The only fair/objective way to seat Florida and Michigan and penalize them for not following the rules is to split the delegate vote 50-50. These states should not end up possibly deciding the outcome of this primary race when everyone agreed to these rules and all the other states complied with the rules.

I would also like to send another message to Speaker Pelosi regading Hillary Clinton's increasingly ugly campaign tactics. Hillary Clinton is not a true Democrat,she is a Joe Lieberman Democrat. How could she say that McCain was qualified to be Commander-in-Chief, but Obama was not. this indicates to me that if she does not win she will do her best to see that Obama does not win.

Why is the media concentrating on GENDER and RACE? What I think you should all be discussing is AGE?

McCain is my generation, Clinton a boomer and Obama is the future.

I'm a white female of McCain's generation and I think it time to turn the leader of our country to the people who are going to spend most of their lives in the future. Let them live with what they want to make of the future.

George Will's assertion that the ability to run one's party is directly related to how that party will run the country is absurd.

As we have seen in the last 7 years, the Republican Party is absolutely unified and runs like a well tuned machine, but their running of the country is a textbook demonstration of incompetence at a catastrophic level.

Running a party with efficiency does not mean you will run the country competently - Nazi Germany taught us that lesson!

This is not of conventional wisdom, but healthy food for thought. The media needs to attack itself for fanning the flames of divisiveness and a distorted portrayal of race and gender. These are not the important issues. George Will's comments of liberalism causing it's own problems are nothing more than the usual head-up-their-butts-conservatism-thinking. Liberalism wants to get rid of things that do not need to be around any more. Conservatism wants to keep and preserve, the these things we do not need in a good modern day society. It is really bad that both sides with the help of the media have to see racism, sexism and religious differences as the big issues.

I was an enthusiastic Obama supporter, but not anymore. I dismissed all the rhetoric about him I thought was unfair-no flag on the lapel, etc. But I completely agree, and am thrilled the roundtable said it since so many are sweeping this under the rug, (except for Brazile),Wright's hate filled speeches cut at the heart of Obama's entire theme. I am appalled at what was said, and it is ludicrous to believe he didn't know Wright was a militant. This is HUGE for November, particularly against war hero McCain. The GOP can easily connect the dots of no flag on the lapel, no hand on the heart for the anthem, Michele's comments about "mean" America and not being proud of her country in her adult life to the venom spewed at Wright's pulpit. I'm liberal, and I'm disgusted. What is the average American going to do? I think if Obama re-did all the primaries again after everyone heard this, he wouldn't get the majority of white votes. I think that's going to play out in PA. The Dems better wake up because Obama can't win after the airing of this hate, and the only ones who aren't offended want to make the ridiculous assertion that it's part of the black experience? There is no excuse for the hate on every level that came out of this guy to cheers from the congregation. Natalee Holloway was a slut? This is racist, Anti-American, and no amount of claims now from him that he repudiates the words can change the fact that Obama sat there for 20 yrs in the pews supporting that divisiveness. Put a fork in him- he's done.

Senator Obama continues to ask for the clinton tax returns - in light of the disturbing comments by Senator Obama's pastor and the history of community organizing that Senator Obama points to as a key part of his experience --- perhaps now Senator Obama should release his past community speeches, his community fund raising records, his schedules and appointment books so we can make a judgements of of his comments, his past associations and the remarks he made will organizing political activists in chicago.

Senator Obama continues to ask for the clinton tax returns - in light of the disturbing comments by Senator Obama's pastor and the history of community organizing that Senator Obama points to as a key part of his experience --- perhaps now Senator Obama should release his past community speeches, his community fund raising records, his schedules and appointment books so we can make a judgements of of his comments, his past associations and the remarks he made will organizing political activists in chicago.

As an African American I'm disturbed by the Wright defenders. Brazile even said that Wright was a Moderate among African American preachers. Yet she also mentioned she is a Catholic and not connected to a black church. I can say that I have been to services in many different black churches. No matter the denomination, I Never heard this kind of speech. For Brazile to claim it is moderate is preposterous.

