Pat Dollard | Young Americans

Using a wife like this to try distance yourself from black radicalism and stereotypical anti-Americanism is probably not the best of ideas…you can check the video here…

Chicago Tribune:

INDIANAPOLIS - Sen. Barack Obama sought Wednesday to regain control of his campaign narrative, as he and his wife reminded voters that the Illinois Democrat is the one running for office, not Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr.

A day after angrily breaking from his Chicago pastor, Obama pushed an economic message, talking about jobs and gas prices, touring a metal manufacturing company and packing a university arena as he so often does.

But it remained clear that Wright and his controversial statements in sermons and to the media were still a top issue among Obama’s opponents and even some of his supporters.

With critical presidential primaries Tuesday in Indiana and North Carolina, Sen. Hillary Clinton spoke out on the Wright matter for the first time since it re-erupted following several high-profile appearances in recent days by the pastor.

“I think it’s offensive and outrageous,” the former first lady said in a Fox News interview with Bill O’Reilly.

“People have to, you know, decide what they believe,” she said, before alluding to one of Wright’s more controversial suggestions. “I sure don’t believe the United States government was behind AIDS.”

Even without Clinton’s mention, it was clear Obama would continue to be burdened by Wright, someone he said he believes is distracting the electorate from more important topics.

“You have been forced to basically turn your back on someone who had been a good friend for a long time,” Marc Bilodeau, an Indianapolis economics professor and Obama supporter asked during a small-group event under a park pavilion. “I wonder if you could tell us how much a toll this takes on you.”

Appearing at his side, Michelle Obama emphasized that her husband should not be judged by the words or actions of others.

“If anybody looks over the course of this year, you won’t have a question about who Barack is,” she said. “He has been very consistent, not just this year, but throughout his entire life.”

Michelle Obama, who conducted several interviews during the day, also offered her familiar refrain about wishing he was in another line of work.

“I’m the cynic in the family. This is the hope guy,” she said. “I’ve spent my life trying to convince him not to be a politician. It’s like teach, write, sing, dance. I don’t care what you do. Just don’t do this. These people are mean.”

The Obamas typically split up on the campaign trail to cover more ground. But Robert Gibbs, Obama’s communications director, said the joint trip had been in the works for close to a week and was not related to the Wright situation.

For his part, Obama said his statement against Wright was “hard to make” but that he hopes his campaign can now move forward.

“What we want to do now, though, is to make sure that this doesn’t continue to be a perpetual distraction,” Obama said. “It is true that part of the job when you’re running for president is that anybody who is tangentially, you know, even remotely, associated with you is somehow fair game.”

Obama said it is “unfortunate” that is the case, although he understands it is part of the process.

“We don’t really go vet them and find out all the terrible things they might have done … or what they said, to see if it’s politically correct.”

Obama suggested the Wright controversy is getting in the way of solving problems.

“This campaign is not about me,” he said. “It’s not about John McCain. It’s not about Hillary Clinton. It’s about you.”

Obama’s campaign tried to show momentum by announcing the support of three superdelegates, while Clinton’s campaign unveiled two. Since early March, Obama has easily led her in new support among party leaders and elected officials.

In their remarks and new television advertising, the two also continued to spar over gas prices and whether there should be a summer holiday on federal gas taxes.

Both candidates addressed the topic at stops and in interviews, but it is the Clinton campaign that has seized on it the hardest in the belief that it has found a tangible pocketbook issue with the white, blue-collar voters who backed her in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Obama opposes the tax holiday because he believes it would hurt the nation’s road and bridge infrastructure and not reduce dependence on oil.

Still, with Obama talking about increased conservation at almost every stop, the timing seemed ill-advised for his campaign’s latest fundraising gimmick: a “limited edition” Vote for Change car magnet in exchange for a $15 donation.

The Obama campaign also filed a complaint with federal election officials over ads attacking him that are being run by a group called the American Leadership Project.

Obama campaign lawyer Robert Bauer told reporters the group has shown a pattern in Pennsylvania and Indiana of “illegal” activity. Asked how he knows the group is trying to boost Clinton, Bauer said there is “nothing on the record that suggests any other purpose.”