the important thing is what Wright says next....

[flowomo]

today's presser put the ball back in Wright's court -- it did not end the game. The danger is that Sen. Obama, or his wife, said something to Wright over that 20-year relationship that Wright will now use to discredit the senator, who, of course, has now denounced him. If Wright pulls out some remark made privately or casually to him by Sen. Obama (and can do so without violating the pastor/congregant relationship), that would drag the senator back on stage for another rebuttal.

Wright has the next move. It could be the decisive -- one way or the other.

[ellacott]

1. Very true

I pray he uses some wisdom. I would hate to think that he wants to remembered like this.

[crankychatter]

2. Wright has an ego but he's not an idiot with no heart

His congregation and family are very proud of the Senator

that said, I haven't seen the press release... no TV here

[MNDemNY]

13. The actions of the last 4 days suggest he is.

[joeybee12]

3. he's writing a book...due out right before the election...

...so we'll all get to hear it...good or bad for BO or inconsequential.

[babylonsister]

4. Ya know what? From here on out, I just don't care about anything

Wright has to say. He's persona non grata, and he should be. Maybe if we ignore him he'll go away?

[Phillycat]

22. Excellent plan, well done.

[babylonsister]

25. You forgot one little thing; Wright IS NOT RUNNING for anything. Got it? nt

[Phillycat]

26. You wouldn't know it from the wall-to-wall 24 hour media coverage.

Your distinction isn't going to matter.

Hey listen, as a Hillary supporter, I still think this whole thing is a little fishy. I said to my husband yesterday it seems staged. Seems almost impossible that Wright would be stupid enough to do this if he wants to see Obama get elected. But the fact is, this thing is front page news and has huge legs to continue to be. If anything more goes wrong with it, Obama will be finished in this race.

[babylonsister]

30. Don't you get it? The rethugs and corp. media want Hillary to win.

They know she won't beat McCain (they've been building a file of swiftboat material on her for years!) and they're salivating at the thought. And by any means necessary, they are trying to bring Obama down. It's just proving to be a bit more difficult than anyone thought. But if it happens, I won't be surprised, and it won't be because of anything he did or didn't do.

[xultar]

5. He may say that he respects Obama's right to do what he needs to do.

Other than that, I don't think you'll hear a peep from the guy.

[flowomo]

10. that would be the best outcome...

but you always hate to see the other guy controlling the ball at such a crucial moment (to use a sports analogy). Wright might back away now (perhaps shocked by the consequences of his Press Club speech) -- but no one can say that's a certainty. Obama hit him hard today; his response is still uncertain.

[NJmaverick]

6. No it's not, he is no longer in the equation, he has been disowned

[flowomo]

11. you miss the point....

Wright and Obama have been talking for 20 years -- sharing, presumably, thoughts and ideas. I assume Obama trusted his pastor. It's not a matter of what Wright believes now -- it's a matter of what Obama told Wright that he believes. If Wright is inclined to betray a confidence, or distort a remark, that would be trouble.

[NJmaverick]

17. I think you miss the big picture- Obama is his own man

no one but Obama speaks for Obama. It's politically motivated dishonesty to suggest otherwise.

[flowomo]

24. I'll try one more time....

It's not what Obama thinks about what Wright said that matters now (that has been handled); what matters is what Obama might have said to Wright over the course of their 20-year relationship that matters. If Wright says something like, "Why, just two years ago when the Senator and I were having lunch he told me that he also has wondered (fill in the blank) and now he pretends he never had those doubts."

That's the danger.

[Mz Pip]

7. Wright seems

to enjoy the spotlight entirely too much to go quietly into the night. It's almost as though he wants to derail Obama. Envy perhaps? Obama having a much broader appeal than Wright himself has?

I don't know what his motivation is but it is unfortunate that his words may have the power to derail the candidacy of the first African American who seriously has a shot of winning the White House. I wonder if he understands that.

[Texas Hill Country]

8. Wright is gonna freak the hell out on Obama... he was put in his place, and he is not a man that

gets put in his place willingly.



This tour was about him and his legacy... that is all. Wright will come out on top come hell or high water as far as he is concerned

[monmouth]

9. Wright is over, he's dead to me now.....n/t

[MNDemNY]

14. How about yesterday?

Was he dead to you yesterday? or only when you got the OK from the lord-god obama?

[Bensthename]

12. If Wright is truly Obama's friend he will not respond publicly..

Unless Wright says something positive about Obama, Wright should keep his hole shut.
If Wright feels he needs to respond otherwise he should do it in person or by phone.

[SeaLyons]

16. If he was a "friend", he would NEVER

have spoken publicly at all. Wright is no friend to Obama. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him comment publicly again. He doesn't seem to be able to control himself.

[Bensthename]

19. Ugh, I think you may be right..

Hopefully he will realize that Obama's career depends on his next step..

[Phillycat]

27. Agree.

He's been a disaster, and keeps making things worse.

I don't like Obama, but I hate to see this sink his candidacy. I'd like to see him lose fair and square. But it very well could.

[zulchzulu]

15. Wright is floating in the middle of a lake at this point

What he says now shows what his true character is.

If he spits back at Obama, it just shows how he was only in it for himself.

If Wright is a TRUE Christian, he will let it go and continue doing what he has been doing, which is good things albeit with some statements that many find discomforting.

[movonne]

18. I often wonder if this has been set up ... to give Obama the out

he needs to put this story to rest...just a thought..If he came out against Wright with out any reason this could turn off many AA...but now he has a reason...

[Karenina]

20. Obama NEEDS to distance himself

from "those Blacks" to retain his white support. "He's NOT one of THEM." And indeed, he isn't. TOR!

[movonne]

21. ?????

[backscatter712]

23. Obama no longer needs to say much about Wright.

Wright can keep shooting off his mouth, but Obama just made it clear to the nation that he thinks Wright's a nutjob and a tool.

That's all that needs to be said. The only people left who will be trying to tar Obama with Wright's words will be the tools on FAUX Noise and right-wing radio.

[watrwefitinfor]

28. I cannot help but wonder if Wright

has made a deal with the same devil that Gennifer Flowers did.

His book is set to come out in OCTOBER? And that is some sort of coicendence? Like Bill Clinton's book coming out in the middle of Kerry's campaign, I suppose. Anyone else wonder if Wright has felt himself thrown under the bus and has been busy making deals with the dark side ever since Obama made that speech and denounced Wright's words? Maybe someone made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Who is the book deal with, anyway?

Wat

[Hoof Hearted]

29. The press will now follow him around like love-struck puppy dogs.

He's just become their meat and potatoes.