The Reverend Has Left the Building

A media frenzy has begun to surround presidential candidate Barack Obama. The controversy does not stem from his campaign tactics or comments he made in speeches, but rather comments by Reverend Wright. Obama has admitted to having a friendship and intellectual relationship with the Reverend for 20 years. Obama also attended Reverend Wright’s church in Chicago.

Very recently, the Reverend made comments blaming the U.S. government for the Aids epidemic in a direct attempt to kill “black” people, and blames the United States for 9-11 (perhaps not so radical).

Somehow Obama has been drug into the media blitz of Reverend Wright’s opinions. In a statement made by Obama on April 28, he distanced himself from the pastor who once endorsed him.

“I am outraged at the comments that were made” said Obama, “It saddens me and shocks me. Reverend Wright does not speak for me.”

Though the comments by the Reverend were first picked up by mass media in mid-March, the story is still making its rounds on major media outlets. Perhaps Obama could have avoided some of this if he would have acknowledged he used to go to church with a “crazy” for a Reverend, but alas now we have something to talk about for the next month.

This story is particularly interesting because it deals with race, government conspiracy and terrorism. What recipe could be better to over shadow Obama’s message of hope and in my opinion, near-flawless campaign?

It seems to me the media is making this story into a kind of six degrees of separation. I wonder if Hillary Clinton or John McCain knew someone once, 25 years ago that used a racial epithet? Probably, and if so shouldn’t we hunt that person down so all the major “news” networks can help to influence their campaigns too?

 That seems fair. And isn’t all fair in media spin and politics?