Hasidic newspaper regrets editing Hillary Clinton out of photo

Failedmessiah.com/Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Brooklyn-based Hasidic newspaper Der Zeitung has apologized for publishing an iconic photograph of President Obama and his national security team with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and National Security team member Audrey Tomason photoshopped out.

As the blog Failed Messiah first noted last week, the newspaper published the edited White House photograph showing the national security team monitoring the mission against Osama bin Laden despite a White House note that "[t]he photograph may not be manipulated in any way." (A portion of the altered image is above at left; that portion of the original is at right.)

The Jewish Week subsequently suggested the photograph had been altered because including women in photographs "could be considered sexually suggestive."

Failedmessiah.com/Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Der Zeitung has now released a statement saying that "[w]e should not have published the altered picture, and we have conveyed our regrets and apologies to the White House and to the State Department," the Orthodox Jewish newspaper Vos Iz Neias reports.

Der Zeitung addressed what it cast as "allegations" that the women had been removed from the photograph because "religious Jews denigrate women or do not respect women in public office," calling such suggestions "malicious slander and libel."

The newspaper offered kind words for Clinton and said it respects all government officials, but that religious considerations prevent it from showing images of women.

"In accord with our religious beliefs, we do not publish photos of women, which in no way relegates them to a lower status," Der Zeitung said. "Publishing a newspaper is a big responsibility, and our policies are guided by a Rabbinical Board. Because of laws of modesty, we are not allowed to publish pictures of women, and we regret if this gives an impression of disparaging to women, which is certainly never our intention. We apologize if this was seen as offensive."

[margroks]

It's discrimination pure and simple. ANd illegal since the WHite House specifically said the photo could not be altered. Charge them.

[beadwindow2010]

Are Hasidic Jews bigoted?

[gregmor]

Hillary described as "sexually suggestive"? Now there's bad reporting! :)

[buddesatva]

No they don't. They don't regret it. They don't care. Religion is a form of blindness akin to stupidity.

[mendellowy]

Everyone in America has the right to believe and practice any religion, as strange and extreme it may look to a non-believer, AS LONG AS THEY ARE NOT FLYING JETS INTO BUILDINGS OR BEHEAD INFIDELS TO FORCE THEIR RELIGION UPON OTHERS.

[religionisstupid]

Yes, they absolutely have the right to be repressed, ignorant, fearful idiots that try to skew or rewrite reality based on misguided arbitrary religious morals.

As Voltaire said: "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."

Luckily these particular idiots don't have the right to alter and re-publish US government imagery.

[credibility2]

...if they're that sorry, then maybe they should just run the photo again with her image in tact...this Jewish sect has very peculiar ideas when it comes to women that aren't any different than how radical Muslims feel towards women...

[MurdochSucks]

Or radical Christians view a woman's role as well. Hey, there's a common denominator. All monotheistic religions lead to silliness and oppression of women... hmmm.

[Guitfiddel]

The Bush Administation, the Tea Party and the Republicans would like to get rid of Obama's image if they could get away with it. They might still try...I mean...they got away with torture and the Weapons of Mass American Deception. They might as well go for broke! lol...

[smagboy1]

"...we do not publish photos of women, which in no way relegates them to a lower status..."

Yeah, okay, whatever justification of your discrimination gets you through the night.

[superdem1]

This is even more insane that the Muslims rioting over cartoons of Muhammad. These people are sabotaging history to support their absurd sexual phobias. What else about their own myths have they sabotaged and perverted to project their version of morality ? They have shown that nothing can be trusted to be true, it's all been passed through their moral sieve, with threatening elements removed. And they teach this to their children. It's all lies. And we put up this this !

[idiotforreading]

total crap; you can't rewite history, it is delusional. Crop the pic, ok, just have obama in there, but to cut out a senior decision making offical is just plain deception, sexism and has no place in the media. How can you project such a close minded and deceptive grasp on reality in this day and age? It makes everything seem falsified, I wouldn't trust anything from this paper or anyone who subscribes to this kind of blatant sexism and truth altering. Get a clue.

[Guitfiddel]

They've been doing this rewrite stuff since the Bible or should I say now; The Bibles. If it weren't for the false images of Jesus Christ that were rendered by pre-century European artist many people in America would not call themselves Christians (Exodus 20:4). I truly believe Christianity would be considered as taboo or, controversial as being Muslim.