CLEVELAND, OHIO - Not all endorsements are welcome on the presidential campaign.
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama sought to distance himself on Monday from praise showered on him by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
“Senator Obama has been clear in his objections to Minister Farrakhan’s past pronouncements and has not solicited the minister’s support,” Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.
Obama was more explicit, telling WOAI radio in San Antonio: “I have been very clear in denouncing Minister Farrakhan’s anti-Semitic messages. But I can’t prevent people from saying nice things about me. Some of them I welcome, some I don’t, but it’s a free country.”
Obama, who has become the front-runner in the race for the Democratic U.S. presidential nomination, has long fought a whispering campaign from fringe elements that say erroneously he is a Muslim — one more reason support from Farrakhan was unlikely to be welcome.
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
Photo credit REUTERS/John Summers II (Obama makes a campaign speech in Cincinnati, Ohio, Feb. 25, 2008)
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Farrakhan is a very outspoken figure in the black community and he is revered by its poorest members as someone who can lift them out of their economic predicament by encouraging discipline, self-sufficiency and small business ownership. Some black leaders, while openly distancing themselves from Farrakhan, find it difficult to repudiate him in the strongest of terms for fear that their supporters and constituents may view them as not having the interest of poor black people in heart. Other black leaders vehemently oppose the message and rhetoric of Farrakhan and find themselves under the close scrutiny of the poor blacks and an increasing number of middle-class blacks who are waiting for any signs of possibly “selling out.” There are only a few black leaders that find the middle ground to be more advantageous in building bridges and bringing people together. What the American people, and black people included, need is progressive leadership, black and white. Senator Obama is in this category. That was his campaign is all about!
- Posted by AnnaAh I see: if Obama strongly denies being a Muslim than he is a bigot. If he doesn’t deny it strongly he is a “radical jihadist.”
Both suggestions are equally absurd slander and detract from the real issues. Ironically, one of the main reasons that he has attracted such excitement is that he doesn’t engage in this type of dirty political nonsense. I voted for him in Maryland, and will proudly be voting for him come November.
- Posted by A.SmithsonOh, and by the way, Luther, white people (or any other race or ethnic group, for that matter) don’t appreciate being called “easily manipulated assh*les, any more than you would appreciate being called a racist epithet. Your racism is showing, and it’s not pretty.
- Posted by FredI wasn’t aware that Charles Manson was the Beatles’ mentor and spiritual advisor. I don’t blame you for shunning their music if this is the case. Well, you learn something new every day.
- Posted by FredI used to listen to the Beatles until I found out that Charles Manson enjoyed their music! I’m not a moron - I stopped listening to the Beatles immediately! Same thing with the Everly Brothers! George W Bush said ‘Wake Up Little Suzie’ was his all time favorite song! I’m not an imbecile - I immediately threw out all my Everly Brothers records! And now Farrakhan supports Obama! Well, no one can call me an repugnantly idiotic jackass - I immediately stopped supporting Barack Obama!
Apparently, Mr Obama is unfamilair with the fact that most white people are easily manipulated assh*les. I don’t know how he thinks he’s going to get elected unless he jumps when they spit out their breathtakingly mindless stupidity!
- Posted by Luther BrixtonThis story really bothers me about Senator Obama.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Follow the Money: Klein: Obama raised funds for Islamic causes
Aaron Klein wrote in the February 25, 2008, WorldNetDaily that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) “has spoken at fundraisers for Palestinians living in what the United Nations terms refugee camps, WND has learned.”
Palestinians have long demanded the “right of return” for millions of “refugees,” a formula Israeli officials across the political spectrum warn is code for Israel’s destruction by flooding the Jewish state with millions of Muslim Arabs, thereby changing its demographics.
In a conference call last month with Jewish and Israeli media aimed primarily at dispelling Internet reports he is anti-Israel, Obama stated “Palestinian refugees” belong in their own state and do not have a “literal” right of return to Israel.
