During a March 31 interview on his show Public Affairs, Jeff Berkowitz asked State Sen. Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) whether she believes Barack Obama "recognizes" the "greatness of America." Her response?

"I think that's probably true."

Probably?

Radogno's comment followed a discussion of the Rev. Wright controversy. Video of the full show can be found here (the exchange starts at the 11 minute mark).You can read a transcript of the exchange after the jump.

BERKOWITZ: One last thing -- just going back to the black churches which I mentioned. People talk about African-Americans in this country having a lineage dating back to slavery, having a lineage back to dealing with Jim Crow, having a lineage back to dealing with many parts -- if not all parts -- of the country where blacks were clearly separate and not equal. Okay? To turn that phrase around. And so that's there. And a minister on Sunday -- or a pastor -- is trying to motivate, to give hope, to excite, overcome all of this.

And Barack Obama in his speech said this. He said the thing about Wright is that he missed the greatness and goodness of America. He said his was a static view, not a dynamic view. He saw the negatives in the past, but he didn't see what change had occurred in America.

And indeed, Obama said only in America could somebody with Obama's background -- with much of the discrimination that would relate to that background -- having a father from Kenya who was a black, a mother from Kansas who was white -- a lot of discrimination against anybody who was biracial by people who were both black and white. So he said only in America could somebody with his story become a presidential candidate.

So Obama recognizes that -- the greatness of America. You don't dispute that, right?

RADOGNO: No. I mean, it's a great line and he was articulate in the speech. But --

BERKOWITZ: And it's true. I think he believes it. You know that, I know that, and everybody watching this who knows Barack Obama knows that.

RADOGNO: I think that's probably true.

BERKOWITZ: It's a sincere statement.

RADOGNO: But I still go back to the issue of judgment.