Well, maybe there is a silver lining to the Wright misery.
In tomorrow's editorial, the New York Times not only commends Sen. Obama for his repudiation of Rev. Wright, but asks why Sen. McCain continues to court people like John Hagee.
The Times writes that this will, unfortunately not end the overall problem of race in the election:
It was the most forthright repudiation of an out-of-control supporter that we can remember. We would like to say that it will finally take the racial charge out of this campaign. We’re not that naïve.
More....
But most importantly the Times brings up the double standard so many of us hear have railed about:
It is an injustice, a legacy of the racist threads of this nation’s history, but prominent African-Americans are regularly called upon to explain or repudiate what other black Americans have to say, while white public figures are rarely, if ever, handed that burden.
Senator John McCain has continued to embrace a prominent white supporter, Pastor John Hagee, whose bigotry matches that of Mr. Wright. Mr. McCain has not tried hard enough to stop a race-baiting commercial — complete with video of Mr. Wright — that is being run against Mr. Obama in North Carolina.
It is about time to see a major mainstream news organization call Rev. Hagee for what he is- a nut job and bigot.
Now, as the Times says, it's time for Sen. McCain repudiate his wacko ministers as well.
Here is a link to the entire editorial
An Update:
A number of people are saying that equating Wright with Hagee is wrong and unfair. Yes, that is true in many ways. Wright has made some comments that can be seen as a support for bigotry (his favorable comments about Farrakhan in particular). Hagee (and Parsely) are most certainly worse in a thousand different ways and as Rachel Maddow says, their influence in a McCain presidency could have national security implications. Wright comes no where close to that.
However, the key point to this editorial shouldn't be about Wright, it is that finally John McCain is being put on notice to explain his association- blantanly political ones at that- to the ministers who's endorsement he actively sought and now campaign with. Just maybe instead of pushing fake health care "reform" or pandering gasoline tax holidays, Senator McCain will be made to answer for his own judgements and choices.