“We cannot move forward until there is some confidence that the Palestinians are able to provide the security apparatus that would prevent constant attacks against Israel from taking place,” continued Obama during the conference with Jewish journalists.
However, Klein wrote, “in the 1990s Obama was a speaker at events in Chicago’s large Palestinian immigrant community to raise funds for U.N. camps for the so-called Palestinian refugees.”
Ali Abunimah, a Chicago-based Palestinian-American activist and co-founder of Electronic Intifada, a pro-Palestinian online publication, recalls introducing Obama at one such event, a 1999 fundraiser for the Deheisha Palestinian camp in the West Bank.
Abunimah is also a harsh critic of Israel and has protested outside pro-Israel events in the Chicago area.
“I knew Barack Obama for many years as my state senator - when he used to attend events in the Palestinian community in Chicago all the time,” stated Abuminah during an interview last month with Democracy Now!, a nationally syndicated radio and television political program.
“I remember personally introducing [Obama] onstage in 1999, when we had a major community fundraiser for the community center in Deheisha refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. And that’s just one example of how Barack Obama used to be very comfortable speaking up for and being associated with Palestinian rights and opposing the Israeli occupation,” Abunimah said.
Abunimah also was recently quoted saying that until a few years ago, Obama was “quite frank that the U.S. needed to be more evenhanded, that it leaned too much toward Israel.”
Abunimah noted Obama’s unusual stance toward Israel, commenting “these were the kind of statements I’d never heard from a U.S. politician who seemed like he was going somewhere, rather than at the end of his career.”
Abunimah was also present at an Obama fundraiser “at the home of Columbia University professor Rashid Khalidi, reportedly a former PLO activist.”
Klein reported that “Obama’s campaign headquarters did not reply to an e-mail request seeking comment on his fundraising activities for Palestinians.”
Read the rest of the article here
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- Posted by Greg LennesThis is a lot more than just an endorsement from the racist Jew-hater Farrakhan (who has referred to whites as “blue-eyed devils,” his “mortal enemy,” the “Anti-Christ,” and not quite human; and who refers to Jews as “bloodsuckers,” and their religion as a “gutter religion”). Obama has gone to the Trinity United Church for many years. He has described their pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, as his mentor and spiritual advisor. Obama’s church gave Louis Farrakhan a lifetime achievement award last November for his “committment to truth, education and leadership.” To say that this church is preoccupied with race is an understatement. Their website declares that they are “unashamedly Black,” they are an “African people,” and “remain true to our native land, the mother continent, the cradle of civilization (i.e. Africa). [Just a footnote, their website has been altered in some ways since Obama's campaign taken off, to take come of the more controversial statements off, for now.] Rev. Wright often tends to look at the world as a place where white people are the oppressors, and black people are the oppressed. For example, after the 9/11 attack, he was quoted as saying that “white America got a wake-up call after 9/11.” On other occasions he has stated that “racism is how this country was founded and how this country is still run.
- Posted by FredWe [Americans] believe in white supremacy and black inferiority and believe it more than we believe in God,” etc. Wright loves to refer to James Cone, a proponent of “black liberation theology,” under which the oppression of black people is the central theme. No, this is much more than just an endorsement by Farrakhan. If Hillary’s “mentor and spiritual advisor” belonged to an “unashamedly White church” and had just given a lifetime achievement award to the Grand Wizard of the KKK, would we even be discussing her chances as a serious candidate? I think not.
Why should Obama say anything to alienate the Muslims? For one thing, there are Muslims in this country who are citizens and can vote. For another thing, should (when) he becomes President, he will have to deal with nations run by Muslims. Radical Muslims have already latched onto or invented reasons to hate the United States, why give them one more?
“Everything you believe is wrong, everything I believe is right, now I’m going to negotiate with you.” Not a good starting point.
- Posted by Ed StoneAs I Watch the News, from the various channels and Alphabet soup of Names,There is a Glaring Discrepancy for the Fair and Balanced Viewpoint.
