Pat Dugger: No one here (or anywhere else that I’ve seen, and I’ve read a great deal on Wright) has contested his right to free speech. What they _are_ doing is pointing out what he says, and his appearance at the National Press Club (of all places) today indicates that he wants his statements publicized far and wide. And even if he didn’t want that, those statements are entirely appropriate for public scrutiny and commentary. The media went so far as to _invent_ supposed character issues to use against George W. Bush in 2004 (a ploy that led to Dan Rather, among others, losing their jobs). Even if you don’t find Obama’s 20-year associaton with Wright an authentic issue, I find it hard to believe you couldn’t see why others do. Wishing the matter away won’t do much good at this point.
