Reverend Wright and Obama: A Much More Profound and Sadder Affair Than Most Would Care to Admit
Honestly. I don't see the big deal with Reverand Wright. He come's from a tradition of preaching that many African-Americans would understand and yes, support. I know this is all shocking to whites...both conservative and liberal. How dare the angry Black preacher take center stage in the middle of such a somber affair as electing a proper, well-vetted candidate for the most important job in the world!

Barack both knew and liked the Reverand Wright. But Barack has also had a problem reconciling his Black identity with his White one. So, he has long tried to split the difference. "There is only one America," he exclaimed. And he, Barack Obama, was and is uniquely qualified to transcend such petty partisan differences.

One problem. There isn't one America. Never has been. And when someone like Reverend Wright has the gall and gumption to point this out,...no matter how flamboyant (read: Black) the style and substance...he is derided as a lunatic. Obama, seeking political expediancy and acceptance by the (mostly) white and elite political, media, and social establishment, was forced to quickly jettison this problem. The son, seeking social and political acceptance and viability, had to disavow his former father-figure when he became too much of a political liability.

I think the regret and anger that Obama revealed in his press conference Tuesday was not so much about the Reverand but about the inner personal conflict within his own self and the price to be paid for it. This was a conflict that he could no longer tenuosly sustain at this critical juncture of the campaign. The soaring rhetoric of understanding of his Philadelphia speech, where he tried to nuance his position on race relations, had to be cast aside as the heat and campaign fall-out from the affair became too high-risk.

Obama always had an impossible task that he has tried to finese, navigating his two selfs in the rocky playing field of national politics. Eventually though, the reality of a nation long divided by race in so many areas...a reality too often blindfully ignored by much of America...made its lingering presence felt.

Obama, under intense pressure and scrutiny and with such high stakes in play, flinched, a position where he felt he had no good alternative under the ambitions he had set for himself. It is a decision, no matter however necessary, that has sadly, ultimately lessened him.

This whole affair is much sadder and more profound than the horse-race "analyzing" given to it by the MSM and others.