The role of religious influence in the ongoing Democratic nomination race changed shape today. For the very first time, I heard Senator Barack Obama say something negative and it was not about his opponent Sentor Hillary Clinton.

I believe that it is safe to say we need a reality check regarding
what is going on around the world. This is just a regular briefing that
I have starting posting from SeeingBlack.com to inform others what is
going on nationally and globally. We often are still moving to fast to
see that we have it better than a lot of individuals.

kYm

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See my comments after the follwing article.

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"Obama rebukes preacher, urges race healing"

Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:48pm EDT

By Caren Bohan

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack
Obama on Tuesday criticized his preacher's racially charged sermons but
said he could not disown him in a speech urging Americans to move past
their "racial stalemate."

Obama sought to quell a political firestorm ignited when news
outlets called attention to sermons by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright at
Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, which the Illinois senator
attended for two decades.

Hate to wade into the presidential race, but I can't resist. I am really feeling a little crappy about my country right now (yeah, I said it, call the patriotism police).

As an
African-American, I have always believed that it was possible for a Black man
to lead our nation. Now in the 21st century, my thoughts have not
changed. It will take honesty, and a willingness to work with all cultures in
order for a Black man to succeed as the next president of The United States of
America. Barack Obama is the first African-American male to exert characteristics
that will implement change in the 21st century. Looking at his life,
while reading Dreams for My Father,
made me look deeper in to the history of our leaders and why we have not
reached this point until now regarding an actual bid for the white house. One

Driving political wedges between different minority populations - who often share similar political interests - is hopefully something that will become harder and harder to do, and something that just won't fly at all with the younger generation. But that probably won't stop some from trying it.

Now, in case you haven’t noticed, I don’t believe in underplaying the historical significance of Hillary Clinton’s candidacy for president, but I do have little tolerance for self-proclaimed feminists who are dismissive of other people’s ability to independently choose the candidate that he or she feels best represents his or her own values, regardless of gender.

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Andrew Gillum, Tallahassee city commissioner and creator of the Young Elected Officials Network, has been named the new Emerging Leader of the Year by Impact D.C.

Andrew received the award while co-hosting a reception with Sen. Barack Obama. His victory came after a two-week Internet poll in which “so many votes were cast that it crashed the Web site.”

What would you do if you had $2.4 million dollars? Well, if nothing else you would have more cash on hand than the entire presidential campaign of Senator John McCain.

Apparently Ron Paul, the Republican Congressman from Texas running a long-shot campaign for the nomination actually has more cash on hand than the Arizona Senator. And he isn't the only one: Rudy Guiliani raised some $17 million for the quarter, and Mitt Romney about $20 million (though to be fair, $6 million of that he gave himself).

But all that pales in comparison to thee leading Democrats. Although John Edwards struggled along with $9 million, Hillary Clinton rode along with $27 million and Barack Obama soared over the rest with a whopping $32.5 million.

Pundits are quick to point out that money does not equate with votes. But campaign donors are not saints, they're gamblers, and apparently no one is gambling on John McCain.

Well, I'm not quite sure whether this debate had any moments or exchanges that will substantively shift momentum for any candidate--either in New Hampshire or nationally.

And to that extent, there probably is not too much more you can analyze. At this stage--still over six months out before the initial primaries--most potential voters are either getting to know the field or cheerleading for their candidate of choice.

As Bill Clinton once quipped:

In every Presidential election, Democrats want to fall in love. Republicans just fall in line.