The Polarization that ensures, they Espouse the, Point of View expressed,By the Media Pundits, are their own whether, By the Left Wing Party
Or the Right Wing, are in such disproportions
it boggles the mind.
The supposition that they are only Reporting, Is as Ludicrous as The re-definition Of the Word “IS” IS!
And their Reporting, is so Bi-ass’d as to show their political Diversity? I have seen Nothing, to Tell me they are Fair nor Balanced.
That sometimes, Includes Fox News.
However, that being said, I watched Hannity’s Program “The Price We Pay” ;
on the Border Crisis! I am Incensed and appalled by; The Lack of this congress and senate to address this issue! With the failed and
Broken system they have been responsible for, And done nothing for the states that Have repeatedly, REQUESTED AID TO FIX THIS.
THE BORDER FENCE WAS PASSED AND FUNDED, YET IT IS STILL NOT BEING DELT WITH. It has been too long, And STILL, with no response from Congress AND not the Senate EITHER, to remedy this!
AGAIN, Our Citizens are being Kidnapped, our border Agents Killed by the Drug Cartels And The Mexican Government abets and enables their open hostilities against America!
When are the American people going to wake up? When we have to Arm Ourselves In accordance with, the second amendment, Just to Protect our hearth and kin?
Never mind the border? There is a Real and Present Danger on our Broken Border!
THE CONGRESS AND SENATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY;
ARE NOT ONLY THE “CUT AND RUN” BUT THE “GET NOTHING DONE” BACKFLIPS AND BACKSTABBING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, WHILE THE BORDERS ARE OVERRUN WITH DRUGS AND ILLEGAL ALIENS!
AND, THIS IS “TREASON”; BY ANY LIGHT OF THEIR OATH TO PROTECT; THE U.S.A. AND THE RIGHTS OF IT’S; CITIZENS! “NOT THE ILLEGAL” INVADERS, WHO DEMAND FREE EVERYTHING, WHILE; TRUE AMERICANS ARE DENIED ANYTHING RESEMBLING JUSTICE!
There Are Repercussions to the Politicians and the State and Local Officials, Who WILL NOT Protect the American People, in Preference;
for the “Illegal Alien Invasion of America!”
Lou Dobbs and Hannity are right, The Left Wing, Soros, and Move-On are so embedded with the Democratic Party, and The Open Borders and Nafta/Cafta trade Policies that, they will Not Do anything to Upset the: “FAR LEFT WING”
And Donors TO: “THEIR CAMPAIGN COFFERS!”
Follow the MONEY!
Whether, it is “Politics or the Drug Cartel’s!”
In this election year;
“is There A Dimes worth of Difference?”
IT Is Time For a FULL DISCLOSURE;
of All the Facts! WHO SUPPORTS WHAT?
NO AMNESTY!
- Posted by Kerry MarvinFOR THE INVASION OF AMERICA!
Obama and his followers are neophites. So happy to know his wife just recently became proud to be an American. Goody for her, what hope!!!
- Posted by JoeyI never know what my church is saying or doing when I am not there. When I am there its more about singing and preaching than politics.
Louis will be Louis, kinda like Nader will be Nader, may they keep talking so we know they still have a heart beat even if they are much less listened too.
- Posted by Scott4ObamaObama will be the Presidnet that unifies the nation, especially after the GOP loses more seats.
You fearmongers aren’t phasing ANYONE. We’ve moved past the ignorance politics of the past 8 years. Haven’t you noticed??? Oh, you must support GOP or Hillary because all they know is negative vitriol.
Stop the Drama, vote Obama.
- Posted by JasonWhere do you get the impression that he is adamantly denying he is Muslim? He just makes a simple statement of fact, portrays how it is a fearmongering tactic of the opposition….and moves on….like a true leader.
- Posted by JasonLouis Farrakhan did this to sabotage Barack Obama’s candidacy. He does not like him and what better way to hurt his chances than to “praise” him.
