"I am very familiar with his (Farrakhan) record, as are the American people, which is why I have consistently denounced it...”
Barack Obama, February 26, 2008
During the campaign, then candidate Barack Obama officially denounced and rejected Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. Nevertheless, it did not stop the controversial minister from lauding Obama as the “Messiah” and basking in the glow of the historic presidential campaign.
With Obama heading for the White House, Farrakhan is assuming a larger public role. Yesterday, he was a featured speaker at the Black World Conference in New Orleans. During his two hour address, Farrakhan said that Obama’s victory was “America’s blessing.” He also told the conference attendees that he believes God secured Obama’s victory.
During his address, Farrakhan spoke warmly of Reverend Jeremiah Wright, who became a household name during the presidential election. Clips of Wright’s controversial sermons were an Internet hit, but they caused much embarrassment for his friend Barack Obama. Similar to his denunciation of Farrakhan, Obama repudiated Wright and the gambit paid off as the issue faded from the campaign.
In the final weeks of the race, both Farrakhan and Wright disappeared from public view and kept a very low profile. They obviously did not want to cause trouble for their preferred presidential candidate. Now that Obama is the President-elect, both feel comfortable moving back into the spotlight.
Some might have been surprised that Farrakhan was given a very prestigious position in the conference. He closed the multi-day conference and was promoted as one of the event’s main attractions. In his controversial past, he has called Jews “satanic,” “bloodsuckers” and has referred to Judaism as a “gutter religion.” He has praised the terrorist organization Hezbollah as “freedom fighters” and has called Hitler a “great man.”
Farrakhan’s enmity is not just reserved for Jews. He has said that white people have “not fully evolved yet.” He also said that whites were “the mortal enemy” and that for white people “murder and lying comes easy.”
Why would any reputable organization give an honored speaking position to such a hate merchant? It is a sad commentary on the State of the Black World Conference that Farrakhan is revered as some sort of visionary or elder statesman.
Farrakhan has made a career of hate and should be shunned, not celebrated as some sort of African American hero. Sadly, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin attended the Farrakhan speech, giving the Nation of Islam leader the respect and honor that he does not deserve.
Barack Obama understands that Louis Farrakhan is a hate merchant and should not be recognized or given respect. Too bad this message is not understood by the organizers of the State of the Black World conference or New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.
Imagine any sort of white “religious leader” making such comments about African Americans. Such a person would be relegated to the ranks of the KKK or imprisoned, not given honorary positions in conferences or shown respect by the mayor of one of the world’s great cities.
Amazingly, during his speech, people in the crowd were yelling for Farrakhan to “teach, teach.” Of course Farrakhan has the ability to teach, but it is the vile messages of hate and racial division. It is more than disturbing that so many people at the conference wanted to absorb such venom.
It remains to be seen what type of access and influence Farrakhan will have in the Obama administration. Hopefully, with his history of controversial, anti-Semitic and anti-White remarks, he will not be called upon to “teach” Barack Obama.
Jeff Crouere is the Host of “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. He is the Political Analyst for WGNO-TV ABC26 and the Political Editor for NewOrleans.com. For more information, visit his web site at RingsidePolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com
What, Farakhan has changed? He has seen the light? Written by Sid
on 11/28/2008
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So what did Farrakhan actually have to say at the conference? Did you pay any attention to his speech or were you solely focused on his history of "hate-mongering" Written by ME2
on 11/26/2008
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Now if we had a White World Conference what would people say? I see that Marc Morial was there as well so this conference must be a joke. Written by Sid
on 11/25/2008
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Jeff, are you implying that Farakhan will have influence in the new administration? You still seem stuck in presidential campaign attack mode. You do a pretty good job of promoting him yourself. Written by David Quidd
on 11/24/2008
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I think people often confuse "racial discrimination" by those in power, to "racism" which is simply the belief that an individual's racial characteristis determines "who they are" and "their rights" (as well as other attributes). Obviously (to me at least) anyone - of any color - who judges others by their racial characteristics - as opposed to their actions and choices - are "racist." I agree with Jeff's take on Farrakhan completely. The link below adresses this topic well I think.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism Written by kpf
on 11/24/2008
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Some self-proclaimed wise man on this site tried to define racism as something that could only exist if you were in a position of power which you could use to mistreat those who are of a different race than yourself. Now that Obama is in office, can we officially call Wright and Farrakhan racists??? Written by
on 11/24/2008
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"I am very familiar with his (Farrakhan) record, as are the American people, which is why I have consistently denounced it...”
