Obama's Spine

A reader points out:

The other great thing about this speech was that it unequivocally proved that Obama--and Obama alone--is best equipped to fight back against Republican attacks.  Do you think John Kerry could have pushed back with a speech against being swiftboated in 2004?  Or could Hillary do the same if she was in a similar position?  I don't think so.

I don't know if it will "work" against the likes of O'Reilly and Hannity and cable news, which seems unable to show any other of Wright's speeches except the now-almost mind-numbingly familiar clips. What I do know is that it was the right speech, with the right nuance and brave. If America cannot embrace such complexity, then that says more about our current polity than it does about Obama.