The American Spectator

p> COLOR SCHEMES br> Re: R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.’s The Tragedy of Campaign ‘08 : /p>

Racism is alive and well, but seems to be emanating from a hitherto hidden source. For too long the mainstream media has assiduously avoided mentioning, much less criticizing the likes of the Reverend Wright.

Race has little to do with Obama’s problems. It is his lack of experience (exactly when did cross the aisle and act as a uniter in the U.S. Senate?), his poor judgment (subjecting his children to the rants of Wright et al.), and his obvious political maneuvering (the most charitable explanation for his membership in Wright’s church) that has doomed his chances. Wright was correct about one thing: Obama is just another calculating politician.

p>Race relations have indeed suffered a serious setback. Unless the hate mongers such as Wright, and Farrakhan et al. are exposed, isolated and condemned by the black community, there will be no further progress. br> — K.S. Gimbel, MD br> Atlanta, Georgia /p>

This is the first honest article I have seen about the damage done to race relations due to not only the Clintons but also the piling on by the press on the Rev. Wright issue and in particular people like Sean Hannity who have been relentless. Certainly we can ask questions about his pastor but it was time to move on ten days ago and this failure to move on has caused blacks to close ranks and see it as a racial issue. Emmett is correct damage has been done and we won’t know the extent until years from now.

p>Not only have politicians missed a leadership opportunity but so have journalists. Kudos to Emmett for demonstrating courage and rising above it all. This from a fellow Conservative who wants to beat either D candidate with our ideas on the issues.