Mr. Gerson is falling back on the one most common argument of the weak minded bully. Weak minded bullies who try to excuse every evil thing that weak minded cowards in office and in the military have done by wrapping it in the flag.

You don't like the
Mai Lai Massacre?
Watergate?
Iraq War?
Overthrowing the democracy in Iran in the 1950's to protect British oil interests?
Killing whales with sonar?
Corporate welfare?
Spending 2 billion dollars on a Submarine to lob missiles we don't need any more on an enemy that ceased to exist in 1989.

"Why do you hate America?"

Its not America that we hate. Its evil being done in her name that we hate.

As small child could point out to Mr. Gerson that when Wright was talking about USA of KKK he was not talking about the people in his church was was a part of America that he loves.

America did not invent aids. But people working for the government did give syphilis to a group of black men in Alabama and those government men took careful notes as those men died.

Rev. Wright's rantings are not totally without cause. And no Rev. Wright does not appear to be a political extremist. He is just a preacher exaggerating to make a point.   

Bush has such preachers in his past. But there is a world of difference between Bush and Obama. Bush does not renounce their words.