Is nothing sacred to Obama?

[Micro]

Remember the whole "private moment" at the Western Wall...

What initially seemed to be a journalistic scoop of dubious moral propriety now seems to be a case of an Israeli paper being played by the Barack Obama campaign. Maariv, the second most popular newspaper in Israel, was roundly criticized for publishing the note Obama left in the Kotel. But now a Maariv spokesperson says that publication of the note was pre-approved for international publication by the Obama campaign, leading to the conclusion that the "private" prayer was intentionally leaked for public consumption....[snip]

Subsequently, it was reported that a yeshiva student filched the note that Obama placed in the wall and then Maariv published it in the next day's newspaper.

For that "scoop" the paper has come under fire. Yediot Aharonot, the country's most popular daily, published an article Friday saying it had also obtained the note but decided not to publish it, to respect Obama's privacy. Other Israeli media outlets initially ignored the story, or picked it up only after the initial publication had triggered a controversy.

"Lord - Protect my family and me," reads the note.

"Forgive me my sins, and help me guard against pride and despair. Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just. And make me an instrument of your will."

However, it now appears that Maariv had collaborated with the Obama campaign in getting the "private" prayer, with its "modest" supplicaton to the Lord, out to the public, buffing his Christian credentials and showing his "humility."

A Ma'ariv spokesman was quoted in the Jerusalem Post as saying that "Barack Obama's note was approved for publication in the international media even before he put in the Kotel, a short time after he wrote it at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem."

The paper added that is was "pleased" with its "journalistic accomplishment."

http://web.israelinsider.com/Articles/Politics/13021.htm

 

[Fred]

It's interesting that "Israeli Insider" would refer to the article in the Jerusalem Post :

A Ma'ariv spokesman was quoted in the Jerusalem Post as saying that "Barack Obama's note was approved for publication in the international media even before he put in the Kotel, a short time after he wrote it at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem."

The paper added that is was "pleased" with its "journalistic accomplishment."

And yet, they left out this tidbit from that same article, managing to cherry-pick quotes from all around it:

Obama's campaign has neither confirmed nor denied whether the prayer published by Ma'ariv was in fact written by Obama. A campaign spokesman, however, made clear that the campaign hadn't approved the publication of any kind of prayer note.

"Prayer notes at the Wall should remain private," a campaign aide said.

(source)

It's almost as if they have an agenda.

 

[imaginative]

However, it now appears that Maariv had collaborated with the Obama campaign in getting the "private" prayer, with its "modest" supplicaton to the Lord, out to the public, buffing his Christian credentials and showing his "humility."

A Ma'ariv spokesman was quoted in the Jerusalem Post as saying that "Barack Obama's note was approved for publication in the international media even before he put in the Kotel, a short time after he wrote it at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem."

Of course it was orchestrated- I hope no one here thought otherwise.

 

[Turnpike Jim]

I had a feeling that was a staged event when I first heard about it. No surprise. I don't think he has real bright people working for him.

Jim

 

[FREEBIRD]

I've long had the suspicion that the only thing sacred to Obama is Obama, entirely aside from the issue of the prayer at the Wailing Wall.

 

[fruit loop]

It was immoral and unethical to "retrieve" the prayer and publish it at all. I don't care WHOSE prayer it was. Prayer is a private matter between a person and God.

 

[BigBadBossyDog]

It was immoral and unethical to "retrieve" the prayer and publish it at all. I don't care WHOSE prayer it was. Prayer is a private matter between a person and God.

Oh, please. Just another photo op. He put it there and made sure it would be found and published.

 

[Turnpike Jim]

It was immoral and unethical to "retrieve" the prayer and publish it at all. I don't care WHOSE prayer it was.

So if the Obama camp approved this in advance, we agree that the Obama is "immoral and unethical"? Glad you are seeing the light.

Jim

 

[sssarawolf]

Of course it was orchestrated- I hope no one here thought otherwise.

You got it, I thought the same thing as soon as I heard about it. And guess what we were right.

 

[kozanne]

Yeah, read about this yesterday. Not in the least bit surprised.

