Obama Tries To Smooth Jewish-Black Ties

Democratic Candidate Working Hard To Counteract Unease Among Some Jewish Voters

(AP)  Barack Obama has a solid Senate record in support of Israel.

He sings the praises, too, of Jewish civil rights workers who fought for blacks' rights in the U.S. And he says he wants to patch up "a historically powerful bond between the African-American and Jewish communities."

Yet there is unease among some Jewish voters about the Illinois senator and Democratic presidential contender.

Why?

Part of it is a division between blacks and Jews that's been growing for years, a split that Obama has challenged fellow blacks to confront.

Another element is the praise Obama has received from Black Muslim leader Louis Farrakhan, whose disparaging comments about Judaism are toxic to many voters. Obama's own pastor has a history of supporting Palestinian causes.

And there are questions about Obama advisers who some U.S. Jews see as less than ardent advocates of Israel.

Finally, there are rumors and outright lies about the candidate that have gained an audience through repetition in e-mails and on Web sites.

Obama is working hard to win over this vocal, powerful and reliably Democratic voting bloc.

Jews have accounted for about 4 percent of Democratic primary voters so far this year, and Clinton has held a 52-46 percent edge over Obama among them, according to exit polls.

On the day of the Mississippi primary this week, Obama took time to call Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to express condolences over the deadly terrorist attack on a rabbinical seminary in Jerusalem. He also reaffirmed his support for Israel's right to defend itself and for its commitment to negotiations with Palestinians and underscored the need to stop Iran from supporting terrorism or getting nuclear weapons.

The effort by the candidate and his advisers to calm disquiet among Jewish voters began more than a year ago.

"The Jewish community cannot be taken for granted," said Rep. Robert Wexler of Florida, one of Obama's chief surrogates before Jewish audiences. Wexler sent an e-mail last March to supporters urging them not to be swayed by rumors, a message he repeated during a recent forum in Cleveland.

Obama used a speech in January at Martin Luther King Jr.'s church in Atlanta to chastise blacks for latent anti-Semitism. And during a recent debate, Obama alluded to James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, one black and two Jewish civil rights workers murdered in Mississippi in 1964 as they worked together on a campaign to register black voters.

"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," Obama said. "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."

Still, there remains some "nervousness over Senator Obama" among Jewish voters, said Rabbi Joshua Skoff, who attended a private meeting with Obama in Cleveland last month. "The rumors still have some legs."

At the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, President Howard Friedman said Obama's Senate record on Israel has given his critics no reason to doubt him.

But that record is thin. Just a little over three years ago, Obama was a state legislator in Illinois.

"Right now, Obama's big problem with the Jewish community is similar to his problem with other communities: He's just not clearly defined among any voter groups," said Kenneth Wald, director of Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Florida-Gainesville. "The fact he has a name that sounds Muslim and has a Muslim father underlines questions about what we do and what we do not know about him."

Some critics on the Internet have gone far beyond raising questions.

Contrary to some e-mails, Obama is a Christian, not a Muslim. He took his oath of office on the family Bible, not a Quran.

"There has been a concerted effort, largely out of the conservative Web sites and anonymous e-mails," says Ira Forman, executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council, which set up a Stop The Smears Web site to correct the rumors.

"I don't think it moves tons and tons of votes, but at the fringes, if left unchecked, it could move a few," he said.

In the private meeting in Cleveland with 100 Jewish leaders last month, Obama talked about his 2005 trip to Israel, his views on a Palestinian state and regional Middle East security. He was quickly questioned about his own pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and an award his church magazine gave last year that said Farrakhan "truly epitomized greatness."

Farrakhan is intolerable to Jewish voters because of a history of anti-Semitic remarks, like calling Judaism a "gutter religion."

Obama, who has rejected support from Farrakhan, assured voters his Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago does not endorse such messages.

"I have never heard an anti-Semitic (remark) made inside of our church. I have never heard anything that would suggest anti-Semitism on the part of the pastor," Obama said in a transcript of his remarks released later. "He (Wright) is like an old uncle who sometimes will say things that I don't agree with. And I suspect there are some of the people in this room who have heard relatives say some things that they don't agree with - including, on occasion, directed at African-Americans."

Obama took the title of his 2006 book "The Audacity of Hope" from a Wright sermon. But last year, he asked Wright not to offer a prayer at his campaign's kickoff in Springfield, Ill.

