It's an impression that we best quickly correct. Because an African-American's victory as President of the United States is a triumph for every Jewish man, woman, and child.
Shmuley Boteach: Obama’s Victory is a Triumph for Every Jewish Man, Woman, and Child
November 4th, 2008, 11pm, Times Square, New York City — The taxis horns are honking, the young people are jumping. Barack Obama has just been declared President-elect of the United States. Amidst the collective euphoria, a young man on a bicycle sees me and my yarmulke, rides over and says, “Hey man, you didn’t vote for Obama, did you.” Why would you say that, I ask him. You don’t even know me. “Because I’m from Israel. And I didn’t either.” Interesting assumption. That Jews are not applauding the election of America’s first black President.
It’s an impression that we best quickly correct. Because an African-American’s victory as President of the United States is a triumph for every Jewish man, woman, and child.
Yes, I know that many within our community are concerned about Obama and Israel and especially his declared willingness to meet with the Ahmedenijad of Iran. And no doubt, our community will do its utmost to tell him why that’s a bad idea. But that should not change our shared pride in the fact that a special man from a downtrodden minority has reached the highest office in the land.
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When I was chosen to host Shalom in the Home on TLC, I was asked if I would trim my beard to fit in more with American sensibilities. And could we take my black Yarmulke and jazz it up with some color. My name was already weird enough. Why alienate Americans in the heartland further by having those bizarre strings hang from pants while I talked to troubled couples about their marriages. If only those same producers could have known that two years later a black man, with an African name as strange as my own and with a father who was raised a Muslim would be elected President of the United States, they might have thought differently about my ability to appeal to the American mainstream.
How many Jewish men and women changed their strange sounding names to hide their ethnicity? How many were convinced that only by jettisoning ‘Jewish peculiarity’ could they succeed. How ironic that Barack Obama would be the one to prove how misguided they were.
When I served as Rabbi at Oxford, some of the brightest Jewish Rhodes and Marshall scholars arrived at the University with a yarmulke that was quickly taken off. They had no choice, they told me, if they were to get ahead. Likewise, many abandoned Jewish ritual observances, like putting on tefillin, which they saw as backward and primitive. Some were students who nursed aspirations of being President. Sophistication was essential is they were to play a role on the world stage. Now a black man whose Kenyan relatives were today slaughtering sheep and goats to celebrate his victory is the most powerful man on earth.
What Barack Obama has done is remove from every Jewish person, and indeed every member of any ethnic minority, the excuse that they cannot succeed because of prejudice. He has removed all excuses that they failed for any reason other than their own lack of exertion.
The guiding principle of my life has always been the first chapter of Genesis where the Torah declares that every human being is created equally in G-d’s image. As a Jew, I have always loved America, the world’s first modern republic dedicated to the notion that all people are of infinite value and free and that noone is born more royal than anyone else. And Jews have prospered mightily in this country. But against the backdrop of that love of country was the knowledge that just 130 years ago black women were put on a block, their teeth and gums examined, and sold to the highest bidder like cattle, their babies ripped away from their mother’s breast to serve as human chattel. The greatest country on earth guilty of an all-American abomination.
And even after Abraham Lincoln took a bullet to the heard after he had become the great emancipator, the iniquity continued with Jim Crowe laws and segregation. Few of us can comprehend how in our lifetimes a black kid kicking a soccer ball in Georgia in the shimmering heat of August, beads of sweat dripping from his temple, was denied drinking water from a water fountain because of the color of his skin.
And now, the most powerful man in the Universe is a man with black skin. If we in the Jewish community cannot celebrate that achievement, whatever disagreements we may have with President-elect Obama on some important policies, then we have no sense of history.
There are those who believe that the black and Jewish communities share a common history of persecution, that what binds them is the shared distinction of being the world’s foremost victims. But that is a fool’s understanding of our bond. In truth, the relationship between blacks and Jews is a relationship that is built on a shared faith rather than shared oppression, a common destiny rather than a common history, shared values rather than shared interests, and a mutual commitment to social justice rather than a mutual alienation from the mainstream.
