Byron York has good analysis in National Review Online

That, not Wright’s wide-ranging social theories, is what forced Obama to denounce Wright at a hastily arranged news conference Tuesday. By questioning Obama’s honesty, Wright was striking at the heart of the Obama campaign. The most damaging thing Wright could ever say is that he knows, based on his long personal relationship with Obama, that Obama agrees with him but can’t say so publicly for political reasons. Put another way, if voters believe that Obama fundamentally rejects Wright’s views, they might question Obama’s judgment in remaining close to Wright for 20 years. But if voters believe that Obama secretly agrees with Wright but is putting on another face to win an election, then all is lost. “People could ask why somebody with good judgment would take so long to do this,” a Democratic strategist told me Monday night. “But that’s certainly better than the subtext being that Obama is an angry black man, because if he’s an angry black man, then he simply cannot win, period.”

It’s a Democrat contortionist’s nightmare, and a Republican strategist’s Utopia. Obama’s greatest asset - his credibility - has been challenged in a most distructive way. He has had tried to have it both ways, and in the effort, has shown himself nothing more than an average politician, rising above absolutely nothing. The hope (sic “hype”) is dead. Long live the reality.

Not to say I don’t appreciate larger-than-life political leaders. We néed more of them, but Barack Obama never was in that class. He gave a good speech or two, rested on his laurels, and attempted to fly-over the Wright controvery as if his level of accountability rose above that of a mere mortal’s. His mentor is an unapologetic leftist, no different than the padowan Obama, but the learner has refused to pitch his true colors as part of his presidential campaign. He is being forced to decide. And in his speech yesterday, finally decrying Wright as a nut job, has left thinking people wondering what Obama is really about anyway.

Barack Obama has confirmed the old canard about a star that shines twice as bright lasts for half as long. In his case, his brightness was inflated by a complicit cheap-date media. Now we see him for what he is - a lightweight. I do hope he wins the nomination.