RECENT POSTS
- Free Bird
- The "Good" War
- The Presidential Planner
- Under the Stars, Obama Toasts India’s Prime Minister
- White House State Dinner – Who Made the Exclusive Guest List?
- Admiral Mike Mullen To Geneva for START Talks
- VP Biden to Indian Prime Minister: “You’re the Hottest Ticket in Town”
- FLOTUS on the State Dinner: Like a Swan, "Calm and Serene Above Water, But We're Paddling Like Mad, Going Crazy Underneath"
- White House State Dinner: The Menu, Entertainment, and Decor
- Dan Pfeiffer, White House Blogger
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
Obama's Rabbi Relative
September 14, 2008 11:57 AM
So, nu?
How has this escaped mention by Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in his swings through Southern Florida?
The Jewish Daily Forward reports that one of Michelle Obama's cousins is the most prominent African-American rabbi in the U.S., Rabbi Capers Funnye, chief rabbi of Chicago's Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation.
A shul with soul -- check it out.
Michelle Obama’s paternal grandfather, Frasier Robinson Jr., was the brother of Funnye's mother, Verdelle Robinson Funnye (born Verdelle Robinson).
"Although Funnye’s congregation describes itself as Ethiopian Hebrew," the Forward reports, "it is not connected to the Ethiopian Jews, commonly called Beta Israel, who have immigrated to Israel en masse in recent decades. It is also separate from the Black Hebrews in Dimona, Israel, and the Hebrew Israelite black supremacist group, whose incendiary street harangues have become familiar spectacles in a number of American cities. Funnye converted to Judaism and was ordained as a rabbi under the supervision of black Israelite rabbis, then went through another conversion supervised by Orthodox and Conservative rabbis. He serves on the Chicago Board of Rabbis."
In other Obama-and-the-Jews Democratic fardeiget, a group of Jewish liberals are devising a plan to help Obama win older Jews in Florida.
It's called The Great Schlep, and I have no idea how much of this will actually come to fruition, but the plan is to hit these older Jews where they live by having their grandchildren head down to Florida over Columbus Day weekend to convince their grandparents to vote for Obama.
"If there is anyone a Jewish grandparent will listen to it's their (brilliant, gorgeous) grandchild," writes the organizer. "TheGreatSchlep.com Web site will target, engage and activate Jews 18-24 years old -- the Facebook generation. A viral Internet campaign will allow the Jewish young people, a.k.a. Schleppers, to communicate with and meet other Schleppers. Then, on Columbus Day weekend (October 10-13), Jewish kids from all over the United States will schlep to Florida to spend the weekend with their grandparents, a.k.a. Bubbie and Zadie. Organized dinners at Chinese restaurants, pool parties, rec room discussion groups, etc. will faciliate (sic) intergenerational pro-Obama discussions. The kids will arrive in Florida with the facts about Obama -- facts that will counteract the false rumors many of their grandparents have heard."
Perhaps Rabbi Funnye can be brought on board.
- jpt
September 14, 2008 in 2008: Democrats, Obama, Barack | Permalink | Share | User Comments (236)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Curtis wrote: "...she (Gov. Palin) will be left to depend soley on advisors..." Interesting that you would say that since Sen. Obama requires 300 advisors to help him run his campaign.
Posted by: James Danley | Sep 15, 2008 2:04:01 AM
Nemariam, your argument that Sarah Palin doesn't represent all intelligent woman of America is bogus.
---------------------------------------
Apparently one person CAN represent an entire demographic.
If only the pollsters could find them...
Alas....
