Jeremiah Wright

It is already clear that Obama's Tuesday speech could not have been better. It is being justly compared, by knowledgeable people, to some of the great political speeches in American history. Whether it will register on the public consciousness in that way is another question.

Because there's this problem:...

The Clinton campaign ad featuring a 3 a.m. telephone call as a metaphor for experienced leadership in foreign policy has generated considerable comment, but much of the reaction is from people who have never been involved in foreign policy and certainly never had to field such a call...

As we choose our next president, Americans not only want someone to ably handle a crisis after a hypothetical 3 a.m. phone call. We also want someone who reinforces our identity and tells us who we are. As I argue in The Powers to Lead, we judge leaders not only...

Barack Obama's church-related quandary is just the latest example of American politicians' perilous dance with religion. In a presidential campaign infused like never before with the candidates' efforts to sell their religious beliefs as best-fitting an illusory mainstream, Obama hasn't quite pulled it off, although he is in a far...

Originally published at the Washington Independent

Until his pastor's most incendiary sound bites re-circulated on the web, Sen. Barack Obama had managed to be the "post-racial," "post-partisan" candidate to all America--an unimposing black buddy some white men never had, an attraction to women across racial and ethnic lines. But...

Well, there it is. If you are one of those folks who has been watching Barack Obama bring audiences to their feet with platitudes like "stand up for hope," while you yourself wonder who this guy really is and what does he really stand for, today was your day. Few...

I read Senator Obama's recent speech on race and Rev. Wright in Philadelphia several times and very carefully. It was a great, even brilliant, speech. I appreciate Senator Obama's willingness to tackle a difficult subject and to explain his complex reactions to some of Rev. Wright's sermons.

I personally...

I watched Obama's speech last night and was deeply moved. I came away feeling like he would make a great president. But because of the ranting of Reverend Wrong, we're never going to find out.

Look, some old black guys are angry. I can't say I blame them. They've seen...

Barack Obama's March 18th speech on race in America was game-changing, and very likely will be remembered as historic. Here's why.

In electoral politics -- particularly presidential politics -- people don't vote based on the issues or positions of the candidates. They vote based on their assessment of...

Barack Obama's speech was amazing, mesmerizing, and historical. Indeed, it did tackle an issue in very blunt, honest terms. No doubt, Obama was speaking from his heart. Undeniably, race is an issue worthy of our attention. It requires a strong and robust dialogue. And the time for that dialogue is...

There's a reason why Hillary Clinton has remained relatively silent during the flap over intemperate remarks by Barack Obama's former pastor, Jeremiah Wright. When it comes to unsavory religious affiliations, she's a lot more vulnerable than Obama.

You can find all about it in a widely under-read article in the...

Rudy Giuliani's priest has been accused in grand jury proceedings of molesting several children and covering up the molestation of others. Giuliani would not disavow him on the campaign trail and still works with him.

Mitt Romney was part of a church that did not view black Americans as...

What a day!!! Mark down March 18th. In the same 24 period, we dealt with some of the country's fundamental issues: racism, guns, sex and oh yeah, five years of war in Iraq.

Since glossing over color just wasn't working, thanks to his pastor, Barack Obama decided it was time...

Barack Obama's speech in Philadelphia eloquently displayed how the Obama and Clinton campaigns are divided by race idealism versus race realism.

Combining the statesman's calm cadences with the reverend's passion, Obama delivered what was arguably the crispest, most important delineation of U.S. race relations by a presidential candidate since Abraham...