I believe you are right about where the discussion should now go. However, I believe the ground lost by Obama cannot be re-gained. The 5% of voters that he lost will not change their minds about this now. They now see him as another Jesse Jackson sort and he won’t get past that. Those vidoes of “Reverend” Wright were devastating for that 5%. They now see Obama completely different than they did before and won’t believe a word he says from here on out or even consider voting for him.
Conservataives should no move this discussion forward now (as you discussed) or allow the opportunity paint this as a racial attack.
Another thing to consider though is that a good portion of the media is still rooting for Hillary Cinton. That is good. They won’t give Obama a free pass on this.
That's all wiped away now in their minds. The 5% he lost will be back within a week. Watch the polls.