Israel Matzav

The Democratic party's anti-Semitism problem

Last night in Philadelphia, Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Hussein Obama attempted to defend himself against attacks arising out of his association with his racist, Jew-hating pastor, Jeremiah Wright.

Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama defended his association with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, telling a Philadelphia radio audience Monday that "this is not a crackpot church."

Obama was interviewed by popular Philadelphia WPHT radio host Michael Smerconish last Friday. The taped interview aired on Smerconish's morning show.

Speaking via telephone, Obama said his Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago was a mainstream religious group and reiterated claims that Wright's controversial comments were taken out of context.

"This is a pillar of the community, and if you go there on Easter, this Easter Sunday, and you sat down there in the pew, you would think this is just like any other church."

Wright has stepped down as an active pastor of the church, but Obama said he never heard any controversial comments when he was present at services.

"The ones that are most offensive are ones that I never knew about until they were reported on. . . . I don't want to suggest that somehow, the loops you have been seeing typified services all the time. But that is the danger of the YouTube era. It doesn't excuse what he said. But it does give it some perspective," he said.

And Obama went on to claim that he's not the only prominent Democrat who associates with Wright. So did Bill Clinton, the husband of Obama's remaining rival for the nomination:

Obama said Wright is a respected minister.

"Bill Clinton invited him to the White House when he was having his personal crises," he said.

And in fact, that last assertion by Obama is correct.

A photograph of former President Bill Clinton and Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. has appeared, courtesy of Barack Obama's campaign, as part of an effort to try to shift some of the attention in a controversy that has embroiled the Illinois Democrat for a week.

The photograph was first provided to the New York Times and shows the two men among a group of clerics and others at an annual prayer breakfast in September 1998, just as a report detailing Clinton's relationship with Monica Lewinsky was about to be published.

The Tribune asked Obama's campaign on Monday whether it had any knowledge about a rumor circulating in Chicago that Wright had visited the Clinton White House. Spokesman Tommy Vietor never responded to the inquiry.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, then first lady, was also in the room for the prayer breakfast, according to the Times' report.

Of course, the fact that the Clinton's keep the company of anti-Semites isn't really news. Recall this photo.

For those of you who don't recognize that picture, go here.

And then there's Dhimmi Carter, who continues to find his home in the Democratic party despite his open anti-Semitism and anti-Israel positions.

Has the Democratic party sunk to the lowest common denominator when it comes to denouncing anti-Semitism and terrorism and supporting Israel? Why do so many American Jews continue to unthinkingly pull the D lever every time they go to the polls? Can Joe Lieberman's support for John McCain bring about a change in Jews' knee-jerk reactions? We'll find out in about seven and a half months.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:31 PM