We who know what it is like to be targeted for our very being salute a man who caused others to transcend their innate prejudice. And we who know what it is liked to be hated when we have caused no offense pay homage to a man who has caused others to rise above their personal demons and embrace the better angels of their nature.
Three summers ago, I drove my children in an RV out to Memphis, Tennessee to experience the last days of Martin Luther King, Jr. We stopped at the Masonic Temple where he declared, just 22 hours before he died, that ‘tonight I am fearing no man… because the Lord has taken me over the mountain.’ And we stood outside the patio of the Lorraine Motel where an assassin’s bullet took the life of a man who had transformed the Bible into a modern manifesto of liberty. And as I stood at that sacred spot with my children, I read the haunting words on a marble slab that had been put there just one week after Martin Luther King’s death by his dear friend Ralph Abernathy. It quoted from the book of Genesis and the story of Joseph: “Behold, there cometh the dreamer. Come let us slay him and let us see what shall become of his dreams.” Indeed, we have all witnessed the final chapter of what has become of his dreams.
Yitz
Everybody loves a winner, welcome on to the bandwagon.
berry
Shmuley Boteach supports everything that isn’t jewish/kosher, no shocking news here!!!
Obama Hitler Similarities.
Obama’s hand movements, speech style and way of talking really resemble Hitler Imach Shimo. Weird! His Crowds look totally Hypnotized. He want to lead us Somewhere. Where to? Check out the end of his Acceptance speech- He lifts his hand up Hitler Style—- then he waves normaly.
What is goin on in his mind?
thankyou
thank you for putting this story up many jewish people need to read this. the things they were saying was a very big chilul hashem thank you for putting this story up
Chana Z
Oh my goodness. The black community would read this and LAUGH at us. Yes, a black president is an “achievement” for America – BUT AT WHAT COST???? At the cost of our security? Israel’s security and EXISTENCE? At the cost of raising taxes and punishing those who succeed?
DallasJew
berry – u sound jealous. millions voted for obama including 77% of the jewish vote. 77% is a heck of alot my friend and while some of us may miss a few in the brain dept. by and large we do have brains. while many lubabs did not vote for him I as many many others did for the right reasons. have a nice day. oh and I’d go for shmuley’s take far qucker then alot of others around you and I.
SIMCHA
Black Pride is now surfacing…..Our married daughter who has walked up and down on Utica for 2 years, leisurely shopping without any bother, suddenly has been mildly “hooted” + mildly “jeered” as of late by a few black dudes… at certain corners…. There’s this scary feeling that blacks feel more confident and superior now that Obama is in. I only see this as a sign that Moshiach is coming imminently — that once again, Chabad will roll up their sleeves and have to fight yenner fire with an invigorated degree of our chassidishe fire!!!!!!! The times they are changin’ all right. I only pray and hope that Obama will have a positive serious influence on his fellow black followers for peace and justice !! Also again Hashem Yeracheim @ Moishe Rubashkin’s situation.
boruch
Rabbi Shmuley, knock off the preaching to us, and maybe go try to help Madonna out of her Kabbalah Doldrums, ok? We have a rebbe who gave us all the nevuos and guidelines for the coming of Moshiach!! NOW!! I MEAN REALLY NOW!!!
CN
Gam zu l’tovah.
Boteach lives in a flower-power world.
This Boteach guy’s article should not even be on your website-unless you are trying to show what a * he acts like.
This is all so ludicrous-and is one of the main reasons Obama was elected in the first place.
Can you imagine electing an individual to the position of THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES simply to say: Yeah, a black president can be voted in.
So what if he says he’ll talk to this Rosha and that, so what if he has long-standing relationships with people who hate the United States and white people, so what if he wants to raise taxes and encourage people already milking the system and hanging around all day doing nothing while others work hard to get what they earn, who cares??? He can do whatever he wants-as long as we have elected a black person to the presidency.
Hellohhh????
If a black person has what it takes to be a good president then let him be president, but if all you have to say is that “Be proud that we have elected a black person to the White House”, than we are in a very sad state indeed.
