Obama's answer on Farrakhan

Posted: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:10 PM by Chuck Todd

From NBC's Chuck Todd
Why didn't Obama simply say he rejected Farrakhan's support? That's an answer he's going to wish he had over.

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Comments

This question is completely irrelevant. Would Hillary get the same question if she received the same type of unsolicited support? He clearly answered the concern that he has never backed Farrakhan's beliefs. Absurd question.

JW, Puyallup, WA (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:36 PM)

Farrakhan is an American citizen. Like it or not. Accepting American support is what the elections are about. Is it not?

Kevin Pryor Washington DC (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:39 PM)

I'm watching on TIVO time, so I'm a bit behind, but as David Gregory also pointed out, there are substantial questions about his affiliations with Farrakhan, and now I'm even more concerned, even though I’m not Jewish or necessarily pro-Israel. Obama’s attempt to parse this was so obvious that all three people at the table with him immediately noticed it.

Though Hillary gets a lot of grief for being a "mean lady" she was very (perhaps overly) generous in allowing him to try to strengthen his denunciation of Farrakhan. I still don't buy it, and tend to think one’s first answer is really more of the truth, particularly with a slick, uber-rhetorical, unvetted candidate like Obama.

Hillary is really elevating her esteem tonight.

Christophe (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:40 PM)

I am recording the debate so I can watch it tomorrow after work...

I went online today and got some facts with regard to the vote on Oct. 11, 2002- the infamous vote for Hillary...when she voted to invade Iraq. Guess what folks, Obama was not sworn in until January 2005. Of course he missed out on that vote. How come no one has called him on this? Obama keeps telling us he did Not Vote Yes? He could not have voted he was not a member of the US Senate yet. Who knows how he vould have voted. Am I missing something here I also saw Obama's voting record and found he has voted on many an occassion as Present and neither NO or YES vote?

Hillary is a very smart woman. She is tired and I don't wonder why. The media keeps bashing her when ever they can.

Janet Levy, Woodacre, CA. (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:41 PM)

If you'll notice, it was how Obama keeps the young voters. Obama is the latest fad. Could he simply have answered yes or no? Yes he could have. But instead, Obama plan is to stretch out a simple question with a four minute long reply, knowing, by the end of his reply, the young voters will have become so bored with his answer, they forgot the origional question. Need you all be reminded, Obama began his answer by saying he cannot reject someones vote for him. Pretty cut and dry!

Rob , Belvidere Illinois (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:45 PM)

Reject and renounce is to refuse. To rebuff to snub. I am not sure what it is Obama said and Senator Clinton intervened? I am still recording for later.

Janet Levy, Woodacre, CA. (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:47 PM)

I also read that the Klu Klux Klan is supporting Obama for President. I didn't hear anyone asking him to denounce this group.

It doesn't matter if the KKK or Farrakhan's preference is for Barack Obama to be president, there is no need for him to reject everyone whose views may not coincide with his.

Barack Obama will be President of one nation that encompasses all the people of all races, religions, political parties and so on,regardless of whether or not they voted for him, like him, agree with him etc, or not. If he rejected everyone for having opposing views, there wouldn't be to many people left to vote for him.

Lyn, MD (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:59 PM)

I think Hillary did great. She pressured him on taking a stance on Farrahkan, apparently it looked like he didn't wanted to. His answer should have been straightforward and not hesitant. Obama, this has cost you!!

Maria (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:01 PM)

Lyn, MD (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:01 PM)

I think this was a race baiting question to divide blacks to stop Obama's momentum. Louise Farrakhan hasn't said a negative anti-semetic comment since the million man march. And if I'm not mistaken he apologized for saying some of the things he's said. So Tim Russett using the fact that he even supports Obama was racist. He didn't ask Hillary about the KKK saying they would support Obama over her for office. Then she could have DENOUNCED oops REJECTED white racist people. But that would have killed alot of her vote base.

Greg Reynolds, Atlanta, GA (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:03 PM)

He dilly dallied around the question. Obama continues to state nothing but rhetoric and wonderous promises. All I hear is "blank, blank, blank....hope, hope....blank, blank, blank...yes we can."
Obama will surely help us get us back on track with
the global economy, help our ailing automotive
giants, bring jobs back to the US and
keep us competitive with China. NOT!!! GO HILLARY.

Kenny Kansas City, OH (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:10 PM)

These elections are not about accepting support, they are about gaining support. Support is generally something that you petition, not receive as a byproduct of your race.

The question was clearly a religious dig (rather than one of race), and there was no substantial concern to support it. It was an absurdly unconventional line of questioning that only proved to support Obama's campaign in that it had absolutely nothing to do with any issue on the People's agenda. The same People that will help elect our next President.

I'm quite sure that the Jewish community as a whole wasn't concerned in the least. Where, exactly, did this question became of National concern? The obvious answer is that it is of no concern at all. It was a complete waste of valuable debate time. An absurd question.