The questioners in Cleveland also raised Obama's use of foreign policy advisers the doubters say are foes of Israel, including former President Carter's national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski.

Obama replied that Brzezinski is an informal, not a key, adviser, and "I do not share his views with respect to Israel."

He said he has other foreign policy advisers from the Clinton administration who share his belief that Israel has to remain a Jewish state with special ties to the U.S. and that the Palestinians have been irresponsible. And he said critics' e-mails never mention Lester Crown, a member of his national finance committee who is "considered about as hawkish and tough when it comes to Israel as anybody in the country."

"This is where I get to be honest, and I hope I'm not out of school here," Obama told Jewish leaders at the private meeting. "I think there is a strain within the pro-Israel community that says unless you adopt an unwavering, pro-Likud approach to Israel that you're anti-Israel, and that can't be the measure of our friendship with Israel."

[blkpresident]

Last time I checked Obama was running for president, not his pastor. Okay people, OBAMA is running for president--NOT his pastor. Face it, your girl Hillary can give up on her pipe-dream that a woman can become the president (ROFL), and OLD man McCain is simply too old to serve. Obama is the only real choice here. Get over it if your girl or old geezer don''t have what it takes. Boo-hoo...

[infidel_us]

''Obama Tries To Smooth Jewish-Black Ties''

Good luck! Spending 20 years in a ''church'' with a racist, anit-semite pastor will doom you with whites and the jews.

People are NOW begining to find out just who you are.

[desertclair]

After listening to Obama%u2019s pastor preach against whites with incredible hatred %u2026 Have those drawn to Obama simply been duped?

I''m afraid so. Even Obama may not be conscious of the extent of his own racism. But the fact he %u201Cprojects%u201D the motivation of racism onto others like Bill, Hillary and Ferraro%u2014who have fought their entire political careers for racial equality%u2014is a sign that lurking in his heart might be racist points of view. How else could he feel comfortable sitting at the feet of this pastor?

There is no way Obama can win the general election against McCain with this kind of connection to racist views against whites. The Republicans will blow this up and scare everyone, since he has family members that are Muslim too.

The question I imagine they will ask people to consider is:

How can you trust him as President to represent all the people of this great nation, when he is comfortable listening to a preacher who teaches hatred against whites and has a basic anti-American sentiment?

[blkpresident]

LISTEN UP PEOPLE, For the last time: OBAMA is running for president--NOT his pastor. What about that don''t you losers understand?! Simply accept this: Clinton is only a woman; OLD man McCain is too old. So, rather than bicker, get behind Obama and we all are winners.

[sosoe-2009]

Let''s see, this is some of what Mr. Wright said: We''ve got more black men in prison than in college.Racism is alive and well.Racism is how this country was founded and how this country is still run. We put Nelson Mandela in prison and supported apartheid for 27 years. Wow!!!----- Due to space constraints, I cannot break Mr. Wright''s speech down any further. But THESE ARE ALL TRUE STATEMENTS,people!!! White america has always had a problem with out-spoken black men who tell the truth!!! Look at what happened to Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr.!!HE WAS KILLED BY A WHITE MAN BECAUSE HE WAS TOO OUTSPOKEN!!!! AND HE WAS PREACHING GOOD-WILL AND HARMONY BETWEEN THE RACES!!!!!Black people are damned-if-we-do, and damned-if -we-don''t!!!!!!!!!

[beebopareebo]

Jewish Americans have every reason to be dubious. After marching with the African American community and sending their sons and daughters to be murdered alongside them in places like Alabama, what was their reward? Reverend Farrakhan. Senator Obama had to be bullied in a nationally televised debate to repudiate him. Now we understand why. Senator Obama''s church -- to which he has belonged for more than 20 years and whose spiritual leader''s virtriol has been captured on video which they are proud enough of to SELL -- has honored Farrakhan and not (as Senator Obama claims) for work in Chicago prisons. The question here is not so much whether we are willing to vote for someone "for" something so much as "despite" something. The will of the Democrats may in fact be to put Senator Obama on the ticket and oppose Senator McCain. In the general election, how many Independents will cross over and vote for Senator Obama despite Reverend Wright? That is the real issue.

