Abe Foxman has become a willing participant in the campaign to tear down Barack Obama. Larry Cohler-Esses reports in this week’s Jewish Week that following two investigative pieces (first and second) published by the right-wing Newsmax site, Foxman denounced Obama’s long-time pastor and spiritual mentor, Jeremiah Wright as a “black racist.” Wright’s congregation publishes a magazine which made an award to Louis Farrakhan. Before the award was given, Wright said the following about the Black Muslim minister:
When Minister Farrakhan speaks, Black America listens. Everybody may not agree with him, but they listen. … His depth on analysis when it comes to the racial ills of this nation is astounding and eye opening. He brings a perspective that is helpful and honest.
“Minister Farrakhan will be remembered as one of the 20th and 21st century giants of the African American religious experience,”
While clearly this statement is disappointing and even depressing considering who Wright is praising, there is certainly nothing racist in it. But Wright also supports Palestinian rights and is highly critical of the Israeli Occupation about which Cohler writes quoting Wright:
According to a New York Times profile last April, Rev. Wright has said that Zionism has an element of “white racism.” Kessler, the Newsmax journalist, quotes Wright saying, “The Israelis have illegally occupied Palestinian territories for over 40 years now. Divestment has now hit the table again as a strategy to wake the business community and wake up Americans concerning the injustice and the racism under which the Palestinians have lived because of Zionism.”
Kessler, who did not interview Rev. Wright, gives no source for the quote…
All of which led Foxman to say this about the pastor:
“I would say he is a black racist. Certainly he has very strong anti-Israel views.”
The worst I would say about the above Wright quotation is that in talking about 9/11 he makes a common error of seeing every major national event through the prism of his own particular ethnic experience, whether it is really relevant or not (one could say that even Abe Foxman is guilty of the same vice in seeing anti-Semites under every bed). To say that 9/11 was in any way connected to the legitimate grievances of black America is downright foolish. But racist?
And as for Wright being “anti-Israel,” c’mon–that statement is no more anti-Israel than anything a center-left Israeli politician or journalist might say or write. What really irks Foxman is that a black minister affiliated with a politician who might become president of the United States holds independent views of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict–views that have not been spoon fed to him by Foxman himself or AIPAC. In this, Wright is the uppity black pastor who won’t follow the cues provided by the Israel lobby.
Cohler-Esses notes that last April, Foxman said the following about Wright:
“He’s for Africa for Africans. But nothing I’ve seen would make me call him an anti-Semite.”
Either Abe has changed his mind or he’s now merely calling the minister “anti-Israel” and “racist,” but not anti-Semitic. The distinctions might be lost on the general public. He must’ve thought better of some of his incendiary rhetoric because he called Cohler-Esses back after the main interview and left this statement saying that while Wright:
“embraces, awards and celebrates a black racist. I think ‘racist’ is going a little bit too far.”
Only a “little bit.” If one were cynical, one could say that this backpedaling might be a deliberate strategy on Foxman’s part. You level a stinging punch using an incendiary term like “black racist” to get the most mileage for your PR buck; and then you backpedal to protect your hiney in case the Black community lashes back at you. Then you can have it both ways: you’ve damaged Wright and Obama, while you can point to your stepping back from the original statement. Personally, I don’t think it washes and I’m hoping the only people convinced by an attack like this are those in the Republican Jewish Coalition.
I found it amusing Abe is setting the terms for Obama to get back into the ADL’s good graces. Jewish penance consists of the following:
“I think the next step for Obama is to challenge his minister on these views,” he said. “He may change his minister’s view, in which case, very good. If not, I think he has an obligation to leave.”
This is where it gets really ugly. When Abe Foxman tells you you have to turn your back on the mentor you’ve known for years and the church which formed you as a spiritual person, you know you’re delving into deeply personal and low-down mean territory. Of course, were Obama to do what Foxman suggests, within a week or a month the ADL would be making some other preposterous demand of the candidate. It’s called the Israel lobby ‘conditioning treatment.’ If you step out of line or even appear to be considering stepping out of line, you get demerits and they want to send you to Israel re-education camp for further indoctrination (better known as an AIPAC-hosted Israel junket).
