is this how she'll do it?

Well how's about that. Obama's down a point in the national polls and Hillary's on the rise and it's all thanks to Jeremiah Wright, a campaign gaffe, and some Roveinian tactics.


The Clintons are behind this Wright business. The story was done. Remember? The historic race speech where he spoke poignantly about how complicated the issue is in America and how important it was for our country to face it? It was the first Obama speech where I dared to think he was the real deal: A man who is going to lead us away from politics as usual, a man who was not going to be afraid to talk about issues honestly and intelligently, a man with integrity.


And then Wright comes back. And says some inflammatory things. And instead of reacting with poise and grace and rising above dirty politics, Obama denounces Wright and acts just like every other politician would. It made him look weak and indecisive and disloyal. This was an opportunity to acknowledge not only Wright's right (ha!) to say whatever he wants thanks to this wonderful system of government we call a democracy, but to also acknowledge that some of what Wright is saying important. Anyone who doesn't think our relationship with Israel deserves some scrutiny is delusional. Anyone who can't understand why the African-American community might be angry enough to believe the US used AIDS as a means of genocide against them is lacking a basic understanding of the history of eugenics in our country. Anyone who won't stand behind a man who says "different does not mean deficient" might not be someone I'm willing to vote for.


Jeremiah Wright was an opportunity for Obama to rise above politics and engage this country in a much needed conversation about community, our responsibility to each other, and bringing people together. Instead he pussed out. And I'm not sure how I feel about that.

I know people are angry with Wright and with the Clintons' about how this is all unfolding and they blame them for Obama's perilous position. Blame the Clintons for playing the game as it has been played since the beginning of time. Blame the American people for being incapable of evaluating what's truly an issue and what's the media whipping the electorate into a frenzy for the sake of a story.

Blame Obama for getting down in the mud and tarnishing the perfect image we created for him.