Barack Obama, Rev. Wright Story Over-Blown and the Bill Richardson Endorsement.

The Rev. Wright story has been so far blown out of proportion at this point that it's really becoming an annoying distraction especially to see the vulture like press play the few controversial comments from Wright that are known on a loop. I have seen them dozens of times today in my watching of various cable news outlets and only 2-3 snippets of Obama's wonderful response speech to the "guilt by association" accusations thrown at him due to those comments by the Reverend.

Not one agency has played that speech in it's entirety (after the day he gave it) but the amount of time that they have devoted to playing the Wright clips must be close to how long it would have taken to play the full Obama speech. Which was an excellent speech. It turns out that a big reason for Gov. Richardson's endorsement of Barack was because of this very speech showing that Obama can unify the country. More on the Richardson endorsement below. If you haven't seen it yet in its entirety then here it is:As I've said before there is no reason to think that Obama agrees with any of the controversial things that his former Reverend has stupidly said. What are people afraid of in regards to this story? What damage does this do to Obama that would negatively affect an Obama administration? Is there really any logical or detrimental reason why this connection should preclude Barack as president. Or is this as I suspect an overblown story simply something to trigger irrational fear of the Senator? Do people think that Obama is secretly a Malcolm X character who would turn the White House into a radical center of violent "Black Power" with Black Panther types dominating his administration? That somehow this means that he is going to go abroad and sellout America? Come people, don't you think this kind of fear about his connections to Rev. Wright to be a little, just a tad irrational?

So the man showed some bad judgment in his relations with this guy but this is just one incident of such judgment. His judgment for the most part has been excellent, unassailable and sound. We place some unrealistic standards for the man that somehow he is supposed to be perfect and that if we find a blemish it means that he is totally unacceptable to be president. Folks he is just a man like all of us with imperfections and weaknesses--it's not like he is a prophet or something. Give the man a break!! Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Anyone who refuses to vote for Barack Obama because of his association with a man who has said some stupid and offensive things was most likely just looking for a reason to vote against the man in the first place. It is beyond absurd to think that Barack Obama hates America or whatever outlandish accusations are flying around the "internets (as Bush calls it)" about him.

When it comes down to the root of it, do we want the main issue in determining the outcome of this campaign to be whether or not Obama agreed with these controversial statements or not? That seems like a trivial reason not to vote for the guy. I for one would rather this campaign be about the more serious issues that are much more important than some stupid pastor. We are facing some scary times and need someone with a steady hand who can balance such heavy issues without becoming over-whelmed. I think that many on the right are beating this story like a drum because they are looking for a scapegoat and a distraction to try and get people to avoid looking at the disastrous policies of Bush and the Republicans.

This Rev. isn't going to swear Obama into office or anything. On a side note, of course he doesn't believe that America should be damned to hell!!! Why would be he running for President of the U.S.A if he didn't have pride in this country? And to think that he is running as a stealth candidate is beyond tin-foil hat conspiracy theory time. If you believe that he is a stealth candidate that will somehow tear down America to make it weak or something via a race revolution because of these random statements by his pastor then you are beyond my convincing.Today Obama picked up a strong endorsement from former presidential candidate Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico. This is good for Obama on a couple of fronts. First it helps bolster confidence that Barack can handle foreign policy and international, diplomatic affairs. The Governor should know about who is ready for such issues as he has a long, successful resume on being an ambassador abroad and negotiating the release of political prisoners. He knows that we need someone with the ability to remain calm in the most complicated affairs. Richardson knows the importance and the effectiveness of talking with our enemies and so should the Republicans if they honestly respect the image of Ronald Reagan who held strong to the policy of diplomacy and containment with the USSR during the Cold War. A policy that helped build trust and help end the stand-off.

When have you seen Obama lose his temper and display abrasive, condescending behavior during this primary? I sure haven't but I have seen Hillary lose her temper and patience with people way too much for me to be comfortable with her as our Ambassador abroad and McCain is the worst, his temper is well known to border on rage. He has also often shown unacceptable behavior when relating to other leaders within our government by cussing them out and calling them childish, immature names. He seems to share the cowboy attitude of shoot first and ask questions later, or not at all which is the dangerous behavior that we have had to pay for during the Bush years. Like I said, McCain=third Bush term.

Richardson is saying this of Obama, "once-in-a-lifetime leader that can bring our nation together and restore America's moral leadership in the world." Richardson went on saying, He said Obama possesses "the judgment and courage we need in a commander-in-chief when our nation's security is on the line." The endorsement also gives Barack another super delegate.

It is a blow to the Clinton campaign as Richardson has had long-time ties with them and served in the Bill Clinton administration in several roles. It is also a blow to the Clinton's because Richardson's endorsement sends a calming message to other somewhat restless super-delegates that indeed Sen. Obama is the most electable. To that end, Richardson could be instrumental in helping Barack win the swing state of New Mexico in the general election should he win the Democratic nomination. In addition it might help Barack win the Latino community in the fall.

Let us hope that John Edwards will follow the lead of Richardson.

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