Also, on a different note, I think that compared to former candidate Mitt Romney (a Mormon), Obama’s religious affiliations have received FAR less scrutiny by the press.

I don’t really care about Obama’s church. Hillary doesn’t talk publicly about her faith–which in her Methodist tradition is normal. I don’t care about that.

Her husband, would-be co-President Bill Clinton took spiritual advice from Billy Graham, who also gave spiritual advice to both Bushes. I don’t particularly agree with much of what Rev. Graham says, but I didn’t care about that because somebody’s faith is their personal business. Further, just because a pastor says something doesn’t mean Obama actually agrees with it. At the churches I’ve attended–currently not attending one–I disagreed with the Minister, but would still go. The reason: they gave good, thought provoking sermons that made me think.

Likewise, I’m sure that Obama doesn’t agree with all of the Rev. Wright’s proclamations. A preacher is not God; a preacher is human; and a preacher can be wrong on somethings, or even (like Pat Robertson) most of the time.

In the end, it’s not Rev. Wright that’s on the ballot. It’s Barack Obama that’s on the ballot. Barack Obama didn’t say what Rev. Wright said in his sermon. And, therefore, I don’t much care about what was said in Rev. Wright’s sermon. I don’t attend his church. I’m sure he provides good moral counseling to members of his church, who are free to regard or disregard his advice. The choice of a spiritual adviser is personal. I don’t care who Barack Obama’s pastor is. Period.

Isn’t it ironic that prominent Jewish leaders can defend Obama but no black organization has come out to defend Obama against all of the “drug dealer” “madrassa” “shuck & jive” nonsense…

Hmmm…..

“These tactics attempt to drive a wedge between our community and a presidential candidate based on despicable and false attacks and innuendo based on religion,” the letter says. “We reject these efforts to manipulate members of our community into supporting or opposing candidates.”

The full text of the letter is available after the jump.

January 15, 2008
An Open Letter to the Jewish Community:

As leaders of the Jewish community, none of whose organizations will endorse or oppose any candidate for President, we feel compelled to speak out against certain rhetoric and tactics in the current campaign that we find particularly abhorrent. Of particular concern, over the past several weeks, many in our community have received hateful emails that use falsehood and innuendo to mischaracterize Senator Barack Obama’s religious beliefs and who he is as a person.

These tactics attempt to drive a wedge between our community and a presidential candidate based on despicable and false attacks and innuendo based on religion. We reject these efforts to manipulate members of our community into supporting or opposing candidates.

Attempts of this sort to mislead and inflame voters should not be part of our political discourse and should be rebuffed by all who believe in our democracy. Jewish voters, like all voters, should support whichever candidate they believe would make the best president. We urge everyone to make that decision based on the factual records of these candidates, and nothing less.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Marvin Hier, Founder and Dean, Simon Wiesenthal Center

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean, Simon Wiesenthal Center

William Daroff, Vice President, United Jewish Communities

Nathan J. Diament, Director, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America

Abraham Foxman, National Director, Anti-Defamation League

Richard S. Gordon, President, American Jewish Congress

David Harris, Executive Director, American Jewish Committee

Rabbi David Saperstein, Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

Phyllis Snyder, President, National Council of Jewish Women

Hadar Susskind, Washington Director, Jewish Council for Public Affairs