Digby draws larger lessons for Democrats from the Wright Fiasco:

Amy Sullivan, one of the primary proponents of putting religiosity at the center of Democratic politics doesn't seem to know what to make of the problems Wright has caused for Obama. Apparently, she never considered the possible downsides of hewing so closely to religion that people think it's definitional. She and he friends didn't seem to realize that all the blather about secular Democrats was never about religion, but about social conservatism. You get no points for going to the "wrong kind" of church. You'd think they would have figured that out a long time ago.

Indeed. In my first post at TalkLeft, I discussed the dangers of Obama's Dem bashing on religion. Walter Shapiro argues that the chickens have come home to roost:

Josh Marshall and Noam Scheiber try to get ahead of the Wright curve by anticipating the next question - why did Obama choose Wright as his pastor. I believe their efforts are counterproductive. Scheiber chooses a passage from David Mendell's Obama biography to attempt to explain why Obama chose Wright as his pastor. In fact, the entire exercise is condescending. I believe most people are either brought up in a faith chosen by their parents or are drawn to its religious tenets. Obama himself has said that it was Wright who brought him to accept Jesus Christ as his savior. To wit, it was Wright's persuasiveness about Christianity being the "true religion" that made Obama choose Wright as his pastor. Not in Mendell's telling, now endorsed by Scheiber and Marshall. More . . .

Looks like all we'll be hearing about for the next few days is the cost of gas. Anyone remember when big engines were all the rage?

Little GTO, you're really lookin' fine
Three deuces and a four-speed and a 389
Listen to her tachin' up now, listen to her why-ee-eye-ine
C'mon and turn it on, wind it up, blow it out GTO

What was your first car? Mine was a 1957 Austin Healey 100-6 I bought in 1966 with $300.00 I saved from my after school job. After that it was Mustang convertibles for me.

This is an open thread, see you all tomorrow.

Hillary Clinton has released a new ad in Indiana criticizing Barack Obama for opposing the suspension of the gas tax.

Hillary's plan: Use the windfall profits of the oil companies to pay to suspend the gas tax this summer. Barack Obama says "No."

People are hurting, it's time for a President who's ready to take action now.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said today that it would be “the height of political foolishness” for Democrats to back a Republican, or not vote at all, if they’re disappointed by the outcome of the long-running nomination battle between her and Barack Obama.

“Anyone, anyone, who voted for either of us should be absolutely committed to voting for the other” in the general election, Clinton said during an hourlong meeting with The Indianapolis Star Editorial Board. “I’m going to shout that from the mountaintops and the valleys and everywhere I can, no matter what the outcome of the nominating process is.”

...“no matter what the differences are between Senator Obama and myself, they pale in comparison to the differences we have with Senator McCain and the Republicans.”

More...

More than enough has been written, here and everywhere else, about Barack Obama and his relationship with Jeremiah Wright.

What I'm wondering now, is how does his campaign get past this in time for North Carolina and Indiana? How does it affect the superdelegates? From tomorrow's New York Times:

Bob Mulholland, a superdelegate from California, said that the difficulty Mr. Obama has experienced had put a premium on what happens in the remaining contests.

“We’ve got nine elections to go through June 9,” he said in an interview. “I’ve never been involved in a successful presidential race where the candidate had no trouble in the primary. It’s challenging to him. He is a young man and this is the first time he’s run for president. I see this as a learning experience.”

Asked how he though Mr. Obama was doing, Mr. Mulholland paused before responding. “Getting better,” he finally said.

Other questions: Did Obama alienate some of his African American base with his repudiation of Rev. Wright today? Will it cost him votes in North Carolina?

Assuming the public believes Obama was sincere in renouncing Wright and sorry about his misjudgment of him, will they conclude Obama just isn't ready to be entrusted with the serious judgment calls a President must make?

More....

Elizabeth Edwards was on Countdown tonight. She said there's no reason for her husband, her or Gore to endorse. It wouldn't stop the "bloodletting" between the candidates and settle anything. In other words, endorsements are of limited value.

She also said while she prefers Hillary's health plan to Obama's, she's glad that both provide for universal coverage.

E.J. Dione wondered whether Edwards might not get back in the race as the only electable candidate. He wasn't serious, but it's an interesting thought.

(in happier times)

More than 700 comments and you all have more to say on Barack Obama's press conference renouncing Reverend Jeremiah Wright.

Memeorandum has a wrap-up from around the blogosphere. So does the New York Times.

The transcript of the press conference is here.

Here's what Obama said about Wright in his Philadelphia race speech:[More...]

from the "Netroots." This time from Matt Stoller:

Clinton is running as a full-blown conservative.

What a dopey thing to write. While I agree with Stoller's criticism of Clinton on the gas tax holiday, see Krugman, some bloggers seem incapable of stopping at legitimate criticism and must jump the shark to foolish inaccuracies.

Just dumb stuff.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only.

Marc Ambinder at the Atlantic reports some Michigan Democrats have submitted a proposal to the state Democratic party. It's an alternative one to those that will be considered by the Rules and Bylaws Committee later in May.

The plan was submitted by Sen. Carl Levin, Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick,UAW President Ron Gettelfinger, and DNC Member Debbie Dingell.

It's not a fair plan. It not only gives Obama all of the uncommitted delegates, a number that includes those who voted for Edwards, Dodd, Kucinich and Gravel, it gives him some that voted for Hillary.

More...

Your turn. This is an Open Thread. BTW, in an object lesson in "be careful who the Netroots backs . . ."

Meanwhile, back at the polls, SUSA's KY Poll says Clinton by 36:

Hillary Clinton decisively defeats Barack Obama, 63% to 27%. In three SurveyUSA tracking polls over the past 30 days, there is no movement in the contest. Obama gains a little bit of ground in Greater Louisville, but loses an equivalent amount in other portions of the state.

Whites (90% of the vote) 67-23 Clinton. African Americans (8% of the vote) 71-15 Obama.

By Big Tent Democrat