odog11, the movie is "White Chicks" and I thought it was hilarious. I think you're taking your tale of white grievance a little too far.

I admit, that was a pretty trivial point for me to chime in on, but maybe it's like Carol's satire, I finally got it.

Carol...I appreciate the seriousness of your question. But the fact is he has to deal with it. You're all furious at me for focusing on Wright as though the issues would go away if I didn't. I've seen this coming for months. How would Obama, a racial healer with what I believe is a truly expansive notion of racial justice, a guy who seemed to be staking his claim to the nomination on his ability to heal long-standing rifts, the 60s culture wars, and even appeal to Obamacans, ever explain his choice of Wright's church and his 20 year membership in it? It's not going away. I'm not the one who scheduled Wright for Moyers, the NAACP dinner and the press club this week.

Hi Omni, I don't ever give red stars. They're all great letters to me!

debaser, in fact my relationship to Catholicism is complicated. Please read "Why I can't mourn the pope" if you doubt that. I am estranged from my official church because of its sexism and sexual teachings generally (including its hypocrisy and corruption on sexual abuse.) I still consider myself a Catholic because I'm a cultural Catholic, it's the way I learned to think about God and social justice, and I won't let the hierarchy chase me. But I'm a public critic of its most awful words and deeds.

By contrast, Obama chose Wright's church in his mid-20s -- still young, but well into adulthood. I believe it was mostly a political choice, and I don't damn him for it -- it makes him a politician, just like Clinton's a politician. But personally, I find it disappointing he chose a pastor who preaches what Wright preaches. There are plenty of black ministers who don't think you have to demonize whites to exalt blacks; who are fierce critics of American domestic and foreign policy without saying "God damn America," and who don't believe conspiracy theories about AIDS or strange science about black and white children's brains. It's insulting to the black church to insist otherwise.

Wow, Bob Herbert's column is devastating.

weeping, I'm really sorry I've made you feel that way.

weeping, do you honestly think I haven't taken it to heart? Do you think I shrug off being called a racist repeatedly? Being told I'm afraid of black people, black men? That I just brush it off my shoulder?

I continue to write about this because I passionately believe that Wright is part of what's wrong with urban politics today, that if you want to get involved, you have to pay homage to people who preach paranoia, racial victimization and the unbearable whiteness of evil. I'm sorry Obama did so, even though I don't think he believes any of what Wright preached. He's better than that; that's what's so disturbing. But that's the choice he made, and now he's paying for it.

Honestly, it's not immaterial to me. I happen not to believe this is just Karl Rove/Fox News propaganda. I've written about McCain's disgusting embrace of John Hagee, I've written about Clinton's shameful vote for the Iraq war and for Kyl-Lieberman. This was a bad choice on Obama's part, and he's having to answer for it.

It's fine if we disagree about that. But it's ridiculous to call me a racist, or a Republican (not that I conflate them, I'm just asking for accuracy.)

weeping, people who voted for Nader make me want to join the Nation of Islam, so maybe we're even.

Whew! I was hoping you'd reply that way...maybe there's hope for all of us!

Just posted on Obama's press conference.

Carol, you're better than that. Give it a rest, and think about what he said.

weeping, no pitchfork here. So why did you bring yours?

weeping, if you can watch Obama's speech and still come away believing he was "forced" to make those remarks, well, you're not the person I've been corresponding with.

Thanks, Carol. I really do understand your frustration. And I do have to say, more than anyone, maybe, you've made me see how some of the posture I take of being concerned about Obama can seem disingenuous. And maybe some days it's been disingenuous. But I do genuinely like and care about Obama and admire what his campaign means about this country, even when I criticize him/it.

Wow, weeping, we just simply and thoroughly disagree.

But I still think you're a thoughtful and sincere person. So I'll assume you were composing your post while GThrasher made his last two.

Take it up with Vanity Fair, rnostbakken.

For the record, the sentence on Spitzer and his family originally did read the way David Schlaefer read it. Thanks to his feedback, I asked our copy desk to change it to say Spitzer "devastated" his family, but I neglected to post a note here -- until now. Sorry for the lag between the fix and the note.

Oh Lord, Xrandadu Hutman is on to me. Drat. Curses. I give up.

Did you read the post? It's really interesting, don't you think?

weeping, Donna Brazile has never been a hack.

Carol, that's so funny. I told you I listen to you! I toggled over to this thread unconsciously...

Thanks, Celia, I missed that and it was hilarious.