The accuracy, or lack thereof, of Rev. Wright's statements is not the issue. RACE is not the issue. The issue is that Obama has gone into a Presidential campaign seemingly unaware of this loose cannon in his entourage. It speaks to the quality of his perception of the voters that he would not fully appreciate what it means for some people to hear the words "God damn America." In ANY context.

Now, since Obama cannot undo what he has done (or, in this case, not done), I would like to strongly suggest that the campaign and all those reading this who support Obama take immediate steps to present a more balanced picture of the Jeremiah Wright. We must counter the current popular impression of Wright as a dangerous, unpatriotic demagogue and show America the Jeremiah Wright that Obama knows and has known for twenty years. The Wright who helped bring Obama to Christ, married his wife, baptized his children. We need video clips of this Wright on the campaign website, YouTube, and the major news networks, so that people can understand that there is much more to the man than only his most offensive remarks.

This will not necessarily help people understand race in America better. But it will help people understand Obama's sense of JUDGMENT better. They will see how he could have stayed with the man for 20 years. It is good that Obama is continuing to talk about Iraq, the economy, about what he wants to do as President, about, in essence, things other than race. But if the only thing people know of Wright--not of Obama, but of Wright--is his most inflammatory moments, the judgment issue will linger in the air.

Americans who will actually vote tend to feel more uncomfortable with cult figures and years-long sustained emotion-based appeals. They would rather have a reason not to vote for the cult king.

Jeremiah Wright is just one of many excellent reasons to let the cult make its own way down. Do not pass the White House. Do not collect the Presidency.