Obama never actually rejects the “Minister’s” present support
Barack Obama was fatally wounded in the general election tonight, or was it when he remained in his hate America church’s pew the first time his pastor or his pastor’s minister preached hate after he and Michelle’s butts warmed the pews.
The relevant part of the debate:
MR. RUSSERT: Senator Obama, one of the things in a campaign is that you have to react to unexpected developments. On Sunday, the headline in your hometown paper, Chicago Tribune: “Louis Farrakhan Backs Obama for President at Nation of Islam Convention in Chicago.”
Do you accept the support of Louis Farrakhan?
SEN. OBAMA: You know, I have been very clear in my denunciation of Minister Farrakhan’s anti-Semitic comments. I think that they are unacceptable and reprehensible. I did not solicit this support. He expressed pride in an African-American who seems to be bringing the country together. I obviously can’t censor him, but it is not support that I sought. And we’re not doing anything, I assure you, formally or informally with Minister Farrakhan.
Five sentences and he doesn’t answer a yes/no question with the obvious “no”. He does, however, refer to the racist with the honorific of “Minister”, not once, but twice. He compliments the minister on his pride in an African-American. How sweet.
MR. RUSSERT: Do you reject his support?
Tim understands that his fellow Democrat has not answered the question.
SEN. OBAMA: Well, Tim, you know, I can’t say to somebody that he can’t say that he thinks I’m a good guy. (Laughter.) You know, I — you know, I — I have been very clear in my denunciations of him and his past statements, and I think that indicates to the American people what my stance is on those comments.
Still won’t say “no”! Repeats that the minister likes him. Mentions that he has denounced the minister in the past, but still does not answer Tim’s initial question
MR. RUSSERT: The problem some voters may have is, as you know, Reverend Farrakhan called Judaism “gutter religion.”
Tim realizes that Obama still has not rejected the minister’s support now.
OBAMA: Tim, I think — I am very familiar with his record, as are the American people. That’s why I have consistently denounced it.
This is not something new. This is something that — I live in Chicago. He lives in Chicago. I’ve been very clear, in terms of me believing that what he has said is reprehensible and inappropriate. And I have consistently distanced myself from him.
Now, we are at thirteen sentences and Obama still has not rejected the minister’s support now. We do now know that the minister lives near him.
RUSSERT: The title of one of your books, “Audacity of Hope,” you acknowledge you got from a sermon from Reverend Jeremiah Wright, the head of the Trinity United Church. He said that Louis Farrakhan “epitomizes greatness.”
He said that he went to Libya in 1984 with Louis Farrakhan to visit with Moammar Gadhafi and that, when your political opponents found out about that, quote, “your Jewish support would dry up quicker than a snowball in Hell.”
RUSSERT: What do you do to assure Jewish-Americans that, whether it’s Farrakhan’s support or the activities of Reverend Jeremiah Wright, your pastor, you are consistent with issues regarding Israel and not in any way suggesting that Farrakhan epitomizes greatness?
Tim gives up on the direct approach and gives Obama a chance to denounce two hatemongers, i.e. his own pastor and the minister.
OBAMA: Tim, I have some of the strongest support from the Jewish community in my hometown of Chicago and in this presidential campaign. And the reason is because I have been a stalwart friend of Israel’s. I think they are one of our most important allies in the region, and I think that their security is sacrosanct, and that the United States is in a special relationship with them, as is true with my relationship with the Jewish community.
And the reason that I have such strong support is because they know that not only would I not tolerate anti-Semitism in any form, but also because of the fact that what I want to do is rebuild what I consider to be a historic relationship between the African-American community and the Jewish community.
You know, I would not be sitting here were it not for a whole host of Jewish Americans, who supported the civil rights movement and helped to ensure that justice was served in the South. And that coalition has frayed over time around a whole host of issues, and part of my task in this process is making sure that those lines of communication and understanding are reopened.
