http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle /c37_a2220/News/National.html

The leader of the Anti-Defamation League called presidential candidate Barack Obama's spiritual mentor and pastor a "black racist" Tuesday and called upon the Illinois Democrat to "confront his minister" on his embrace of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.

ADL National Director Abraham Foxman issued his call after an ADL press release put out earlier the same day "welcomed" an Obama statement unambiguously condemning "anti-Semitic statements made by Minister Farrakhan." The Obama statement distanced the senator from a decision by his church's magazine to honor Farrakhan with an award named for his pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr.

[On Wednesday morning, as The Jewish Week went to press, Foxman left a voice mail message amending his remarks, saying, Rev. Wright  "embraces, awards and celebrates a black racist. I think [calling him] racist is going a little bit too far."]

Trumpet Magazine, published just prior to the award ceremony, Rev. Wright -- who Obama credits with bringing him to Christianity, presiding over his wedding ceremony, baptizing his daughter and dedicating his Chicago home -- states: "When Minister Farrakhan speaks, Black America listens. Everybody may not agree with him, but they listen. ... His depth on analysis when it comes to the racial ills of this nation is astounding and eye opening. He brings a perspective that is helpful and honest.

"Minister Farrakhan will be remembered as one of the 20th and 21st century giants of the African American religious experience," Rev. Wright declares.

According to ADL, as recently as Nov. 7, in a speech at his Chicago mosque one month prior to the Chicago church's awards ceremony, Minister Farrakhan sermonized, "Do you know some of these satanic Jews have taken over BET [Black Entertainment Television network]? ... Everything that we built, they have. The mind of Satan now is running the record industry, movie industry and television. And they make us look like we're the murder[er]s; we look like we're the gangsters, but we're punk stuff."

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Obama's statement, released Tuesday afternoon, declared, "I decry racism and anti-Semitism in every form and strongly condemn the anti-Semitic statements made by Minister Farrakhan. I assume that Trumpet Magazine made its own decision to honor Farrakhan based on his efforts to rehabilitate ex-offenders, but it is not a decision with which I agree."

The ADL's press release, put out soon after, welcomed Obama's "condemnation of the anti-Semitic rhetoric of Louis Farrakhan, and his making clear that he did not agree with his church's decision. ... Issues of racism and anti-Semitism must be beyond the bounds of politics. When someone close to a political figure shows sympathy and support for an individual who makes his name espousing bigotry, that political figure needs to distance himself from that decision. Senator Obama has done just that."

But in an interview with The Jewish Week, Foxman said this must be just a first step. "He's distanced himself from his pastor's decision to honor Farrakhan. He has not distanced himself from his pastor. I think that's the next step. One can now expect from Sen. Obama that he confront his minister."

Ultimately, said Foxman, if Obama is unable to influence Wright to alter his stands, "I think he has an obligation to leave."

The Obama campaign did not respond to repeated efforts to obtain a response to Foxman's remarks. A message left with the spokesperson for Rev. Wright's church also went unanswered.

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Foxman recalled that in 1995, he publicly walked out on the synagogue of which he was a member for more than 20 years. Its spiritual leader, he concluded, was preaching extremist hatred against Israel's leadership, whose promotion of the Oslo peace process the rabbi opposed. Unlike Rev. Wright and Obama, Rabbi Steven Pruzansky and Foxman had no long and close relationship with each other. Rabbi Pruzansky had only assumed the pulpit of Congregation B'nai Yeshurun in Teaneck, N.J., one year earlier. Foxman's long presence there, however, meant many strong ties to other members of his spiritual community.

"I don't want to compare myself to Obama," said Foxman. "I left my synagogue. But I didn't leave it immediately. I tried to have my rabbi change his views. I went to fellow congregants to see if they could have an impact on him. Only at a point in time where that didn't happen, I resigned.