Could I just make some small constructive criticism? There have been several posts recently about the needed for better reader generated blog posts (such as: http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/05/better-reader-posts.php).

In line with that, I would ask that if you want to post a news item with no commentary, try sending it to the TPM staff first at talk@talkingpointsmemo.com.

If it's newsworthy and something everyone should read, they might post it (maybe on the frontpage). If not , that gives you some time to add your own thoughts and analysis. I'd like to hear why you think this is important information.
What's the impact, etc. (or by all means write somethign snarky).

My two cents.
Thanks, Yoda

He should have! Why not?

Some folks need anything to be upset about. They were not listening much to Obama anyway; now they can believe they have believed the right thing all along and alone with those as themselves.

It also gave the closet bigots an excuse, which they adopted as a wierd "Wright-Wright-Wright" mantra.

Someone asking for yet ANOTHER explanation??

Oh, Billy. I find it hard to believe you honestly think it's that cut and dry. Wright stepped over the line. He left Obama no choice. He had every right to defend himself but he could have done so differently. Much of what he says is true. Some of it is just plain batshit.

So Wright is partly wrong. The reaction to Wright is also partly wrong. The fact that people (in the media!) cannot understand that people can disagree with other without taking on their views is also wrong. It's a confluence of things. As is the case with most anything that involves humans, it's just complicated.

Why do so many preachers who claim that they are
Christians, ignore the teaching of their Christ, and
instead rely on the fire and brimstone, plagues, and
eye for an eye claims from a bunch of ancient burlap clad, lice infested old testament ignoramuses?

I heard nothing that was authentically Christian in spirit from this Rev. Wright person. Nothing about turning the other cheek, forgiving others their trespasses, and
the meek inheriting the earth etc. What ever Rev Wright may have been like in the past, he is now a very mean spirited, ego-centric old man, who promotes the vengeance seeking, and damnation dealing God of the old testament, and gives the teachings of the Christ, that he claims to follow, very short shrift.

I am a very strong supporter of Senator Obama, and I do not believe, for a single second, that he is anything like Rev. Wright.

Senator Obama has rejected the divisive old testament ravings of Rev. Wright, so why are so many of you stiil trying to persuade others that Rev. Wright has been given a raw deal. He has not. He was given several chances on the national stage to present himself as a true follower of Jesus, and instead he spewed out a stream of mean spirited, violent revenge justifying old testament balderdash.

Senator Obama has separated himself from the mean spirited very Un-Christian man, and I say good riddance.

Didn't Wright explain that in his answers to the insipid questions tendered during the Press Club Q&A?

He said that he had received email messages from many white friends, including many Jewish white friends, acknowledging that no one could be elected in the USA expressing the things which Wright expressed.

Despite the fact that the chickens did come home to roost on 9-11, such is not supposed to be expressed.

Remember when Ron Paul said so during one of the republican debates? The guy was flayed by all those who knew what he said is true but who observe the convention of perpetuating the myth that the USA is a force for peace and freedom in the world, not the force for perpetuating brutal dictatorships and deposing democratically elected governments, all in the interest of protecting markets for USA businesses.

One may not tell the whole truth and expect to be elected in the USA, whether as president, county commissioner, or dog catcher.

It's too bad, but that's the way it is.

It seems to me that Obama has compromised far less than have the other candidates and I'm looking forward to eight years of an Obama administration.

Please BillyGlad... while you're waiting, hold your breath.

Really.... hold it...

Billy,

Here.

It'll do you good to get out of your echo chamber more:

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/05022008/watch.html

Why don't you start supporting the Democratic candidate for President and think about why McCain and the Republicans are complete racist hypocrites on this issue?

Obama stood up for him when this thing first blew up. He could not throw his pastor under the bus. Unfortunately the unthinkable happened, the pastor threw him under instead.

I am sure the backlash of all of this pained Rev. Wright greatly. It is because of Obama's choice to run for the White House that Rev. Wright faced horrible unwarrented criticism that negated 30 years of great work into 30 sec sound bytes. I am sure he was hurt, not by Obama per se, but the media that was determined to demonize him.

Obama would never believe in a million years that Wright would cast him as "just another politician". Maybe Wright is feeling that way because he thought Obama should have defended him more strongly. I suppose we will never know.

But I saw the pain and the anguish when Obama said, "I guess I didn't know him as well as I thought I did".

It was heartbreaking to see the MSM with their torches and pitchforks skewer this man and destroy such a relationship to the point where Obama had to let him go. Obama runs his campaign on truth, ethics and personal integrity. He could not hold a relationship with the man who called him "just another politician".

The pain that he and Michelle feel goes deep. There is no one who watches them talking about this that could doubt it.

I'm a little late here, but you know, Obama already explained it the other day in his press conference. He was asked those kind of questions, and he talked at length about why it was different this time. Just watch the video... it's all there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4EKY7rCF_c

Key quotes that I think address your question:

"If reverend Wright thinks that, that's political posturing - as he put it - then he doesn't know me very well. Based on his remarks yesterday, well, I may not know him as well as I thought, either."

The Q&A was very illuminating:

Q: Why the change in tone from yesterday when you spoke to us on the tarmac yesterday --

Barack Obama: I'll be honest with you, because I hadn't seen it yet.

Q: That was the difference?

Obama: Yes.

Q: Have you heard the reports about the AIDS comment?

Obama: I had not. I had not seen the transcript. What I had heard was that he had given a performance and I thought, at the time, that it would be sufficient to reiterate what I had said in Philadelphia. Upon watching it, what became clear to me was that it was more than just a -- it was more than just him defending himself. What became clear to me was that he was presenting a worldview that -- that's -- that contradicts who I am and what I stand for, and what I think particularly angered me was his suggestion, somehow, that my previous denunciation of his remarks were somehow political posturing. Anybody who knows me and anybody who knows what I'm about knows that I'm about trying to bridge gaps and that I see the commonality in all people. And so when I start hearing comments about conspiracy theories and AIDS and suggestions that somehow Minister Farrakahn is -- has been a great voice in the 20th century, then that goes directly at who I am and what I believe this country needs.

Q: What's going to happen with the distraction?

Obama: I want to use this press conference to make people absolutely clear that obviously whatever relationship I had with Reverend Wright has changed, as a consequence of this. I don't think that he showed much concern for me. I don't -- more importantly -- I don't think he showed much concern for what we're trying to do in this campaign and what we're trying to do for the American people and with the American people. And obviously, he's free to speak out on issues that are of concern to him and he can do it in any ways that he wants. But I feel very strongly that -- well, I want to make absolutely clear that I do not subscribe to the views that he expressed. I believe they are wrong. I think they are destructive. And to the extent that he continues to speak out, I do not expect those views to be attributed to me.

Full text of the speech plus Q&A:
http://www.salon.com/news/primary_sources/2008/04/29/obama_remarks/

Here.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/05022008/watch.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvnMK1d9xE0

Stephanopoulos is sure to throw more softballs at Hillary Clinton tomorrow like he did during the ABC "debate." He'll probably find a way to attack Obama or help his former boss's wife who he is still loyal to and throw in some Wright questions to boot.

Perhaps someone in the audience will ask him and Hillary if they still think people from Indiana are "sh*t?"

The only softball that Moyers threw hit you in the head.

Ooooh, here comes one of the simplifiers now!

But speaking truth to power is what Wright is trying to do, and you're killing him for it. Look. If Obama is just a politician doing what politicians do, what difference does it make. You'll still support him, won't you?