The Next Obama Attack Will Be: Obama at the Million Man March

[Emit]

I have it on good authority that the next concerted effort to wound Obama will focus on his participation in the Million Man March. It's something Hannity repeats ad nauseum on his radio show daily. Hannity, was, btw absolutely gleeful that he had caused such a ruckus in the liberal blogoshere today. For the record, his guests today were Rick Santorum, excuse me :puke:, and Juan Williams. I won't waste your time with details, but, :wtf: is Juan Williams thinking?

Anyway, Hannity noted that Fox News will be airing a 'special' program on Obama and The Million Man March. I will not be watching. I was unable to find the dates of this Fox News Alert at their website.

The Bintel Blog picked up on the right wingers' obsession with this earlier this month, and has a good synopsis of it here:

(Edited to add, this is an excellent article, Chicago Reader profile of Barack Obama from 1995, that this blogger linked to below)

Obama at the Million Man March
Posted by Daniel Treiman, April 1, 2008, 2:32 pm
A few right-wing bloggers have begun buzzing over a 1995 Chicago Reader profile of Barack Obama in which the then Illinois State Senate candidate discussed his participation in the controversial Million Man March, convened by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.

The 1995 march drew hundreds of thousands of black men to the National Mall in Washington — and caused a degree of consternation in the Jewish community. The Anti-Defamation League, while expressing support for the march’s goals, took out newspaper ads in advance of the gathering, saying it would be “the largest event led by an anti-Semite in recent American history.” ...

The Chicago Reader profile of Obama ... notes that the then-aspiring politico “took time off from attending campaign coffees” to attend the 1995 march:

“What I saw was a powerful demonstration of an impulse and need for African-American men to come together to recognize each other and affirm our rightful place in the society,” said. “There was a profound sense that African-American men were ready to make a commitment to bring about change in our communities and lives.

“But what was lacking among march organizers was a positive agenda, a coherent agenda for change. Without this agenda a lot of this energy is going to dissipate. Just as holding hands and singing ‘We shall overcome’ is not going to do it, exhorting youth to have pride in their race, give up drugs and crime, is not going to do it if we can’t find jobs and futures for the 50 percent of black youth who are unemployed, underemployed, and full of bitterness and rage.(“)

The (old) news about Obama’s participation in the march is resurfacing as the Illinois senator attempts to move beyond the controversy over the inflammatory rhetoric of his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright (an admirer of Farrakhan). Ironically, however, the Chicago Reader article actually provides some support for one of the claims that Obama has made while trying to address Jewish anxieties about his candidacy — namely, that he has a record of speaking out against antisemitism in the black community ...

Indeed, way back in 1995, the young Obama told the Chicago Reader:

”…Historically, African-Americans have turned inward and towards black nationalism whenever they have a sense, as we do now, that the mainstream has rebuffed us, and that white Americans couldn’t care less about the profound problems African-Americans are facing.”

“But cursing out white folks is not going to get the job done. Anti-Semitic and anti-Asian statements are not going to lift us up….”

~snip~

http://www.forward.com/blogs/bintel-blog/13058/



On an important side note, coincidentally (OR NOT), Fox has connected the term 'Million Man March' with Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr.


I doubt Hillary will likely touch this issue. Bill Clinton "... Endorse(d) Farrakhan's Hate-March" in 2005, and "also retroactively endorsed the 1995 weird-fest..."

Clinton Endorses Farrakhan's Hate-March
By Don Feder
FrontPageMagazine.com | Friday, May 13, 2005

On its website, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) proudly proclaims its mission -- "To stop the defamation of the Jewish people … to secure justice and fair treatment for all."

But when a Democratic ex-president supports a march by the most notorious anti-Semite and hatemonger in America, the ADL runs for cover.

Bill Clinton has endorsed Minister Louis Farrakhan’s Million More March (scheduled for October 14-15, 2005, in Washington, D.C.). The event will mark the 10th anniversary of Farrakhan’s so-called Million Man March of 1995. (The 100,000-man march probably would be more accurate.)

In an exclusive interview with the Amsterdam News, a black newspaper published in New York City (and posted on its website on May 4th), Clinton calls the Farrakhan project "a very positive idea." Elaborating, the ex-president explains, "Jesse (Jackson) and Mr. Farrakhan and Rev. Sharpton probably have some internal domestic differences, but they’ve agreed on" the rally’s importance.

