Posted By James Besser
Political Insider: The Farrakhan Factor
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Louis Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam leader, flying saucer aficionado and minister of discord, may be nearing the end of a long and controversial career, but his ability to shake up American politics seems undiminished.
His endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama’s run for the presidency over the weekend may play well for Obama on the South Side of Chicago, where the NOI influence is pervasive, but it poses a big dilemma for the candidate, who has already forcefully rejected Farrakhan’s controversial views but who is hardly in a position to spurn Farrakhan’s endorsement.
“What’s he supposed to do now, spit in Farrakhan’s face?” asked a leading Jewish Democrat who is supporting Obama’s bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.
You can bet Jewish Republicans and independent political groups working on behalf of the GOP nominee will make full use of the Farrakhan endorsement if Obama is the nominee, especially in their pitch to Jewish voters. And you can bet Jewish Democrats are scouring the rolls of John McCain endorsers, looking for extremists in their midst.
The Farrakhan factor has also surfaced in a March 11 special election to fill a vacant congressional seat in Indiana.
Rep. Julia Carson, a Democrat, died in December, and her grandson, Andre, is running to fill her seat.
But Farrakhan attended Carson’s funeral and offered an implied endorsement of the younger Carson.
After praising Carson, Farrakhan said “she lives in Andre…she wants him to succeed her in service to the people. She wants him to be a good servant.”
That has forced Andre Carson to do some quick damage control with Indianapolis Jewish leaders, according to a report in the Indianapolis Star, which said the 33 year old candidate recently met with leaders of the local Jewish Community Relations Council and with local activists from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
If elected, Carson would become the second Muslim in Congress. He belongs to a black Muslim group that is not connected to the Nation of Islam – but his grandmother, the late congresswoman, was reportedly close to Farrakhan.