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jennifer arroyo grande ca — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:24:13 GMT

Delusional that he absorbed this blow. He sounded like Bush trying to explain his point.

Assuaging Jewish fears

joe, manchester — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:26:57 GMT

diffused? I think he made her look silly and petty while cementing his support for israel.

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michael,ca — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:27:02 GMT

where did this come from?

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SammyAL — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:27:12 GMT

They should be. Rev. Wright (Obama's pastor) has publicly stated that if they knew Obama's positions vis a vis Nation of Islam-they would desert him instantly.

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Shtuey — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:27:26 GMT

Before Obama was in love with Israel he was in love with Edward Said.

American Jewry ought to be aware of where his sympathies truly lie:

http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article6619.shtml

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Gina Walker, Fort Washington, MD — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:28:37 GMT

I agree David. I think Barack did a good job of "rejecting and denouncing" Farrakhan.

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John D, Los Angeles California — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:28:45 GMT

Race baiting and playing to racial fears may be an effective tactic, but it is still unseemly. Trying to elicit denunciations to drive wedges into a consituency she lost smells desparate regardless of Obama's handling of it. HRC may be in danger of losing much of the 10% of the African American vote she clings to.

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Wendy Waterman, Wisconsin Rapids, WI — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:29:39 GMT

I want to know more about his position on his church's Black Values System and is this a form of racism against caucasians? Would a caucasian candidate be considered racist if they attended a church that was all white and had a White Values System?

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russ,san antonio, texas — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:29:45 GMT

Why link him? Because they are both black? Bad questions by Tim R

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Catmom, Houston, TX — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:32:11 GMT

I wonder why the media didn't broadcast the endorsement of Louis Farakan for Mr. Obama like they have all the other endorsements?

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Thedigi Talhobo New York, NY — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:32:35 GMT

The debate has become the difference between "denounce" and "reject." What a disappointment. She's right though. He's playing as much "old politics" as she is.

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Brandon, Sacramento — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:32:37 GMT

So to know somebody that knows somebody is now guilt? Fears of a minority candidate are coming to light this past week...

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Laura, Houston, TX — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:39:12 GMT

David Gregory, see the next blog statement. Obama won that one!

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Robert, Chicago IL — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:39:55 GMT

Wow you guys don't see how all of this ties together? Hillary releases the picture of Obama dressed like the 28 hijacker in the same week that Farrakahn endorses him? This was clearly an attempt to cast BO as a radical musilim cleric with ties extremist groups, and the scary part is that it might just work!

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Thomas, Cedar Rapids, IA — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:41:04 GMT

When will Obama denounce the racial comments from his church?

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Roscoe — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:43:48 GMT

Russert hit Obama with a Farrakhan one-two sucker punch. Obama took it on the chin and answered from the heart. Watch Obama's support grow now.

The Republicans are probably ticked off that Russert telegraphed their blow.

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C R Green, Atlanta, GA — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:44:22 GMT

God bless B.O. for being willing to put himself forward and take on all the CRAP that needs to come to the surface in America. It's about time we grew up a bit, put some of the past behind and got a better picture of ourselves as a nation and a people in a world of nations and peoples. I think he's got the goods and the grace to handle it.

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Claudia R. — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:44:24 GMT

Obama is really good at getting out of near misses. He may not know much about what is going on in the world but he has the character to handle it.

Assuaging Jewish fears

Cynthia McMurray — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:44:32 GMT

I could tell Obama was sincere about the Jewish people. He didn't just denounce, he talked about how Jewish people helped the black civil rights movement and how their had to be healing. Good for him!

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Rosemary, California — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:45:19 GMT

This Farrakan thing is just another distraction to test Obama. As toxic as Farrakan is do people out there really think Obama would touch him even if gold were poured on him? I see Clinton did not hesitate to pile. Most Affrican Americans don't agree with Farrakan. Do you see the Nation growing by leaps and bounds?

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C R Green, Atlanta, GA — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:46:08 GMT

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Dawoud — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:47:27 GMT

I am Jewish, and I think his answer was well put for denouncing Farrakan. Go Obama.