Clinton also retroactively endorsed the 1995 weird-fest, explaining that Farrakhan and friends, "were basically standing up for the dignity of the family and asking African American men and fathers to be more responsible." Moreover, "it was totally non-violent and got a big participation...

~snip~

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=18055

[Bluebear]

1. 'I have it on good authority' - LOL

[Emit]

24. lol

Since Hannity is framing the debate these days and all ;)

[LaPera]

2. Republicans want to project Obama as H. Rap Brown-minus the shades & afro!!

[BlooInBloo]

3. We'll see. It certainly wouldn't be out of character, but we'll have to wait and see.

[DerekJ]

4. What's wrong with the million man march?!!

Ah, Obama is BLACK :scared:

[quantass]

5. Agreed...and it was for a great cause!

I guess we Canadians dont understand thems pesky Yankees

[Emit]

7. That's a very good question, DerekJ

Apparently, it scares a lot of white people? :shrug:

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. One of it's originators was Farrakhan, who has a long history of

anti-semitic statements.

Of course, Obama disavowed Farrakhan months ago, in very unequivocable terms, but that won't stop Hannity and his ilk.

[JoFerret]

14. Actually - there was a lot.

But personally I would be VERY happy not to re-visit it. Big backward step to go there. YUCK.

[cliffordu]

29. Fock!!!! He IS??????

[quantass]

6. The repubs sole purpose will be to paint Obama as a "Black Candidate" -- no doubt

it is the only thing that they can use....they are going to paint him H. Rap Brown daily.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

8. Oh, don't put it past the Clinton machine to try and use this.

They were the ones who circulated emails about William Ayers when Bill had PARDONED members of the Weather Underground. As long as they're campaigning in tandem with McCain against Obama the press will give them a pass on Bill's endorsement of the Million Man March.

[Emit]

30. catburgler, they circulated emails about William Ayers ?

When and where was this? If this is true, the whole thing pisses me off even more.

[malik flavors]

9. Trust me, this isn't going to be an issue. Nobody cares about the million man march.

And there's even that quote showing Obama's support for the jewish community. Hannity's head will explode when once again nobody cares about this stuff he keeps trying to bring up.

[Emit]

12. Hannity is determined to make them 'care.'

He had been hammering the Rev. Wright thing for over a year. When it finally spilled over into more M$M, he was gleefully asking every pollster who were guests on his show what kind of damage had been done by his efforts.

The man is insane.

Today, Hannity was reminiscent of Bush (recall 'catapult the propaganda') as he explained that he had to keep repeating his message until people 'understood' how 'dangerous Obama is'. The man is absolutely insane.

[dana_b]

10. whatever... you know?? see, what the Repubs don't seem to be understanding

is that this time, their insulting fear tactics aren't working. "Ooooo, let's scare the average white person into thinking that Obama is a big, scary black man who is going to destroy their way of life." That crap has worked in the past but now it seems to be back firing. We've seen and experienced big and scary during this past 7-8 years and it wasn't the black people.
Screw the repugs, they're toast in November.

[JoFerret]

13. Jesus - do we now have to endure that?

please say it's not so. Enough already.

[H2O Man]

15. We have been

expecting this. It is one of the things that is being mentioned to the super delegates.

[malik flavors]

16. The million man march was a pretty successful event. Farakahn might have led it, but it wasn't...

a negative gathering.

[Emit]

36. Anything to tie Obama to Farrakhan

http://bobmccarty.com/2008/04/02/obama-organized-farrakhans-million-man-march/

[H2O Man]

37. Right.

I'm not questioing the quality of the Million Man March. Rather, I am making a statement on the quality of the Clinton campaign.

[Emit]

38. And now they're saying Wright was a former Muslim and that Wright and Obama

helped organize the Million Man March:

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/04/wright-obama-helped-organize-march-with.html

and tying it to Hamas: http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/03/obamas-church-newsletter-published.html

[Emit]

39. And, by the way, I'm not saying there's anything wrong if Wright is a former Muslim

Just pointing out how they promote fear through playing on people's prejudices

[EFerrari]

17. Thanks for the heads up. n/t

[redstate_democrat]

18. The Congressional Black Caucus Endorsed the Million Man March.

Trust me, Hillary doesn't want to go there.