Boteach I think you should take an RV and move with your family to Woodstock or perhaps you would like to take it to the Lawn of the White House on January 20 and try and convince our new president not to talk to that Yimach Shemonick. What a pity you weren’t around by Hitl–, perhaps you could have gently convinced him too not to behave the way he did.
You live in a flower-power world.
Esther
Who cares that Obama is black? Voting for a man because he is black, white, hispanic or whateveer he maybe is so simple minded, race is so so irrelevant in America and to me, what matters are the persons values and his idea of a nation. Obama represents the most liberal fraction of the left wing party which something very dangerous to Jews and non-Jews a like. This is no vistory for us Shmuely, sorry!
mina
Remember:
obama says two things
times are changing
yes we can.
someone called me and told me what the rosh yeshiva of cincinati said:
its right along with the REbbe’s nevuah (l’havdil)
times are changing because moshiach is coming and
yes we can –all of us can bring moshiach now!!!!
ker a velt heint!!!
mina
Bochur
Shmuley, can’t agree with you more.
Whether you agree with his policies or not, this is a great day for America. As for Israel, unfortunately Israel will do what it wants no matter who the president is.
Oh please.........
Rabbi – Mr. Botaach your an Idiot
We keep our jewish names and identity even though it does not enhance our stature or position. Not like Mr. Obama who did change his name to bolster his move to become president.
Who knows if Mr. Obama will be good for America and for Israel – who knows? but rabbi Botaiach, shut up. This whole article you wrote was just to enhance your stature and what you have done
so as one person but speaking for many many others
Shamulie shut the heck up.
cher
btw many Jews voted for Hitler y”s and look what he did in the end.
Utica ave
I agree with Simcha’s comment: I walk up and down utica ave alot. and yesterday , election day, there was a man trying to rub it in to me. he was saying his jibber jabber about obama, thinking that it would insult me, however i really could care less eitherway.
see the world is changing now!!
#1 i totally aggree with “cher”
#2 in response to “boteach lives in a flower power world”, no, we did not as a country just elect obama merely because he was black, the PEOPLE of the u.s voted him in and each one had his or her reasons….not only a color thing.
#3 in response to “obama hitler similarities”- where are you getting your crazy hitler/obama similarty ideas from?? have you done your own independent research on obama entirely, and on mccain entirely that led you to these horrific conclusions about him?? i would never ever in my wildest dreams refer to anyone AT ALL as hitler y’s. thats a low level that i will not go to.
BOTTOM LINE:
each and every individual has the right to vote for any candidate that they feel will make this country a better place, while simultaneously not feeling guilty about it because of what outsiders/community/peers may say to him. that is our right/s as american citizen
BrooklyNite
I want to call you a name but I will hold myself back.
Your a dreamer. The essence of the matter is that the American people were duped into voting in to office a Communist who wants to redistribute wealth, who is an Islamist which has some very controversial friends, and has publicaly stated that he wants a civillion task force just as equiped, just as large, just as well funded as our military, and the police; All in the name of national security. As if to say that our Department of Homeland Security, CIA, FBI, Police Department, and Military don’t have things covered-We need Barack “Hussein” Obama’s private task force to depend on for security.
Adolph Hitler in 1933, also had his own Civillion task force. They were called the brown shirts, and they went around smashing storefront windows and crushing skulls.
This is not a race issue. It is paltform issue. If you want a communist, Islamist, dictator in charge of the USA-you got your man, and he is in! If you want someone who will fight for the common man, who is pro-life, who will provide security for us, who will rebuild our money system-a true leader that will lead this nation, and this world into better times than these, then toil in Mitzvos and Torah, and pray to Hashem that he will redeem us immediatley with the coming of a True Leader; The True Leader-Moshiach!
So you see Shmuley, that kid with the bicycle who rode over to you (with his limited knowledge of the issues at hand) has more sense than you in this matter!
Reuven
Thank you Rabbi Boteach and thank you to this site for publishing this article. It is so sad that there is no dialogue in our community. Most political discussions stop before they really begin because of the prevailing attitude of “it’s my way of thinking or else you are obviously a rosha or stupid”.