But, you know, the reason that I have such strong support in the Jewish community and have historically — it was true in my U.S. Senate campaign and it’s true in this presidency — is because the people who know me best know that I consistently have not only befriended the Jewish community, not only have I been strong on Israel, but, more importantly, I’ve been willing to speak out even when it is not comfortable.
When I was — just last point I would make — when I was giving — had the honor of giving a sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church in conjunction with Martin Luther King’s birthday in front of a large African-American audience, I specifically spoke out against anti- Semitism within the African-American community. And that’s what gives people confidence that I will continue to do that when I’m president of the United States.
I defy anyone to identify where Obama rejects “Minister” Louis’s support in Baracks’ opus above or in his later exchange that the MSM is focused on after the above (see link)
The exchange with Hillary is too vague to be an explicit rejection of Louis’s endorsement.
The correct answer to Russert’s initial softball question of,
“Do you accept the support of Louis Farrakhan?”
was “NO”!
Tim expected to hear “no”; tried to lead him to “no”; but never heard “no”.
Instead we heard Obama twice repeat, with smiles, that his pastor’s hero likes him; twice heard him refer to him with honor as “minister”; and found out they are neighbors and that he hasn’t always agreed with him.
We never heard him reject his support.
Obama is a leftist, far outside the mainstream of most Americans, including most rank and file democrats, I suspect. His devil will be in the details. Two huge details are now exposed with him on the record with equivocation.
But given that he has attended a black nationalist, separatist hate America church for two decades, he can’t hide.
And thanks to McCain-Feingold, even of McCain were to think it improper to expose this creepy vile church association, he can’t stop the 527′s from doing so.
Thank God for Free Speech!
For more than 14 months I have been confident that the GOP will retain the presidency given that the Dems are openly running as leftists.
Now we see the details of exactly why.
John McCain won the debate.
Mike Gamecock DeVine @ The Charlotte Observer
The HinzSight Report
The Minority Report
Race 4 2008
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
February 27th, 2008 at 4:07 am
“I defy anyone to identify where Obama rejects “Minister†Louis’s support”
“…if the word “reject” Senator Clinton feels is stronger than the word “denounce,” then I’m happy to concede the point, and I would reject and denounce.”
You are a piece of work, Gamecock. Please, please go to work for McCain!
February 27th, 2008 at 4:13 am
McCain must make this election be a bout people who feel the country is fundamentally flawed (like Obama and half of the Democrats) vs. those who feel America is generally fair and decent. That’s a schtick to which Obama cannot counter punch.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:30 am
Reject what? Denounce what? That is my point. He distanced himself from un-specified statements of the minister in the past, but he never rejected any specfic statement, nor did he reject the minitr’s present support. He never answered Russert’s initial statement.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:31 am
Tano, even by your and the msm scenario, it took Obama 5 minutes! Russert knew. That’s why he kept Obama talking!
February 27th, 2008 at 4:58 am
#1 Kaus echos GC
http://www.slate.com/id/2185255/#clutch
February 27th, 2008 at 7:31 am
This is going to do it but it suggests to me what I’ve thought for weeks. Obama’s rookie mistakes are going to catch up with eventually. He or his unpatriotic wife is going to say something so elitist, so out of touch, or so just plain dumb that his inexperience will come shining through.
February 27th, 2008 at 7:31 am
This ***isn’t*** going to do it but it suggests to me what I’ve thought for weeks. Obama’s rookie mistakes are going to catch up with eventually. He or his unpatriotic wife is going to say something so elitist, so out of touch, or so just plain dumb that his inexperience will come shining through.
February 27th, 2008 at 7:58 am
“You can say anything in this country if you can only get yourself called a reverend” – Christopher Hitchens
February 27th, 2008 at 8:15 am
I think if this were August or even June McCain might be happy about last night, but its February and this will be the last dem debate. After knocking off Clinton and securing the nomination Obama will get a wave of media coverage. And there are going to be republicans who will line up with Obama simply because he slayed the mighty Clintons.
