Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
Wow. Even for the Worldnutdaily, their recent output has pushed the boundaries of the wingnutty and the downright batshit insane. Joseph Farah has a column that actually claims that Obama seeks to finish Hitler's final solution and wipe out the Jews. His evidence for this? Well there is none, of course. But wait till you see his pathetic attempt to invent some. Speaking of Obama's remarks while visiting Buchenwald, he writes:
The speech was delivered at Buchenwald, one of the most notorious concentration camps operated by Nazis, a place where some 56,000 people, mostly Jews, were murdered in what Adolf Hitler hoped would be the "final solution" to the "Jewish problem."This is the shockingly unbelievable line that struck my attention - one that was in such poor taste that it couldn't possibly have survived scrutiny by competent speechwriters and editors unless there was some intention behind it: "We are here today because we know this work is not yet finished."
Now, don't tell me I am taking this line out of context. I know I am. I understand the context - that the fight continues against those who deny the Holocaust.
Yes, he admits that he's taking this statement completely out of context and reversing its meaning. But then he goes on to make a tortured and ridiculous argument that Obama secretly meant it that way.
In his major address to the Muslim world last week, Obama seemed to be speaking in code - whether he or his speechwriters knew it.He said: "As the Holy Quran tells us, 'Be conscious of God and speak always the truth.'" On the surface, this seems innocent enough. But those of us who understand Islam, have studied it, reported on it and analyzed it, understand context, too.
Obama was reading from chapter 9 verse 119 of the Quran. The very next passage continues: "Neither the dwellers of the city, nor the Arabs around them, shall seek to stay behind the messenger of Allah [when he mobilizes for war]. Nor shall they give priority to their own affairs over supporting him. This is because they do not suffer any thirst, or any effort, or hunger in the cause of Allah, or take a single step that enrages the disbelievers, or inflict any hardship upon the enemy, without having it written down for them as a credit. Allah never fails to recompense those who work righteousness."
That is the context of this seemingly innocuous quotation that is actually revered by jihadists worldwide.
So, I ask you, am I really taking Obama's words at Buchenwald out of context? Or am I the only one seeing them in context?
No, you're just a complete whackjob.
Politics
Comments
Obama's code is so well concealed that even he and his speechwriters don't have a clue what it means. That Joseph Farah was able to crack the code speaks volumes about his intelligence.
Posted by: Odie | June 17, 2009 9:46 AM
Re Joe nutcase Farah
Mr. Brayton should take a look sometime at the comment sections on Israeli news sites such as the Jerusalem Post, Haaretz, Ynet, Israelinsider, etc. After news stories having anything to do with President Obama, he will see commentors making the same kinds of statements that Mr. Farah makes, some of them even more outlandish.
Posted by: SLC | June 17, 2009 9:49 AM
Unconscious Code. And Farah's the only one with the decoder ring.
Posted by: kehrsam | June 17, 2009 9:50 AM
And just think, we've got at least 3 1/2 more years of this sort of thing. And the writing is only going to get crazier! I'm not sure how you could get any crazier then claiming Obama wants to finish what Hitler started, but if anyone can think of something, the geniuses at the Worldnutdaily can.
Posted by: Imrryr | June 17, 2009 9:58 AM
Abort! Abort! They've broken the code. Go to cipher Beta 3. Dogs barking. Can't fly without umbrella. Sing with me and find the key.
...
I suppose people who think that "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me," was the inspiration for "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion," are used to pretending words don't mean what they actually mean.
Posted by: Abby Normal | June 17, 2009 10:00 AM
Totally OT.
@Abby Normal. You are my all time favorite Moore character. Have you listened to yourself on CD? Hilarious!
Posted by: bey | June 17, 2009 10:06 AM
Do Rahm Enamuel and David Axelrod know about this?
Posted by: JusticeLeague | June 17, 2009 10:17 AM
I thought it was American Christians who were doomed. Now it's the Jews? WND needs to make up their mind.
Posted by: Ethos | June 17, 2009 10:25 AM
@bey
No I haven't nor have I read any of his stuff yet. Though I've heard it's funny. I actually
stoledrew inspiration for my name from Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein.Posted by: Abby Normal | June 17, 2009 10:32 AM
No, no, there's no contradiction here. This brand of evangelical believes that he joins the Jews as one of God's Chosen People. Obviously, Satan hates them both.
Posted by: Scott Hanley | June 17, 2009 10:52 AM
Wait 'til Pat Boone gets wind of this!
;-)
Posted by: Chris Winter | June 17, 2009 11:06 AM
Can someone tell me how that passage from the Quran is any more nationalistic than similar passages from the Old Testament the fundies love so much?
Replace "Allah" with "Yahweh" and "Arabs" with "Jews," and see what I mean.
