There are some things you think you really want to get deep into, only to realize that, upon further examination, they don't deserve as much as you planned to put into them.
For instance, I had figured I'd write this long column trying to decipher the nuances of Cornel West's recent statement criticizing Barack Obama for not showing up in Memphis last weekend for the anniversary of King's death.
But then I realized this didn't deserve all that. Rhetorically, this deserves nothing more than the one-hitter quitter.
Why? Because, with all due respect, Dr. West was just plain wrong. In scolding Obama for choosing to continue his historic quest for the White House by campaigning in Indiana, Dr. West accused Sen. Obama of subjugating King's commitment to "strategies for access to power." He closed by saying that "commitment to truth is in tension with the quest for power."
Please. Do you really think that Dr. King would rather have Obama laying wreaths rather than do all he could to win the Democratic nomination? And since when does laying a wreath translate into a "commitment to truth??" Bush lays a wreath and suddenly he's committed to Dr. King's dream?
Naw, I ain't think so.
I respect Dr. West immensely and, like most good radicals, certainly have my own nagging questions about Sen. Obama's willingness to embrace a truly progressive agenda (although I openly support him). I could go on and on about how Dr. West is right about a lot of things.
All there is to say about this one, though, is that he was dead ass wrong.
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