I agree with the article entirely. As Americans and as Jews we should be very proud of this country for getting beyond the bigotry and racism (like that displayed by comments here) and electing someone for what they say, and their proposed policies.
It remains to be seen how this will affect each of us, our country, and Israel. But I believe Obama’s election is good for the USA, good for the Jews, and good for Israel.
BrooklyNite
Oh,
And Shmulley-Did you enjoy the celebratory gun shots fired into the air at the conclusion of last night’s count all over North Crown Heights, Canarsie, Bushwick… Somewhat Beirut-ish, NO?
But I guess, according to you, as long as it is in the name of Obama’s Victory it is OK. After all this is a Triumph! For “Every Jewish Man, Woman, and Child” TOO, NO???
extremely upset about politics these day
there is absolutely nothing about an arab president taht appeals to me at all….. since he is the pres and now we have to respect him.. my opinion wont change.. once an arab, always an arab.Barack Hussein Obama…. why have people been so blind?? I dont know all i can tell you if we are in for a bumpy ride
aha
Hey Rabbi Shmuley,
Don’t talk to us about politics. I don’t think too many rabbis nowadays have a good idea on the real political arena and what truly goes on in Washington. So this now becomes a personal opinion, and we don’t have to know what you think personally. Just tell us more about kosher sex, since that’s all you know about. For a better picture on politics I’ll speak to members of Agudas Yisroel who are lobbying in Washington or Albany almost every day. They know better what’s going on.
Good luck.
AniLoBoteachBo
BS”D
Shmuley Boteach, do you have relatives left in Iran?
If you do, you know full well that they are not allowed to disagree with your post in the open. However, they are more afraid than usual because they know that the US under Obama will do nothing to help rid the world of the Islamic regime.
Then again, if Obama picks you instead of Moshe Aryeh Friedman as Ambassador to Iran, you may see for yourself how any relatives you may have there are living and thinking today.
disgusted and saddened
cher: couldnt agree more
boteach, go back to tv and leave politics alone. a muslim does not belong in the white house. no questions. unfortunately, i think that the jews and the rest of the country will find that out quite soon. once obama is in, the rest of the world should fear. i, personally, am leaving the country in january if itass not proved hes unfit by then. i truly hope that in five months time, we will still be alowwed access to the world.
who cares who won?
Lev malachim v’sarim b’yad Hashem!
regardless of what you may believe...
OBAMA IS NOT MUSLIM
OBAMA IS NOT MUSLIM
OBAMA IS NOT MUSLIM
can we move on?
Hitler-s Back
To Reuven & Boteach
Just SHUT UP!
lloyd a cohen
It seems to me that Boteach forgot that there was good reasons for the jews of israel to denouce obama and state that Jerusalem is not for sale. Perhaps he forgot some of Obama’s associates like Reverand “G-d Damm America” Wright who no friend of Israel orJesse jackson or the dconvicted t erroist weatherman William Ayers or George Soros the self hating Jew
mushky
btw, when i saw the way obama ymsh waived at the crowd, the first thing i also thought was he’s doing the nazi salute. just with outstretched hand looking around. was very scary. and yes, e/o was definitely hypnotized by him- just repeating yes we can b/c he said it….
It’s very scary and if you didn’t see it, go check it out.
I just can’t wait for Moshiach to come NOW!
Ad mosai!
Aussie Shiela
Shmuely… you’ve got both feet in your mouth again. You never learn.
Interesting Clip........
A Radio personality sends a correspondent out to talk to Harlem voters about Obama. The only twist? The correspondent intentionally attributes McCain’s positions to Obama, even saying “Do you support Obama’s choice of Sarah Palin to be his VP?” Incredibly, it didn’t seem to phase these voters in their support of Obama:
http://blogs4mccain.com/200…
We heard that before...
They said the same thing by Dinkins. They said hey give them a chance, what could happen? Well this is on an international leval. Even Biden warned that Obama is going to be tested. Russia is already planning to move missles next to Poland to counter USA, palasteinians is selebrating the hidden prommisses given to them, etc. There is an appeaser in the white house lets get grab what we can.
