Politics and Culture

Wright has done a service to the country: By knocking Obama off of his Olympian pedestal, he has made it possible for the nation to focus on issues. His mission accomplished, however, it's now time to leave him alone.

To be more accurate, Wright has been part of the Obama de-mystification process: Before reverend Wright, many saw Obama as a man beyond politics, a racial healer, and would-be bureaucracy reformer. How the mighty have fallen:

1. His distance from lobbyists and "insiders" and "special interests" (except for unions and lawyers). This one's still subject to scrutiny. Obama has raised lots of money from small donors, but he's also raised money from the usual suspects. The GOP got an assist from Hillary Clinton when she pointed out that Obama's claim that he doesn't take money from oil corporations is misleading since nobody takes money from corporations.

2. Public financing. I think Obama can secure a good one or two percent of the vote by taking public financing despite his huge money advantage (It's more impressive for Keira Knightley to take a vow of chastity than Rosie O'Donnell.). Since he won't, Obama reinforces the idea that he's just another pol.

3. Working across the isle and "getting things done." Nice try, but not quite. He's done neither. Besides a hugely controversial bill (passed unanimously) prohibiting free airplane travel, Obama hasn't worked with anybody except Tom Coburn who's now holding on to an axle for dear life under Obama's bus along with Obama's grandmother.

4. He's not a liberal or a conservative, but a practical problem-solver. Amazingly, Obama only chooses the liberal solutions. In fact, Obama's been the most liberal member of any legislative body graced by his presence. From abortion to taxes to foreign policy where he's blazed new trails in superpower prostration: strait liberal.

5. Strait talker. His convoluted, deflective, and slick answers to the scandals- on display in his last debate- have shown that he can squirm with the best of them.

6. No divisive politics, a slogan designed for the politically naive. Obama's not too bad although he intentionally misrepresents McCain often and gives tepid denunciations of unfair attacks.

7. Finally, the subtext to his campaign: Obama will heal the country's racial divide. Wright and Obama's conversation on race that he started but refuses to participate in blew that one out of the water.

So, Obama's troubles have brought him down to the level of average politicians- slightly above that of a Boa Constrictor- and eroded much of his reformer credibility. Good! Now we can talk about the issues without the Obama glow blinding the public.

So, we should lay off Obama.

In addition, strategically:

1. These kind of scandals hurt politicians more if the scandal is allowed to fester on their own and without rivals piling-on. Hillary and McCain have only responded to direct questions which is good for them. The last thing candidates want to project is some sort of Schadenfreudian joy at a fellow American's misfortune.

2. Pushing too much can benefit the target. If Obama can spin this as an unfair attack, it blunts the attack's negative effects, and Obama may actually use the scandal to draw attention away from his very liberal agenda, hoping to surf overall discontent to the White House.