[malik flavors]

19. Her husband also endorsed it. It's not an issue. There's probably quotes of her approval as well.

[Emit]

20. If she's smart, and has any integrity at all, she'll sit this one out.

[Emit]

27. Ah, but they really picked up on the Ayers 'thingy' today, didn't they

look at all the posts on 'Obama's Ayers the Terrorist'

This is shameful

[BenDavid]

21. well if he is the nominee then you can bet the 527's, the rnc will

bring all this into the living rooms of all americans. uh huh wright, ayers, farakkhan, and it will not be pretty. I am of the belief the democratic leadership would rather lose this campaign with obama then ever allow hrc to be the nominee. I suspect they have an atipathy towrds both clintons, and would rather lose with this one trick pony then go with a winner.....I have said for months we had this election won until barry decided he wanted to unite us.....and boy, he sure has united us...uh huh right!

[Emit]

22. Does it bother you personally that Obama attended the Million Man March?

Do you think it is a big deal, or just that the Repugs will make it a big deal?

[Emit]

35. You never answered my question

and it was a sincere question

[DemBones DemBones]

23. The GOP will damned sure use this if Obama is the nominee,

along with a lot of other things not discussed at DU. You'd think the DNC would vet candidates but apparently they don't and the Repubs are licking their chops at all they have to use against BO.

Obama is inexperienced and unproven. He's never won an election against serious competition.

[Emit]

28. "...along with a lot of other things not discussed at DU"

Can you give specific examples of what you refer to here?

[BigDDem]

25. I have it on good authority

that your good authority is mistaken.

:rofl:

[davsand]

26. Not only was Obama at the Million Man March, he was there ALONE!

It is ALL his "fault." Well, Reverend Wright probably had something to do with it too...


:puke:



Laura

[Emit]

31. Hannity's quote: "Why did Obama go with Farrakhan to the Million Man March?"

Stirring up shit

[David Zephyr]

32. Reports last month: the Clintons will drop a bomb against Obama between the Penn debate & primary.

And that would be now.

[jasmine621]

33. So even when Bill Clinton supports the efforts of blacks that they deem imiportant

he gets slimed.

[butterfly77]

34. I have been waiting for it,,,

and they will try to beat it to death but, we can stop them....

[Emit]

40. UPDATE to the OP: Race-Obsessed Hannity Tries To Paint Him As Bigoted Soulmate of Farrakhan

Video at link

Sean Hannity, who readily gave Neo-Nazi Hal Turner a platform on WABC radio and who can always be counted on to leap to the defense of nearly any white person caught in a bigoted rant, was once again just as eager to tarnish Barack Obama as a black racist because of his appearance at Louis Farrakhan’s Million Man March in 1995. FOX News revealed that Obama went as an observer and a critic of Farrakhan’s tactics but that did not stop Hannity from a smear-by-association effort that flew in the face of facts and reason. With video.

At the beginning of what Hannity called the latest installment in the "real Barack Obama series” aired during a special weeknight showing of Hannity's America on April 18, 2008, Hannity insinuatingly said that Obama “had some very interesting views” about the Million Man March. Obama’s views were indeed very interesting but not in the way Hannity implied.

Farrakhan was first shown saying, "We are gathered here today not to bash somebody else. We're not gathered here to say all of the evils of this nation but we are gathered here to collect ourselves for a responsibility that God is placing on our shoulders to move this nation toward a more perfect union."

That sounds like the kind of message Hannity endorses but there was ominous music in the background, implying something sinister about Farrakhan's words.

Hannity said breathlessly, "Among the spectators that day, Senator Barack Obama!" A menacing looking photo of Obama was shown. Hannity didn’t mention that some of the other spectators included Stevie Wonder, Maya Angelou, and Rosa Parks.

As the ominous music continued, Hannity said, "We have learned about Obama's attendance from an interview he conducted with the Chicago Reader in 1995… FOX News has learned from the interviewer… that Obama went to the march to quote better understand the movement and wanted to be an observer, rather than a participant." In other words, Obama had expressly distanced himself from Farrakhan even then, long before the 2008 presidential campaign.

~snip~

http://www.newshounds.us/2008/04/20/despite_obamas_criticisms_of_million_man_march_raceobsessed_hannity_tries_to_paint_him_as_bigoted_soulmate_of_farrakhan.php#more



Also posted here at DU in the videos forum:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x121758