Ari Berman of The Nation on Anti-Obama Hate Campaign Plus AIPAC Video
How long ago was it that I first wrote about the anti-Obama campaign in the Jewish community? Man, did I get skewered, even accused of making the whole thing up.
But now it's an established fact of the 2008 campaign. Obama's opponents are trying to scare the Jewish community by simply lying about his background. He's a Muslim. No, he's an Afro-centric Christian. He doesn't like the Likud party so he won't be able to work with Netanyahu if, God forbid, Netanyahu becomes Prime Minister of Israel (the God forbid is me, not Obama's critics).
Anyway, here is the terrific Ari Berman's take on all this. First his article in the Nation magazine, then an extended version on line.
Racism sure dies hard in this country, if it dies at all.
PS AIPAC is promoting its gigantic Washington DC conference with this video I just received. It starts with Obama, Funny, AIPAC's own video proclaims it as the influential Israel lobby while anytime anyone in the media indicates that there is such a thing, the AIPAC crowd says "what lobby," "what influence," "who us?"
MJ,
Ari was on C-SPAN's Washington Journal this morning.
And MJ, check my post on CNN and Obama on Spencer Ackerman's piece today.
March 17, 2008 5:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
What do you mean by "Obama's opponents?" I think you have to be careful not to smear Hillary here. She has nothing to do with this.
March 17, 2008 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
This current assault on Obama was completely predictable, I expected it to happen during the general, but it is just as well that it is happening now. I think Obama will survive it and he should come out stronger as a result. It is also pretty obvious that the right wing Israeli backers would be distrustful of him and there is no better way to try to take him down (at least in the Jewish community) but to play on the paranoia of the post-holocaust generation.
However, if the this current campaign is successful and Hillary walks away with the nomination, then I fear the division within the Democratic party will be so deep that it will take years to heal.
March 17, 2008 7:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I haven't seen this mentioned before, but there is a parallel here with the California Governor's race between Bradly and Deukmajian.
In that race as you may know race was a major issue but it was hardly addressed openly. Indeed, the polls showed Bradly leading right up to election day, but he lost soundly. This is the so-called Bradly effect where whites will disguise their opposition to black candidates during polling.
But it was well understood that race was an issue during the campaign. One of the more effective TV adds that the Republicans ran was a video clip of Bradly sitting in his church while his pastor was going on in that Southern Black pastor style that most whites find histrionic. This pastor was also saying some pretty radical things if I recall correctly. In any case it was effective -- it reminded the voters of Bradly's negroness, of his otherness, that he didn't share white values. This add went on without comment, at least that I could see, by the Democrats. It just sat there festering away in the body politic.
Many of us were reluctant to back Obama initially because of stories like this, but I have come to believe that this country has made significant progress in the last 20 years and that this can be overcome. But we should recognize that this is something that is real and pretending it isn't happening will not make it go away.
March 17, 2008 7:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe it's time for the Dems to do some direct mail about Hagee and his connections with McCain and AIPAC, quoting the right Reverend Hagee:
Most readers will be shocked by the clear record of history linking Adolf Hitler and the Roman Catholic Church in a conspiracy to exterminate the Jews.” - Jerusalem Countdown (revised edition, 2007, p. 114)The advantage here is that these aren't lies. But then again, AIPAC loves him--what's a little anti-semitic conspiracy theory between friends?
March 17, 2008 11:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
If Obama goes down on the basis of white racism the Democratic party will have lost the vote of the african american community.
Hillary and the Clintons will make that up by pandering to Hispanics. This shift however will result in tremendous racial polarization in America again.
It will be even more polarizing when folks learn about the Puerto Rico shift.
BTW...why is there no story on this on TPMEC:
"The mostly unnoticed switch of Puerto Rico from a caucus on June 7 to a primary on June 1, gives Hillary Clinton a very real opportunity to surpass Barack Obama in the popular vote count. If Senator Clinton can "win" the popular vote, this will provide undecided superdelegates ample rationale to go with the less risky general election option of Senator Clinton. "
When, how and did this shift come about?
I have a sinking feeling about the use of a minister to take down Obama. America will look back on this and know that it was a watershed moment in the history of this country.
When I read numerous posts that actually beleive Ferraro's comments were correct it is depressing. Nothing she said was true.
She claimed if Obama was a white male he would not be where he is...yet we know John Edwards was in the race, with even less elected office experience than Obama.
