Grandiosity and Vengeance?

Well, no one will ever claim that this year's primaries have been dull. Actually, at this point I would like a little dull, especially after last weekend's press feeding frenzy instigated by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Bottom line is I can't believe it has been happening. On one level it makes me wonder if he wants Hillary to be the nominee- or worse- he wants Obama to lose so he can point to the terrible, terrible way that racism has affected this campaign. Barack loses or is denied the nomination and someone like Wright can point to that as one more excellent example of what he has been saying.

I was struck by the grandiosity of Rev. Wright and the self-centeredness. He reminded me of Jerry Falwell in that absoluteness of certainty that he seemed to exude as he spoke. That and a sense of vengeance. I can understand that he felt as if Barack may have repudiated him and he wants to strike back. Well, strike back he did.

Over at Beliefnet, author Diana Butler Bass had some good and nice things to say about Rev. Wright's talks. But she is coming at it from an academic/theological point of view. Such nuances and niceties are not possible in a political battle like we are facing. Rev. Wright knew exactly what he was doing and what impact it would have. It was political undermining plain and simple.

Unfortunately Obama is being microscopically scrutinized. That's what politics does. As he has become the "front-runner" the attacks get greater. In the end, though, it may not be Clinton or McCain who tolls the bell for the Obama campaign. It will be a former friend who may have simply not liked being dismissed and turned back on Obama.

If so, that may be the greatest tragedy of the election. Let's hope that the voters will not use this as an issue when they go to the polls next week.