From the AP:
USA today article, posted "Today"

quote:

"Had the reverend not retired, and had he not acknowledged that what he had said had deeply offended people and were inappropriate and mischaracterized what I believe is the greatness of this country, for all its flaws, then I wouldn't have felt comfortable staying at the church," Obama said Thursday during a taping of the ABC talk show, "The View." The interview will be broadcast Friday.

Thoughts?

I'll start. "The View?" Really?

He wouldve been better off with "I'd rather not get into hypotheticals". That's a pretty bad answer, IMO.

I'm not sure he should have gone this far. Maybe it helps with some people. I'm not sure. I'm sure they've got some internal polls that show this is where he needs to go. He can split from the church without actually doing it, but make it about the pastor, not the chruch.

I don't think it'll make a hell of a lot of difference either way.

quote:

I don't think it'll make a hell of a lot of difference either way.

He's pinned himself down now with claiming ignorance of Wright's views. It's a barely tenable position now; he had better hope people stop finding controversial Wright sound bites.

Yeah, I certainly wasn't expecting it.

I hope it's not the beginning "finger in the wind" stuff. The internal polling is the scary stuff. Makes me feel like he gave in. I still wish he'd sack up and say he once thought similar thoughts, and still might - just obviously not as severe. Referencing that article (from TNR) you posted, Heck, he certainly has those feelings toward Israel. (Something along the lines of Israel has created its own problems and turmoil in the ME with its self-defense/attacks.) That would mirror the "America's Chickens coming home to roost" statement yes?