Obama Cuts Ties to Reverend Wright

Man, after the show Rev. Wright put on at the National Press Club on Monday, many had to wonder what he was trying to do. Was he purposely trying to sabotage Obama's campaign? Did he want to bask in all the media attention? Whatever he was trying to prove, he's done Obama no favors in putting on his little show on Monday. So finally on Tuesday, Obama once and for all cut ties to his former pastor. Here's excerpts from the story ran by the AP (linked through HuffingtonPost).

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20080429/obama-pastor/

Barack Obama angrily denounced his former pastor for "divisive and destructive" remarks on race, seeking to divorce himself from the incendiary speaker and a fury that threatens to engulf his front-running Democratic presidential campaign.

"I am outraged by the comments that were made and saddened over the spectacle that we saw yesterday," Obama told reporters at a news conference Tuesday.

"What became clear to me is that he was presenting a world view that contradicts who I am and what I stand for," Obama said. "And what I think particularly angered me was his suggestion somehow that my previous denunciation of his remarks were somehow political posturing. Anybody who knows me and anybody who knows what I'm about knows that I am about trying to bridge gaps and I see the commonality in all people."

The Illinois senator said of Wright's statements Monday: "All it was was a bunch of rants that aren't grounded in truth."

"Obviously, whatever relationship I had with Reverend Wright has changed," Obama said. "I don't think he showed much concern for me, more importantly I don't think he showed much concern for what we're trying to do in this campaign."

Obama said he didn't vet his pastor before deciding to seek the presidency. He said he was particularly distressed that the furor has been a distraction to the purpose of a campaign.

"I gave him the benefit of the doubt in my speech in Philadelphia explaining that he's done enormous good. ... But when he states and then amplifies such ridiculous propositions as the U.S. government somehow being involved in AIDS. ... There are no excuses. They offended me. They rightly offend all Americans and they should be denounced."

Obama did the right thing by severing ties to this person. His press conference should answer all the lingering questions anyone would have about his relationship with his former pastor. Obama was visibly angry and sadden by the turn of events. Throught this whole ordeal, what Obama did was courageous. First at his major speech on race in Philadelphia, he did what no other politician would have done: instead of throwing his pastor under the bus, he gave him the benefit of the doubt. But after his rants on Monday, Obama did the right thing by disassociating himself from him. Rev. Wright had the chance to quiet down and fully support Obama by not saying anything inflammatory. This controversy was already dying down but Rev. Wright had to reappear all over again.

Of course this will not be the last time we hear from Rev. Wright. He will most definitely reappear on the media somewhere, and most definitely the Republicans will use this as a fear-mongering tactic against Obama. But I guess this is better that all of this gets out now...