[blkpresident]

beebo''

Face it, Hillary lost. Boo-hoo...her pipe-dream of a woman becoming president is over. OLD man MCCain is next in line to be steamrolled by the Obama shuffle. You''d feel much better if you simply accept that. Sorry to shatter Hillary''s ''lil pipe-dream. We''ll be sure to take it easy on OLD man McCain...

[blkpresident]

sosoe,

Well said!

[infidel_us]

His so called ''pastor'' has a 40 year career of race baiting bigotry. Ubama has been attending his ''church'' for 20 years. He''s an advisor on his campaign staff.

I believe their belief system is similar.....therefore, Ubama will NEVER be president. Better get used to it....it''s beginning to catch fire with the LAMEstream media.

[blkpresident]

Infidel_Us,

Hilary lost. Get over it already. Also, Obama is running for president--NOT his pastor. Stick to real issues like McCain''s OLD age and Hillary''s race baiting.

[infidel_us]

''Obama and the Minister
By RONALD KESSLER
March 14, 2008; Page A19

In a sermon delivered at Howard University, Barack Obama''s longtime minister, friend and adviser blamed America for starting the AIDS virus, training professional killers, importing drugs and creating a racist society that would never elect a black candidate president.''

There''s an old saying.....play with dogs, smell like a dog. Ubama is starting to smell.

Also, his so called ''church'' is under investigation by the IRS. A little too much politickin going on there. For Ubama to have stayed there for 20 years, he must agree with his ''pastor.''

We KNOW that Ubama''s wife is an America hating black chick. Ubama must feel the same way.

What YOU need to get used to is that blacks only make up about 16% of the US population. If you want a black in office, he or she had better be willing to represent EVERYONE equally....and it''s not Ubama.

[hogwarts08]

Gee I wonder why the Jewish community is uneased by Obama. He''s got this wacko pastor who hates everyone, every race, every nationality, every everthing. He hates America, he''s already damned us. Then he should get his b**** a** back to his country amongst his own kind. How dare he put down this country and stay in it. I have no use for people like that. He can go to h.e.l.l. and rot (the pastor). If Obama win''s, I wonder if his guru buddy will "take over" his mind. OMG!! We''re all dead!!

[mrsmarrero]

Obama says that his pastor is like an uncle that you don''t necessarily agree with. The thing is, you have no choice who your uncle is. You do have a choice about who your pastor is, and the fact that Obama mentions Wright as his spirtual mentor in his book, and has sat under his preaching for 20 years as an active member of his church, was married by him, and allowed his children to be baptized by him, causes me to question what underlying principals will be driving the decisions that Obama makes as executive chief of this country.

[fleura-2009]

To answer all your doubts, ask yourself:

1. Are you a Democrat --- Barack Obama
2. Are you a Republican - McCain (with no first name)

Those are your answers...GET IT as simple as that.

[blkpresident]

mrsmarreo,

Obama''s minister is not running for president!!! Where''s the connection here?!

[fleura-2009]

Would somebody remind us what is McCain''s first name? or yet his wife''s name...silly but all so forgettable!!!

[fleura-2009]

Lets focus on McCain..what do you republicans know about this guy? Other than he is going to face the Obama-Mania in the coming months?

hhmhhh...what do you so-called republicans know of your candidate? Bet you most of you don''t even recall his first name.

[blkpresident]

Obama doesn''t own the jewish community anything. This is a presidential race. Does Hillary have to bake brownies for the jewish community? No, Hmmm...wonder why?! Does OLD man McCain have to share his geritol with the jewish community? No, Hmmm...wonder why?!
Face it everyone, we have a choice here: a woman, an OLD man or Obama. Be smart.

[blkpresident]

Whether McCain''s first name is JOHN or not, he is still way to OLD. Whether CINDY is his wife''s first name or not is still immaterial. OLD man McCain is simply way too old to be taken seriously. That leaves that woman and Obama. Choose wisely people.

[Stratmaster7]

I agree that some of the Pastor''s comments are true. there is always a smidgen of truth behind every fanatacism. however, in addition to the comments sosoe listed, there are many others that show his hatred for the white race. i have always been concerned that the Obama we see now will not be the Obama we get (kinda like that Bush guy) in office, and the more I hear from his biggest religious and social influence the more I believe that to be true.

the revolution, will indeed be here when Obama is elected. but it will not be a unifying one. It wil be a dividing one that shatters our country as we have known it.

Whether that is a good or bad thing will depend on your perspective. From mine, he ma be as dangerous as Bush.

