Wright And Obama: Another Interpretation

Reader J.L. interprets Rev. Wright's remarks differently than I do, and differently, I'll add, than the Obama campaign does:

Wright is using the word "politician" primarily to characterize certain of Obama's actions and remarks. He is not --- repeat, not --- "essentializing" or "minimizing" or "publicly breaking up with" Obama. Nor is he "throwing Obama under the bus." Wright's "politician" remarks" can be understood only in terms of his own self-characterization. He has said, over the last few days, that, when he speaks from Trinity's pulpit or when he speaks to Obama as one of his members, he is speaking as a pastor, and should be judged in the context of the prophetic speech traditions of the black church --- not as if he were speaking as a politician. Likewise, Wright has said that, when Obama cancelled Wright's public appearance at his announcement speech, and when Obama has disavowed certain of Wright's remarks --- i.e., in the moments when Obama has spoken and acted in these ways --- he has been speaking and acting as a politician, and that nothing about Obama's and Wright's personal relationship and mutual respect should be extrapolated from Obama's remarks and actions. This is why Wright has been careful to remind, in all of his remarks, that Obama has not denounced him personally but, rather, has distanced himself from specific comments. Wright simply is stating the obvious. He is saying: "There are certain ways of speaking and acting that are appropriate to a black preacher, and Barack understands that --- our relationship does not depend on his agreeing with everything that I say and do. Likewise, there are certain ways of speaking and acting that are appropriate to a politician, and I understand that --- nor does our relationship depend on my agreeing with everything that he says and does." Look at Wright's interview with Moyers. There is no malice or discontent in his remarks, at all. Wright is saying: "Barack and I are big boys. We each get how things are. We get that I'm a preacher. We get that he's a politician. We get that each of us has a different role to play. We get it. The only ones who don't get it --- or who are making it convenient not to get it, although they're not as dumb as they would have us all believe --- are the media who are manufacturing this "controversy" to advance their own agendas. The sooner they grow up, the better the country will be." Capice?