In another ridiculously lionizing report, the Chicago Tribune has capitalized on the silly 1998 claim by Toni Morrison that Bill Clinton was the "first black president" by finding an Obama sycophant that is claiming Barack Obama is the "first Jewish president." Will this nonsense ever cease?
Sadly, the report barely mentions the anti-Israel stances that Barack is taking much less the many close Obama associates, advisers and transition team members that are virulently anti-Jew. The piece does mention terror cheerleader Rashid Khalidi, but does not mention folks like Susan Power and Hamas booster Robert Malley, both on Obama's foreign policy team. Any anti-Jewish sentiment that Obama has thus far shown in policy ideas and associates was given little notice by this Trib article in favor of the Jews pushing for The One.
But, this "first Jewish president" claim is the central foolishness here. In fact, to use Toni Morrison's example is not even an apropos comparison. In 1998, Morrison wasn't lauding Clinton as a "black" man as if he was the perfect representative of her fellows politically. It was no honorific.
Here's the part in her piece in which she outlined why Clinton was "like" a black man in her opinion.
African-American men seemed to understand it right away. Years ago, in the middle of the Whitewater investigation, one heard the first murmurs: white skin notwithstanding, this is our first black President. Blacker than any actual black person who could ever be elected in our children's lifetime. After all, Clinton displays almost every trope of blackness: single-parent household, born poor, working-class, saxophone-playing, McDonald's-and-junk-food-loving boy from Arkansas.
You see, Morrison was saying that the evil Republican attack machine was treating Clinton as they would a downtrodden black man. She was not saying Clinton was an honorary black man or one that should be thought of as their best representative at all. She was using the point to push the trope that all whites hate black men and that the attacks on Clinton was similar to how black men are treated by whites.
So, are these guys the Trib is reporting on feel that Obama has been persecuted just like Jews have been to make him into the "first Jewish president" in keeping with the Morrison theme concerning Clinton? If they are, it would be rather insulting. But, they employ even less "intellectual" reasoning applied to Obama than Morrison did with Clinton. They are merely making gratuitous claims, unlike Morrison who at least had a serious point to make, no matter how far off she was in the truth of the matter.
In the end, this flight of fancy is just proof once again that no one really knows anything about this man and are childishly willing to bestow upon him what they want to see, not what he is or is not. And for the Tribune's part, it amounts to simple, gauzy hagiography and not serious reporting.
(Cartoon credit: huffingtonpost.com)



















Editor at Large
Comments Policy
"I use a Yiddish
December 13, 2008 - 06:17 ET by motherbelt"I use a Yiddish expression, "yiddishe neshuma," to
describe him," explains Mikva. "It means a Jewish soul. It's an
expression my mother used. It means a sensitive, sympathetic
personality, someone who understands where you are coming from."
Is Mikva saying that sensitivity and sympathy are Jewish traits????
In the Trib story Mikva also says "He was frustrated," ......"And I remember I told him that it wouldn't matter if your name was Chaim Weizmann [first president of Israel], there are some Jews who won't vote for you no matter what you say because they are Republicans."
Gee, Mr. Mikva...he couldn't get Republicans to vote for him? What about that vaunted "ability to bring people together"?????
Oh, I forgot. He did say he would bring together people who agree on certain things.
Wow. How amazing is that?
Talking Yiddish and
December 13, 2008 - 07:22 ET by Jack BauerTalking Yiddish and channeling Mark Levin -- Obama's a SHMUCK.
And a YENTA.
Thank me for your call, now get outta here!
Now, now Jack... Levin
December 13, 2008 - 14:47 ET by bigtimerNow, now Jack...
Levin would say everything you did...with this exception...
He would say Milhous... not Obama.
Ya gotta' love it!
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
bt -- you're right. I
December 14, 2008 - 05:17 ET by Jack Bauerbt -- you're right. I missed that one.
Though I think ML shoild form a tranisition team and start to transition Milhous into MILHUSSEIN, as it's now okay to say Hussein!
Maybe he's the 44th WHITE
December 13, 2008 - 07:20 ET by Jack BauerMaybe he's the 44th WHITE President. Who knows.
One thing for sure (and despite what the conserefauxtive media big mouths mouth) President Derelect Barack Millhussein Obama is the FIRST openly Marxist-Socialist President of the United States.
If Consistency was a Virtue
December 13, 2008 - 07:46 ET by Retired GeekBarack Obama would be the most virtuous man ever elected President of the United States.
Barack Obama has 'Consistently' shown bad judgment in his choices of friends, alliances and associates.
Rod Blagojevich - whom Obama campaigned for and endorsed - is just one of the many 'Nefarious' characters which Barack Obama has aligned himself.
Tony Rezko - convicted felon - and Obama had several buisness dealings.
Obama started his political career in the home of Bill Ayers - unrepentant terrorist.
Ali Abunimah head of a radical Palestanian group received contributions from Obama.
Barack Obama chose his Mentor and spiritual adviser, Jeremiah 'God Damn America' Wright.
The list seems endless - read about more of them on my blog.
http://hisfacts.blog...
Barack Obama has consistently 'Chosen his friends Carefully' according to him.
What consistency - What judgment - Barack Obama has shown!
How someone with the name
December 13, 2008 - 08:00 ET by SeashellHow someone with the name "Hussein" can be called the "first Jewish President" is really a stretch, don't you think? Mikva needs to get a grip!
Obama
December 13, 2008 - 08:02 ET by totalkaosdaveTotalKaosDave
Let's be honest here, Obama is our first FEMALE president.
Well, he couldn't be the
December 13, 2008 - 08:12 ET by Warner Todd HustonWell, he couldn't be the first Marxist president. Hoover and FDR beat him to that.
We have all marveled at the
December 13, 2008 - 09:47 ET by billbWe have all marveled at the political acumen of the Clintons. Now with the Second Clinton Administration in the White House, I am absolutley amazed at the genius of appointing Barack Obama as their figurehead.
As an American Jew
December 13, 2008 - 11:53 ET by Defector01This is personally insulting, especially with Obama's history towards Israel his odds are greater that he'll turn out like Jimmy Carter.
Just because you find some Obamabot that says he's Jewish doesn't give him any more authority to speak for the Jewish community then I do.
I have only ever made one prayer to God, a very short one: O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous. And God granted it - Voltaire
Death Wish '08
December 13, 2008 - 12:37 ET by Rackie"...the anti-Israel stances that Barack is taking much less the many close Obama associates, advisers and transition team members that are virulently anti-Jew."
Did the Jews vote for HIM because he was a liberal Dem or because he was not GWB?
You know what is really
December 13, 2008 - 14:56 ET by bigtimerYou know what is really infuriating to me...we do not know just how much illegal foreign money was put into his campaign coffers that came from enemies of ours, let alone the groups that hate the Jews and their hatred of Israel, let alone their desire for the destruction of it...plus bundled cash here in the good ol USA from same people...and we never will.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
That stuff about Clinton
December 14, 2008 - 00:11 ET by RR GOPThat stuff about Clinton being the 'first Black President' was among the most stupid I've ever heard coming out of some so-called intellectual's addled brain. I can just envision the elitists gathered about him with glasses of wine and martinis at some soiree in Manhattan somewhere asking this guy to provide more insight ino how he came up with this 'intriguing hypothesis'.
Maybe he always thought that the first black president would be (allegedly) involved with many crimes and possibly murders to cover them up?
We have yet to have our first African-American President. We do, however, have our first African President.
One of the 24% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 89% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
RR... Spot on. "America
December 14, 2008 - 00:22 ET by bigtimerRR...
Spot on.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh