From Hank:

Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 7:36 AM
To: 'letters@nytimes.com'
Subject: To The Editor

“Mr. Obama and Rev. Wright” – Editorial – April 30, 2008

Barack Obama’s statement yesterday put an end to the controversy created by the incendiary words of Jeremiah Wright. The saddest part of this entire sordid mess is that Wright had the power, by shutting up or simply apologizing for his earlier anti-American remarks, to have tipped the scales in favor of Obama over Clinton for the nomination of their party. This little known pastor, by saying nothing, had more power than Martin Luther King, more power than any African American man in recorded history, because his words, or lack thereof, may well have given Obama the presidency.

As you say, the country needs an open discussion of race. Who do we think is better prepared to lead that discussion? McCain, Clinton or Obama?

Henry A. Lowenstein