Posted by: wheatdogg | June 17, 2009 11:19 AM
The dolphins have entered the jaccuzzi!
Posted by: Stu | June 17, 2009 12:22 PM
Speaking in the code invented by the Rev. S., Farah is a nucking futcase.
Bob
Posted by: Bob Carroll | June 17, 2009 12:37 PM
I have to give Mr. Farah credit, typing a column with one's toes (as his arms and hands are currently bound in a straitjacket) is quite an accomplishment.
Medication time, Joe!
Posted by: CHV | June 17, 2009 1:31 PM
Wait, I have broken Mr. Farah's secret code. His column is actually saying that only white, male, Christian, republicans are allowed to be president and anyone else must be stopped by any means possible.
Posted by: Tom | June 17, 2009 1:42 PM
"There will be nothing but whites in the Whitehouse."* - R M Nixon. :D
*Or that's how Joe heard it anyway.
Posted by: DingoJack | June 17, 2009 1:50 PM
Have you ever corresponded directly with Farah? I have, and "unscrupulous" is probably a good word because he comes across seeming as stupid as he is crooked. It was at the launch of his $99/year, bad imitation of Debka, "G2 Intelligence Bulletin," and he was talking to hapless former CIA director James Woolsey, promoting his book with the premise that we're in world war 4. I commented that I'll just save my money rather than listen to an irrelevant has-been at odds with historians everywhere, and Farah wrote back to say, "if you think Woolsey is an irrelevant has-been, then indeed save your money."
Idiot.
Posted by: Jon Lester, | June 17, 2009 2:21 PM
Hey, Farah -- here's a code for you to crack: UKFAY OOYAY, ORONMAY!
Posted by: Sean | June 17, 2009 3:40 PM
Once we realize that the key is the key all Obama's speeches become clear.
Posted by: JuliaL | June 17, 2009 3:46 PM
JuliaL, you're a gas, gas, gas.
Posted by: Abby Normal | June 17, 2009 4:01 PM
Ha! "Mick, speak English!"
Posted by: MomTFH | June 17, 2009 4:33 PM
Do I have to put my gas mask on now? Was that warning accompanied by arm waving?
Posted by: Scott Reese | June 17, 2009 6:47 PM
And actually it wasn't sura 9 but sura 33 (http://www.muhajabah.com/islamicblog/archives/veiled4allah/010932.php). Number 33 doesn't fit so well if you want to make an anti-islamic rant, though.
Posted by: Sjö | June 18, 2009 4:10 AM
As usual Farah is either mistaken or is making an "error" on purpose.
Quran chapter 9 verse 119 says; "O you who believe, you shall reverence GOD, and be among the truthful."
The quote President Obama said is actually from a different verse.
Quran chapter 33 verse 70 says; "O you who believe, reverence GOD and utter only the correct utterances."
I realize neither verse says exactly what President Obama stated, that is because he is not useing the same translated version that I am. I use the "Authorized English Version, by Dr. Rashad Khalifa, Ph.D." as I have found it to be a more accurate translation.
You will notice that the difference is minor but obvious, the verse Farah claims is the one used says that you will be among the truthful. Not that you will speak the truth, but that you will be with those who are truthful. No one would ever translate that verse to say what Mr. Obama did, the context is completely wrong.
The verse that is actually the correct one however could easily be translated to what the President said. In the context of the verse, utter only correct utterances, would be the same as saying "speak always the truth."
I do not believe anyone who really knows the Quran could mistake one verse for the other, I wonder what made Farah decide to choose the wrong one? Perhaps it is simply because he desires to claim that Mr. Obama quoted from a chapter dealing with Jihad against enemies of Islam?
Posted by: ausador | June 18, 2009 6:55 AM
Can you imagine the rich and sustaining home life that a fuckwad like Joe Farrah has?
Posted by: democommie | June 18, 2009 7:21 AM
Re democommie
That assumes that Mr. Farah actually believes all the crap that is published in his Worldnutdaily web site.
Posted by: SLC | June 18, 2009 7:39 AM
My dog has fleas.
Signed: your loving son,
Queen Victoria.
-Colonel Flagg
MASH, 4077
Posted by: BobbyEarle | June 19, 2009 4:55 AM
Abby Normal: The pheasant has no agenda, repeat, the pheasant has no agenda.
Posted by: Captain Obvious | June 19, 2009 9:15 AM
Q: [Proffers a cigarette] Have you a light?
B: No I don't carry matches, but I have a lighter.
Q: Have you smoked this brand?
B: No, I don't think I have seen that brand before.
Q: Allow me me to introduce it to you.
[Offers cigarette to B, who takes one, tucking it into their breast pocket.]
Q: Not going to smoke it now?
B: [icily] I don't smoke.
Posted by: Quiller et al. | June 19, 2009 10:38 AM