Polarizing Pals, Posing Problems

The presidential primary contest is, at this moment, an escalating contest of Supporters, Friends, and Associates That Cause Campaign Trouble. You won't hear much today about McCain's best friend Hagee or the big Ferraro kerfuffle on the Clinton side, because Barack Obama is having his own problem in the form of one Pastor Jeremiah Wright.

Pastor Wright preached at Senator Obama's church, married Senator Obama and his wife Michelle, and baptized their children. Wright also has a history of delivering sermons with subject matter sufficient to title an article about him, "Obama's Pastor: God Damn America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11."

Obama has made the standard reject-and-disagree statement, both in an interview and through a spokesman, but more is likely to be required if the campaign hopes to distance itself from this. More of what, I don't know, but something. This is a big problem now, and has the potential to be a serious political liability in the future if it gains legs, especially since the day-to-day structure of American presidential campaigns now seems to be almost entirely about identity and definition.

John Stewart looked at the problems that friends and neighbors have been causing both campaigns lately with a segment titled, "You're Not Helping," and it is hard to summarize it better than this:

So really, I guess the moral of the story is this: try to avoid knowing anyone if you're planning on running for president.