As a supporter of Barack Obama's candidacy from when he was 20 points behind in the polls, as a significant contributer to his campaign, I am embarrassed to admit that until today I did not know as much as I should have about Reverend Wright, who has been Obama's pastor for decades and his, to quote Obama, "spiritual advisor."
What did Obama get from Wright that was uplifting, inspiring, or, as a thinking person, meaningful? How could he have sat there Sunday after Sunday and, without protest or walking out, listened to Wright's ignorant and bigoted sermons? I know all the bells and whistles surrounding labeling something or someone "anti-American," but much of what Wright had to say right after 9/11 is just that.
I am distraught and feel that today marks the beginning of the end of the viability of Barack Obama's candidacy. My support, for what it's worth, is very much on hold.
This is a very big deal.
The heart of the case for Obama's is that though he is relatively inexperienced (let's not here argue about that OK) he has shown better judgement than either Hillary Clinton or John McCain. Particularly about Iraq.
His enthusiastic embrace of Wright calls that claim into question. What does his adult-long relationship to Reverend Wright say about Obama's judgement?
Nothing good.
And why did he choose to distance himself from Wright on, with all due respects, a blog? Wouldn't addressing this important and difficult issue have been more apropriately done at a press conference with ample opportunity for the national press to ask questions?
That in itself calls his leadership skills and courage into question.
As I said, I am distraught and may no longer have any candidate come November.