She claimed that a woman of any race would not be in the race...yet Hillary is a candidate for President.
She claimed Obama was lucky and a concept.
Every single sentence was a lie.
The ironic thing about using Wright to take down Obama on the basis of race is that it makes his sermons prophetic.
He was angered about the social injustice of folks of color and he spoke of how they work twice as hard as the "C" student in the White House and get none of that respect.
If a black man as qualified as Obama who has only know white faces throughout his childhood as the face of love can be turned into a black militant who hates whites, despite his background...there is no hope for America.
I pray that Americans wake up and not allow this country to be divided on race again.
We simply cannot solve the problems of this country as long as we are divided.
March 17, 2008 11:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
March 18, 2008 12:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
March 18, 2008 1:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
tnathan says:
You should know that every single word was a lie. Michelle herself admitted that she got in Princeton in spite of bad grades.
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Nope. Cite a reference please.
What Michelle said was that she knew her grades were better than her brothers and that if he was at Princeton she too could go there.
"If Bill and Hillary Clinton can be turned into monsters,racists who hates Blacks by Obama campaign, surrogates and “progressive” supporters despite their long record of making positive difference in lives of ordinary Americans including Blacks there is no hope for America. The Obama revolution devours its own children."
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Billary were indisputable monsters before they left the WH ...that has nothing to do with the Obama campaign and everything to do with the track record of the Clinton administration and all their scandals and sexual issues.
Bill and Hillary may not be racists but they are most assuredly racemongerers and race baiters. They are using race to polarize the campaign to create solidarity on the basis of race. Bill is a good ol southern boy using the southern strategy and deploying surrogates to race bait as well. The Clintons had excellent support in the African American community until Bill got scared when Obama won IA and was predicted to win NH...Billybob proceeded to race bait.
Having a track record of doing good in America and fighting for social justice for all including blacks does not preclude the Clintons from being racemongeres in their pursuit of winning the Presidency for Hillary. These are mutually exclusive behaviors. Just as a person can display anger at moments without generally being an angry person.
Obama does not dictate the Clintons behavior.
The Clintons are divisive and will do anything to win. Which is proven by Bill Clinton being a guest on Rush Limbaugh.
It is not Obama it is the Clintons scorched earth policy in pursuit of the Presidency AGAIN and building a bridge back to the 20th century.
March 18, 2008 3:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
March 18, 2008 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
MJ. Please go back to your reservation. You are not supposed to talk about the Jewish lobby until elections are over. Jews are scared enough about Obama’s mentor and pastor comments. Obama supporters should be on their best behavior and pretend that they love Israel.
March 17, 2008 11:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tnathan, gotcha with that AIPAC video. I notice from your posts that the only issue that drives your vote is hostility to the idea of Israel-Palestinian peace.
Problem is this, Hillary will also end the occupation (Read the Clinton Parameters speech).
So you'll be marching on DC to protest sharing Jerusalem anyway.
What's your other issue? Do you have one?
March 18, 2008 6:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
The mantra that if Obama does not get the nomination it will divide the Democratic party irreprable borders on BLACKMAIL.
Hillary has JUST AS MUCH right to the nomination than Barack, actually more so. And if you Obamanoids threaten to bolt the party if your "candidate" does not get the nomination is plain old BLACKMAIL.. It is sick.
But that's OK Hillary will win the general without you Obamanoids.
There has been a long-term campaign to drive Hillary's (and Bills) negatives up going back to their days in Arkansas, culmionating in Bill's totally UNJUSTIFIED impeachment.
In actuallity Bill's Presidency was a great 8 years economically and otherwise. Were there failures. I there always is. But you Obamanoids cherrypick this or that failure to demonize the Clitnos.
You are worse than the Republicans in your campaign tactics and your candidate is a phoney whose bossom buddy is a white hating American hating racist. And TPM still touts the guy. You have to go to FOX to get honest reporting on the Revderand Wright and Mr Obama.
March 18, 2008 1:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry Andrew
It is the sense of entitlement to the Presidency that has caused such a problem for Hillary's campaign.
No one has a 'right' to the Presidency. The democratic nominee has to earned the delegates to win the nomination and the votes in the General Election to become Presidency.
Hillary has NO RIGHT to the Presidency. NONE.