Oddly enough the answer Obama gave amounted to points in his column only after Clinton chimed in. The only news, is that which supports the ideal that Hillary doesn't know when to keep her mouth closed.

JW, Puyallup, WA (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:10 PM)

Kenny Kansas City, OH (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:10 PM)

I hope this will make the American people read more about Obama's pastor & church. I have, & I was really alarmed.

BKC Tuttle OK (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:16 PM)

JW, Puyallup, WA (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:27 PM)

It is unfortunate that Senator Obama would be pushed into a corner to reject the support of Minister Farrakhan. Beyond anti-Semitism, the question and this country, white America, has always sought to differentiate and divide the house negro from the field negro, the strong articulate African American politician from the black conscientious religious leader, the challenger from the bargainer.
The question was simply disrespectful to blacks across the country, and it was just another way to divide the unity displayed within the black community. If they can’t get us “reject” the support of our own, our “embrace” of our own will look as though we have supported every ideology good, bad, and ugly of that individual.
Such denunciation and rejection is what keeps white Americans feeling safe in placing us in power and guilt free from her past towards blacks. The sad reality is that some white Americans will not sleep at night know a Black man with a name that sounds Muslim is too much. So their mentality is “we have to divide them before they become stronger than us and seek to remove us from our seat. The very seat that they have only stolen, killed and destroyed to get.”
Good try…but you are going to have to try harder. Barack Obama will be the next US President, and it will be no surprise!

Barack Supporter, Atlanta GA (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:31 PM)

I have the TV on still after the debate it's around 11:25 with Chris Matthews (a most biased horses ass) and I am listening to all the MEN, they had a token two women on, they gave them around two minutes, on MSNBC blast into Hillary Clinton it is really quite amusing , they are all but spitting on each other, they are like hungry dogs with one piece of meat left.

They even put on Rev. Jesse Jackson to tear off what was left of her back side when they got done with her!

Anyone notice Hillary Clinton got the only applause?

Gender Bias is still alive and well on MSNBC!

Tim Russert the only" BIG FISH "as you so gleefully put it (I thought you were going to get up and skip across the stage) is you!

The only fair journalist ( yes he is a true journalist) on this show is Dick Gregory, he makes me proud!

suzanne Hawk Chuluota Florida (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:35 PM)

Rejected, turned down, denounced, renounced, deplored, kaput. Good. Next!!!

Why do we analyze the tone of individual syllables when the stated phrase was concise, succinct, and even, to the point...

Ken, Chicago, IL (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:39 PM)

As far as i am concerned, Obama suckered Clinton into Obama making a Sister Soulja moment. Best demonstration of winning by conceding an opponent's point ever.

WC (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:43 PM)

Here's the exact transcript. The reason Clinton made her comment is because at first, Obama did not renounce or reject Farrakhan. He mumbled a pretty lame answer.

RUSSERT: Do you reject his support?

SEN. OBAMA: Well, Tim, you know, I can't say to somebody that he can't say that he thinks I'm a good guy. (Laughter.)

M Cohen Westchester County NY (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:52 PM)

Thank you Senator Clinton! Obama needs to refuse the endorsement of man who preaches hate. And he needs to question his affiliation with his Church and Pastor who also called Farrakhan a man who epitomizes greatness.....Way to go Hillary!

Marc Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Sent Tuesday, February 26, 2008 11:58 PM)

I think what Obama was trying to say was that he would "denounce" Farrakkhan's support (and the votes of all of his millions of followers).. which really means he would accept, (but not reject) their votes, and all the nice things that Farrakkhan and his followers say about him, but would openly condemn (to the public), their support at the same time.., which would be like somebody giving you a million dollars, and you would tell them, "you should not be doing that, it's really stupid and wrong, you are a real idiot, and deranged but I'll take the money anyway"

I don't know why my Jewish mother-in-law was insulted by his comments.

Laura Elizabeth, Coral Springs, Florida (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 12:02 AM)

The idea is to bring diverse people together for the common good even if not in total agreement. Any politician who rejected the support of every American who held a repugnant view would never win and 3/4 of the people who post here would be rejected. Who is being the idealist now? You should condemn the repugnant view but accept the honest supporter; we all have our flaws.

nuanced (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 12:41 AM)

HRC's insistence here that denouncing wasn't the same as rejecting brought up some uncomfortable memories of discussions over what the meaning of the word "is" is.

Brian, Missoula, MT (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:07 AM)

LOL. You Obama supporters are so funny. You are all hot and bothered that your messiah is finally, finally having to answer tough questions. Oh, my friends, this is only the beginning. He will eek out the nomination, and the republicans will be TEN FOLD as hard on him as the evil, big bad Hillary Clinton. You crybabies.. better get over it.

Obama supporters Kill me. (Sent Wednesday, February 27, 2008 9:05 AM)

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