Dan,

I am someone who has always considered voting for Obama, and yet, am also concerened specifically with the Wright connection. In many ways, yes, his speech was a stroke of brilliance. And yet on the other hand, in the same way I expected Hillary to cut the cord with Geraldine Ferraro because of her offensive comments, I expected the same from Obama. Even accepting your rationalization of Wright, and accepting (as I do) that he does not speak for Obama, you must understand precisely why the connection is problematic. And while the Kahane parallel is, of course, imperfect at best, it does touch on the right idea. If I was sitting in a synagogue and a rabbi went on an Islamophobic rant, you had better believe that I would no longer be affiliated with that synagogue, and I would do all I could to expose that rabbi as a hatemonger. And somehow I expect--and I realie this is maybe asking too much--as much from my leaders. The rest of his speech was brilliant, and I agree with most of his points. Yet I hoped for more. I hoped for a statement that said no matter what, there isn't ever an excuse for the anger and vitriole and hatred of someone like Wright. Ultimately this does not, of course, shape my opinion of the man, or even my vote. But I don't think it is at all faulty in having a hesitation, or at least considering the implications. For someone who speaks so much for hope and change, I expected more.