Of all the nerve! He had the audacity to ask the Messiah some questions about his church and supporters. Transcript via Don:
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.
MR. RUSSERT: Do you reject his support?
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.
MR. RUSSERT: The problem some voters may have is, as you know, Reverend Farrakhan called Judaism “gutter religion.”
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.
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.”
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?
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.
Via meme, you can see that the left is unhinged about this: RUSSERT’S LOWEST MOMENT (AND THAT’S SAYING A LOT)
I saw this response over at Patterico’s Pontifications:
http://patterico.com/2008/02/26/mccain-repudiates-radio-talk-show-hostss-repetition-of-barack-hussein-obama/#comments
BonBon would be especially interested in Post #54.
Interesting, the Democrat cry foul when they are caught with dirty hands.
Wow PCD…thanks for pointing that one out. I’ve been really busy lately and haven’t had much time to blog but I read through this one entirely.
Of course the muslim world is happy over the possible presidency of a fellow muslim. It puts them one step closer to installing shiria law into our western world.
Whats troubling to me is how he is setting the rules and how he is so convincing of a speaker people actually are believing his sincerity. Don’t call him liberal, don’t call him muslim, don’t, don’t, don’t. Well that alone should signal to clear thinking individuals this man is not to be trusted.
3, BonBon, when I read that one, I thought this is one for BonBon.
At this point, I’m still very inclined to write in Ronald Reagan for President. I want to vote FOR someone, not against 3 liberal buffoons.
I know what you feel PCD but I’m not sure a wasted vote is worth it. At least with McCain being a Republican the conservatives have a better chance of ‘teaching’ him what might be a better path to follow. A conservative republican couldn’t even get close to a dem president.
My biggest fear is that not enough conservatives will vote at all.
Exactly Bon Bon..
Ronald Reagan? The man that granted 25 million illegals amnesty and for whatever reason gets a pass on it..
6, Reagan realized his mistake and won’t repeat it, especially since he’s dead and all legislation passed by congress would face a Pocket Veto.
When did he realize the mistake? Did he publically state this? I can find what Meese says what RR would do, but I don’t find anything from RR himself stating that he made a mistake. He was a great POTUS, a tremendous politician, but he did make mistakes.
Pam, the way you are talking about Reagan you are sounding like the Dems talking about Bush.
No one is giving Reagan a pass. He tried a new approach to an old problem, and it didn’t work. Most conservatives realize this, but what we hate is that we are now trying to repeat a realized mistake of the past.
That;s the difference between conservatives and liberals: We realize our nmistakes, learn from them and move on. Dems repeat them. Juan McCain and Bush seems to be the exception. They aren’t learning from the mistake.
“My biggest fear is that not enough conservatives will vote at all.”
Because McCain is a socialist- we have three socialist/globalist (very little difference there IMO) as our choices which is no choice at all. One just happens to be in the Republican party, and they should be ashamed of that.
So that is a fear based on fact- as I said, I’m probably not going to vote bujt if I do it will be for Clinton.
Pam, the way you are talking about Reagan you are sounding like the Dems talking about Bush.
No one is giving Reagan a pass. He tried a new approach to an old problem, and it didn’t work. Most conservatives realize this, but what we hate is that we are now trying to repeat a realized mistake of the past.
That;s the difference between conservatives and liberals: We realize our mistakes, learn from them and move on. Dems repeat them. Juan McCain and Bush seems to be the exception. They aren’t learning from the mistake.
“My biggest fear is that not enough conservatives will vote at all.”
Because McCain is a social-ist- we have three social-ist/globalist (very little difference there IMO) as our choices which is no choice at all. One just happens to be in the Republican party, and they should be ashamed of that.
So that is a fear based on fact- as I said, I’m probably not going to vote but if I do it will be for Clinton.
Ted, how am I talking about Reagan? So pointing out the truth is liberal? Wow..thanks for that insight.
Ted. One can fight for conservative values on a local and state level and we have historically come out ahead. If your choice is a waste, conservatives have no grasp. At least the Republican party will work with McCain.
But back to local politics I have a question for you. Do you participate in changing laws in your community?
“Ted, how am I talking about Reagan?”
Many liberal frame many of Bush’s decisions in a way that makes it seem all conservatives follow him in lockstep in everything he does. That is what you just did with Reagan.
“So pointing out the truth is liberal?”
No, but taking the truth and altering it a bit to meet your point is. And before you say “What do you mean?” I already outlined it in post 10. No one gave him a pass, but also realize Reagan’s situation wasn’t identical to Juan McCain’s either
“Wow..thanks for that insight.”
You’re welcome.
“But back to local politics I have a question for you. Do you participate in changing laws in your community?”
Changing laws? Not much issues come up locally like that. It is one of the reasons I moved from my home town. RR said it best: The best way to vote is with your feet.
I do participate in meetings (some involve zoning laws, so that may qualify), volunteer in getting the school levy passed this Tuesday, volunteered on a couple of local campaigns. I even had a friend that was a body guard for Governor Voinivich. I got to speak with him in depth at the Ohio’s governor’s mansion a couple of time for about 20 minutes.
“If your choice is a waste, conservatives have no grasp. At least the Republican party will work with McCain.”
What do you mean by this- can you clarify it a bit? But if I read you right, I would disagree. my choice is a waste because Republicans have no grasp.
But I don’t know if I read you right.
McCain and RNC would work much better together than say Obama and the DNC.
Oops, I mean Obama and the RNC.
13- No I didn’t Ted because the difference is, I was speaking to someone that I have had many conversations with and had actual words to draw on. Reagan gave us amnesty and never attempted to touch the borders..that is a major failure. McCain wants to grant amnesty and protect the borders. Neither plan is smart and both are failures. The major problem is rounding up the illegals. The best way to smoke them out is to cut off the jobs at the state level. States need to start going after the employers. Fine them heavily and if need be, shut them down. When there is no work, the illegals start leaving as they are in AZ..they need to know that there is no place for them to go.
So you think by moving then you somehow have done something about local politics? Local politics are not only the city you live in but also the state. If none of the issues have come up then I guess that is a big part of the problem. What are the citizens doing about illegal immigration in the state of Ohio? What are the citizens doing about upcoming state and federal elections? Are they a part of the process of choosing the right people to run for office and working to get them elected?