call screener knows this one. (Buzzer) The answer is Tinky Winky. (Sounds like a marital nickname, if you catch my drift.)

Third, Hagee doesn’t scare white folks. Hagee’s rants are about the Catholic Church and apostate churches. Roughly nine out of ten Americans don’t know what “apostate” even denotes. It is reported that 46% believe it is the term for a botched castration. Hagee’s a white guy; Wright’s not. That’s it.

Fourth, Mccain never claimed that Hagee was his spiritual mentor. Hagee never married McCain and Cindy and didn’t baptize his illegitimate black child. (Remember that beaut?) Hagee was some evangelical who endorsed McCain. Like countless others who perennially endorse Republican candidates. McCain wanted his followers, his Rolodex, his contributors. Period. Not his friendship or guidance. Admittedly, McCain should have headed south after reading Hagee’s words, but remember, evangelical Republicans agree with Hagee. Swear to God. These folks believe in raptures and Armageddon and God knows what else. It’s part of the collective insanity of some “modern” faith. Mitt wears magic underwear; Huckabee refuses to accept evolution (he says the jury’s also out on gravity).

Many Obama supporters are blind as to the unfairness and inequity of this world. They have yet to understand just how divided the races are, how so many whites are petrified of an angry black man. And they better not forget that come election day, when the echos of Wright's rants have long been forgotten by the Barack supporters, the 527 groups will refresh the collective recollection of a lot of timid, timorous and easily-frightened white voters. Chris Matthews can’t come to grips with the realities of this fact: racism and racial phobias are very much alive and very much well in this land of ours. It was just 41 years ago that anti-miscegenation laws were struck down by the Supremes. We haven’t come a long way, baby.

Obama has to go after the evangelicals deftly and craftily. Throw in some references to God, the Church, divine inspiration, whatever, in your speeches. Remind voters how important the church is to you. How God is your copilot. You know, religious schmaltz. Short of suggesting that the country was founded on Christianity, remind voters how important faith is and the respect that we all should have for those who are comforted by faith and His word. Like the 90% of Americans who say they are.

Oh, to be sure, Obama-ites, you may have forgotten the Rev’s rants, but there are a whole bunch who haven’t and won’t.

Be prepared. And get ready.