Posted by: Leonard Peltier | Sep 15, 2008 1:34:26 AM
Mary said this: It’s hard to believe(but great)that the left is playing the age card heavily now against McCain; They are alienating a very large demographic of voters(50+)" I am over 50 and I can tell you that upon finding Palin as a potential VP, I am terrified that McCain (who on certain issues isnt too conservtive to stomach) picked a really scary nothing headed former beauty queen/hockey mom/pit bull, who is eminently promotable,as seen recently because she is a blank canvase.... I was ,upon learning of this incredibly revealing opportunistic pick, alarmed concerning procession of such an old man. Are we to bet on his health holding? If Palin,heaven forbid, becomes POTUS, she will be left to depend soley on advisors, who are of course unelected. Yes, Palin is ready for the dustbin, and if she and McCain win, so is the USA. A further point, this campaign has become role reversed... its Palin/McCain, so lets ber clear, even the Republican party has all but announced that McCain will not finish his term by pushing Palin to the fore... A small freudian slip, isnt it ?
Posted by: curtis | Sep 15, 2008 12:50:56 AM
Nemariam, your argument that Sarah Palin doesn't represent all intelligent woman of America is bogus. Of course she doesn't, just like Sen. Obama doesn't represent all intelligent men. In fact he doesn't even represent all intelligent African-American men.
No matter how you slice it, Gov. Palin is MORE qualified than Sen. Obama. Gov. Palin may not have any foreign policy experience, but neither does Sen. Obama. Gov. Palin has executive experience. Sen. Obama does not. Gov. Palin has owned her own business so she understands what the average small business is going through. Sen. Obama has not and does not (and he wants to raise taxes for many of them). Sen. Obama's campaign may have 2,500 paid employees and have a budget of some $350 million, but Gov. Palin is currently responsible for 25,000 employees and has annual budget of $10 Billion.
Your VP candidate acknowledged that he was not the best candidate for his position. And Sen. Biden brings more of the same ol' Washington ways to the ticket, which is counter to Sen. Obama's claim for change. On the other hand, Gov. Palin has energized and unified the Republican Party. Sen. Obama has yet to totally unify the Democratic Party. In fact there are still millions of disenchanted Democrats. Especially since learning that Sen. Obama never vetted Sen. Clinton.
Posted by: James Danley | Sep 14, 2008 11:45:53 PM
It's insulting to think that Palin represents me. I'm an intelligent woman in my 20s and I know that she and I do not share any of the same values. I backed McCain but am now backing Obama for this pick.
Posted by: Andrea | Sep 14, 2008 11:06:24 PM
SCARY SCENARIO FOR USA !!!!!!!
MCCAIN WANTS TO WIN AN ELECTION AT WHAT EVER COST EVEN IF IT MEANS LOSING GREAT COUNTRY LIKE U.S.A !!
MCCAIN YOU’RE 72 YRS OLD AND TWO TIME CANCER SURVIVOR HOW CAN YOU PICK SARAH PALIN AS VP YOU’RE BRAIN DEAD …. SHE DOESN’T REPRESENT ALL INTELLIGENT WOMAN OF AMERICA..
Thanks Hillary !!!!!!!!!!
I am with you. Guess what though if McCain thinks that Sarah Palin represent all women including Hillary’s fan he is mistaken.
Since when is “Hockey Mom” a qualification it seems that every woman have a choice What to do with their lives .I’m sorry in order to compete with the big boys you need to work hard and educate yourself.
SARAH PALIN is disgrace to INTELLIGENT women of America. Look the way she answer questions. She is very embarrassing. Every thing is written for her.
You want to be VP to this great nation of AMERICA!!!!!
Hillary ____ Yale Law School
Michelle ______Harvard Law School
Meg Whitman ------------------ CEO of eBay
Sarah Palin?????????
Obama/Biden 08
Posted by: Nemariam | Sep 14, 2008 10:47:33 PM
I have discovered that who you are related to has absolutely nothing to do with how you form your values. The assumptions of a loving extended family where everybody embraces everybody else's belief systems is ---- well -- it's a fantasy. Some of the relatives I really liked (through marriage) - divorced the blood relatives; -- some of the people who are in the family by biology -- well -- metaphorically speaking -- we by virtue of time and distance and conflicts of seemingly insurmountable differences in values --- are not
speaking. It follow that it may be handy to SAY you have a rabbi in the famiy -- or a priest -- or a minister -- or an athiest - but it doesn't follow that you will make decisions that embrace this relatives values - or the countries that they embrace diplomatic relations with.
