Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Rahm Emanuel's Father Problem
Rahm Emanuel is his own man, with an identity distinct from his father's. He is not responsible for the actions or opinions of Benjamin Emanuel, a Chicago pediatrician who worked in the 1940s with Irgun, the militant Zionist group that committed acts against Palestinian and British targets that have been widely categorized as terrorism. (In 1938, according to the scholar Avi Shlaim, members of the group attempted to ambush an Arab bus, an attack that failed when a grenade did not detonate. In 1946, members of the group bombed the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, killing 91 people.)
But that does not mean that Rahm Emanuel, or Barack Obama for that matter, can easily ignore the fact that Benjamin Emanuel recently said a nasty thing about Arabs in the Israeli press. This is from the Jerusalem Post's account of an interview Benjamin gave after news of his son's appointment to the Obama administration was announced:
In an interview with Ma'ariv, Emanuel's father, Dr. Benjamin Emanuel, said he was convinced that his son's appointment would be good for Israel. "Obviously he will influence the president to be pro-Israel," he was quoted as saying. "Why wouldn't he be? What is he, an Arab? He's not going to clean the floors of the White House."
In a letter sent Tuesday to Rahm Emanuel, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee asked the congressman to "disavow and repudiate these remarks publicly." Over the weekend, I asked Rep. Emanuel's congressional office if they had any response to Benjamin Emanuel's comments. An aide sent me this statement:
When it comes to Israel's security and America's partnership with Israel, President-elect Obama doesn't need Rahm Emanuel. President-elect Obama's commitment to Israel is steadfast and unwavering.
It is unlikely to be the last word on this subject.
UPDATE: Statement from Rep. Rahm Emanuel's office (released Thursday afternoon): “Today, Rep. Emanuel called Mary Rose Oakar, President of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, apologized on behalf of his family and offered to meet with representatives of the Arab-American community at an appropriate time in the future."
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Michael Scherer is the White House correspondent for TIME. He previously worked for Salon.com, Mother Jones, and the Daily Hampshire Gazette. A native of San Francisco, he graduated from U.C. Santa Cruz and Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. Read More » Follow Michael Scherer on Twitter
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Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Wait, so both Emanuel and Obama are their own persons, but they better be expected to repudiate a statement by Rahm's father, or else...something.
Why? So we can all pretend things are hunky-dory in Israel?
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Help me out here.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:28 pm
No, he is not responsible for the opinions of his father. This isn't the first time, though, that the sins of the father have been visited on the son. I would just as soon this is the last word on the subject.
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And since you don't think he's responsible, Michael, why are you bringing this up to us? It's designed to tear down Rahm Emanuel, and for no other reason, and you're apparently happy to oblige. This won't surprise many of your commenters, as you know, but it does surprise me.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:28 pm
At least we know that Rahm's personal charm is genetic!
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Speaking of "sins of the father," are Jenna and Barbara disqualified from ever holding an executive-level government position?
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:34 pm
paliinatowel: that is not a nice thing to say.
Rahm, however, is very handsome and I think Scherer is jealous.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Cliff, The comments are spreading online, with significant viral energy. Rahm's father gives the clear impression that he is claiming to speak with inside knowledge about Rahm's intentions in the foreign press. There is a real danger that many people, especially in the Middle East, will think that Benjamin is speaking for Rahm. Such confusions could be damaging in the long run, not just for Rahm's reputation but for the Obama administration. It is also a confusion that is easy to quash.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:39 pm
The comments are spreading online, with significant viral energy
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Says the author of the piece at TIME Magazines website. Too perfect.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:39 pm
The problem isn't that Emanuel's father made some stupid remark, the problem is that some people somehow think this has anything to do with the way Obama (or anyone) would govern.
The politics of guilt by (distant) association have got to stop. The way to make it stop is to stop giving it currency.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Schnorer's word soup would make more sense to me if Emanuel's parentage had previously caused any difficulties for the Clinton administration. I don't believe it did. If it didn't then, why would it now? And if the precise effect of Emanuel's father upon US-Arab relations is zero, what's the point of the article?
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:44 pm
The politics of guilt by (distant) association have got to stop. The way to make it stop is to stop giving it currency.
BINGO. I don't think Scherer gets that though?
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Michael: I can buy that. Thanks for the clarification.
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It still seems strange, though, to worry about giving the impression of pro-Israel bias, when all our Presidential candidates are required to swear allegiance to Israel.
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Not a rag on you, that's a rag on our political process in general.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Furthermore, is the McCain campaign not over yet? Repudiate your reverend! Repudiate that guy you served on that board with! Repudiate that highly respected member of Congress because he said mean things! Repudiate Rahm's dad because what he believes will somehow become a comprehensive part of Israeli/Palestinian strategy!
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REPUDIATE DANGIT!!!!!!
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:46 pm
I understand where you're coming from, Kathy et al., but isn't it good for us to know the background behind what will probably become a conservative talking point (even though this very blog entry may feed the beast)? That way we can refute it more easily. I really think that's probably all MS meant to do: give us the context.
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Call me naive, but...
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Mike Scherer,
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First off the comment has been covered by Politico since last week. Second of all there are no inside "intentions" in Rahm Emmanuel's father's statement. There IS a nasty smear against Arabs as people only fit to clean the floors of the WhiteHouse. But both Barack Obama AND John McCain expressed over and over and over again during the campaign that they would be steadfast in their support of Israel. As a matter of fact John McCain and the RNC spent a great deal of time effort and money trying to convince Jewish voters that Obama would NOT be pro Israel. So how in the hell is Benjamin Emmanuel's father saying that in fact Rahm would influence Obama to be pro Israel which he has already pledged to be in the first place, some kind of controversy?
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To think I was actually trying to defend your ability as a journalist yesterday. Good grief man grow the phuck up and find a story that isn't fed to you by Drudge!
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:48 pm
1. "The Borgen Project has some good info on the cost of addressing global poverty.
$30 billion: Annual shortfall to end world hunger.
$540 billion: Annual U.S. Defense Budget."
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:49 pm
MS the only reason that these statements sound like the father is speaking with inside knowledge is because you and likely the rest of the MSM choose to see it that way. Anyone else with a parent, or sibling, or any other family member understands family dynamics and this sounds like exactly what it is a father speaking out based on who he thinks he raised his son to be -- pro Israel. Was there any doubt going in that Rahm Emanuel is pro-Israel? Please when Obama said it was time to put an end to immature politics he wasn't just talking about the GOP he also meant the MSM who insist in focusing on trivialities instead of issues that really matter to our society. so how long will it be to the next forum at the Nuseum so the MSM can apologize for its dreadful coverage of the campaign?
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:53 pm
MS
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Rahm's father gives the clear impression that he is claiming to speak with inside knowledge about Rahm's intentions in the foreign press.
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What a ridiculous sentence -- how can an impression by definition be a clear indication of intention of a claim?
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I don't like to pick on you MS, but you make it so easy (okay maybe I do like it).
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Every President and senior White House personnel have had to cope with loud mouthed fathers, mothers (recall Barbara Bush on Katrina refugees in Texas), sons and daughters and assorted scounderls who try to create business opportunities - Billy Carter and Libya. We heard about Prof Khaladi, Prof Ayers is going on ABC tomorrow,and on and on. Your subsequent post defending your original piece is really sad. By the way the Jerusalem Post is very much against a settlement to the Israel-Palestine issue. You can confirm this by talking to Conrad Black, a one time owner of the JPost, currently a guest of our prison system. Or ask JPod.
We have the 2012 Presidential campaign underway egged onn by Blitzer, lauer and Larry King. Will you guys ever stop dishing our dollops of trivia.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:54 pm
"The comments are spreading online, with significant viral energy"
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I checked some sites-Drudge, The Corner, Atrios, Sullivan, and TPM-and found nothing. I see sg saw it at Poltico a week ago.
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MS, what was the motivation for this post? How did this subject come across your radar?
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:55 pm
What was nasty or a smear? He didn't suggest that Arabs are only fit to mop the floor of the white house.
