... you missed a golden chance to continue a theme, there.

This is what everybody wants, right? For Obama to take a firm stand?

Well, there you go. He did it. Obama got more specific about what he objects to in Wright's statements. Obama made a clear separation between their styles and ideologies.

So.... Will the "controversy" die down now? Or will it continue being used as a wedge issue, with commercials and arguments that attempt to create guilt by association?

Come on Barack Obama, do you really think we are all stupid?

This whole thing is a setup by Barack Obama and his Spiritual Mentor (you state he is your Mentor in your book). This was the only way Obama could get out that he is now denouncing the Reverend.

Obama needs to stop lying to the American people. What was he doing for the past 20 years sitting on his brain or sleeping? Son, you are not very observant!

Why are the comments the Reverend stated yesterday now affecting Obama? These are the same comments that have been said for the past months.

This is another wink...wink job by Obama. As he did with Nafta and Canada.

We don't need this type of person in the White House.

There is no excuse for this and both Obama and his reverend should kneel and pray for forgiveness.

We all see that Joan was right...Or does Obamanation actually now disagree with their leader...

Joan wanted to keep working her pun, but she couldn't finesse it enough to really nail it.

I agree...Doesn't it all seem a bit contrived...

He made a smart move here and denounced the radical and non-evidence based aspects of Wright's sermons without denouncing Wright's good points about the failure of U.S. foreign policy. Skillfully done!

His granny better really watch her back now.

ncawley isn't having it! "Not good enough!"

ncawley: "B-b-b-b-but what about the 20 years?!?!"

I expect we'll be hearing more of that: Essentially, NOTHING Obama says will be good enough. Obama's opponents are going to clutch desperately onto this fake controversy as long as they think they can milk it, eh?

Before we give Obama too much credit, let's at least spend a decent amount of time pointing out that there are still many serious questions in regards to Wright that should worry us about Obama. Obama is not Hillary. Hillary did not spend 20 years praising Wright. And notice this: Hillary has not done one thing that concerns us quite as much as Obama.

Not to mention Obama has never lived in the White House AND he can be perceived as elitist. If you take all that along with the fact that Obama has other weaknesses, I think it is our duty to make sure we don't just start talking about something other than Wright. Even people in the Obama trance must admit that we have a long way to go with this issue, as long as people keep talking about in on the news and blogging about it on the internet. We do have a responsibility to find out exactly what it means about Barack.

Three of Salon's biggest assholes -- ncawley, WES and odog -- all post in quick succession! Impressive!

Now all we need is lolcait and cythera45 and we'll have a veritable biker bar worth of ill-tempered idiots.

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

The damage Wright has done to Obama's campaign can't be

overstated, and it hasn't been undone by Obama's comments.

Obama's campaign is over.

george hanna

There was nothing new in Wright's speech to the Press Club other than the fact he called Obama a "Politician"...Actually, that would throw me over the edge as well...If Obama learned one thing from Bill it's how to "Wag the Dog"...

You got your pound of flesh.

I hope your "concerns" are duly resolved.

I understand the ritual of the political process, Joan, as idealistic as I am, I'm not an idiot.

I just don't understand why you, of all people, in this, of all forums, are leading the charge.

I hope you'll lay aside your pitchfork now, at least for a term.

Congratulations on you moral victory.

"Three of Salon's biggest assholes -- ncawley, WES and odog -- all post in quick succession! Impressive!"

Then you came and made it four with a great post like that one. Stimulating and thought provoking!!!

Anybody who attains some measure of power, fame or notoriety has at least one close friend or family member who suddenly reveals what they are really made of, and it's often a nasty surprise. It's really too bad that in this case, Obama's turncoat was supposed to be answering to a higher authority.

Seriously, fame makes some people crazy -- their own fame or other people's, and Wright seems like he was dealing with a fairly serious case of the batshit to begin with.

The problem isn't Wright's politics, which are pretty common among African-American clerics. It's his willingness to sabotage Obama that's the really sad, destructive part.

Honestly, has everyone gone nuts? Have you never had an experience where you found out that someone you trusted and counted on was not who you thought they were? Can y'all admit that this might be a possibility in this case?

Here and at TPM, but if the full text (and video) is true to the spirit, then I think this is the game-changer. This is the exhale moment for Obama supporters, because I think tomorrow we start to see the polls in IN and NC climb, and we'll look back on this, not the speech in Philly, as the moment when it all finally came together.

At least I hope.

I agree completely! Obama is not out of the woods on any of this! Why was Obama sitting in those pews, fawning lovingly over Reverend Wright, on every Sunday of every weekend of every week of every month of every year of the past 20 years? Why did Obama not say to Wright, "Oh no you DIDN'T!" the first time Wright said he was all, like, angry at white people? Obama should have been, all, "Don't you go there!" and Wright would have been all, "Tell it to the Hand," but then Obama should have been all, "Don't do me like that!" And Obama should have done other stuff. Why didn't Obama do other stuff? Why wasn't Obama perfect? Why didn't Obama tie his shoelaces perfectly that one day? I think this speaks VOLUMES about Obama's judgment and clearly we must examine this issue for 17 more columns that question Obama's fitness, because I don't think he can be dogcatcher let alone President! That there's what it is! Word!