In otherwords, generalizations are dangerous.
Posted by: Wisdom | Sep 14, 2008 9:25:40 PM
Karl, if you are (or anyone else is) looking for the REAL hope, for the REAL way, then seek Jesus Christ for the REAL change in your life. THAT IS THE REAL TRUTH!
John 14:6 -- "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but my me."
Posted by: James Danley | Sep 14, 2008 9:21:22 PM
I heard Maccain was born in Panama.
Is he eligible to be a POTUS?
Posted by: zen | Sep 14, 2008 9:06:31 PM
Sally,
We don't debate here. We play whack-a-mole.
So grab yer Gallager hammer and get to work!!!
Posted by: Leonard Peltier | Sep 14, 2008 8:41:02 PM
It's really no fun debating when folks who know I might know who they are won't respond. I have an Obama sticker on my car along with my license plate- anyone can find me. I am all roared up and ready to go, if you wear that McCain Palin sticker proudly on your car... come talk to me.... I am eagerley awating a factual debate.
Posted by: Sally | Sep 14, 2008 8:36:59 PM
Between this & Biden we may actually have a shot at Florida...
YES WE CAN!!!
Posted by: Chapman | Sep 14, 2008 8:26:19 PM
BLah Blah Blah...
All these arguments calling Obama a fraud are getting old. I can watch Fox news and here every single point here.
Give this intelligent mind something to work with, a worthwhile debate.
Obama/Biden 08
Posted by: Sally | Sep 14, 2008 8:11:46 PM
correction: if she ends up replacing Obama, McCain and the Reps. . .
Posted by: Emm | Sep 14, 2008 8:09:15 PM
I have a funny feeling, Obama's going to get the axe by the DNC for non citizen status and replaced by Hillary. No wonder her and Bill are shmoozing it up or they would have burned their bridges and bailed after Obama stabbed her in the back. My prediction, if she ends up replacing McCain, the Reps are in trouble.
Posted by: Emm | Sep 14, 2008 8:04:37 PM
CCBoston, just as a clarification, your statement is true for someone being a "natural born" citizen. You don't need to have an American parent in order to become a naturalized American citizen. Of course one must be a "natural born" citizen in order to become President of the United States.
Posted by: James Danley | Sep 14, 2008 6:52:29 PM
S.Albertson,
The link you posted is Obama's "Fight the Smear" website. Hardly a neutral source of information, is it?
If you had studied the lawsuit, you would know that it consists of a number of complaints.
I find the analyses credible, although the first part may be based on circumstantial evidence and hard to prove.
But Philip J. Berg stands on solid ground regarding Part 3, i.e. fraud. He has a copy of Obama's Illinois State Bar Registration and Public Disciplinary Record, where Obama put "none" for the question "Full former names."
Posted by: Natali2_6 | Sep 14, 2008 6:48:16 PM
Wow - HPBoston should really read the US Constitution. I don't know where he/she got the idea that someone born in the US must be the child of 2 citizens in order to be a citizen. Very bizarre. It is true that a child born overseas needs an American parent in order to be a US citizen, but if born on US soil, that is sufficient, and was pre-1984 so I don't where you got this.
Posted by: CCBoston | Sep 14, 2008 6:38:52 PM
Polderboy, "After Gulf War I..."
The 1991 Gulf War was never declared over. We were actually in a cease fire based on several conditions to which Saddam Hussein never complied (in spite of agreeing to do so back in 1991). The UN Security Council spent 12 years diplomatically attempting to force Saddam Hussein's compliance. When all else failed, President Bush rescinded the cease fire and resumed the Gulf War.
Posted by: James Danley | Sep 14, 2008 6:38:23 PM
What can Obama do to prevent his slide into oblivion?
Nothing -- people are seeing through the shallow one and recognize the fact that he's business as usual only bigger! People want change and he's showing he simply cannot deliver!
Posted by: dl | Sep 14, 2008 6:26:35 PM
Post a comment


