Obama The Ultimate Anti-Semite - Still Spinning

From Jake Tapper we get this:

In Levittown, Penn., today, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, was asked about his church's magazine giving an award to Rev. Louis Farrakhan.

ABC News' Sunlen Miller has more about the town hall questioning HERE.

"This was done by a magazine that was connected to the church," Obama explained. "I would have never done it. It was primary focused on the rehabilitation work that they do for ex-offenders in Chicago. That doesn’t excuse it, that just explains it."

Obama reminded the crowd that he'd denounced his church’s praise of Farrakhan, saying, "I’ve been very clear about saying that was wrong. And nobody has spoken out more fiercely on the issue of anti- Semitism than I have."

The notion that the farakhan award was focused on his rehabilitation work was the Obama campaign's original response when this broke in January; it was spin then, and it is still spin.

Here is what Wright said about the award:

"When Minister Farrakhan speaks, Black America listens," says the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, likening the Minister’s influence to the E. F. Hutton commercials of old. “Everybody may not agree with him, but they listen… His depth on analysis when it comes to the racial ills of this nation is astounding and eye opening. He brings a perspective that is helpful and honest. "Minister Farrakhan will be remembered as one of the 20th and 21st century giants of the African American religious experience," continues Wright. "His integrity and honesty have secured him a place in history as one of the nation’s most powerful critics. His love for Africa and African American people has made him an unforgettable force, a catalyst for change and a religious leader who is sincere about his faith and his purpose." (emphasis added)

I don't see the bit about rehabilitation work, so I am having a hard time believing it was the primary motivation. 

It may be that somewhere such a connection is made by whomever presented the award, but when I read the available portions of the Wright interview describing the award in Trumper magazine (now off-line) there was no support for the rehabilitation argument.

Comments

[Lesley]

Yesterday, I was listening to the Michael Medved radio program. Mr. Medved had heard the rumor that Barak Obama was considering Michael Bloomberg as a running mate.

Two reasons were given:

(1) If Bloomberg is wealthy enough to have considered spending an half a billion dollars of his own money on a (tentative) Presidential run, he might be willing to spend a quarter of a billion of his own money on a Vice Presidential run.

(2) An Obama/Bloomberg ticket would reaffirm the historic black/Jewish Civil Rights alliance and help to make Obama more palatable to Jewish voters.

[Anon]

And nobody has spoken out more fiercely on the issue of anti- Semitism than I have.

Obama fiercely anti-semitic since 2007...

Speak fiercely to those Iranians why don't cha Obama but carry a weeeeee little schtick.

They'll appreciate the schtick-gets 'em every time.

[Anon]

Damn it that would have worked better this way-

....*but do it with a little schtick*....

[Elliott]

Didn't Obama take part in Farrakhan's D.C. march?

[Neo]

Obama seems to have opened a "Pandoras Box" with the Jews.

[Anon]

How about we put that quote of Obama's through the truth warp...

What he really is saying is-

No one wants to talk to the most fiecrely anti-semitic as badly as I do.

[DebinNC]

"Didn't Obama take part in Farrakhan's D.C. march?"
Yes, he did

I'd forgotten the NAACP didn't endorse the march.

[Appalled Moderate]

TM:

It looks like TM the headline writer has distorted the article of TM the blogger. There is nothing in what you write that supports calling Obama an anti-semite. Yet you go and do it in your headline. Maybe I'm being obtuse today, but there's nothing about that header that even suggests you're being ironic. For the record, Obama has condemned anti-semiism in the black community a number of times, most notably in his speech at Ebeneezer Baptist in Atlanta for MLK Day.

Frankly, the guilt by association stuff only goes so far. I do want more about Obama's intellectual evolution from a position of comfort with the likes of someone like Wright, to where he is today. I think something that he has taken out of liberation
theology has an influence on his thought -- and I'd like to know more about that. But, really, this electon will be about what Obama has done and what he might do, rather than some of the frogs Obama has kissed along the way. I'm not saying move on, TM, just yet. But with this last headline, TM, you might want to think about where this line of argument is starting to take you.