[atomicrock]

JUDGEMENT CALL!
Obama makes a big thing about judgement call! If your choice for your pastor,your inspiration for your book is someone who is anti-america and says ''God *** America'' then one can only ask...Mr Obama WHERE WAS YOUR JUDGEMENT?!!!

[neonink]

You spend 20 years in a church with Jeremiah Wright...
He marries you.
He baptizes your children.

there is more to Obama''s story than he is letting on.

20 years of listening to hate. No wonder Obama the Muslim likes this church.

It all fits now.

But, hey, what''s the big deal... right...

[infidel_us]

If this were happening to a republican, he''d have been out of the race months ago. No one will EVER be able to convince me that the LAMEstream media is fair and balanced.

[neonink]

hey blkpresident, if you want a black president, then why not support Condi or Colin Powell?

oh.... they were not taught by hate-mongers. I should have known!!!

If it were not for Fox News, actually, I wouldn''t have known the real Rev. Wright. No thanks to CBS, they only fluffed (censored) the story.

It''s getting hard to stay a Democrat at this pace.

[blkpresident]

neonink,

Condi Rice is a woman--no better or worse than the woman the Democrats already have. Only thing though, we need a man to govern over the next four years--not OLD man McCain either. It''s simple: America has a choice--vote for a woman, an OLD man or Obama. An easy choice for me.

[blkpresident]

atomicrock,

It''s simple really. America has to make a choice: a woman, an OLD man or Obama. An easy choice for me.

[neonink]

Hillary should immediately retract her offer of VP.

ASAP!!!!

He will not be elected dog catcher when the rest of America wakes up and smells the Ubama Hussein Hate Monger.

Enjoy your moment, little man, ''cause it ain''t gonna last much longer.

[beebopareebo]

blkpresident: with all respect that is due ... does your village know that you are missing?

[greatdrivew]

There is no bigger special interest in D.C. than Israel. The question of course, is will all the AIPAC-type groups get Barack to bow down to the "Bush" model of Middle East foreign policy.

Make no mistake about it, that''s what''s going on. The next question of course, is will Barack, like all those around him, pander to the special interests of a foreign country and people like "Reverend" Hagee? Or, will he truly turn the page?

[infidel_us]

then why not support Condi or Colin Powell?
Posted by neonink at 01:56 PM : Mar 14, 2008

Well, we all KNOW that they are just uncle Toms.....kissing the white devil slave master''s boots so the master will one day let them in the house.

I believe those are almost the exact words of one Harry Belafonte......probably attends Ubama''s so called ''church''.

[taddles-2009]

"If it were not for Fox News, actually, I wouldn''''t have known the real Rev. Wright.
It''''s getting hard to stay a Democrat at this pace.

Posted by neonink at 01:56 PM : Mar 14, 2008"


You listen to FOX, you''re no more a Democrat than Carl Rove is, you''re a neo-con tool.

[taddles-2009]

"He will not be elected dog catcher when the rest of America wakes up and smells the Ubama Hussein Hate Monger.

Enjoy your moment, little man, ''''cause it ain''''t gonna last much longer.

Posted by neonink at 02:06 PM : Mar 14, 2008"

Wow, what a spectacularly stupid comment, it''s a wonder you can dress yourself without help.

[taddles-2009]

"blkpresident: with all respect that is due ... does your village know that you are missing?

Posted by beebopareebo at 02:11 PM : Mar 14, 2008"


Do you wear your helmet when you ride the little bus to work?

[taddles-2009]

"I believe those are almost the exact words of one Harry Belafonte......probably attends Ubama''''s so called ''''church''''.

Posted by Infidel_Us at 02:41 PM : Mar 14, 2008"

Nothing like the immature rantings of an ignorant racist dolt to really spice up the conversation.

[jetauma]

Tofu McCain takes on the flavor of whatever he''s mixed with. Year 2000: Bush trashes him. Later stands and supports Bush. 2004, against Bush. bush gets re-lected, friends again. Next three years goes on liberal talk shows (Daily Show, et al) sounds like a Dem. 2008, supports Bush all the way: Iraq, Spying, etc. Calls himself a Maverick, yet never went his own way in his whole life.

[taddles-2009]

"voting for hussein is insane

Posted by terrorislam3 at 03:07 PM : Mar 14, 2008"


Reading your useless posts is insane

[smashwl7]

These are some of the things Mormons have been taught about Black People. Mitt Romney is a member of this Church!

