I believe the news conference that Sen. Obama had yesterday was a great beginning to sewing this primary season up…..he needs to become the same energetic young man he was when this election season began. He has a lot to offer and needs to stay on message. Yesterday I saw “Grandma’s for Obama” and it was a great idea. Things need to become more positive and he can do this…those supporting him need to keep encouraging him….HE NEEDS TO CLOSE THE DEAL IN THE NEXT WEEK.

The press have abdicated actively challenging Obama on his 20 yr relationship to Wright. Too many spend their time too eager to let him off with his weak and belated comments - more-often expressing concern for his anguish and advising him as strategist on how best to make this problem go away. None challenge the fact that Wright’s comments and views are neither new nor unknown. Wright presented Farrahkan w/a lifetime achievement award and made his AID’s and 9/11 comments all quite publicly. Obama disowned Wright ONLY because Wright questioned Obama’s loyalty,honesty and integrity publicly. But what about Obama’s strong support and loyalty during these 20yrs and as recently as a month ago saying he was like family to him. He knew even when he announced his presidential intentions that Wright was politically dangerous and dishonestly “hid” him in a pre-prayer, non-public mtng prior to announcing his candidacy. OBAMA BROUGHT ALL THIS ON HIMSELF - FIRST BY USING WRIGHT AND HIS CHURCH TO BOTH STRENTHEN HIS STREET CRED AS WELL AS HIS BASE IN THE BLACK CHICAGO COMMUNITY –AND THEN, INCREASINGLY SHUNNING HIM AS IT BECAME POLITICALLY EXPEDIANT TO DO SO. No wonder Wright is enraged. The most factual thing Wright may have ever said was calling Obama on his political motivations/integrity. THE REASON Obama was so offended is because HE KNOWS this is the real truth and it is a direct blow to “ALL HE SAYS HE STANDS FOR” —It directly exposes him for what he is, which is a false, all talk, taker and user of others - with no loyalty or depth but instead a singularly ambitious commitment to furthering his own agenda and ambitions. BOTH Wright and Obama are narcissistic and ambitious and yet Wright at least can claim integrity and honesty - IT IS OBAMA NOT WRIGHT THAT FAILS THIS TEST AND THIS AND HIS OBVIOUS DISINGENUINESS LOYALTY ARE THE REAL CHICKEN’S THAT ARE COME HOME TO ROOST! Step over ‘family’ when the press and public outrage question your loyalty —that’s one thing you NEVER saw Hillary Clinton do! That is true moral character worthy of the presidency.

Have you noticed how politics has become like a sporting event? A large majority want the candidates to put on boxing gloves, get in the ring and beat each other to a bloody pulp, slinging slurs and accusations at each other. How are we going to bridge any gaps between those that see us as enemies by refusing to talk or reason our differences and trying to come to a compromise? Threating to bomb and obliterate Iran if they make a move we don’t like hardly seems the way to bring a country to the bargaining table. I don’t think raising your voice in anger and slinging things around or pounding your fist on a table is an indication of a stronger candidate. That just shows me they don’t have much to work with other than intimidation and fear. Do you think this is the character traits that made some of our greatest Presidents who they were? I would much rather listen to someone who has the intelligence and ability to reason and find acceptable compromises rather than fight another war. That should be the last resort when nothing else works. Dirty politics was the old way, I’d like to see a new more civilized way of electing a president.

While I am disheartened by this turn of events, I still like Mr. Obama. The one thing that disturbs me though is trying to blame it on Hillary or the Republicans. No one put the words in Rev. Wright’s mouth or forced Mr. Obama to sit there and listen to them. It is what it is. That this is being exploited for his opponents’ gain, is just what politicians do.

WOW o WOW!!!!! I guess i’m just too thin skinned. I feel that Hillary will be happy to be selected as a Mc Cain VP. The ultimate self interested nonpartisan. She’s probably kegelling right now. So what is the relationship between the strict constitutionalist, the XIX amendment, Title IX, Black history in America, and Corporate freedoms prior to 1878? I submit that the current administration,and the structure that abducted the hopes of egalitarian common folks , see the ” new world order” as their manifest destiny, and perhaps manifest obligation. That cannot help but stomp the masses for the benefit of the few. Reverand Wright merely speaks for the solemn saddened hearts of those masses that have languished under the weight of a history which has ( if you’re truly honest with yourself) barely allowed their hearts and minds to express themselves; let alone rise up and flourish! Barack truly is a vision of hope. He represents to me the ascention of Abraham Lincoln’s work. He reepresents to me the hope today that we can possibly arrive at a place in our history that George Washington and his peers would view,perhaps with a resigned sigh, as the republic of the people, by the people, and even for Reverand Wrights people.

From listening to the ignoramuses at my job, I know that there is an unfortunate fact that cannot be disputed: There are people in this country who will not vote for Obama, who don’t want him to be President for one reason: the color of his skin. They don’t listen to what he has to say, they don’t want to give him a chance. They’ll vote for the white Republican guy, same deal, not listening to what he has to say, just because he’s the white Republican. And this whole thing with Rev. Wright is just the ammunition those people need: See! He’s a radical! It’s so unfortunate that Rev. Wright is ruining any chance Obama had. And I agree with those who say there’s way too much coverage of this being repeated ad nauseum. But that’s the world we live in - saturation!

This whole process is making me ill. I thought this country had matured past the point of skin color. And, by the way, Rev. Wright’s skin is much lighter than mine… and I’m fairly ‘white.’ I really felt badly for the Obama’s today. They both looked really defeated! I suppose this Rev. Wright will stay in the news as long and they will pay attention to his ramblings. Too Bad!

It’s a sad commentary that our country is racist and has a ton of bigotry too. The majority don’t like any disenfranchised group! The ideal is light haired and light skinned and preferably from the same area of the country as we are! And quit trying to change the gender roles too! What a dilemma! A woman or a man of color! The news media are like sharks in a feeding frenzy! They don’t know which “pool” to go to next. I for one am getting really tired of the rhetoric. Can’t wait for November so it’s over! The only good thing coming out of this is the young voters showing interest in the election process! It would be great to see a majority of eligible voters turn out to VOTE! We have the worst voting record of any country with free elections!

I think Rev. Wright has just lost the election for Obama, my preferred candidate. There is no denying that to a lot of people, Obama will now be associated with Wright’s hateful views. (It shows how out of touch with a wider American reality Wright is, that he thought explaining his views at length would help anyone.) Yes, it’s unfair. But it’s too late now. I’m disgusted about it and want the media to start in on John McCain’s Rev. John Hagee now.