What he did was confirm that his son is - newsflash! - pro-Israel ("What is he an Arab?") and that he would be in a position of influence on the president ("He's not going to be mopping floors at the White House.”)
Jeez.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:55 pm
And yes, he made these comments last week, and they were reported on last week, why are you just getting to them, MS?
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:56 pm
By the way Scherer
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Since we are talking about repudiations and denoucements....
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Why didn't you call for John McCain to repudiate and denounce Joe the Plumber, a guy McCain said he was taking to Washington and said was his hero, for saying that if Obama got elected it would mean death to Israel not once but several times on FoxNews?
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Ill be over hear holding my breath waiting for a reply
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I'm putting the odds at 70 gazillion to one that we'll ever see a "John McCain's Joe the Plumber" problem from MS.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Off topic
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I found this a little amusing. The comments section is funny too
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http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2008/11/12/cracking-the-code/
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:59 pm
And Lastly I'm with Sg and Cliff this story is truly absurd..
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Not really germane but I am going to fit the line "significant viral energy" into my dinner conversation tonight.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 3:05 pm
What does Mel Gibson's dad think about all of this?
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I'm sure Micheal is noticing the same irony that I am. After 18 months of having to repudiate rumors that he is a secret Muslim on a mission to throw open the secrets of the White House to the Calipahate, Obama is suddenly forced to repudiate the notion that he is an anti-Arab racist. I certainly can't fault MS for finding it noteworthy.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Just a quick clarification: My problem is with the state of our politics, in that politicians are expected to repudiate family members for having inconvenient opinions.
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I don't have a beef with Scherer on this one, I don't think he's got an ulterior motive for posting it, and I thank him for responding to commentary.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I think PNNTO and other folks have a good question - why do this post now MS? And why do it at all? And where was your post on GHW Bush's father's connections to Nazis? And John McCain's father-in-law's connection to organized crime?
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We could play this game all day long.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Dirks @ 3:11 may have written the most charitable sentance ever.
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I'm sure Micheal is noticing the same irony that I am.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 3:22 pm
On embarassing family connections: I hear that Jeb Bush has an older brother who is a real #### up.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 3:25 pm
If only people on the left could be as careful about what they and their family members and acquaintances say as those on the right, like Joe McCain, Pastor Muthee, Reverend Hagel, Sarah Palin, Barbara Bush, George Allen, Pat Robertson, George W. Bush, Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, Michele Bachmann...
Really, if you want to start inventorying stupid comments (and Benjamin Rahm's comment about Arabs and 'cleaning floors' was incredibly stupid) then let's keep a full and accurate accounting.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Actually, the John McCain father in law question is a serious one. He was involved with mobsters, that helped fund his rise as a beer distribution magnate, he gave McCain a cushy job. It was his money that essentially bought McCain his first congressional seat. McCain moved into his district in the house the day the previous congress person retired with Cindy using daddy's money to buy it for cash.
Yet Rahm Emmanuel's dad is worth covering. Why is that?
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Paul Dirks
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The only problem is its NOT Obama thats being asked to repudiate the comment. Its Rahm Emmanuel being asked to repudiate his father which is ridiculous of you ask me. Now I think most of us take issue with THIS statement from Scherer justifying why he posted about the comment.
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Rahm's father gives the clear impression that he is claiming to speak with inside knowledge about Rahm's intentions in the foreign press.
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Thats a patently ridiculous justification in my opinion and thats why I said so.
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Also after taking a deep breath and getting a different perspective on this I think it might be an even dumber topic.
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The natural inclination is to link Ben Emmanuel's statement about mopping the floor with the statement about Rahm not being an Arab. But, and I stress that I am just giving an alternate view, what if his statement about Rahm not being an Arab was solely supposed to be tied to his statement about Rahm being pro Israel. As in "why in the hell WOULDN'T Rahm be pro Israel, he isnt an Arab duh". And the comment about mopping the floors comment was just a stand alone comment meaning Rahm Emmanuel wasnt going to the WhiteHouse to be a stump on a log or a yes man.
