OBAMA “OUTRAGED AND SADDENED” about Jeremiah Wright: “His comments were not only divisive … but I believe that they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate . . . . Whatever relationship I had with Reverend Wright has changed as a consequence of this.”

Too little, too late, and too lawyerly (“whatever relationship I had”?). And as I said yesterday, I don’t see that Wright has changed. People are just noticing. But is Obama just now noticing?

UPDATE: Jim Geraghty: “You buy that?”

ANOTHER UPDATE: TalkLeft: “Obama throws Wright under the bus.”

And here’s more on the “too lawyerly” front. And, from the comments: “Discussion of this issue might abate, and Obama’s supporters might confuse that for successful management of the problem, but the reality is, the damage has been done and it can’t be undone.”

MORE: Somebody’s polling Wright in North Carolina.

STILL MORE: Here’s a transcript of Obama’s remarks.

MORE STILL: Obama’s statement was good enough for Andrew Sullivan: “It makes me want to see him succeed more than ever.” (Via Political Wire).