Strap in and get ready for a bumpy ride.
Bubby
It’s an affront to print Boteach. His words are only inflammatory and serve no useful or productive purpose. I offer the following site for an article which speaks volumes and refutes Boteach’s warped mentality. Let’s hope more discretion is used in choosing what and whom to reprint in this otherwise wonderful news venue.
http://israelinsider.ning.c…
Sad Sad Sad
Whenever any political conversation comes up on this site, the comments never cease to amaze me.
Hitler, a Muslim, an Arab, a Communist! Secret Police! What planet are you people from? You are my Jewish brothers and siters?
You wanted an old man who probabley wouldn’t live past the first year in office, to be supplanted by an unqualified Petacostal Christian Fundamentalist who’s stated support for the Jews is to convert them before JC “comes back” and the “final conflict begins in Israel”, that’s crazy beyond belief.
If Obama is like anyone, it’s probabley Kennedy who people were afraid of because he was a Catholic and thought that he would take orders directly from the Pope. He also was young and inexperienced, but also offered the promise of something new when it was needed.
As to some of the African Americans who are celebrating; can you blame them. This is the first time in the history of this country that the promise that “anyone” can be president has come true. Give them what they see as their personal victory; imagine if a Jew were elected, wouldn’t you be extra happy. Eventually like us all, I think they will find that chocolate or vanilla, it’s still ice cream.
As for Israel. The election was for President of the United States, not President of Israel. Perhaps if the world respects us more, we won’t need the force we traditionally have exerted in Israel to protect it! You wanted another guy in the White House no one else respected who will bomb anyone who says boo; that’s how we got where we are. This is our best chance to change things to the kind of world we all say we want..and most of us took it with both hands open.
So please save your crazy talk, crazy time is (finally almost) over.
Hail to the Chief
Ben
It’s a shame that this well written article brings out the worst in people with their hateful comments. It’s time for people to be able to disagree with someone and provide a thoughtful rebuttal without all the hate.
LT
IT’S TIME THAT LUBAVITCHERS LEARN A LITTLE BIT OF AMERICAN HISTORY. AND THEY CAN START WITH AMERICAN PRESIDENTS & THE JEWS.
AFTER RESEARCHING IN THIS TOPIC FOR SIX MONTHS THE CONCLUSION I HAD FROM IT ALL:
#1 DEMOCRATS LIKE HAVING MANY JEWS IN THEIR OFFICE. THE ONLT PROBLEM IS THAT THEY END UP GETTING THE MOST LIBERAL JEWS OUT THERE WHICH NOT ONLY DOESNT HELP THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OR ISRAEL BUT IT IS VERY DETRIMENTAL.
#2 DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS DON’T BELIEVE IN THE CONCEPT OF “WICKED RULERS THAT IN EVERY GENERATION WANT TO KILL JEWS”. THEY THINK THAT THROUGH TALKING WITH THEM THEY CAN CHANGE THEIR OPINION ON JEWS AND NOT WANT TO KILL THEM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT A “RASHA IA RASHA” AND THEY WANT KILL JEWS NO MATTER WHAT.
WHICH PRESIDENTS WERE LIKE THIS: FDR, JIMMY CARTER, BILL CLINTON, ALL OF THEM DEMOCRATS.
#3 DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS DON’T REALLY CARE ABOUT JEWS:
WOODROW WILSON LET THE SMALLEST QUOTA OF JEWS INTO AMERICA AS PRESIDENT.
FDR KNEW THE ATROCITIES THAT JEWS WERE GOING THROUGH DURING THE ENTIRE HOLOCAUST & TOTALLY IGNORED IT. HE HAD FOUR OPPORTUNITIES TO BLOW UP AUSCHWITZ AND DIDNT CARE.
JIMMY CARTER HATES JEWS & LOVES HAMAS. WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO SAY.
BILL CLINTON WAS BUDDIES WITH ARAFAT AND WAS EVEN CONVINCED THAT ARAFAT WANTED PEACE WHICH LEAD TO THE PEACE PROCESS WHICH LEAD TO THE INTIFADA.
