As background, its always fun to watch how everyone reads their own views into what is said by Glenn, Obama, or whatever...

That said, what spoke to me was that Obama said of Wright "I love him, but I don't agree with him on what he said". I saw the rest of the speech the same way- "people have many reasons to be angry at each other. There has been much unfairnes and hurt. But the fact that someone disagrees with you doesn't make them "bad".

When you demonize someone you disagree with,you put an end to rationale discourse. Rove and his ilk have perfected the art of the opposite- "we good, they evil. Whatever we do to win is OK". (Too bad they now feel the same way).

"Remember that your enemy is never evil in his own eyes. This may offer a way to make him your friend. At worst, it will allow you to kill him quickly, without hate".

Robert A. Heinlein, "Time Enough for Love"

In my state a triple amputee Vietnam vet lost a US Senate seat to a chickenhawk after a Republican ad morphed him into Osama bin Laden.

Just how stupid do you think the electorate had to be to buy that particular smear campaign?

Part of Obama's appeal to white voters is that he is a non-threatening, non-scary black male. Wright, on the other hand, comes across to white voters as an angry, and therefore scary, black man. If white voters sufficiently identify Wright with Obama, will Obama's chances suffer? That is the question.

Glenn: It's only "pandering" if he doesn't believe what he said.

No, that is not an element of the definition of "pander". To pander it to do or say something to please a person or group. It can be done insincerely, but not necessarily so. The media panders to the public's desire for violence and bloodshed, but that doesn't mean that they don't believe that violence and bloodshed are worth reporting. To pander is to throw in something for the advantage it will bring. Joe Lieberman panders to AIPAC all the time and I have no doubt that he sincerely believes everything he says. McCain panders to everyone (I think of him as Mr. Pander). That's what leads him to so many contradictory positions (the religious right are "agents of intolerance" but he is "honored" to have their endorsement; waterboarding is "torture" and he is against "torture" but he votes against outlawing it and says that Bush is justified in vetoing the law prohibiting it). Surely McCain must believe some of what he says, but since he always says what he thinks will be to his advantage in a given situation, he is always pandering.

Whether Obama's "Not This Time" speech "works" politically is not the central issue. Had Obama wanted to dispose of the Wright "controversy," it could have been done more briefly -- especially if he were pander by wholly disavowing Rev. Wright -- than a high-minded soliloquy on the state of race relations in America. Since there is nothing in his record that suggests to me that Obama shares the most militant of Rev. Wright's views, I consider this parallel to Kennedy's noting in 1960 that just because he is Roman Catholic doesn't mean he follows the dictates of the Pope, or even his parish priest.

What Obama has been attempting to do throughout this campaign is change the entire paradigm of how politics is conducted. The most lasting historical component of his election as President, if it so happens, could more than the racial breakthrough; instead, his election would represent a defeat for the shrill and divisive partisanship which have held sway since at least 1988. Twenty years of Atwellian campaigning is enough! "Not This Time."

If, however, the dark forces of the politics of personal destruction prevail, so be it. What type of mandate does a President truly possess when assuming the office based not on the candidate's own merit, but out of hatred for the opponent? Is that a basis for sound government, one with the type of widespread popular support needed in order accomplish anything substantial instead of merely wielding power?

Obama hasn't and shouldn't get down and dirty, in the muck with people who possess neither the intellect nor integrity to conduct politics aimed at any other than the lowest common denominator. If his faith in the American public is proven wrong, then America will continue to get the same type of campaigns -- and unresponsive, cynical government -- which have become the norm.

The choice Obama has apparently made is to win the right way, based on one's principles, rather than win at any cost. The ends-justify-the-means philosophy which completely dominates our political culture has served us poorly and it's time for it to end. It can't be extinguished by candidates who lack the courage to risk changing it.

is like having faith that a cretinous child will grow up to be an accountant.

You misspelled "brain surgeon".

Very astute analysis.

This wasn't a great speech in the history of political jabber-jawing. Obama isn't Jesse Jackson, or Mario Cuomo. But I found his presentation to be unexpectedly transcendent of the bullshit context it would otherwise be cubbyholed in. And like most transcendent things, it is not likely to be captured very well by the pundit class, or any other dissector, miner, or interpreter of what was said, who will like it, who won't, and so forth.

This particular speech doesn't translate well. If you haven't actually heard it, go to YouTube, punch the button.

You might be right about McCain, but because of the 507s and all the ads that won’t be formally endorsed by McCain, all the crap will still be used.

Glenn: It's only "pandering" if he doesn't believe what he said.

No, that is not an element of the definition of "pander". To pander it to do or say something to please a person or group. It can be done insincerely, but not necessarily so.

In the political context, I think Glenn is correct.

Political pandering is insincerely gratifying a constituency's desires as opposed to taking principled stands that might cost you an election. It is insincere because once elected, you break those campaign promises. Standing on principle and integrity you are less likely to have to do that..