I have asked family members and AA friends about this. None of us ever attended a sermon where GD America, or anything like it, was said. Yes, AA preachers can be fiery and many preach politics from the pulpit. But no AA I know has heard his or her minister say GD America Or call another group or nation Satanic.

I do not want people of other races or religions believing this is somehow thr norm in AA churches. I belive black ministers should speak out about the Wright statements and prove that they are in no way considered moderate by the black community.

I too would like to thank the roundtable for the amazingly honest look at Obama's Wright problem.

LIZ got it EXACTLY right--
" This is HUGE for November, particularly against war hero McCain. The GOP can easily connect the dots of no flag on the lapel, no hand on the heart for the anthem, Michele's comments about "mean" America and not being proud of her country in her adult life to the venom spewed at Wright's pulpit. I'm liberal, and I'm disgusted. What is the average American going to do?"
NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA- EVER.

Why doesn't anyone in the mainstream media challenge the notion, repeated again today by Speaker Pelosi, that the Democrats must decide their presidential nominee BEFORE the national convention? These silly notions are part of the reason why we have constant campaigning and little real governing by officeholders today. You need to educate the public about how the political process is supposed to work: A lot of 20-somethings, 30-somethings and 40-somethings have no clue that a national convention's MAIN PURPOSE is to select the party's nominee and that delegates are released to vote for anyone if a first ballot fails to elect a presidential nominee. It's been too long since you guys did gavel-to-gavel coverage and explained this stuff! A little knowledge might help folks realize that the Democrats are NOT limited to choosing Obama or Clinton as their nominee for president if the delegates cannot agree on one of them.

I am an American, living outside of the states. From my vantage point I too think America is MEAN! People get a little tidbit and their claws come out. You who say I'm rethinking my decision, he's not for me...your closing your minds and hearts. Don't let others hate fill you. This is just part of the ugly stuff being smeared. Look at who's behind seeing that it gets out there...We finally have someone that is different from "all the others"

Donna Brazile made me feel proud and thankful for her voice and her courage to use it. In the midst of what seemed like a group rush to jump on the bandwagon of denouncing Obama because...what? - he goes to the "wrong" church? - Brazile spoke with quiet dignity and refused to confuse Wright's rhetoric with reality. What does it say when McCain can freely associate with bible-thumping extremist right-wing "Christian" leaders who preach hatred and divisiveness, but Obama cannot belong to a church whose leader gets too passionate about the injustices done to blacks in our country? I am a 57-year old white woman who, I hope, is not about to be bullied by such mob mentality and fearmongoring.

WHAT MEDIA IS NOT REPORTING: RE: TRINITY CHURCH!

Rev. Thomas (Pastor of Mainly White Congreation of UCC) denounces e-mail smear campaign against UCC’s largest congregation - Written by J. Bennett Guess, Jan. 11, 2008

Obama, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president, has been a member of Trinity UCC for 20 years." "Trinity UCC is rooted in and proud of its Afrocentric heritage," Thomas said. "This is no different than the hundreds of UCC churches from the German Evangelical and Reformed stream that continue to own and celebrate their German heritage, insisting on annual sausage and sauerkraut dinners and singing Stille Nacht on Christmas Eve. ." While Trinity UCC is predominately African American, it does include and welcome non-Black members. The Rev. Jane Fisler-Hoffman, Illinois Conference Minister, who is white, has been a member of the congregation for years.

"Trinity is a destination church for many members of the UCC, a multi-racial, multi-cultural denomination that is largely Caucasian," Thomas pointed out. "When in Chicago, many UCC members flock to Trinity to share in and learn from its vibrant ministries, dynamic worship and justice-minded membership. Contrary to the claims made in these hateful emails, UCC members know Trinity to be one of the most welcoming, hospitable and generous congregations in our denomination." [...]

Rev. Steve] Gray, a member of First Congregational UCC in Indianapolis (mainly caucasian), has worshiped several times at Trinity UCC and is most impressed by the overflowing sense of welcome it extends to visitors. "When you're Euro-American, (White) the people [at Trinity UCC] are so exceedingly gracious, warm and welcoming. They hug you and say, 'Welcome to our church!'"