AND OBAMA WANTS TO SIT DOWN WITH ACHMEDENAJAD. WANTS JERUSALEM TOTALLY DIVIDED. AND HE SURROUNDS HIMSELF WITH JEW HATERS; RASHIK KHALIDI, JEREMIA WRIGHT, NANCY PELOSI, HARRY RIED, AND A BUNCH OF JEWISH LIBELRS THAT FEEL THAT EVEN REFORM JUDAISM IS TO MUCH FOR THEM
teacher
I work in a public school, and today the kids kept chanting things like “Blacks are taking over, white people are over” (and these are the kids who haven’t opened a book since September, ironically). It felt really uncomfortable, to say the least.
hadassah
Can I just say I am utterly humiliated by this thread and very dissapointed in our community. G-d forbid someone googles this, or comes across this, this thread will have people believe that the Crown Heights community is one of bigots, racists, anti-Jewish (yes, Shmuelly Boteach is a Jew – and last time I checked Lashon Harah was still against the Torha) and ultimately you all sound anti-american.
The very country that allows us to openly practice our Judaism, have public Menorahs and aids our Chabad Houses voted Sen. Barack Obama as president. He is an american, voted by the people for the people and whether he muslim, catholic or christian, he is the American President Elect. And good for the African American community, you to would rejoice if a Jew would be placed in the white house, or even when McCain or Bush invited Shluchim. Obama’s win inspires his community, as it does many others that America is the land of opportunity and anyone can acheive. That is what Boteach is writing about, and acheivement is something that we all benefit from – the fact that we have freedom!
I would encourage the webmaster to remove this thread as it reflects negatively on Crown Heights and us Lubavitchers as a whole, that we are so blinded by names, lashon Harah and color, that we cant just congratulate another community, and continue on our way to do mitzvot, which IS what ultimately keeps Israel safe and brings Moshiach.
Personally I think most of you owe Shmuelly an apology.
Shlomo
Crown Heights.info: Why do you print this person’s (Boteach’s) ramblings?
Mush
Since when is the election a public thing. Everyone keep your mouths shut. The matter is a private thing. Posting things like this are asking for irrelevant comments.
QSTUV
Obama winning is is not good for anyone, not Blacks, not Whites and definitely not Jews.
Mushky
These comments totally amuse me. It’s interesting to read what people come up with.
Bochur
You cynics, come out of your box. There’s a beautiful world out here. Barack Obama is not Lemrick Nelson. You guys are pathetically closed minded. You probably get brain washed by Rush Limbaugh and Saun Hannity all day.
Sad Brit
There doesn’t seem to be any other rationale explanation as to why Americans after all they complained about bumbling Bush went and voted bumbling bama then false hope/hype.People only need to look at who he gets massive admiration from and you will see what he will have to live up to for the next 4 years…P diddy,jessy jackson,george galloway,all the heads of muslim states.Its a complete naive person to see signs and just keep chanting “change”regardless.And to Boteach – who cares that a minority gets in its not about that ….he is going to be running the super power of the world(or be not any more)who cares if he/she chinese/hispanic/mongolian its about what his qualities and policies are.try and be smart and look beyond the soundbites.Only time will tell…..by then those voters will be wishing Bush back!!
BoteachRocks!!
Great article! Thanks for putting out the word. This was a victory for America!! The times they are a-changin’ my friend, all for the better….
American girl
This is America and Boteach may voice his opinion as he pleases. I have come to terms that Obama is our president, and it may not be that bad. But Boteach, I dont know if you still do Shalom in the home, I have watched it a few times. I must say it was a good show but who is your fashion consultant? those plaid shirts have got to go!! There are really nice shirts out there with nicer patterns. I shop for my hubby.
