Washington (JTA) — A packed auditorium was waiting for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), but he had something to say first to American Jews.
“Before we go, I’d like to add one last comment,” the Democratic presidential hopeful told the aide in a conference call with the Jewish news media Monday morning. “My strong and deep commitment and connection to the Jewish community should not be questioned.”
The call was about to end after about 20 minutes of questions, but then Obama said he wanted to address “a constant and virulent scare campaign via the Internet that has particularly targeted the Jewish community.”
“It states that I’m a Muslim, that I was sworn into my Senate office on the Koran and that I do not pledge allegiance. It is very important for everybody to know that it is fake,” he said.
“I never practiced Islam. I was raised by my secular mother. I have been a member of the Christian religion and an active Christian. I was sworn in with my hand on my family Bible and have said the Pledge of Allegiance since I was 3 years old.”
Such refutations are not new. Two open letters issued recently from nine Jewish organizational leaders and from seven Jewish senators, including Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), repudiated the e-mails.
But Obama’s decision to tackle the issue himself, according to some observers, suggests his campaign is concerned that it could hurt him.
Twenty-two states are scheduled to hold Democratic primaries or caucuses on Feb. 5. Several have large Jewish populations: New York, California, New Jersey, Illinois, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Arizona.
Obama likely has a lock on Illinois and his main rival, U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), is expected to win New York. In the others, Jewish voters could be crucial.
Even before the anti-Obama e-mail campaign intensified, one poll found that Clinton commanded a higher favorable rating among Jewish Democrats.
The survey was commissioned by the American Jewish Committee and conducted in November. It found that 70 percent of Jewish Democrats viewed Clinton favorably compared to 45 percent for Obama.
During the call, Obama reviewed the statements his campaign has proffered to Jewish voters since his first campaign foreign policy speech at an American Israel Public Affairs Committee event in Chicago.
Obama noted International Holocaust Commemoration Day, held Sunday, and recalled his visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum when he visited Israel in 2006. He also spoke of Israel’s approaching 60th anniversary.
Obama also mentioned his tour of Israel’s north and his meetings with civilians who had suffered from Hezbollah rocket attacks.
“We’re going to ensure Israel’s qualitative military superiority in this difficult neighborhood,” he said. Obama repeated his commitment to Israel as a Jewish state.
Obama also recognized that the Jewish community worries also about “the overall trajectory of American domestic policy and international policy.” He noted the deep support he had in Chicago’s Jewish community.
In discussing the praise that some officials in his church, Trinity United, gave to Louis Farrakhan, the anti-Semitic leader of the Nation of Islam, Obama said, “My church has never issued anti-Semitic statements, nor have I ever heard my pastor utter anything anti-Semitic. If I had, I would have quit the church.”
On the current peace process, Obama said the Palestinians had to contain terrorism before Israel made substantial concessions.
Obama also addressed concerns about differences he has emphasized between himself and Clinton on Iran policy, particularly his pledge to reach out to Iranian leaders in his first year in office.
“Iran’s possession of nuclear weapons would not only be a threat to U.S. interests and destabilizing to the region but would also be an extraordinary threat to Israel,” he said.
Obama backed sanctions, but also said, “The key is to give Iranians incentives to behave differently.”
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