This ramped-up smear campaign against the UCC's largest congregation and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's home church — Trinity UCC in Chicago — has raised the ire of the Rev. John H. Thomas, the UCC's general minister and president, who called the e-mail-driven claims "absurd, mean-spirited and politically motivated."

The Main Stream Media has been filled with images and video of Rev. Jeremiah Wright's controversial statements for the past four days, 24/7, which Obama has strongly condemned. My concern, however, relates to equal time. When Senator Obama, who, after all , is actually the Candidate, gave a speech in Indiana, addressing his faith, diversity, and unity, and Invoking Robert Kennedy, it has gotten such a tiny percentage of coverage in comparison to Rev. Wright's controversial statements shown every hour in the hour. The main stream media has asked the questions how is Obama to deal with this controversy and when he does they give very little air time to his Answer, which he spells out beautifully in this Indiana Speech. This is just not Right.

Here is the link to the transcript/video of Obama's speech. Let's urge our friends in the blogosphere, and in every level of media, to Air this and to tell the whole picture, not just a part of it, regarding The Trinity Church which Obama belongs to.

Those peope that say split the delegates vote 50-50....get a grip on reality.

Why not just flip a coin for President?

Both methods negate the concept of the people voting to elect their leaders.

Well race isn't the point to me...I believe Obama deliberately tried to make the Rev. Wright's sermons a race issue simply because the press is so totally afraid of appearing racist that it was the best way to staunch the showing of those clips...and it worked. Immediately few showed them anymore and those that did had the sound turned off. Then the press fell all over themselves to show they weren't prejudice by calling Obama's Great Speech" the greatest story ever told.

It WAS a brilliant speech...but people tend to forget that the purpose was to try to eliminate the pastor's Anti-American remarks by any means necessary. People, especially whites, are trying hard to forget the racial problems of the past and want to do and forgive anything to try to heal the very real problems blacks have in the world.

I have no racial problems due to a good upbringing by parents that had no prejudices I ever saw ...although I saw it everywhere else (I'm 58), it was a rough time for minorities, but I have no "white guilt" to overcome.

To me it comes down to everything unpatriotic....all the little things like no flag lapel, no hand over heart, his wife's "proud of America for the first time", Farrakan (sp) award, and the big one to me. .. Rev. Wright's sermons.

The source of those sermons was the church bookstore and website...those weren't taken out of context, those were among those the church was most proud of.

There is no way I can believe Obama has selective hearing enough to be unaware of them, it's hard to even believe he wasn't in the pews at least a couple times, his books are on sale in that same church bookstore, and the biggie... He is a US Senator, the highest ranking member of that church as to status, people would be falling all over themselves to talk to him...he simply had to know about almost anything going on in that church

Now to the point: Obama stayed in that church despite him knowing the radical, unpatriotic theme. These actions show a lack of strong patriotism or even deep love of country.

Obama was not outraged.

This is a unforgivable for a Senator running for President of the United States.

Larry B
San Antonio, Texas

PELOSI IS A SUCH A HUGE DISSAPPOINTMENT...TOP DEMOCRATS NOW URGE HILLARY TO DROP OUT... TELL PELOSI THAT IF HILLARY DROPS OUT... I WILL CHANGE PARTIES AND PROTEST VOTE FOR McCAIN. I HAVE NEVER VOTED FOR A REPUBLICAN IN MY 30 ADULT YEARS..BUT MARK MY WORDS.. I WILL DO IT THIS TIME.. I CANNOT STAND THE WAY THAT THIS POWERFUL WOMAN HAS SAID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT THE MYSOGENY THAT HAS BEEN SO OBVIOUS TO "WE THE PEOPLE"... SHE IS A DISGRACE.. AND I HOPE YOU READ THIS MS DONNA BRAZILE... YOU CANNOT WIN THIS FOR YOU GREEN BOY OBAMA WITH OUT US.