"Now WE ARE GENEROUS WITH THE NEGRO. WE ARE WILLING that the Negro have the highest kind of education. I WOULD BE WILLING to LET every Negro DRIVE A CADILLAC IF THEY COULD AFFORD IT. I WOULD BE WILLING that they have all the advantages they can get out of life in the world. BUT LET THEM ENJOY THESE THINGS AMONG THEMSELVES." LDS "Apostle" Mark E. Petersen, "Race Problems - As They Affect the Church," Address delivered at Brigham Young University, August 27, 1954, as quoted in Jerald and Sandra Tanner''s book entitled, "The Changing World of Mormonism," p. 307, emphasis added.

LDS - "Those who were LESS VALIANT IN PRE-EXISTENCE and who thereby had certain spiritual restrictions imposed upon them during mortality are known to us as the NEGROES." LDS "Apostle" Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 527, 1966 edition, emphasis added.

LDS - "THE NEGROES ARE NOT EQUAL WITH OTHER RACES where the receipt of certain spiritual blessings are concerned, ...but this inequality is not of man''s origin. IT IS THE LORD''S DOING, is based on his eternal laws of justice, and grows out of the LACK OF SPIRITUAL VALIANCE OF THOSE CONCERNED IN THEIR FIRST ESTATE [the Mormon pre-existence]." LDS "Apostle" Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 527 - 528, 1966 edition, emphasis added.

[pepperp1]

WASTE OF Time now that the Rev''s tapes are out.

[lorinkundert]

Smooth This Obama

"Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has released a list of $740 million in earmark requests he made in the past three years, and it includes $1 million for the hospital where his wife Michelle is a vice president."

Is this more of what we can expect? Please explain in detail.

[lorinkundert]

Smooth This Obama

"Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has released a list of $740 million in earmark requests he made in the past three years, and it includes $1 million for the hospital where his wife Michelle is a vice president."

Is this more of what we can expect? Please explain in detail.

[lorinkundert]

Smooth This Obama

"Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has released a list of $740 million in earmark requests he made in the past three years, and it includes $1 million for the hospital where his wife Michelle is a vice president."

Is this more of what we can expect? Please explain in detail.

[lorinkundert]

Smooth This Obama

"Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has released a list of $740 million in earmark requests he made in the past three years, and it includes $1 million for the hospital where his wife Michelle is a vice president."

Is this more of what we can expect? Please explain in detail.

[lorinkundert]

Smooth This Obama

"Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has released a list of $740 million in earmark requests he made in the past three years, and it includes $1 million for the hospital where his wife Michelle is a vice president."

Is this more of what we can expect? Please explain in detail.

[lorinkundert]

Smooth This Obama

"Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has released a list of $740 million in earmark requests he made in the past three years, and it includes $1 million for the hospital where his wife Michelle is a vice president."

Is this more of what we can expect? Please explain in detail.

[lorinkundert]

Smooth This Obama

"Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has released a list of $740 million in earmark requests he made in the past three years, and it includes $1 million for the hospital where his wife Michelle is a vice president."

Is this more of what we can expect? Please explain in detail.

[lorinkundert]

Smooth This Obama

"Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has released a list of $740 million in earmark requests he made in the past three years, and it includes $1 million for the hospital where his wife Michelle is a vice president."

Is this more of what we can expect? Please explain in detail.

[lorinkundert]

Smooth This Obama

"Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has released a list of $740 million in earmark requests he made in the past three years, and it includes $1 million for the hospital where his wife Michelle is a vice president."

Is this more of what we can expect? Please explain in detail.

[lorinkundert]

Smooth This Obama

"Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has released a list of $740 million in earmark requests he made in the past three years, and it includes $1 million for the hospital where his wife Michelle is a vice president."

Is this more of what we can expect? Please explain in detail.

[lorinkundert]

Smooth This Obama

"Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has released a list of $740 million in earmark requests he made in the past three years, and it includes $1 million for the hospital where his wife Michelle is a vice president."

Is this more of what we can expect? Please explain in detail.

[lorinkundert]

Smooth This Obama

"Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has released a list of $740 million in earmark requests he made in the past three years, and it includes $1 million for the hospital where his wife Michelle is a vice president."

Is this more of what we can expect? Please explain in detail.