n　a　particularly　divisive　turn。

On　one　end　of　the　spectrum；　we've　heard　the　implication　that　my　candidacy　is　somehow　an　exercise　in　affirmative　action；　that　it's　based　solely　on　the　desire　of　wide…eyed　liberals　to　purchase　racial　reconciliation　on　the　cheap。　On　the　other　end；　we've　heard　my　former　pastor；　Reverend　Jeremiah　Wright；　use　incendiary　language　to　express　views　that　have　the　potential　not　only　to　widen　the　racial　divide；　but　views　that　denigrate　both　the　greatness　and　the　goodness　of　our　nation；　that　rightly　offend　white　and　black　alike。

I　have　already　condemned；　in　unequivocal　terms；　the　statements　of　Reverend　Wright　that　have　caused　such　controversy。　For　some；　nagging　questions　remain。　Did　I　know　him　to　be　an　occasionally　fierce　critic　of　American　domestic　and　foreign　policy？　Of　course。　Did　I　ever　hear　him　make　remarks　that　could　be　considered　controversial　while　I　sat　in　church？　Yes。　Did　I　strongly　disagree　with　many　of　his　political　views？　Absolutely　…　just　as　I'm　sure　many　of　you　have　heard　remarks　from　your　pastors；　priests；　or　rabbis　with　which　you　strongly　disagreed。

But　the　remarks　that　have　caused　this　recent　firestorm　weren't　simply　controversial。　They　weren't　simply　a　religious　leader's　effort　to　speak　out　against　perceived　injustice。　Instead；　they　expressed　a　profoundly　distorted　view　of　this　country　…　a　view　that　sees　white　racism　as　endemic；　and　that　elevates　what　is　wrong　with　America　above　all　that　we　know　is　right　with　America。