We’ve come long way from the day in Philadelphia that Barack Obama made a speech in hopes of resolving the problem of Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s incendiary sermons playing in endless, endless sound loops. In his press conference, Obama said he was “saddened by the spectacle.” What a spectacle it is. An excerpt of Obama’s opening statement:

Yesterday, we saw a very different vision of America. I am outraged by the comments that were made and saddened over the spectacle that we saw yesterday.

You know, I have been a member of Trinity United Church of Christ since 1992. I have known Reverend Wright for almost 20 years. The person I saw yesterday was not the person that I met 20 years ago. His comments were not only divisive and destructive, but I believe that they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate and I believe that they do not portray accurately the perspective of the black church.

They certainly don’t portray accurately my values and beliefs. And if Reverend Wright thinks that that’s political posturing, as he put it, then he doesn’t know me very well. And based on his remarks yesterday, well, I may not know him as well as I thought, either.

See also:

• Full transcript: Obama’s Remarks on Wright
• Transcript: Rev. Wright at the National Press Club (4-28-08)

“Spectacle” is a well-chosen word. Rather than illuminate and instruct, Rev. Jeremiah Wright managed to alienate and offend people of all political perspectives and his press conference at the National Press Club has fueled speculation as to his true motives. To say the very least, he was not helpful to the Obama campaign.

See also:

• Is Jeremiah Wright a colossal disaster for Barack Obama or a press trick?
• The Wright Stuff: Bad Reviews from the Left
• Gingrich: Wright May Be Deliberately Trying to Hurt Obama
• Obama’s “big press conference” on Wright
• A Defining Moment for Obama
• Obama’s Risky Denunciation Of Rev. Wright

Here is video of the press conference.