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Actually it makes a lot more sense than thinking about it the other way. But we are conditioned now to look for the worst in people.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 3:31 pm
To illustrate my point further allow me to move a few words around and see if it doesn't change the perception of what he meant.
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Benjamin Emmanuel:
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"Obviously he will influence the president to be pro-Israel. Why wouldn't he be? What is he, an Arab?" he was quoted as saying "He's not going to clean the floors of the White House."
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Paul D. Very good point
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Suzie - sometimes it seems that I defend Michael once a post, at least. I think he's a terrific writer, does a thorough job of researching, and is fairly balanced. He was, after all, assigned to cover the McCain campaign, so he wrote about McCain a lot. For all those reasons, I'm especially annoyed when it seems like he's gratuitously spreading bad rumors.
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Michael - A post with Paul Dirk's point would have let you bring this up without seeming to make sure we knew every detail. And yes, I know you made clear Emanuel fils isn't responsible for emanuel pere (if I'm not mixing my metaphors here).
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Michale,
What a cheap shot. When will you wingnuts go away? Enough already. Let's get on to the real business of real issues in a civil manner.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 3:42 pm
While Congressman Emmanuel is not responsible for teh commenst made by his father, as an elected official and not as a Chief o fstaff he should distance himself from such ignorant commnets. When Jessi Jackson sr made his famous commnent during the campaign, his son distanced himself from it. What would have been the reaction had this commenst made about another ethnic group?
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 3:43 pm
What's he going to do, turn Rahm from pro-Israel to super-duper pro-Israel?
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I'm continually fascinated by Scherer's selection of topics. But let's address what he decided to write about today.
First off, as a Jew steeped in heavy "Exodus" pro-Israel propaganda at my Hebrew school in the 1970s, I take issue with labeling Irgun as "terrorist" organization without any further nuance or context. But I understand that's a difficult topic.
Second, I completely agree with sgwhiteinfla, and I have no problem with the father's comments when read fairly, as I believe she does above.
Third, even if his father was a conservative in the Israeli political sense, of which there are more Jews here of that persuasion when it comes to Israeli politics than there are in Israel, does anyone feel MS has made a convincing case for why or how that matters to Rahm's duties to Obama?
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 3:54 pm
todd
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Ahem... that would be HE not she lol
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 3:56 pm
toddandincharge, Ask yourself, honestlty, had the following comment been made by and Arab whose father is serving as the Chief of Staff for the President of USA " "Obviously he will influence the president to be pro-Arab," he was quoted as saying. "Why wouldn't he be? What is he, a Jew? He's not going to clean the floors of the White House."
What would you have felt and wold you reaction be? Just be honest with yourself..
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Lets get two points out of the way:
1: The comment was unambiguously offensive.
2: per the Update, Rahm indeed apologized.
That should be the end of it.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Wouldn't it save time to be critical of Rahm Emanuel for bring pro-Israel because he's pro-Israel instead of because his Dad is? It seems like that would be a shortcut.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 4:10 pm
It is okay if Rahm favors Israel because Obama is a Muslim and pals around with terrorists. Or so I've heard. They'll cancel each other out.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Complete the following sentence (my answer is in parentheses): I am worried that Rahm Emanuel's Dad will influence him to be (what he is already on public record as having been throughout his 20 year career in politics).
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 4:15 pm
I wonder if this reassures Joe the Plumber or is he still maintaining that a vote for Obama was a vote for the death of Israel? The continuing education of Joe Wurzelbacher.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I see your point easam, and I understand Paul's view too. I just think you might need to hear it to see if the father meant "what is he, an Arab?" in response to whether the son would be pro-Israel. Then the "mopping floors" reference could be the Dad saying that his son is not some low level noboday in the White House, but will in fact be able to help shape Obama's policies.
But don't get me wrong -- as quoted it doesn't come off too good, I agree.
I still feel his Dad's views should not have to force the son into an apology, right off the bat. If that were the case I would be apologizing to people left and right (sometimes I do anyways).
So we've had Obama call Nancy and now this. That's two more than I recall in the Bush Administration.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Re/ the update-
I'll give the BHO camp this, they know how to end a stupid sideshow.