memeorandum: Barack Obama Agrees with Reverend Jeremiah Wright (Rocco DiPippo/THE AUTONOMIST)

12:10 AM ET, March 16, 2008

Top Items:

The story behind the story: Obama's pastor — Politicians know a troublesome story has “broken through” the Eastern media echo chamber when Jay Leno is laughing at them. — In the case of the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., retiring pastor and outgoing spiritual adviser to Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), it took less than 48 hours.

Discussion: Fox News, Pat Dollard, NO QUARTER, Gateway Pundit, Sweetness & Light, Macsmind, Clive Crook, Liberal Values and The Carpetbagger Report

Mark Halperin / The Page:

Obama's Remarks at Plainfield, Indiana Town Hall — Town Hall Meeting at Plainfield High School, (Plainfield, Indiana) — Let me just close my initial remarks by talking about bringing this country together. You know, Bobby Kennedy gave one of his most — gave one of his most famous speeches on a dark night in Indianapolis.

Discussion: JustOneMinute and Commentary

Allahpundit / Hot Air:

Obama in Indiana: “[T]he forces of division have started to raise their ugly heads again” — A reference to Wright? Doubtful — the ugly-head-raising he has in mind has been happening “over the last several weeks,” a timeline which would seem to point away from kindly Rev. Jeremiah and towards ... who?

Gerald Posner / The Huffington Post:

Rev Wright and Barack — I am a Barack Obama supporter. I liked Senator John Edwards, think Hilary Clinton would make a super president, but have been persuaded ever since the start of the campaign that Barack offers the greatest chance for substantive, and greatly over needed, change.

Discussion: Political Punch, A Tiny Revolution and Hot Air

Rocco DiPippo / THE AUTONOMIST:
Barack Obama Agrees with Reverend Jeremiah Wright

Discussion: Hot Air, Gateway Pundit, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS, The Caucus, American Power, Atlas Shrugs, NO QUARTER and RADAMISTO

Mike Glover / Associated Press:

Obama expands delegate lead over Clinton — DES MOINES, Iowa - Democrat Barack Obama expanded his fragile lead in delegates over rival Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday, picking up at least seven delegates as Iowa activists took the next step in picking delegates to the national convention.

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, TalkLeft, TPM Election Central, American Street, Donklephant and The Reaction

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:

Obama's gains — A pretty stunning gain out of Iowa for Obama, where an Iowa Democratic official confirmed to me just now that the county convention results will translate into a 25-14-6 edge for Obama over Clinton and Edwards. — That's a gain of nine for the Illinois Senator …

Discussion: Eschaton, The Jed Report and 2008 Democratic …

Chuck Todd / MSNBC:

Iowa update — From NBC's Chuck Todd — We have final delegate allocation estimates directly from the Iowa Democratic Party based on today's 99 county conventions. The results, Obama indeed did gain 7 delegates to up his total from 16 (earned on Jan. 3) to 23 now.

Discussion: The Field, 2008 Democratic …, The Page and MyDD

Hillary Clinton / Associated Press: Pelosi: Superdelegates may do damage

Alegre / Daily Kos:

Writers Strike at DailyKos — This is an open letter to the progressive blogosphere... I've been posting at DailyKos for nearly 4 years now and started writing diaries in support of Hillary Clinton back in June of last year. Over the past few months I've noticed that things …

Discussion: Gateway Pundit, American Power, Don Surber, The Mahablog, Centerpoint Review, Pat Dollard, The Confluence, American Street, NYCweboy, BlueOregon, Political Byline, skippy the bush kangaroo, Sister Toldjah and JammieWearingFool

Sarah Wheaton / The Caucus:
Blogtalk: Pro-Clinton Bloggers Boycott Kos

Discussion: protein wisdom, The Confluence and TownHall Blog

Joe Gandelman / The Moderate Voice:
Daily Kos “Bloggers' Strike” Shows Increasingly Bitter Obama Clinton Democratic Rift

Discussion: Jon Swift

Dotcomabc / Political Punch:
Clinton-Obama War Creates Serious Tensions at DailyKos

Discussion: Tom Watson and Roger L. Simon

Marc Ambinder:
Pro-Hillary Writers “On Strike” At DailyKos

Discussion: Right Wing Nut House, The BRAD BLOG, NO QUARTER, Liberal Values and PoliGazette

John Kass / Chicago Tribune:

Obama opens up on Rezko, and it's almost believable — Barack Obama looked me straight in the eye. I heard him speak. Yet unlike some other pundits, I felt no thrill going up my leg. — I did feel a twinge of Rezko, though, and figured Obama could feel it, too, like when the bottom …

Discussion: URGENT AGENDA, Chicago Sun Times and Rezko Watch

New York Times:

For Democrats, Increased Fears of a Long Fight — WASHINGTON — Lacking a clear route to the selection of a Democratic presidential nominee, the party's uncommitted superdelegates say they are growing increasingly concerned about the risks of a prolonged fight between Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton …

Discussion: TalkLeft and Prairie Weather

Andy Borowitz / The Huffington Post:

Obama Converts to Judaism — Buffeted by criticism of his controversial Christian pastor while continuing to quell rumors that he is a Muslim, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill) took a bold step today to settle questions about his religious faith once and for all. — “I am converting to Judaism …

Zogby:

Zogby Poll: McCain Bests Both Obama, Clinton in 3-Way General Election Tests — Independent candidate Ralph Nader wins 5%, taking more support from Democrats — UTICA, New York - Riding high after locking up his party's presidential nomination, Republican John McCain of Arizona has moved ahead …

Discussion: MyDD

New York Times:

A Wall Street Domino Theory — The Federal Reserve's unusual decision to provide emergency assistance to Bear Stearns underscores a long-building concern that one failure could spread across the financial system. — Wall Street firms like Bear Stearns conduct business with many individuals …

Discussion: Crooked Timber and QandO