Did obama hurt his own cause by..

[4themind]

saying that the uproar caused during Wright-gate was a "legitamate issue" to be discussed, or was he recognizing it as legitimate simply due to the furor he perceived among possibly decisive sections of the electorate (and which seemed like a partital stimulus for his giving the speech on race)? I'm reading on TPM that McCain is jumping on this,
<http://openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5416> so I wanted to ask what you guys think. Does this help to keep it out there, and/or just a recognizing the reality of the situation as it is? I don't want to be seen as a hand wringer but this is something I'm genuinely wondering about.

[NJmaverick]

1. No, I don't think so

dismissing white voters that have a concern, because of the fake Rev Wright smear attack, would be worse than acknowledging them. It's like a tiger is coming at you, is it better to admit he is there and do something, or close your eyes and pretent he isn't there?

[Orsino]

2. We may never know.

But if he somehow isn't the nominee, that'll be one of the main factors blamed for the loss.

[americanstranger]

3. No.

I've noticed something with all of these supposed 'problems' that have faced Obama, and was meaning to write about it.

Just like today's 'controversy,' something happens that gets the media all jacked up and they attack Obama. Naturally, everyone has something to say and the 'controversy' takes on a life of its own. The doom-predictors naturally predict doom, the clinton supporters announce the imminent demise of the O campaign.

But then Obama gets his turn, and uses the 'controversy' to make a larger point and comes out of it seemingly even stronger.

So far on this one, the pendulum has swung only one way. But it'll swing back. It walways does.

- as