Clever, but that was a rhetorical question designed to indicate that I am incredulous that you don't see how attending church and being friends with the pastor indicates that one endorses that pastor and his church's views. You must be putting me on.
Being friends with someone doesn't mean you automatically endorse everything they say, nor does being in the same room with them when they say it (something, by the way, you’ve yet to establish in this case).
Also, you’re conflating the views of the church with the views of one particular pastor. Which doesn’t matter anyway, because it’s ridiculous to assert that someone who attends a particular church must automatically endorses every point of view expressed by that church. Unless you also believe that every Christian must endorse genocide, rape, and slavery, since those things are endorsed by the Bible. But I’m pretty sure you don’t.
Perhaps. But that isn't even the point. Once no association could be established between HAS and Team Trump, then HAS becomes irrelevant. So why threaten to out the guy?
I don’t acknowledge that any such threat took place, but I get that it’s integral to your narrative. Reads to me like HAS threw himself at the feet of CNN and begged them not to reveal his identity, something which CNN had every right to do. CNN quite generously offered to protect his anonymity, despite the fact that they owed him nothing and he was foolish enough to not cover his tracks in the first place.
What is there is that the idea for the GIF probably came from a racist troll. However, there is no connection between the troll and the President (aside from the fact that they are both trolls

). Therefore, the identity of the troll is irrelevant and CNNs threat against him was wrong.
There was a connection. And it’s the president who made that connection when he put this guy in the spotlight by recklessly tweeting his gif all over the world.
I can infer, having been in many churches in my life, that congregants who are long time members agree with and endorse the teachings of the church, whether or not they are caught on camera physically nodding their heads. Had Obama not been in agreement, I assume he is morally strong enough to stop attending and find another church he agrees with.
Apparently, I was in error. You
do think all Christians endorse genocide, rape, and slavery. Personally, that seems like a rather harsh judgement, but I respect your integrity on the matter.