The Young Turks

Rev. Wright has recently tried to push back against the negative media coverage about him.

Not only do I think doing so was a good idea, but I believe he should have done so weeks ago.

In the Bill Moyers interview he presented himself as a well-spoken and very smart scholar and I was willing to see his remark about Obama acting and speaking as a politician being in the tradition of Jesus's distinction between worldly and spiritual spheres rather than Wright calling Obama an opportunist.

Yet his later Q&A session at that national press meeting showed a very ugly side of his character. A total ego-trip, full of cooky remarks and juvenile antics.

He's too smart to know what damage he has done to Obama with that scandalous appearance and it does certainly seem like he harbours a serious grudge and is acting on it.

I think many were willing to hear from himself and not merely pounce on those (often distorting) soundbites. He totally blew that chance as promising as his first step - the Moyers interview - was.

I now think that Thom Hartmann's right about Wright further stirring the media pot this year to coincide with a book he'll be publishing.

Clearly he has done marvelous things with his former church. It's sad that he now seems bent on destroying his reputation and seeking to take down Obama with him.

Not that I think he'll succeed in the latter. Sure, Republicans, the Clintons and apparently Wright himself won't let the controversy go away, but I think the constant milking of the issue will become way too transparent for a big section of the public.

Nonetheless, it's depressing that such distractions look like they'll dominate the headlines and media chatter for much of the campaign. It's sad the media lustfully pounces on such matters and neglects talking about substantial issues as they do so.