 

[VesperSparrow]

This obama guy is warped. And yes, we can surmise that most politicians are warped, but this guy, with virtually a missing background, no real ancestors or family or past to dig into (like every other candidate we have known) well, it just makes it all the more creepy, all the more sinister, all the more yicky feeling.
Its almost as if his entire life is there, but its not. Like a missing link...can't get anything 'bad' on him, but can't get anything good either...
Like his agendas and everything he stands for is like a chameleon...he changes colors...

The guy ain't right...

vote for him if ya wish...vote for him just because...because in my opinion there is absolutely NO sane reason to vote for him other than he is blatantly telling you that he CAN make change (no mention of how, no mention of making these magical changes through the congress, or anybody else, and irregardless of the wishes of the people)...and he is adamant on the fact that he can...for you, and for me, with no history of doing anything for this nation as a whole..

just be careful what you wish for....

peace.

 

[Oilpatch Hand]

It was immoral and unethical to "retrieve" the prayer and publish it at all. I don't care WHOSE prayer it was. Prayer is a private matter between a person and God.

Could we then conclude that you would also consider it immoral and unethical for Obama (or one of his minions) to provide the prayer to the Israeli press for the crass purpose of campaign publicity?

Yeah, I would tend to think so, as well.

 

[D_el]

This obama guy is warped. And yes, we can surmise that most politicians are warped, but this guy, with virtually a missing background, no real ancestors or family or past to dig into (like every other candidate we have known) well, it just makes it all the more creepy, all the more sinister, all the more yicky feeling.
Its almost as if his entire life is there, but its not. Like a missing link...can't get anything 'bad' on him, but can't get anything good either...
Like his agendas and everything he stands for is like a chameleon...he changes colors...

The guy ain't right...

vote for him if ya wish...vote for him just because...because in my opinion there is absolutely NO sane reason to vote for him other than he is blatantly telling you that he CAN make change (no mention of how, no mention of making these magical changes through the congress, or anybody else, and irregardless of the wishes of the people)...and he is adamant on the fact that he can...for you, and for me, with no history of doing anything for this nation as a whole..

just be careful what you wish for....

peace.

If we weren't smarter than that, one would almost think the Big O is akin to the AC (or maybe they are one and the same).

Nah!

 

[The Cub]

.
He is a Democrat. Honor means nothing. The end justifies the means.

.

 

[blueridge]

.
He is a Democrat. Honor means nothing. The end justifies the means.

.

This is also how he overcame the challenge from Mrs. Clinton.

Dude's got SCARY written all over him...and Mrs. BO is even worse.

Gotta hope for a change and that "Dewey Wins" - if you recall the '48 election.

 

[Dredge]

It was immoral and unethical to "retrieve" the prayer and publish it at all. I don't care WHOSE prayer it was. Prayer is a private matter between a person and God.

If the prayer was writen on paper it was probably carefully crafted by his writers for publication. I have never had to write the perfect prayer but God knows what in your heart.I don't think he likes what he sees when he looks into Obamas .Using God and prayer for manipulation of the masses takes pure evil.

 

[Phil Ca]

As soon as heard hat the scrap of paper was "found" and published I knew the fix was in. BHO had to have expected it to happen and probably written a special prayer fit for publishing.

 

[gunnersmom]

The Bible has some interesting comments about praying loudly in public.

Who is his God?

 

[hawkeye]

From the New Republic - The first to break the story here.


Obama Vindicated

Yesterday, I posted an item about an accusation from Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv that the Obama campaign had leaked a copy of his Western Wall note to the foreign press (rather than Ma'ariv having bought it from some yeshiva kid who stole it out of the wall). After some additional reporting last night, I noted that the story sounded a bit fishy--not only has Ma'ariv not offered any tangible evidence to support this claim, but they also have only made the claim via a spokesman to various Israeli papers rather than printing the accusation in their own paper.

I just got off the phone with a Ma'ariv spokesman who says that the accusation is "completely false," and that he has no idea who these papers were quoting from Ma'ariv. "No official spokesman for Ma'ariv told this to any of the papers." I've got some calls in to these papers to find out where they got the quote. (I'll update here when I hear back.) He told me definitively that "the Obama campaign did not give us a copy of the letter or approve it for printing."

