Reverend Wright wants “context”? Plenty of context here and here and here. The Left blogosphere seems strangely mute (not a word from Andrew Sullivan? nothing from the usually exhaustive reporting at TPM Election Central?), if not downright despondent. What does this tell us?

It’s now absurd to contend that Barack Obama never really “heard” the venomous utterances of Rev. Wright. He heard, he understood, and he stayed for twenty years. Whether he did it to gain credibility in the African-American community or whether he actually believed Wright is unclear and unknowable. But it’s dishonest for him to say he didn’t understand the tenor of his mentor.

Wright is twisting the knife by pointing out that Obama never denounced him and that he merely “distanced” himself (like any good politician). This spells only bad news for Obama–both the failure to repudiate and the “acting like a politician” may wound him. But he shouldn’t worry that much, since he’s doing fine in the polls. Er, less fine than before.