Rev. Wright and Damage Control

My take on Rev.Wright-

His demeanor yesterday seemed full of ego and narcissism,anger and an element of bigotry. I think Wright is angry that Obama distanced himself from his inflammatory rhetoric and his ego can't let him let it go long enough for Obama to recover from the initial damage. I think part of what Wright did was intentionally designed to hurt Obama because of his "betrayal". His desire to elevate the status of African Americans isn't as strong as his need to defend himself.  He'd rather throw Obama "under the bus" then to keep quiet and help Obama win. (Mika was right on Morning Joe when she said he seemed to relish the attention on himself.)

I listened to his entire speech yesterday and found the content to be interesting and mostly valid. He's a very good speaker. But I've been in enough black churches to know that while Wright's style is typical, his message is not.  I have absolutely no doubt that this will do lasting and even permanent (hopefully not fatal) damage to Obama's campaign.

Wright's words painted Obama as the type of politician he's trying not to be when he said that Obama had reacted as he did because that's the way politicians act.  He didn't refer to Obama as a friend but nothing more than an opportunist.  He said he'd "go after Obama" if he wins the Presidency because he'd then be part of the group that keeps black people down.

Clinton and McCain will use every bit of this to paint Obama into a corner and force him to continue to defend Wright, keeping him off his message of hope and unity.  He'll be damaged in the eyes of people who were undecided or even hesitant to vote for an African American.

I've wavered on how I feel about Rev.Wright and had gotten to the point where I thought I could understand why he preached his message.  Something in my gut, that I ignored, was telling me that Wright was the type of preacher whose sermons were often more about getting attention than in saving souls, I think now that I should have followed my first instinct.

I don't for one minute hold Obama responsible for this, with the exception that he denied ever hearing Wright's anti-American and outrageous sermons. All of Chicago knew Wright for what he was.  You can't be in a church for 20 years with a pastor well known for his controversial Afro-centric views and not know what his sermons contain.  I 'm not saying Obama agreed with what Wright said, nor am I suggesting that he should have left the church. I am saying that Obama should have been truthful in his response when asked about his pastor and he could have reduced this damage. Now he's caught up in the spin that he can't get away from.