UPDATE 1: I just spoke with an editor at one of the four publications who quoted the alleged "Ma'ariv spokesman." This editor broached the possibility that Ma'ariv was trying to deflect criticims of it by releasing these spurious rumors about the Obama campaign, but upon realizing that they'll have to back up those accusations, is now disavowing them. This editor is going to look into this alleged "Ma'ariv spokesman" they quoted in his publication so we can try to ascertain if this is a Ma'ariv cover-up. I'll update here when I hear back from him and if I get anything interesting from the other publications who also quoted this alleged spokesman.


http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/07/29/obama-vindicated.aspx

 

[Fred]

Unfortunately, your big font won't help, hawkeye. People will believe what they want to (ie, "Obama planned all this!") no matter what the truth is. The original article proves it, and all the subsequent posts prove it.

 

[American Rage]

"The New Republic" is a socialist rag. Anything they print is lie!

Rage

 

[Fred]

"The New Republic" is a socialist rag. Anything they print is lie!

What if the original source, Israel Insider, prints it? Is it a lie then?

Under pressure from mainstream publications, a spokesman for Israel's Maariv Hebrew-only daily newspaper has now denied that the paper ever claimed that the Obama campaign pre-approved publication of the prayer note attributed to him. (source)

 

[Harbinger]

It was immoral and unethical to "retrieve" the prayer and publish it at all. I don't care WHOSE prayer it was. Prayer is a private matter between a person and God.

You assume that the person who wrote it or his political writers.. are a group of ethical, moral, people that actually believes and listens to God and does not have a political agenda.....if this is the case...then I have some.....OCEAN FRONT PROPERTY TO SELL YOU!

Any one else ever notice that there is nothing concrete about this man....ever!

 

[Wardogs]

What if the original source, Israel Insider, prints it? Is it a lie then?

Interesting link Fred.
Their take on it is even more convoluted.
I guess we'll never know for sure...

The "coyness" (as the article puts it) of the Obama campaign is odd also.
But we should shortly find out more:

Shahar Alon, a Jerusalem attorney, has demanded that the Attorney General of Israel investigate the incident with an eye towards criminal prosecution of Maariv -- and Alon has also initiated a boycott of the newspaper:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1005882.html

"Attorney Shahar Alon asked attorney General Menachem Mazuz to launch an investigation against the editor of Israeli daily Ma'ariv, who published the content of the note last week...."

"By making the note public," Alon wrote to Mazuz, "the newspaper violated the law protecting holy sites, several clauses in the penal code and also infringed upon the basic rights of a person's honor and freedom."

"Alongside his petition, Alon also initiated a boycott of the newspaper. In a letter he published, Alon called on all those who felt that the newspaper offended them by desecrating the holiness of the Western Wall, or felt that Obama had been personally disrespected, to refrain from purchasing the newspaper or cancel their subscriptions."

Maariv will either have to defend itself or else plead guilty. Assuming they do the former, they will of course repeat the defense that the so-called "leak" was authorized even before Obama arrived at the wall.

But this time, as part of a criminal probe, the elite media will not be able to stand silent... at least not without cost, as such a brazen attempt to kill the story they started would severely damage their credibilty and make clear just what I personally believe they are trying to avoid making clear:
That this entire event was orchestrated by the Obama campaign.

Numerous newspapers and other media outlets reported that Maariv claims that "Obama submitted a copy of the note to media outlets when he left his hotel in Jerusalem," before visiting the wall.

This is either true or false.

If it's false, why didn't the reporting media who had reporters present with Obama in Israel say something like, "however, our reporter did not receive any copy of this prayer?" That would certainly have put the onus back on Maariv to prove their statement.

Contrariwise, if it's true, then shouldn't the reporting media point that out in the story, thus putting the lie to the Obama campaign's claim that this was a terrible violation of the privacy of his divine conversations?

Yet instead of providing the evidence they clearly had, evidence that would either have supported Obama or Maariv, every last media source chose to stand silent.
Why?
wardogs