Barack Obama vs. Reverend Wright

I feel as though I’ve just watched a man drown.

Barack Obama has found himself in a no-win situation, being forced to give a press conference to denounce every view that his former pastor is publicly advocating. Barack’s performance today was a dramatic shift from everything that has made him a successful candidate, in that he was visibly angry, quivering in his words, and obviously unsure of how to get himself out of this mess.

Yesterday, Reverend Wright launched a devastating attack on the leading Democratic candidate for President, with the most damaging assertion being that Barack is lying to the American people because he is a politician and doing his job. There were plenty more, and you can find quotes somewhere else, but in total it was analogous to the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Today, Barack Obama has responded by openly declaring war on his former pastor, in saying that he was “outraged” by Rev. Wright’s comments, that he’s “divorced” himself from Wright, and referring to Wright’s speech as a “spectacle”. This is only going to escalate and there’s no doubt in my mind that this will destroy Barack Obama’s candidacy.

Reverend Wright has an undeniable national spotlight, believes firmly in all the views he advocates, is narcissistic, and has absolutely nothing to lose. This will get bloody, it will get fierce, and the only person this will hurt is Barack Obama.

In the short term, Barack Obama’s credibility will take a massive hit over the next week leading into tough primary elections in Indiana and North Carolina. The numbers to watch are the African-American voters in North Carolina, who I believe will be angry with Obama for attacking his former pastor. Especially in the south, pastors in Black Churches are the patriarch of the community and is held in high regard, not someone that you openly attack in the media.

In the long term, I believe there are two possible outcomes. The first, is that there’s a good chance that Super Delegates will realize what a disaster Obama will be in the general elections and make Hillary the Democratic candidate. The second, is that Obama will still receive the nomination of his party, but will be decimated on November 4th.