I think you had more fun when the guy you could criticize was John Kerry. Eh?

[Anon]

The Chicago Observer has a google cache of the interview with Reverend Wright on Farakhan at this link-

Who's Scrubbing The trinity United Church of Christ Website

[boris]

nothing about that header that even suggests you're being ironic ...

Eye of the beholder, or bescolder perhaps. The word Ultimate has an ironic twist to me.

[Anon]

Appalled Moderate-

If you look at the quote that TM cites I think he just mistitled the post..

Blogging is like that, there is not an editor and mistakes happen.

I'm pretty sure TM meant to title it- something to the effect-

Obama the Ultimate Anti-Semite Fighter.

[Anon]

Better-

Obama the Ultimate Anti-Semite Wrestler...

of course he's crowned himself champion, but Hillary might want to mudwrestle him for it.

[bgates]

AM, it's not "guilt by association", it's "association by association". Obama has chosen to associate with lots of people who are passionate about views most Americans find reprehensible. That is what he has done. The campaign has produced no one who says, "I used to really dislike [some class of people], but Obama showed me a better way." Instead we get claims that Obama wasn't aware of Wright's statements. This is not as unbelievable as a guy saying he didn't know Paul McCartney had a band before 'Wings', it's as unbelievable as George Harrison saying he didn't know McCartney had a band before 'Wings'.

If Obama is less fun to make fun of than Kerry, it's only because it feels less sporting because he's a much easier target.

[Anon]

Damn Instapundit has-

"Top Anti-Semite Crusader"...

heh.

[DebinNC]

Rev. Wright rehabilitation tour, Detroit, April 27. link

Invited by Rev. Wendell Anthony, who says of Wright, "Rev. Wright has challenged the nation, challenged our comfort zone and stimulated nation-wide discussions on the issues of how we must move forward together as both a nation and a people. We look forward to his participation here in the city of Detroit,".. liink

I wonder who was originally scheduled to give the keynote address?

[Rick Ballard]

There might be another missing "anti" in the headline. That makes me think of antidisestablishmentarianism for some reason. I wish that had carried the day....

[Porchlight]

DebinNC, I wonder if Wright has been the scheduled speaker all along and they just tried to keep it quiet for as long as possible.

[Sara]

antidisestablishmentarianism

LOL. I once won the grand prize for spelling this word. I was in the 6th grade.

[LindaK]

The guilt by association evidence is piling up.
1. Friends of a former PLO operative Rashid Khalidi.
2. Long-time association with Tony Rezko, who's sugar daddy turns out to be Nadhmi Auchi, a wealthy Iraqi now living in London, who was Saddam's main arms supplier and who was involved in the oil for food and Elf scandals. BTW, Auchi lent $3.5 mm to Rezko, who had negative cash flow, a couple of weeks before Mrs. Rezko bought the lot next to BHO's mansion.
3. William Ayers
4. Jeremiah Wright

Do you think that a there are America haters out there, both US and foreign, who are laughing at US voters embrace one of their own as America's savior? Probably an extreme view, but...

[Daddy]

The Audacity of Hype.

[DebinNC]

DebinNC, I wonder if Wright has been the scheduled speaker all along and they just tried to keep it quiet for as long as possible.

It's odd they would make this announcement two weeks before the event, unless the speaker was scheduled much earlier. Still, I suspect Obama's polling has shown some back-tracking damage control from Wright is necessary before PA and IN.

[Danube of Thought]

I haven't seen a single accusation of any kind of "guilt" on Obama's part. Ronald Reagan would not have been guilty of anything if he'd had a 20-year association with David Duke, but it would have precluded his election, and rightfully so. If John McCain had had a 20-year association with Pat Robertson, he wouldn't have been guilty of anything, butthe thunder-machines of the MSM would have torpedoed his candidacy before it began--and rightfully so.

