Wednesday, April 30, 2008: Obama Responds to Jeremiah Wright:

Obama Breaks Forcefully With Ex-Pastor Over Fiery Remarks

Tuesday, April 29, 2008: Obama's Pastor, Jeremiah Wright surfaces again possibly to promote future book:

Wright to Obama: 'Coming after you'

Wright says criticism is attack on black church

REUTERS/Jeff Haynes

As regard to Obama's speech on race. I have to tell you I wasn't impressed. I don't think he came up with anything especially new or insightful. Of course, he's a very good speaker so he packaged everything very well, but other than that I didn't see anything to get all excited, or even very hopeful about. And, he didn't accomplish what should have been his primary objective, namely to distance himself from Rev Wright. By not doing so he left the door open for this thing to dog him for the rest of his campaign. And, frankly, in my mind Obama is suspect for not dumping the guy a long time ago.

Wright is a loose cannon and you can't have loose cannons tied to your campaign because they'll drag you down. Obama is also suspect in my mind because you can't convince me that he spent twenty years in Wright's church, and twenty years as Wright's friend, and wasn't influenced, to some degree, by Wright's views. That would be absurd. That would be like me saying that Jerry Autry had no influence in shaping my world view. Ridiculous! Obama is a politician by trade and he has to know that he can't carry the baggage Wright has given him. He needs to cut the guy lose decisively and completely: should have done it long ago in fact.

My son has an interesting counter to my argument. He asks if you would want to elect a person president who would dump a friend just because the friend's views caused you difficulties? In essence, would you want to elect someone who would not remain loyal to a friend? Good point actually. I guess my answer to that is first of all, are your friend's views virtuous and worthy to begin with, and second, do you want to get elected?- Wayne, reader of webzine


Response: As far as the racial thing is concerned, I guess I wouldn't agree with your brother. Regardless of whether or not the South is socially integrated - and I too think it's not - I think Obama will do well. I think Blacks will vote for him in droves; and, if they do, and if just enough Whites do too, well, they could just get Obama elected, at least in their respective states.

The problem is that in other states with large Hispanic populations, the Hispanics may well go with McCain. All this is assuming of course that Obama wins the Democratic nomination. That's still not a sure thing as far as I'm concerned. Remember, "Hillary is one tough Old Broad."

The whole racial/cultural thing about Blacks is something we need to talk about Brother. I'd be very interested to hear what you have to say and I'd be equally interested to hear what you have to say about what I have to say. KT