There Is No Joy in Mudville as Obama Eyes Strike Three (Page 1 of 2)

Strike one was the ump’s fault, let’s say.

Sen. Barack Obama’s a man of color. His middle name is Hussein. His first name roughly rhymes with Iraq, his last with Osama. These are accidents, synchronicities or providences of history, depending on your seat in the stadium. They’re not his fault, and in the Field of Dreams that Obama would build for us all, such trivialities would not be issues.

But in the cold calculus of scoreboards, they matter. Take color: Obama gets support of black Americans. He gets Oprah’s endorsement. When Geraldine Ferraro says Obama made it to the show because he’s black, it’s an issue. When former President Bill Clinton compares Obama to Rev. Jesse Jackson, it’s an issue. And when Obama’s minister, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, alleges our government created AIDS to kill people of color, and when he makes a chant of “God damn America” in a Sunday sermon, it’s more than an issue.

It’s strike two.

You can see it from from the top deck. Obama’s had 20 years to take aim at this pitch, but like Casey in Ernest Lawrence Thayer’s springtime classic “Casey at the Bat,” Obama let it curve right across the plate. He could’ve knocked it out of the park years back by leaving the Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago’s south side, or by asking Wright to resign. Instead, Obama asked the raspy-throated minister to marry him to Michelle and later to baptize their children. Wright’s recent resignation with full honors comes too late.

Fortunately for Obama, this story broke during the seventh-inning stretch. The Pennsylvania primary is scheduled for April 22, and there’s time for damage control. To that end, Obama should do three impossible things before breakfast.

First, he must convince the public Wright speaks for himself. Obama’s made a start. He’s been all over the airwaves pointing out that Wright’s no longer his minister, comparing him, rather, to an eccentric uncle. It's an odd analogy, but never mind.

Second, Obama must throw this fireball back at his opponents. Sen. John McCain stood on a platform and accepted the endorsement of the Rev. John Hagee, a man who believes the War in Iraq is helping to bring about Armageddon and who appears to take joy in the prospect of war with Iran. He’s denounced Catholics, Muslims and others in extreme language. He preaches Jews are helping Jesus bring about end times, but they’ll go to hell if they don’t accept Christ. Obama should arrange to have Hagee’s own incendiary tapes distributed and insist they be played in the interests of fairness. He should also point out that Dubya got elected, thanks to the support of people like Pat Robertson and Rev. Jerry Falwell, who tried to blame Sept. 11 and Hurricane Katrina on gay Americans and who pounded the drums for invading Iraq and killing Muslims.

Then, Obama needs to change the subject, starting yesterday, by saying something newsworthy. For example, he should demand everyone in Florida, as in Michigan, gets a chance to vote in a new primary with the full participation of Sen. Hillary Clinton and him, even if it means the Democratic National Convention helps pay for it, and even if Clinton wins more delegates from those states. This strategy has three things going for it: It changes the subject, it bathes Obama in the glow of selflessness and wins votes in those swing states, not only during the primaries, but in the general election when they’ll be crucial.

Yes, lucky ticket-holder behind home plate, you heard right. I did call those strategies “three impossible things” a moment ago. Here's why:

First, repudiating Wright will not be so easy. He’s no lovable uncle. He’s a friend and mentor of choice. An oracle of wisdom, charms and curses Obama has consulted for 20 years. It’s not only fair to ask, it’s irresistible to ask, “Mr. Obama, which of Rev. Wright’s opinions do you denounce?” The list of follow-up questions is sure to be long.

Second, throwing this back at the Republicans by pointing out the nuttiness of their own pastors is problematic because Obama has run on the implicit notion he’s above such divisive issues. He also risks alienating otherwise moderate voters of all colors who believe End Times scriptures are not that nutty. Polls suggest up to 40 percent of Americans believe events in the Middle East are precursors to Armageddon.