Free Republic

If Sen. Barack Obama loses the presidency, he can very likely trace the beginning of the end of his unprecedented run for the White House to last week's much-discussed speech on race. He never should have gone there. It was a deadly mistake, a political blunder of the first order. Not because what he said wasn't heartfelt, intelligent and balanced, or because it obviously reflected the unique experiences of a man with a foot each in the very different worlds of black and white America. But like so many brilliant men and women I've met in politics, Obama obviously believes...

CHICAGO -- The new pastor of Barack Obama's church delivered a defiant defense of its retiring reverend Sunday, comparing media coverage of Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. to a modern-day lynching that resembles Jesus' death at the hands of the Romans...

Carrie Budoff Brown sends over the transcript from Obama's appearance, airing tomorrow, on the Michael Smerconish Show on 1210 AM WPHT in Philadelphia, from audio the show provided. In the interview, Obama says he's talked to Wright in the past about "some of his views," and defends Trinity, saying "This is not a crackpot church." Smerconish is a conservative talker who's been defending Obama's race speech. OBAMA: I will be honest with you that I didn’t have that many conversations with him over the last year just because I have been so busy. I haven't been going to church. I...