[DebinNC]

From the Detroit NAACP: "Beginning with Thurgood Marshall as the first keynote speaker, the Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner has brought to its platform a virtual constellation of distinguished speakers and entertainers, among them, Barbara Jordan, Roy Wilkins, Howard Thurman, Senator Edward Brooks, U.S. Assistant Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach, Governor Mario Cuomo, Senator Ted Kennedy, Chief Justice Earl Warren, Joint Chief of Staff, Chairman, General Colin Powell, Ron Brown, Kweisi Mfume, Lee Iaccoca, Sammy Davis, Jr., Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, Dick Gregory, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Vice President Al Gore, President Bill Clinton, Danny Glover, Julian Bond,Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Barack Obama, Manning Marable, and Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee."

I wonder how many pastors, if any, are among the previous keynote speakers?

[bgates]

Obama has picked up endorsements from less controversial Democrats. Are they also meaningless, AM? Surely if the mere fact that Obama and various unsavory characters choose to associate with each other and speak well of each other can't work to Obama's detriment, neither could endorsements from anyone work to his credit?

[GMax]

I wonder who was originally scheduled to give the keynote address?

Kwame Kilpatrick? Elliot Spitzer? Freezer Jefferson?

[GMax]

Look at that list btw. The only Republican on the list Senator Edward Brooks.

OH I record my surprise when the moderate among is once again on the hustings for the Glib Lib. Is there any moderate a moderate would support?

[PeterUK]

"I do want more about Obama's intellectual evolution from a position of comfort with the likes of someone like Wright, to where he is today."

I don't know where to begin,so much can happen in a couple of months.

[Rick Ballard]

"so much can happen in a couple of months"

Ain't it the truth. This innertubes thingy has changed everthing. Why, I've heard that there are even Red Witch false flaggers who do nothing but post anti-BHO links all day long.

Who'd a thunk such a thing possible? That's as bad as one of those whales cruisn' through.

[PeterUK]

"Red Witch false flaggers who do nothing but post anti-BHO links all day long."

Or Familiars as they are called here.

[centralcal]

Soledad Obrien (CNN) will be the introducer/announcer at the NAACP event.

[old maltese]

Edward Brooks? It was Edward Brooke. Somebody can't spelle.

[LogicalSC]

"Obama's intellectual evolution from a position of comfort with the likes of someone like Wright, to where he is today"

What do you mean? There has been no evolution? That is more of the same wishful thinking just like his entire campaign where he says nothing and the kool-aide drinkers believe he told them whatever they wanted to hear.

The man donated 27K to Wright just two years ago and gave him a spot on his campaign last year. All evidence points to Obama holding the exact same beliefs, where is all this supposed evidence that he doesn't? Have you listened to his wife?

The scales have a hundred pound gorilla on the left as guilty and a peanut on the right and here comes a kool-aide drinker: Appalled "Moderate" cooing about some evolution.

Equation:
Left:
Pastor: anti-semitic racist..check
Wife: anti-american racist...check
Obama's book all about his dislike of whites...check
Right:
"Purdy Words"...

Appalled "Moderate" sz all the pretty words overshadow Obama life of 20 yrs.

[SteveMG]

Palate cleanser (aka OT):

Even hookers can have their dreams fulfilled: Link.

Only in America.

Okay, and about 87 other countries outside the Muslim world.

[LogicalSC]

"The Audacity of Hype."

I like:

The Audacity of Hate.
or
The Hate-Talk Express

[windansea]

But, really, this electon will be about what Obama has done and what he might do, rather than some of the frogs Obama has kissed along the way.

no, this election will be about a race baiting do nothing vs an actual patriot

I'm not saying move on, TM, just yet.

no? gee that's so nice of you, your blog must get 15 hits a day easy, how gracious of you to tell TM not just yet....:)

[ben]

"But, really, this electon will be about what Obama has done and what he might do, rather than some of the frogs Obama has kissed along the way."

This is a pretty funny statement, considering Obama's lack of real accomplishments, his own surrogates have trouble coming up with any. (what Obama has done) So we have a racist, anti-American candidate who at best tolerates anti-semitism, at worst concurs with it.(the frogs). So that leaves "what he might do". Now there is an abyss you might consider not jumping into.

