Barack Obama has campaigned as a unifier and leader in the path toward racial reconciliation. Has his former pastor and mentor undermined Obama's chances?
I am not one to harp on old news. But conservative commentator Dinesh D'Souza, in a recent op-ed, writes: "[Barack] Obama's connection with the Reverend Jeremiah Wright makes him unelectable in the general election, even though neither he nor most of the pundits seem to have recognized this yet."
D'Souza explains by envisioning the following Republican campaign commercial:
It begins by showing the rantings of Wright: America deserved to be attacked on 9/11, the government sponsors the Ku Klux Klan, AIDS is a federal plot, God damn America! These images are accompanied by a voice-over noting that Wright is Obama's longtime mentor, and that Obama has attended this church for two decades. Then we see Obama saying he will no more disavow Wright than he would disavow a family member. Finalloy we see pictures of the two men embracing while a voice says, “Is this the man who is going to bring America together and stand up to our enemies?” At this point, it's done!
I admit that it would be hard for any candidate to survive such a commercial - especially if it were broadcast regularly and repeatedly in every major media market in the nation. However....
I don't think John McCain will authorize such a campaign. Say what you will about the Arizona senator's age, but his age brings with it a sense of "Old Boy" (and "Girl" - if the nominee is Hillary) cordiality between national leaders, especially US senators.
The question is...would such a refusal be to McCain's credit? Is this not a legitimate issue? Obama has condemned some of Wright's specific statements, but it's hard to see the media (or the American people) giving McCain a pass had he claimed Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church as his longtime spiritual mentor.
We shall see if D'Souza's prediction comes true.
