A good friend once told me, "No." is a complete sentence. They also told me just because someone asks you the same question over and over again, you don't have to come up with a differerent answer from your first one. I think of these wise words at this time when Barack and Michelle Obama are being asked, hounded, about the recent antics of Reverend Wright.
I believe Barack made a wise choice to take time to deeply contemplate what his next words would be about this man who has been as much a part of their lives as a family member. Obama's words were straightforward, sincere, and clearly painful for him to say. He put down his "politician" hat and he talked to the American people as just Barack. It hurt to watch him have to address to the world about a situation that I'm sure he wished could have been dealt as a private, family matter. But going public with this was a decision Reverend Wright, sadly, made for them all. How unfortunate for everyone. But Obama knew he had to respond, and he did. When I think about the million other words Obama could have chosen, it is all I can do to supress tears when I realize how sensitive Obama actually was in the midst of his own pain and deep sense of betrayal.
Today, television reporters, journalists and talk show radio personalities are beating this already bludgened horse by saying Obama has much more to say about Reverened Wright, but I keep wondering, what else can he say? Has he not been perfectly clear about the fact that Wright's recent words and actions demonstrated to Obama that he does not know who Reverend Wright is anymore? In that sentence alone, a thousand words are spoken. What more can be said? Has Obama not been perfectly clear that more discussions about this man's actions are pointless, hurtful,and merely now a distraction from what the American people want Obama to talk about? What more can be said? Has Obama not done all he can to put this issue to rest, using firm and clear language that leaves no room for misunderstanding? What more can be said? It's a darned if he does, darned if he doesn't scenario: don't talk about it more, raise eyebrows. Talk about it more, and he risks more offenses and giving the media more opportunities to poke harder at this wound for different responses than the ones he's already given.
What I think people are forgetting is that in the midst of all the political dicussions, the Obama family is grieving over the loss of their friend, Jeremiah Wright. Has anyone even thought about the impact this is having on the Obama children? This is where I think people forget that politicians, as strong as they may appear on the campaign trail, are still human beings with tender feelings and real lives just like you and me.
Barack and Michelle Obama talk about wanting to "turn the page together" with the American people, leaving the page of Jeremiah Wright behind to turn to a new page that focuses on bringing the country together, solving problems, making real changes in how our government works, and creating the beginnings of a new future that will be the seeds of what our children and grandchildren enjoy in decades to come. But perhaps they want to also turn a page in their personal lives so they, too, can move forward from their own personal sadness and grief and move towards a brighter future.
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