[Jim Miller]

". . . this elect[i]on will be about what Obama has done . . ."

You may be interested in an experiment that I ran last fall on Sound Politics. I asked supporters of the three leading Democratic candidates, Clinton, Edwards, and Obama, to give me a column to post on what their candidate had accomplished, as a political figure. In effect, I was offering the supporters of the three candidates a chance to put up a free ad on one of the most widely read political blogs in Washington state.

No one took me up on the offer. None of the three candidates had a single supporter, in this area, who were willing to say what their candidate had accomplished. And there are lots of Obama and Clinton supporters in the Seattle area.

(I am going to reopen the offer soon, this time for just Clinton and Obama supporters. For the record, I don't think it is an impossible task for either candidate, though I do think it would be impossible to do it for Edwards.)

[kim]

The mendacity of hype.
==============

[Danube of Thought]

Jim, I'm sure you've seen some of the assembled clips of various Obama supporters asked at his rallies just what it is that he has done that they like. You get a series of mumbles surrounding the words "hope" and "change" that would make the average Valley Girl seem quite articulate.

I realize that there are many millions of people who, as of today, actually believe that the American people will elect this man to the presidency, and confer on his wife the title of First Lady of the United States. Every one of those people is living in a dream world. It will not happen.

[JB]

It will be interesting to see how much Barackovich tacks to the center after the nomination. Might it be useful to begin defining him as a stealth neocon at this stage?

[PeterUK]

"So we have a racist, anti-American candidate who at best tolerates anti-semitism, "

Perhaps it's because Jews are white?

[GMax]

PUK

You are mistaken. Rev Wright quite clearly told me Jesus was black, and therefore I believe it. And I am sure Jesus was a Jew, So there you have it. Its got nothing to do with race. QED

[Rick Ballard]

Jesus was Sammy Davis Jr.?

Who knew?

[GMax]

NO the Chairman of the Board quite clearly informed us many years ago that Sammy "used to " be black. Please try to keep all this straight.

[DebinNC]

I saw at Hot Air Obama launches new blog in Hebrew and thought it was a spoof. It's not.

"The blog’s content will be written in English by Obama’s campaign staff, and will then be translated into Hebrew."

Was there ever a more unauthentic, packaged candidate than Barack Obama?

[Ranger]

"The blog’s content will be written in English by Obama’s campaign staff, and will then be translated into Hebrew."

So, I take it he has learned quite a lot from his Palestinian friends. He will be able to say one thing to them in English while saying something completely controdictory to the Jewish community in Hebrew, that his Palestinian friends won't know anything about, and couldn't read even if they wanted to.

[PeterUK]

Sorry,I went to Sunday School,I've seen the pictures,and I've been in Catholic churches,all the ones I've seen were pale guys.

[GMax]

Keep it up and you will be banned from all Afro-Centric Churches in the Northern Hemisphere, not just those in the Chicago area.

[PeterUK]

What do I have to do to get banned from the rest?

[GMax]

LOL I give up you are incorrigible. The PC police will be along shortly to deal with you.

[Neo]

"You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them," Obama said. "And they fell through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

So what is Obama's excuse for 2 out of 5 reasons ?

[Neo]

"antipathy to people who aren't like them"

... or is that 3 out of 5 ?

[M. Simon]

AM should be renamed BM. For Bitter Moderate.

BTW I learned a new acronym today.

WORM.

What
Obama
Really
Meant

[M. Simon]

If Obama is less fun to make fun of than Kerry, it's only because it feels less sporting because he's a much easier target.

Ain't it the truth.

We will do our best under such trying circumstances.

[Howard]

I WANT A PRESIDENT WHO REPRESENTS ALL AMERICANS

Here is Pastor Wright's 'Black Value System'
posted at his website. This is what Barak Obama
pledged an oath to for the past 20 years:
http://www.tucc.org/black_value_system.html

Pastor Wright gave Louis Farakan a life time
achievement award. Here is what Louis Farakan believes:
Posted at his own website.
http://www.noi.org/muslim_program.htm

[battery]

thank you

[sophy]

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