Was Barack Obama's denouncement of Jeremiah Wright yesterday political? Hardly.
Obviously when Obama lowered the boom on Wright it helped him politically but was that really the motive behind it?
Look, if Obama was going to be political about this, he would have thrown Wright under the bus back in Philadelphia when he gave his speech on race relations. He had the opportunity right there to sacrifice Wright and end the controversy. But he didn't. He cares deeply about this man. He was giving him "grace". He was cutting him some slack. But when Wright went to the National Press Club and repeated these same controversial comments and criticized Obama for being a pandering politician, well, c'mon. What would you do? Wouldn't you be a little angry and hurt? Wouldn't your relationship change? You know the answer. Of course.
What we are seeing is the fracturing of a relationship played out in front of all of America to see. In a way, it's quite sad. Sometimes everyone gets so caught up in the political ramifications of this rather than realizing the emotional frustration and sadness Obama must feel.
If Obama becomes the nominee, he did himself a great favor yesterday. By forcefully separating himself from Wright, he can now make the argument in the fall that Obama "took action" and that "words do matter". The Republicans will bring up Wright and when they do, I can see the Obama campaign ad now:
Announcer: Barack Obama won't stand for hateful words, even from his pastor. Obama even went so far as to cut off his relationship with him over these divisive and hateful words. Why? Because Words matter and Barack Obama wants to be a healer not a divider.
What say you? Has Obama turned the corner here? I will post your comments.
Comments?