Andrew Sullivan of the Atlantic has a good post today putting perspective on the situation for Barack Obama and his supporters.
Watching shows like "Good Morning America" and any of the 24-hour cable news networks reminds me that the national media is increasingly devoid of perspective. Hence why the last 72 hours of news has focused on Obama's former preacher's speaking tour.
You know, I used to be upset that the hyper-charged media coverage was producing national candidates unwilling to take risks or say what they mean. "Serious" candidates were those that spent decades of their life avoiding anything that would be considered controversial, resulting in more vacuous, poll-driven politicians who suppress their practical strengths in the interest of political victory. But this latest cycle, with the focus on Obama's past minister the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, carries another risk for future politicians. If Obama is dragged down the only successful future candidates will be those who not only purge their own biographies of political will, but who are also willing to purge their lives of any loved ones or associates who hold unpopular views. In other words: soulless, vacuous, poll-driven politicians. Oh, boy!
To me, that's why it's more important than ever that the Democratic Party nominate Barack Obama and get him elected President. We've learned that he's not perfect, but he still provides a strong vision and an extraordinary contrast to the conventional wisdom of today's lousy political culture. This is a generational political struggle. The thing about struggles is that they often involve struggling. Struggle on!
