The Charles Freeman fiasco shows why Obama's "spiritual mentor" mattered.

Best of the Web Today: The Wright Stuff - WSJ.com

By JAMES TARANTO

A year ago, Barack Obama was running for president and people were starting to pay attention to his "spiritual mentor," Jeremiah Wright. Obama tried to have it every way: He claimed he had no idea about Wright's crackpot ravings, which of course he did not agree with, but he proclaimed his personal loyalty to a man he portrayed as merely eccentric and avuncular. Months later, when this approach was no longer political tenable, Obama threw Wright under the bus, as the vivid campaign metaphor had it.