by Linda Muller

Created on: May 01, 2008

To place the supposed burden of Reverend Wright's sermons onto Barack Obama's back goes against the idea that the senator is a thinking man. Barack Obama so far has given ample reason for the American public to believe that he thinks for himself. Of course Obama has advisers, mentors, and friends with valued opinions to guide him. They offer advice or information regarding policies or current events, and in the case of Rev. Wright, spiritual paths. Presumed intelligent based on his education, his experience as an advocate in his chosen home of Chicago and his successes in public roles, it follows that Senator Obama maintains the ability to think for himself.

Unfortunately Barack Obama has been forced by public opinion and the political machine to distance himself from one of those advisers. Perhaps it seems the obvious thing to do. The best thing for his presidential campaign, but before you jump on that bandwagon, examine your own life. Do you have advisers, mentors and friends with valued opinions? Even spiritual leaders? And when these people offer their opinions and advice do you always agree? When you disagree is it sometimes on a controversial or volatile issue? Unless the disagreement comes to blows or there are an overwhelming number of issues upon which you disagree, you probably tend to keep this person in your life. You may choose to "agree to disagree" on that topic. You may choose to debate the topic further. But either way, when in possession of additional reasons to trust that person and value his opinion, you remain connected.

Granted the controversial statements by Rev. Wright tip the scales at the more volatile end of the spectrum. In the balance of his statements and behavior though, how do those politically charged statements fit into the whole of the man? Beyond that, does Barack Obama deserve full credit and therefore burden for the statements?

Even further than that, does everyone truly believe that the good senator from Illinois is incapable of putting the sermon into context, the context of the moment, the context of the man who delivered it, the context of his own life, opinions and thoughts?

Senator Obama has officially distanced himself from Rev. Wright in order to preserve his presidential bid. No doubt on the advise of a hired gun who knows how to run a political campaign. But what harm has this done? A man who surrounds himself with only those who agree with him 100% on every topic is either lonely or in a room of sycophants. Isn't

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