He could have been the most sincere person on earth today, but this just looks like desperation. As others have pointed out, this is going to go to the heart of his argument - his superior judgment.  Trust me, I've church shopped when I didn't like what the priest was saying (and I've never had a priest say some of the awful things Wright has said).  It takes about 6 months to get a feel for a place, not 20 years.

Obama should have rejected Wright as soon as he knew he wanted to run for President. (IMHO)

The Reverend Wright is not acceptable as a President's mentor, pastor and friend. We all know that.

Well, I suppose that entire speech is now fraught with doublespeak and falsehoods.  So maybe it actually bumps up sales by being more of a blooper reel than anything else.  And hey, maybe in the director's cut, he'll include today's speech, too! </snark>

He continues to lie or be deceitful about the lobbyist money he takes in. He keeps running the ad saying he doesn't take lobbyist money, and various media keep coming forth with lists of lobbyists he takes money from - including big-oil, drugs, subprime lenders, etc.

What about Michelle? There is plenty of video footage showing the influence Wright has had on her. He sure can't risk that being brought up.

1. His rejection of Wright came about only after Wright personally disrespected him.  It's not about what Wright said -- he's never seemed to care about that too much before -- but rather Wright's failure to shut up for the benefit of Obama's campaign.

2. Much of what he said is (apparently) directly contradicted by the record, including his Philadelphia speech.  This will only keep the issue alive while the media analyzes the question of what did Obama know, and when did he know it?

3. He's now both defended and attacked Wright, so he hasn't stood firm on either side of the issue.

4. A number of his statements today directly call into question his judgment -- the apparent fact that he's been discussing this issue for a year now without bothering to acquaint himself with the content of Wright's statements, for instance.

Clinton did better with her Bosnia flap, saying she basically had no idea why she said what she said and then making fun of herself for saying it.

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. ... 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.

He says he didn't see clips or transcripts of Wright's statements until last night:

Q: Why the change in tone from yesterday when you spoke to us on the tarmac yesterday -

MR. OBAMA: I'll be honest with you, because I hadn't seen it yet.

Q: That was the difference?

MR. OBAMA: Yes.

Q: Have you heard the reports about the AIDS comment?

MR. OBAMA: I had not. I had not seen the transcript. What I had heard was that he had given a performance and I thought, at the time that it would be sufficient to re-iterate what I had said in Philadelphia.

Well, look, as I said before, the person I saw yesterday was not the person that I had come to know over 20 years.

...the insensitivity and the outrageousness of his statements and his performance in the question and answer period yesterday, I think, shocked me. It surprised me. ... During the course of me attending that church, I had not heard those kinds of statements being made or those kinds of views being promoted.

You know, in some ways what Reverend Wright said yesterday, directly contradicts everything that I've done during my life.

But there wasn't anything constructive out of yesterday. All it was, was a bunch of rants that aren't grounded in truth.

The only new thing Wright said this weekend was "Obama is a politician who speaks as a politician" (paraphrased).  With Obama taking it personally and getting angry about it, it just seems all too much as if the only thing that really bothers him about Wright is that Wright criticized him (Obama).  And the rest of it is OK.

Also, I think some others in this thread have good points.  An orgy of quote comparisons is about to come, and the Great Speech of '08 is going to get taken down a couple of notches.  

This is the best face one can put on a very dire situation for Obama and you have to admire BTD's efforts here.

But I also think this is tied into the whole Dem Party for BTD, that he really just wants to move past all this for the sake of the party.

Ok.  Who wants to talk about health care?

Obama could very easily call Clinton's double down and raise the stakes.  Ok.  Lets have another debate.

But here's the roolz:  Issues only.  Health Care.  Foriegn Policy.  Iraq.  Economy.   Nothing else.  That's the ground rules.  No distractions.  Lets bore the pants off America!

Let's move past this.  If Obama dares.

But as a media darling, it may work. Unless someone outside the media pushes the inconsistencies. Or of course unless Wright decides it's time for a biblical sacrificing of a beloved son for the good of the community.

I went to one sermon from my aunt's church and knew right away what type of stuff he preacher was spouting.

You think that Obama is the most electable, no surprise that someone believing such would immediately jump to the conclusion that this is what "Obama really feels".

Obama is doing what is politically expedient, AGAIN!  What do the fellow members of the UCC Trinity Church think about Obama's irrevocable tossing of Wright under the bus to bolster his failing candidacy?  What do other blacks who have rallied to Wright's defense think?  What do other black preachers who use similar rhetoric to "wow" their congregations think?

Obama has defended his attendance at his church, defended Wright, chastised those of us who think that Wright is an inflammatory gloryhound, and told us not to jump to conclusions about Wright, the UCC Trinity, and himself concerning issues of faith, his support of Wright and Wright's ranting sermons, etc.  Now that Wright exposes himself AS THE TRUE MENTOR he was to Obama and once again brings into question just why Obama chooses people like Wright as confidants and mentors---he finally cuts the rope tying himself to Wright.

Too bad.  Too late.  He doesn't mean it.  Wright says he doesn't take offense to Obama's denunciations because he knows it is just "political".  You think Obama means what he says...Sorry, the ultimate flip-flopping politician should get no such latitude...my opinion would be that Obama, either personally or via an intermediary, sent Wright a message to the effect:  "We're still friends, I still have the utmost respect for you, but please hold your tongue until Nov and after that you are free to say whatever you want to whomever you want."

Plus, Obama himself already helped organize at least one Farrakhan event  It was a positive event, yes, but right before Farrakhan went to give his speech at the event, he said that the "Mother Wheel would soon destroy all of White America." You don't help someone that heads an organization that is defined by the Southern Poverty Law Center, ADL, and other groups as a hate group organize anything.

First talking head: Is this his New Hampshire moment?  Had he bought in to  the media and believed this was his destiny? (gag)  He showed emotion, this may very well pull white women to him.

Other head: he always reacts one day too late.

Because there are no facts, there is no truth, Just data to be manipulated

However, he did the right thing.  Wright is toxic.

I suppose Wright will say with a smirk, "Obama has to do that politician thing."