Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Louis Farrakhan in the News

Current Nation of Islam leader Louis FarrakhanImage via Wikipedia
The Las Vegas Sun is reporting on a speech by Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan. In the speech, Farrakhan implies that Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman (I) harbors racist thoughts about President Obama and African Americans:
Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan used a recent speech at Howard University to berate Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman for what Farrakhan said was his poor treatment of President Barack Obama.

'Here's the president of the United States,' Farrakhan said. 'He makes a statement about people losing their homes and whatnot, gambling, and then his flight, his plane stops in Las Vegas. And the little Jewish mayor wouldn't even come out to greet him.'

'How you gonna greet a (expletive) president?' Farrakhan continued. 'Yes I used the word, because that's the way they think. You are nothing to them.'

Farrakhan delivered the remarks April 2 during a Howard University Student Association lecture titled 'Channeling Our Intelligence & Creative Energy to Save Ourselves.'
The Blaze has video of Farrakhan's speech. Watch the whole thing if you want to hear a defense of Helen Thomas's anti-semitic rant, learn how Donald Trump is a gangster, be informed about the "stupid, Zionist Congress," and hear some praise for the Tea Party Movement (really, it starts at the 7:15 mark). Here's my transcript of the Tea Party bit:
Now the Tea Party got in. I'm happy because the Tea Party is not a part of the old crowd. The tea party is forcing these Republicans to be strict fiscal conservatives. Plus, they're not under the control of the Zionists, so once they get in and see... see revolution is inside the House.
Controversial statements seem to be Farrakhan's stock and trade. His opposition to our war with Libya had Farrakhan defending Moammar Khadafy and criticizing President Obama in late March:
...Farrakhan defended Libyan strongman Moammar Khadafy during a speech on Friday in which he also blasted U.S. involvement in Libya.

The 78-year-old leader of the Chicago-based group said his pal Khadafy played an important role in the country that emerged from a colonial past. He also said America lacks the moral authority to assist rebel forces against Khadafy.
Interesting: "his pal Khadafy". That may well be true, but it trivializes the role that money plays in their relationship. Khadafy has given generously to Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam. The Blaze reported on those ties last February:
The Libyan dictator has been a strong supporter of Farrakhan’s Nation of Islam and heavily financed the controversial group. In 1985, Gaddafi affirmed his solidarity with Farrakhan with a $5 million interest-free loan.

In 1996, officials in the Clinton administration worked to block Farrakhan from receiving more than $1 billion in donations from Gaddafi.

”We are not terrorists,” Farrakhan said at the time. ”We are not trying to do anything against the good of America. What we want to do is good for our people and ultimately good for our nation.”

That same year, Farrakhan traveled to Libya and received Gaddafi’s International Prize for Human Rights, a $250,000 “honor” also bestowed on the likes of Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega and “the children of Palestine.”

According to reports from Libya’s news agency in 1996, the Farrakhan-Gaddafi alliance was aimed at mobilizing “oppressed blacks, Arabs, Muslims and Red Indians” in the United States to help reshape U.S. foreign policy. Until he allied himself with Farrakhan, Gaddafi reportedly characterized Libyan foreign policy as a “confrontation with America” he likened to “a fight against a fortress from outside.”

But once he asserted his alliance with Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam, Gaddafi claimed to have “a breach to enter into this fortress and confront it.”
You have to wonder whether the Libyan stongman is really your friend when he describes you and your "ministry" as his very own Trojan horse.

3 comments:

Ioannes Augustus said...

Farrakhan is obviously a nut when it comes to religion or race, but he is anti-Federal government, anti-war and pro-sound money. His praise for the tea party crowd is not necessarily uncharacteristic.

dsm said...

@I.A.M.

I just wasn't expecting it. You'll recall that he was going on about war and blood in the streets on the Feb 27th, 2011. February 27th was the two year anniversary of the first multi-city Tea Party protests.

dsm said...

@I.A.M.

Let's see if I can get the link to work this time...

I just wasn't expecting it. You'll recall that he was going on about war and blood in the streets on the Feb 27th, 2011. February 27th was the two year anniversary of the first multi-city Tea Party protests.