I don't have a hard time believing Sarah Palin is a anti-Semite! In fact, I would be surprised to find out that she actually wasn't. Most fundamentalist Christian's are. I was raised in the fringes of that religion and know how people like that think. It's something that runs through the whole religion. From what I have been able to see that religion hasn't changed in the 50 years since I was forced to practice it. The only reason they bother recognizing the Jewish religion is because of the Bible their faith is based on. Otherwise, Jews would be like every other religion as far as they are concerned...a non religion!

But, I find Sarah Palin more offensive due to her attitude! There is something about her attitude that turns me completely off!!! She has the same 'holier than thou' sanctimonious attitude every pro lifer does. In fact, most fundamentalist Christian's have the same attitude. You don't have a right to your belief's in their world. They don't respect any other belief's but their own. End of the story! But, I find it offensive.

can you say the same for McCain?

I don't know about Sarah Palin but Obama has gone out of his way to court the Jewish vote, including clear statements of support for Israel in a speech to AIPAC. If that's anti-Israel, what does pro-Israel look like?

Right-wing Christians, like Sarah Palin, are indeed anti-semitic. You cannot take their purported support of Israel at face value. The only reason they support Israel is because they believe if Israel is strong then the second coming of Christ is at hand. Their support of Israel has nothing to do with the Jewish people. It has everything to do with Christ returning to earth. Evangelicals believe that when Christ does return that all Jews will be condemned to Hell. And that is just fine with them. How is that not anti-semitic?

I'm with you on almost everything you said, *except* the idea that Obama's perspective on Palestine is going to be informed by the heated animosities between black and Jewish populations in Chicago. Yes, those animosities exist. But I don't see why we should assume that these conflicts have influenced Obama one way or another; that just seems like a leap without a foundation. I mean, just because he taught at the U of Chicago law school where there are many prominent Jewish scholars, that's not a reason to assume he's pro-Israel (or not pro-Israel).

I think I understand your basic point, which seems to be this: unlike people in other parts of the country, Obama has been exposed to people who are sympathetic to the Palestinian people, not JUST the pro-Israeli perspective. But it seems a little screwy to argue (if you were) that people like Farrakan or people who resent Jewish business owners are going to supply a helpful perspective on the Palestine-Israel conflict.

What seems most promising to me about Obama is his calm, reflective approach to tough international problems. I don't think local Chicago animosities (which, let's face it, have currents of anti-semitism in them) are going to direct him.

Whatever you can say about Palin's supposed anti-semitism is nothing but rank speculation fueled by the powers that are seeking to destroy McCain's appeal. Only the most gullible would fall for it. The evidence concerning Obama's less than forthright commitment to Israel stares you in the face: Farrakahn, Rev. Wright, the Hamas endorsement, his documented association with PLO members. None of that seems to matter. Jewish-Americans are among the most reliable Democrat voters and among the most liberal. It should surprise no one that they would do out of their way to support Obama. The historical analogy, sadly, is that of Nazi Germany. The Jews there considered them Germans first and foremost and thought the Nazis would respect their loyalty. Obama's ascendancy will only embolden Israel's enemies and lead to more not less pressure being put on the Jewish State.

From a historical point of view, Jews and Moslems have largely gotten along, while Christians have relentlessly persecuted Jews. Often, Moslems have protected Jews from Christians. The last 60 years have been a major aberration in Moslem-Jewish relations, of course.

Still, you can't blame Jewish voters from being suspicious of a right-wing Christian fundie. They've got nearly 2000 years of history that supports their concerns.

In re: '"What I hear is she's an awful anti-Semite," George Friedberg said as he sat curbside in his Escalade. "She won't be getting my vote."'

This assertion -- unchallenged and unsubstantiated by Tristram Korten -- is typical of so much "reportage" about this presidential campaign. Why is the allegation of one George Friedberg any more worthy of consideration than McCain's that Obama pals around with William Ayers?

What I hear is that Salon.com is, well, fill in the blank. It doesn't much matter what I hear. What matters is what can be alleged and then confirmed.

So, would you mind finding out for sure if Sarah Palin is an antisemite? Inquiring minds want to know.

I only wish the election were today so we didn't have to put up with any more of this nonsense. It is incredibly depressing how low the McCain/Palin machine will sink as they attempt to secure their victory at any cost.

It actually smacks of McCain's late-stage involvement in the Keating 5 scandal. This is an op-ed reprint gives you a little bit of the flavor of what was going down back in the eighties.

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1989-11-29/news/mccain-the-most-reprehensible-of-the-keating-five/1

a video of Obama being magically protected against witchcraft by an African holy man, who incidentally goes on to slur the Israelites. The republicans would have that on every channel 24 hours a day.

i assume she might have met lieberman by now, but as mayor of wasilla, governor of alaska, or member of her church i would imagine the number of jews she became familiar with was pretty low. black people, too.

See: http://www.snopes.com/politics/mccain/vacation.asp

I'm not in love with the prospect of a McCain presidency, but unverifiable innuendo is no better than Swift Boating.

Lets stick to facts. There are plenty of them.