Obama has denounced Farrakhan. He has said that he disagrees with his mentor’s praise of the Black Muslim. That should be enough for any fair-minded American, Jewish or not. We shouldn’t let the ADL or right-wing scandal sheets set the tone for a Democratic presidential primary or general election.
Abe Foxman should disappear from the face of the Earth.
I hope Obama has the balls to stand up to this disgusting nonsense. I guess we’ll see what he’s made of.
I hope that Obama does too. It’s worth noting that Foxman gave the ADL’s highest award to former President Reagan in 1989. The ADL is no longer a civil rights organization, but an Israel Lobby one. Foxman is a despicable creature. I think that this episode will destroy whatever good reputation that the ADL still might have.
You know Walter, this is going to surprise a die hard jew baiter like yourself but in the circles I run. Being a card carrying member of the LOBBY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Abe Foxman is not seen has being a particularly great guy. He’s actually seen has being a little weak on Israel. Of course has a member of the cabal I would say that wouldn’t I, to throw a guy like you off the track
Bill Pearlman, Who the heck are you to call me a “Jew baiter?” You don’t know anything about me. I think that I wrote here before that my family came to this country to escape Nazi Germany. Apparently, you think that anybody who doesn’t agree with Israel’s occupation of the Palestinians, and our government’s unconditional support of Israel is a “Jew baiter” or a “self hating” Jew if the person happens to be Jewish. Your thinking is the same as Bush and his cronies who think that anybody who doesn’t support him is unpatriotic. I will say that with your thinking, that perhaps you should give up your American citizenship and move to Israel. However, should you decide to do this you will even find many people there who don’t agree with their government’s occupation policy. You see, while I am a Jew, I am a citizen of the world first, and an American second as I live in this country. I don’t only care about Jewish people, and besides our government’s unconditional support of Israel with its occupation and oppression of the Palestinians, is not even beneficial to Israelis, or anybody else. Our current policy is detrimental to the security of the American people.
Walter, I don’t care if your descended from the Baal Shem Tov and they wiped out your entire family at Treblinka. Still makes you a putz. And that citiizen of the world stuff is bullshit. So if you feel better and superior going with the I’m Jewish but I’m one of the good ones. Not like those nasty Israelii’s or the the Jewish cabal from aipac story line knock yourself out. In fact I’ll vouch for you. Your not one of us, your better, more superior. Your a UNIVERSALIST, I stand in awe.
Bill, As I said you should give up your American citizenship and move to Israel and take up citizenship there. As far as where you said “Your not one of us, your better, more superior. Your a UNIVERSALIST, I stand in awe,” I’m not one of your ilk.
Bill you’re banned. If you publish another comment here I’ll delete it as soon as you publish it & keep deleting everything you try to publish. No one calls anyone else the name you used here.
I doubt you’re capable of remorse or have heard of a little Jewish concept called teshuvah. Should you have an ounce of menschlichkeit or derech eretz anywhere in yr body you would ask Walter’s forgiveness. If you apologize I will not ban your ass. If you don’t you’re toast. Your call.
“c’mon–that statement is no more anti-Israel than anything a center-left Israeli politician or journalist might say or write. ”
Richard can you name a center-left Israeli politician who supports divestment from Israel?
Also, while I think Foxman goes too far here, I think it’s far-fetched and conspiratorial to assert that this has anything to do with the “Israel Lobby.” As far as I can tell, Obama has not said or done anything that would upset or disturb mainstream pro-Israel forces. The idea that calling out Obama for being very close to someone who is publicly praises Farrakhan is part of some convoluted plot to make sure he hues to a pro-Israel line is absurd.
