Has Rev. Wright Cost Obama the Election?

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The following is an editorial and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of DiversityInc.

The Folly of Rev. Jeremiah Wright

By Eric L. Hinton

Egomania: Dictionary.com defines it as "obsessive preoccupation with the self … an intense and irresistible love for yourself and concern for your own needs."

And that brings me to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

After weeks of silence, Wright felt compelled to hit the talk-show circuit in recent days, defending what he believed were slights to his name and irreparable damage to his legacy because of controversial video clips that swarmed the airwaves. Following those comments, Sen. Barack Obama was compelled to rapidly distance himself from Wright lest his former pastor incinerate his campaign. To that end, many, including Obama himself, appeared willing to give Wright a pass following his interview with Bill Moyers as he sought to get out his version of the story. But Moyers was but the opening act in the media blitz that grew both more bizarre, and more damaging, as it went on.

To see Wright's comments at the National Press Club, click here.

To see Wright's comments at the NAACP, click here.

Among other points, Wright strongly insinuates that Obama's true motivation in disavowing him was but a political ploy and that the U.S. government played a major role in creating the HIV virus. He also plays up his ties to controversial Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan. Wright finally forced Obama to completely sever ties with the man who not only officiated at his marriage but also baptized his children.

To see Obama's speech denouncing Wright, click here.

And all this for what? Some may find it hard to find fault with Wright for seeking to preserve his own legacy. Others may even nod their head in agreement with the underlying message in some of Wright's less divisive statements, pointing to the years of service the man has given to his own community and beyond.

But when Wright makes every slight made against him an attack on the very institution of the Black church itself? When, in a single day, he inflicts more damage than either Sens. Hillary Clinton or John McCain have been able to muster after months of debates?

Egomania.

So now Wright has had his say. But at what cost? Even if Rev. Wright's ego compelled him to speak out, shouldn't common sense dictate he hold his tongue until after the election is settled? If the price of Rev. Wright's legacy is the potential candidacy of the nation's first Black president, isn't that too high a price to pay?

Here's a sampling of other commentaries from across the Internet on Wright:

"We all have our crosses to bear. The Rev. Jeremiah Wright has become Barack Obama's. I'm sorry, but I've had it with Wright." To read in full, click here.

"Let's not kid ourselves, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright was going to be a part of this presidential campaign through November, whether Sen. Barack Obama smacked his former pastor upside the head, or not. Now that he has taken the necessary steps to separate himself from Wright, Obama must go on his most vigorous offensive to date and make it clear that he is running for president, and not Wright." To read in full, click here.

"It took more time than it should have, but on Tuesday Barack Obama firmly rejected the racism and paranoia of his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., and he made it clear that the preacher does not represent him, his politics or his campaign." To read in full, click here.

"If the Rev. Jeremiah Wright thought he was unfairly caught in sound-bite purgatory before, his appearance Monday at the National Press Club gave doubters and critics plenty to chew on in the coming days. And in the process, he put his one-time congregant, Sen. Barack Obama, further on the political defensive." To read in full, click here.

"The Rev. Jeremiah Wright is going after his critics on an incendiary tour that is doing his one-time congregant, Barack Obama, little good." To read in full, click here.

"I have watched over the last few weeks as a host of Blacks, including media pundits and Democratic Party presidential frontrunner Barack Obama, have sought to soften, rationalize or run away from the fiery comments of Chicago minister Rev. Jeremiah Wright….Why should we not be angry? We should not be apologizing or distancing ourselves from a minister's words as long as white America has never apologized or atoned for its deeds." To read in full, click here.

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