Andie
I really do not understand you Americans, Firstly it would help if you could write in correct English. Secondly I think that you should give Obama a chance, I saw on a web site a few months ago that he actually has a cousin who has converted and is now a Rabbi. Shmueli, all power to your elbow in saying what many others already feel. Perhaps the NEXT President might just be a Jewish one if he has the right credentials
Way Off Base
What a joke. Obama has so anglosized his background that prior to the election the black community felt that he was “too white” for their taste. And that should be a lesson to us and to the Jews of Oxford that our background should trump sophistication?! Not much substance to this article.
Although I did not vote for Obama it is someothing to celebrate when the US and A has finally overcome its prejudices and was able to elect a black president. I just hope he does not turn out to be the next Dinkin or Stan O’neil. The stakes are mouch higher with Obama in the oval office.
I am very concerned for our furture based on the platform Obama ran on but now that the election has been decided I hope I am proven wrong. G-d bless Obama and give him the wisdom to lead our country in the right direction and may he be a true friend to the Jewish people and Israel.
To those that are making the hitler comparisons or putting ymch’sh after Obomas name: you are disgraceful.
NOBAMA FAN
hey bochur, I think you should stick to gemarah. you don’t know what your talking about. and you don’t know how to spell.some people are brainwashed by the common sense of what they see with their own eyes and understand with their own minds. Did you hear any of this bama’s speeches? they were full of NOTHING! and when he won the election, in his very first speech that night he already forwarned that he may not accomplish anything in his entire term in office! how cool is that! and all the starry eyed american fools stood there in awe totally oblivious of what he was actually saying. as a second generation american I AM ASHAMED OF MY COUNTRYMEN and do not take pride in saying that I am an american. we have a president who refused to wear the american flag pin on his lapel until he saw that it may loose him some votes, and whose wife could never feel pride in this country, until her husband ran for office. you can call him president but to me he is simply a low class, lieing, cheating, two faced faker who managed to pull the wool over this country by paying off the media (I wonder where he got the fountains of money for all this) to publicize him, and as the old saying goes, “der oilom is a goilom” and unfortunately fell for it. I for one will call him by the name he deserves to be called Hussein obama
Open your eyes
These are quotes taken out of the two autobiographical books that Obama wrote. Food for thought, Mr. Boteach.
From Dreams of My Father:’I ceased to advertise my mother’s race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites.’
From Dreams of My Father : ‘I found a solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievance and animosity against my mother’s race.’
From Dreams of My Father:’There was something about him that made me wary, a little too sure of himself, maybe. And white.’
From Dreams of My Father: ‘It remained necessary to prove which side you were on, to show your loyalty to the black masses, to strike out and name names.’
From Dreams of My Father:’I never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn’t speak to my own. It was into my father’s image, the black man, son of Africa , that I’d packed all the attributes I sought in myself , the attributes of Martin and Malcolm, DuBois and Mandela.’
And FINALLY the Most Damning one of ALL of them!!!
From Audacity of Hope:’I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.’
AniLoBoteachBo
BS”D
I would also like to ask the esteemed Rabbi Shmuley and his fellow travelers if they would also celebrate in the case that a white man would be elected to the highest office in post-apartheid, supposedly multiracial South Africa. This is especially the case given the horrible economic, social and political devastation that has taken place in what was once the most advanced country on the African continent.
Accept it
Unfortunately people in the community think that all black people behave in ways that they hear in incidence that happen here. Most African-Americans are good people. Yes, there are blacks that are taking advantage and, are saying ignorant statements. Most voters made the choice of voting for him because they believe that he has a better ability to CHANGE the way President Bush destroyed our economy. We all try to do the right thing. Let us accept the President-elect and hope he does a great job leading our great country.
LD
Ironic, how people will start their paragraph with Beis Samech Daled, and then write obnoxious insults to the writer of this article. Very ironic.
jpeditor
How’s your love and respect for Øbowmao now, Rabbi? Has he stuck the knife in America’s and Israel back often enough for you?
And for the moron who claimed Bush hurt our economy (maybe you should take Civics 101 – it was a Dem Congress since 2006 that spent most of that wasted money and refused to reign in Fannie Mae and Freddi Mac ), how do you like Øbowmao and his Dem congress FLUSHING IT DOWN THE TOILET and tripling our debt?