Jeez, this “Bill Pearlman” guy is a schmuck:
“they wiped out your entire family at Treblinka”
Even among zealot a-wipes I’ve never heard anything like this.
ellen
Well, at least it’s all interesting, if not wholly enlightening. I only hope – I’ve abjured prayer – that the liberal Jews, like Walter Ballin, of this country who, in my heart of hearts, I know are a majority of their co-religionists will begin to open their mouths in a big way, not just for the healthy exercise doing so represents, but to insist that both for the sake of American and Israeli well-being that Israel subscribe to and practice the demands of international law – immediately. And just maybe Israel, before attempting to stir up war against Iran, should become a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, for whatever it’s worth today. Perhaps such sad exchanges as those recorded above actually play a positive role; at least they represent some kind of dialogue, which is a damned sight better than the oppressive silence that has served over many years now to prevent significant consideration and a potential just solution to a hideous and dangerous situation in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
http://www.mybarbaricyawp.net
I sent what Pearlman said to my brother. This is what he said “The Pearlmans of the world are idol worshipers. Judaism recognizes the objects that support religous practice can become idols, i.e. menorahs, tafilin, talluses, etc., including now the “State of Israel.” This state is the latest golden calf.”
Could there be any truth to the idea that Bill Pearlman is actually a sock puppet for David Duke and created to make Jews look bad for the benefit of the anti-semites out there no doubt taking pleasure in Bill’s commentaries? Nah, I know enough boobs like him to know he is not alone. His questions challenging folks to back up their arguments can actually be quite useful, but his actual positions are really quite ugly and clearly not representative of the Jews that I know. Yes, Norman, we need to shout down the Bill Pearlmans of the world quite vociferously. If we don’t someone else will, and frankly its the responsibility of the humane supporters of Israel and Palestine to make it clear to the Bill Pearlmans that they represent a radical sect that does not represent the views and desires of the majority of Jews.
Richard – A question for you and your commenters: What would likely occur if the Israeli state negotiated a peace agreement with the Palestinians that included the return of at least a significant portion of the actual settlements to the Palestinians, amongst other things, such as a sharing of Jerusalem? I imagine that this would occur in exchange for flexibility on the Palestinians’ part on the return of refugees.
Would such a decision spark actual civil war in Israel with Jew fighting against Jew?
If so, how would that play out in the USA?
I didn’t mention this issue & obviously I was talking about Wright’s views of the Occupation. If you read Wright’s statement he does not overtly come out in support of divestment though you may infer that fr. his statement. But no, no center-left Israeli politician would support divestment. However, Wright is not a center-left Israeli politician. He is an African-American minister. And regardless, I don’t see support for divestment as anti-Semitic & certainly labelling him a black racist for supporting divestment is an idiotic position if that is Foxman’s view.
That’s precisely what Foxman HAS done here. He has picked a fight with Obama in order to drive a wedge into any support he might have among Jews or other progressives. You must be wearing very dark glasses not to see that.
“That’s precisely what Foxman HAS done here. He has picked a fight with Obama in order to drive a wedge into any support he might have among Jews or other progressives. You must be wearing very dark glasses not to see that.”
Richard, I think that Foxman is going to fail at that, and as you said people who would fall for that kind of stuff wouldn’t vote for Obama anyway and would vote Republican. So far, I haven’t seen or heard what Foxman said in the mainstream media. Nevertheless, if there are more attacks like this, Obama should fight and not ignore them like Kerry ignored the swift boat attacks until it was too late.
Walter: I don’t think the problem is merely whether this particular issue has traction NOW. If Obama wins the nomination or is a VP candidate it’s what will happen LATER that matters. The opposition research folks in the Clinton & various Republican campaigns are trying out these themes now to see what resonates. So if this one does you’ll be sure to hear about it later during the general election. That’s what worries me because the stakes are even greater then.
Richard, I agree with you and I am worried about this. That’s why I said that I hope that Obama and his top advisers are prepared for more of these smear attacks, and that Obama will be ready to fight back and hard.
What do you guys see Obama being able to do? Is this also a time when American Jews and certainly ADL constituents should stand up and condemn those ugly smear tactics.
Let’s put a stop to this so that future candidates aren’t in a position to have to react?