In fact, she has less of a right than other citizens because the Clintons have already had a turn in the White House. We do not need a do-over nor an American dynasty of two families running this nation. so, if anything Hillary has less of a right to the Presidency.
You think Bill should not be held accountable for his Lewinsky trashing of the WH and yet you think Obama should be held accountable for what his minister says?
give me a break.
The Clintons need to go home and get off the national stage..Hillary cherry picks what she wants to claim from Bills administration...she claims she did so much with SCHip even though she had not ever held elected office when that legislation passed.
Do we even need to discuss her lack of security clearance for all that foreign policy experience claims during her years as First Lady which amount to a USO tours with her 16 year old daughter in tow and lots of tea and crumpets. O and let's not forget that SPEECH she made in Bejing that she touts despite declaring that speechs are just words.
Hillary lacks the temperament and strentgh of character to be commander in chief. She is exceptionally bright but she lacks judgment and the critical thinking skills for strategic long term thinking to manage massive complex problems.
How do we know this? Look at her vote on the Iraq war and how she was a total failure at healthcare and the piss poor management of her campaign. She ran out of money after IA for pete's sake. She did not even plan to campaign in all 50 states and had no organization on the ground to win despite having been on the political scene with THIRTY FIVE years of experience.
She also fails to learn from her mistakes. Not only did she take us to war without reading the NIE report but she also voted for more war with Iran and she has come back to the universal healthcare issue with MANDATES!!!
Massive complex problems are not her forte she fails miserably at such tasks as she is a wonky detail person who cannot see the forest for the trees.
Hillary is not a strategic thinker and will plunge this nationa into even greater military morass, deeper economic woes and foreign policy quagmires all while making Bush look like a genius.
Just say no to Hillary.
March 18, 2008 3:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Does anyone think this makes the Clinton/Obama ticket more likely?
Maybe the VP slot won't look so bad after all this and he can prove that he is "trustworthy" to those that don't "know' him (like any of us do) after 8 yrs, and then carry it on his own for another 8.
They would make a yin/yang team and be unstoppable with a united party-- if they can get past the hate. Isn't that what he is supposed to be all about?
I mean MoDo and Frank rich might have more boring hissy fits but their days are numbered with bush out anyway.
March 18, 2008 3:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama should not accept VP on a ticket with Billary.
Everyone knows Bill is going to be Hill's VP, National Security Advisor and Joint Chiefs of Staff all rolled into one.
Hillary does not have the self assurance to have someone as bright and politically savvy as Obama for VP she would be too afraid of him and would banish him and send him out to all black events to MC for her at the NAACP, Urban League, NBA and every single black cultural event in the nation.
Even Nancy Pelosi understands that an Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama ticket is OUT.
Afterall, Hillary needs someone who has crossed the threshold to be CinC as VP and she has told the world that only she and McCain have met that bar.
I pray nightly for her to have a stroke to save our party from the meltdown she is creating.
It is as sure as the handwriting on the wall that Hillary will sue about the delegates decision if she is not the nominee.
The Clintons are a pox on the Democratic party at this point.
March 18, 2008 3:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary Clinton's own religious beliefs and activities warrant a lot more scrutiny by the press and the left-wing blogosphere than they've been getting.
There was a big article in last September's Mother Jones Magazine about this subject that revealed information about Hillary's religious leanings that many progressive voters would find very disturbing.
You can read more about it and link to articles on the subject, including the above mentioned Mother Jones article, here.
http://100reasonsnottovoteforhillaryclinton.blogspot.com/2008/03/1-her-christian-conservative.html
March 18, 2008 6:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
MJ writes, "How long ago was it that I first wrote about the anti-Obama campaign in the Jewish community? Man, did I get skewered, even accused of making the whole thing up."
However long it's been, you need to understand that those of us who had taken issue with your initial postings did so not for your having writen about it, but for your suggestion that the smears emanated from within the Jewish community. No one ever doubted that some wingut sympathizers among our goofy Jewish religious and communal leadership would take up these smears and run with them. Trust me, we remember when those who claim to support Hillary Clinton today really skewered her for the traditional greeting she exchanged with Suha Arafat, and turned it into a rhetorical lovelock.
Further, for the record, Ari Berman's piece still does not support any assertions that the smear campaign against Obama originated from within the Jewish community.
March 18, 2008 10:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is being Swift Boated by the MSM.
March 18, 2008 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink