Barack Obama makes a final, strong break with his former pastor, rejecting views that do more to divide Americans than unite

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright clearly has been enjoying his time in the spotlight. He has captured the nation's attention -- particularly that of Democratic primary voters and Republican campaign strategists -- with more inflammatory remarks, beyond those caught on videotape from past appearances in his former pulpit at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.

Wright's earlier pronouncements were criticized by his most famous church member, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. But just in the past few days, Wright again has suggested that America was attacked by terrorists because it engaged in terrorism, and that the government was capable of using the AIDS virus to commit genocide against blacks. There can be little doubt that his outspokenness has become an obstacle in Obama's quest for the Democratic presidential nomination versus Hillary Clinton. Obama himself has acknowledged that Wright poses a legitimate campaign issue.

With all that in mind, it could be said that Obama had little practical choice but to strongly reject Wright's comments, and in effect, Wright himself, despite their past association. That's exactly what he did in a Winston-Salem appearance Tuesday. Obama said Wright's expressed notions were not the views of the black church, nor were they his views, and that "they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate."

Still, even if Obama's repudiation of Wright was an act of political necessity, there's no reason not to believe the senator's words. His life history and his earlier attempts to engage in a dialogue on healing the deep racial divisions in this country -- following the attention paid to some of the preacher's previous statements -- are consistent with the views he now expresses. And his focus on issues such as health care, the war in Iraq and the economic pressures on ordinary Americans has been responsible and appropriate.

Wright, by contrast, seems to be throwing flames with no constructive aim in sight. Does he resent Obama's earlier criticisms of his views? Is this all about getting back at Obama, hurting his campaign? Only Wright knows the answers.

But surely all Americans can agree that there are many very serious issues for Obama's campaign, and for Clinton's and that of Republican candidate Sen. John McCain, to engage. Wright would argue, perhaps, that he is merely exercising the free speech awarded to citizens by the founders of this country that he now seems to view as a great conspirator. That's true. But when this primary season -- North Carolina votes Tuesday -- and this election are over, the Rev. Wright deserves to be remembered as not a very significant part of the overall debate upon which Americans will base their choice for president.

Obama has done what he can do. Let us hope that neither Clinton nor McCain turns the race for the White House into a series of volleys over an issue that Obama has confronted openly, forcefully and persuasively.

It's ultimately the responsibility of the people to hold them to that. For this is an election that belongs to the citizenry, and the American people can maintain their ownership of it by not allowing themselves to be distracted or unduly influenced by volatile rhetoric, either from those who utter it or from those who would use it to their advantage.

The News & Observer, May 01, 2008