I don’t think we have yet seen the real “Obamamania.” Its going to get real crazy and if the GOP is seen trying to trash him I think a lot of otherwise safe GOP seats down ballot could get taken.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:32 am
LOL.
MR. RUSSERT: The problem some voters may have is, as you know, Reverend Farrakhan called Judaism “gutter religion.â€
Yes, the ubiquitous “some people”. You know, the “some people” that always seem to have the most hateful line of thinking but offer the excuse to enter ridiculous arguments into questioning.
He or his unpatriotic wife
Adam, you are characteristically right on message. “America haters”, right?
Your “out of touch” comment drips with unintended irony.
February 27th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Since this is a political site I think this warrants recognition. Obama’s campaign has crossed the 1,000,000 donor threshold. That is amazing. That probably qualifies as the largest donor list in history.
February 27th, 2008 at 10:15 am
It was a careful answer that sought to distance himself from Farrakhan and not piss off anyone who might like him in the black community.
I really don’t see the problem.
How about we discuss McCain visiting Liberty University, run by a man who thinks 9/11 was divine punishment for tolerating homosexuality and abortion (making the terrorists EXACTLY what they said they were: instruments of God.)?
February 27th, 2008 at 10:16 am
*thought
February 27th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Caroline,
“Adam, you are characteristically right on message. “America hatersâ€, right?
Your “out of touch†comment drips with unintended irony”
We’ll see about that. I guarantee you that Michele Obama doesn’t use that same line again.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Democrats are taking a HUGE risk with this guy. Mickey Mouse could have beaten Alan Keyes in IL in 2004. Obama is totally untested. We’ll see how brightly his halo shines when he inevitably gets more scrutiny and anything less than the 99 percent favorable press coverage he has gotten so far. The media treats him like a deity and yet he’s statistically tied with McCain after we’ve been told that the Republicans have zero chance this year. The GOP looks to be in much better shape for the Fall now than it did six months or a year ago.
February 27th, 2008 at 10:39 am
The media treats him like a deity
Actually, the “deity” and “messiah” language comes from people like you, not his supporters. The media has picked right up on the GOP’s “unpatriotic” language.
CNN poll “Does Barack Obama show the proper patriotism for someone who wants to be president of the United States?”
MSNBC: “Patriotism questions for Obama: No flag, no pin, no hand over his heart, is he exposed?”
AP:
Nobody I know thinks the Democratic candidate will have an easy time of it.
February 27th, 2008 at 10:44 am
One in every three hundred people in this country has donated to Barack Obama’s campaign?
Jesus Christ!!!
February 27th, 2008 at 10:48 am
“It was a careful answer that sought to distance himself from Farrakhan and not piss off anyone who might like him in the black community.”
You’re right, Kevin, it was a political statement intended to pretend disassociation, while not actually doing so. As that’s standard fare in politics nowadays, I agree it’s not really a big deal.
“You know, the “some people†that always seem to have the most hateful line of thinking but offer the excuse to enter ridiculous arguments into questioning.”
Caroline, I would generally agree with that statement, but I think you’re getting confused here. The question isn’t whether “some voters” think Farrakhan said that, but whether “some voters” have a problem with it. There’s no question that Farrakhan is an anti-Semite.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:13 am
TLG,
Resistance is futile.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:40 am
>”Actually, the “deity†and “messiah†language comes from people like you”
http://obamamessiah.blogspot.com/
February 27th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I don’t think this is a big deal. What he said is okay with me. He’s condemning the guy for what he’s said in the past, but refusing to condemn him for supporting him which obviously Obama thinks was a good decision by Louis Farrakhan. I think probably most people will view it this way and its really not going to hurt him. The people who are offended that Obama doesn’t condemn Farrakhan’s endorsemnt probably aren’t voting for anyway. But I suppose there’ll be a lot more of these attacks from both sides that I think are pointless.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Obama and the Farrakhan Trap
The Democratic frontrunner stepped in it Tuesday night.
By Byron York
http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=YWU4ODRmNTQzNjUzMzM3NGZjMzg0MDg5ZjQxMjRkNWI=