Posted by Jed Lewison on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 6:02 PM Pacific

Barack Obama talks about Jeremiah Wright on MSNBC

Obama on Olbermann, 3/14

Obama was strong in this interview. Not that it should matter, but I didn't realize that Jeremiah Wright is a former Marine. Isn't it interesting how conservatives who didn't serve in our nation's military love to criticize the patriotism of those who have?

I suspect that anti-Obama partisans who watch the interview won't change their mind, but hopefully the others who do watch it will appreciate his candor.

The most important point is that guilt by association is a logical fallacy -- and a dangerous political precedent. One can fairly judge Barack Obama on the basis of his record as a public official. The views of his former pastor, while perhaps interesting, are not proxies for Obama's own.

Barack Obama talks about Jeremiah Wright on MSNBC

Obama on Olbermann, 3/14

Obama was strong in this interview. Not that it should matter, but I didn't realize that Jeremiah Wright is a former Marine. Isn't it interesting how conservatives who didn't serve in our nation's military love to criticize the patriotism of those who have?

I suspect that anti-Obama partisans who watch the interview won't change their mind, but hopefully the others who do watch it will appreciate his candor.

The most important point is that guilt by association is a logical fallacy -- and a dangerous political precedent. One can fairly judge Barack Obama on the basis of his record as a public official. The views of his former pastor, while perhaps interesting, are not proxies for Obama's own.

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