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Judith Holtzman — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:49:31 GMT

Having a candidate hesitate to denouce AND reject Louis Farrakhan's support is a deal breaker for me. As an Orthodox Jew myself, Obama's membership in an extremist church directly supports the claim that Obama is anti-Semitic as well as racist. Just by Obama's membership in the Trinity United Church of Christ, whose magazine just honored Louis Farrakhan, speaks for itself.
Jews for Hillary '08.

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Duke, Amsterdam, NY — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:54:02 GMT

Semantics? Russert didn’t know the difference between hypothetical and “real,” while Obama thought the proof was “in the pudding,” instead of “in the tasting.”

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Lori Wright, Indianapolis, IN — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:01:15 GMT

A show of support can come from anyone. That does not make it "gospel" for the person receiving it. At what point will the media stop proliferating racism as worthy opposition? Would the same questions and dialog occur if Minister Farakan had announced his support for John McCain?

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kc albuquerque nm — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:15:08 GMT

i have been waiting but still don't see any questioning of David on the POV - every Israeli i've ever met in the US has been astonished at the prevailing media pro-Zionism because that is not the prevailing view in Israel, remember Olmert makes Bush look popular w/his ongoing under 10% approval rating - please David, assure us that you've been talking to some everyday orthodox, reform and secular Jews, some people other than Podhoretz' crowd?

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Jammetrymon, Denver, CO. — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:42:56 GMT

That was a waste. I hereby reject and denounce the prospect of listening to someone whining about who wins the coin toss, and whether one should reject any support that was never offered in the first place.
Obamee dont play dat!

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xraydoc, San Jose, Ca — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 06:53:33 GMT

Obama will win the nomination just like he won the debate.

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Liz, Newark,CA — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 07:06:03 GMT

For someone who is paraded as the ' inspirational speaker' the semantics do matter.
Rejecting the support of a divisive personality like Farrakan is absolutely necessary for somone trying to unify the country much less someone running for the presidency.

Literally millions of people denounce the views of people like Farrakhan -- That's not unique -- What was needed from Obama was a clear response to the endorsement by Farrakan- Obama clearly waffled and did not have a clear answer on this. He needed to reject the support or endorsement by Farrakan and had to be coached to do that by Clinton.

This is his lack of experience -- right here between making good speeches and taking the right action

Assuaging Jewish fears

J chicago il — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:15:06 GMT

Who really cares about Israel? Seriously? They have no tactical importance for the US whatsoever.

Now evryone is going to pile on and say that they are a strong ally in the region. I doubt it. All we are is an ATM for them, whenever Israel needs money either our government gives it to them, no questions asked, or AIPAC fundraises for them. They aren't the only democracy in the region by the way, and to say that they are our only ally in the region is a falsehood and a slap in the face to Turkey.

If people are so worried about Israel, then they should move there. I believe the money we spend on Israel can be better spent at home, besides it will give us a better standing in the worldview. We won't look like we are turning a blind eye towards the bullshit that Israel does, that which we ignore.

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Average Voter — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:09:10 GMT

What about Arab Americans? The last time I read the Census there are more Arab and Muslim American citizens than Jewish citizens. What are our options? Why is it political suicide to criticize Israel?

Shtuey above me is obviously a hate monger, Edward Said was a professor of english literature at Columbia University. Is it a crime in america to be friends with people of arab heritage? Can I not watch Monk on tv without my patriotism being questioned?

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KJ, Dallas, TX — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:20:45 GMT

The only fears that some Jewish people might have are people like you and your publicity hungry news station who consistently continue to race bait.

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S.B. Stein E.B. NJ — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:40:47 GMT

Has Obama always been a supporter of Israel's right to exist. There are questions and rumors out there that Obama may have to deal with about the subject of Israel. If there was something in his distict that he went to that supported the Arabs, then he should clear the air about that. To have people worried that Obama might not support the only real democratic country in the area is a concern.

For those that think supporting Israel is a crime, I ask you about the surrounding Arab countries. Do they allow the freedoms that the Israelis do? Could anyone do what they can do in Arab countries that they can do in Israel like protest the government or have a different political party?