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There seems to be a lot of online comment about the recent exchange between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton concerning Louis Farrakhan's declaration of support for Obama. Most comments that I have read about this exchange consider Hillary's part to have been less than classy, thereby awarding this debating point to Barack, as did Norm:
Suppose it was that stellar feller Ahmadinnerjacket who announced to the world that he supports Obama's candidacy? Would it still be sufficient for Obama to merely denounce his antisemitism? Or would it be more appropriate for Obama to reject his support, as in, “Take your support and shove it in your dinner jacket!”
Seriously, Obama's first response about Farrakhan's support was, “I denounce his antisemitism, but I can't tell him he has no right to think I'm a nice guy” or words to this effect. I take this to mean he (Obama) denounces antisemitism, but he is not above accepting the support of an anti-Semite, if it will help him win the nomination of his party and the election that follows. Perhaps that is not what Obama meant to say, because he finally conceded to Clinton that he both denounces and rejects Farrakhan's antisemitism (though it was not clear to me that he was also rejecting Farrakhan's support).
Barack Obama conceded charmingly, and the audience applauded. But I think Hillary Clinton was right to point out the equivocation in his statements.
There seems to be a lot of online comment about the recent exchange between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton concerning Louis Farrakhan's declaration of support for Obama. Most comments that I have read about this exchange consider Hillary's part to have been less than classy, thereby awarding this debating point to Barack, as did Norm:
“To me it comes across as an attempt on her part to score a petty electoral point, where classy would have been to affirm a community of viewpoint between the two of them.” — Norman Geras, February 28, 2008.Nevertheless, I wonder if Hillary's point was neither 'class' nor 'crass', while Barack was trying to receive a 'pass'? This reminds me of the funniest bumper sticker I have ever seen. It was on a car in the vicinity of Columbia University during the wild and woolly 1960's: “Gas, grass or ass. Nobody rides for free.” But, I digrass [sic].
Suppose it was that stellar feller Ahmadinnerjacket who announced to the world that he supports Obama's candidacy? Would it still be sufficient for Obama to merely denounce his antisemitism? Or would it be more appropriate for Obama to reject his support, as in, “Take your support and shove it in your dinner jacket!”
Seriously, Obama's first response about Farrakhan's support was, “I denounce his antisemitism, but I can't tell him he has no right to think I'm a nice guy” or words to this effect. I take this to mean he (Obama) denounces antisemitism, but he is not above accepting the support of an anti-Semite, if it will help him win the nomination of his party and the election that follows. Perhaps that is not what Obama meant to say, because he finally conceded to Clinton that he both denounces and rejects Farrakhan's antisemitism (though it was not clear to me that he was also rejecting Farrakhan's support).
Barack Obama conceded charmingly, and the audience applauded. But I think Hillary Clinton was right to point out the equivocation in his statements.
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