A Few Obama Thank-Yous

Wright, Obama's former pastor, may have fulfilled that wise saying. Without Wright's fiery and controversial sermons, short segments of which were repeatedly aired in the media, Obama would not have delivered his "A More Perfect Union" speech in Philadelphia.

The whole affair allowed Obama to address head-on the elephant in the room -- race. Obama did it with candor and a sensitivity that reflected an insightful understanding of this American dilemma. It was a rare and reassuring performance by a presidential hopeful.

· The U.S. Secret Service. The number of threats against Obama is kept confidential, but I'm reliably told it is huge. It's no secret that there are people who would harm him if they could. That Obama is on his way to the White House is a tribute to the men and women who, 24-7, put their lives and limbs between him and harm. They can't be thanked enough.

· Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity. As a motivational strategy, coaches often post in locker rooms any nasty pre-game comments made by opposing players. O'Reilly and Hannity gave to Obama supporters plenty of fighting words.

Night after night, Hannity and O'Reilly, courtesy of their prime-time cable broadcasts, found new ways to get the juices of the Obama faithful flowing. The Fox channel was the bulletin board that conveyed the ugly remarks that motivated Obama's supporters to hand out more literature, work the phones, canvass door to door and vote by the millions.

· Katie Couric. A thank-you note from Obama might embarrass the CBS News anchor, since her interviews with GOP vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin was strictly a journalistic pursuit and not an effort to boost the Democratic presidential ticket.

The Couric-Palin interviews, though hardly the equivalent of the Wall Street meltdown, were excruciating to watch. They sent McCain's claim to good judgment up in flames.

Perhaps a thank-you note to Couric isn't in order. But a knowing smile the next time Obama sees her might do the trick.