- Posted by kikiObama might ADAMANTLY deny he is a Muslim not because he is offended by the suggestion, but because a lot of times it is really meant as a substitute for an extremist, with a connotation of terrorism, etc. I know views like that are really dumb, but, sadly, dumb people have a right to vote.
- Posted by BeanIt’s odd he claims to be so anti-muslim. He in fact may not be but as a kid he did practice some in school and his step-sisters are Muslim and he respects and participates with them. I wonder why he seems to be so ashamed about it?
Anyway, i find it more disturbing that he doesn’t speak out about the intolerant attitudes of the people supporting him. I read that Smiley’s elderly mother and brother are being harassed because he was critical of Obama not speaking at the State of the Black Union. I also hear that many of his supporters acost and attack people who disagree with their points and support Hillary.
Why doesn’t he say this is wrong? It goes his against his message of Unity and makes me think he is a hypocrit.
- Posted by CAMore words from Senator Obama. Action would be to resign from his church, which ran a positive article on Farrakhan, and his headed by Farrakhan’s buddy and Obama’s longtime mentor Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Jr. Unless he does this, Obama will be seen as riding the fence, the same way he has legislated and will govern if elected as president.
Halli Casser-Jayne
- Posted by Halli Casser-Jaynehttp://www.thecjpoliticalreport.com
It is the time of speeches. Louis Farrakhan is speaking in support of Senator Obama and in his recent speech has said, “This young man is the hope of the entire world that America will change and be made better,” he said. “This young man is capturing audiences of black and brown and red and yellow. If you look at Barack Obama’s audiences and look at the effect of his words, those people are being transformed.” Notice that the color white is missing from his list? Well when Senator Obama spoke in Boise, Idaho the supporting crowd that was transformed by Obama’s words was mainly the color missing from Farrakhan’s quote. It is saddening to see people divided this way by Farrakhan and perhaps it’s time for him to become a uniter. Senator Obama has spoken about uniting people, and I can now see why he has been cool about support from Louis Farrakhan and The Nation of Islam.
- Posted by MatthewBrenda, that’s because you’re not like a lot of other Americans. Why do you think this stuff gets out there in such a negative way? There are a lot of people who won’t vote for Obama just because of his name, and a lot that I even know who won’t vote for him because of even the suspicion of Muslim ties, that’s just reality. Just look at Mitt Romney and the scrutiny he came under for being Mormon. It’s the country we live in, and one of his major obstacles. Most folks are over it and can see beyond his name and color, but that’s why he needs to make it very clear.
On the other hand, he never denounces Islam, and in the beginning he didn’t fight the rumors as vehemently, but it’s becoming clear that this stuff can’t just be ignored, so he needs to make it very clear. Even political analysts talk about how it could be a factor in certain Red states for example… He always says that it’s an insult to Muslims to consider it a put-down, but that it’s insulting to him to judge his faith. In this country, running for president pretty much implies you’re Christian, and in the past that you’re a white male, although that’s being challenged.
You should look back at the track record and how many people have gotten emails or discussed this kind of stuff to know how patient he’s really been in taking it on, and he needs to do what he’s doing just to fight back the preposterous suspicions that he’s not only Muslim, but all the other irrational fears that people have of him.
If he doesn’t deny it ADAMANTLY, people run with this stuff, like he’s not patriotic or that he swore on a Quran, stuff that some Americans would never get past. It’s reality, and I think he’s handling it with as much class as someone in his position could. Put yourself in his shoes for a second…
- Posted by tosherOne thing that I never could understand is WHY Mr. Barack is always, ADAMANTLY denying he is a Muslim - and yes, I know he is not.
- Posted by BrendaInstead of simply correcting someone, like ‘no, I’m not’, he and his people go on distribes distancing himself from anything Islamic. Frankly, if I were Jewish, or Buddist, or an average American Muslim who does not subscribe to Farrakhan’s divisive rhetoric, I’d be offended by the implication, no matter how subtle, that Barack seems to be slurred by the slightest implication that he is not Christian.