He had been a member of the Chicago Church for the past 20 years.

Senator Obama made the decision yesterday in the aftermath of inflammatory remarks made by the Church's pastor Rev. Wright, and more recently  racially loaded comments from a visiting Catholic priest.

This is what Sen. Obama said yesterday about his decision:

I tend not to be a member of the sky-is-falling crowd when it comes to fun stuff being mixed in with the news -- but this seems misguided:

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Memo from Associated Press' Los Angeles assistant bureau chief

From: Baker, Frank S.
Sent: Tue 1/8/2008 11:58 AM
To: News - Southern California Editorial Staff
Subject: Britney

All: