Six of the Democrats who boycotted President Trump's first State of the Union have something in common: they once seemed to have no problem with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who has a history of making anti-Semitic remarks. Reps. John Lewis (GA), Gregory Meeks (NY), Danny Davis (IL), Bobby Rush (IL), Maxine Waters (CA), and Barbara Lee were all members of the Congressional Black Caucus when Farrakhan met with the group in 2006 to coordinate Hurricane Katrina responses.
In a video posted to YouTube in 2009, Reps. Maxine Waters and Barbara Lee of California, Al Green of Texas and William Jefferson of Louisiana can been seen exchanging hugs and handshakes with Mr. Farrakhan, then talking with him about coordinating their public responses to Katrina.
After praising the representatives for their performance at the hearings, Mr. Farrakhan says: “Tell me how I can be of service.” (Wall Street Journal)
Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer made the observation. Do they really think the president is more controversial than Farrakhan?
These six Congressmen are boycotting Trump’s State of the Union. But they all were Members of the Congressional Black Caucus when Louis Farrakhan came to see them.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 30, 2018
Farrakhan is fine. The elected President is not. That tells you all you need to know.
Farrakhan was linked to then-candidate Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election. Opposition research revealed that Farrakhan had a history of making anti-Semitic remarks, once even referring to Judaism as a “gutter religion." He also once told his congregants that they were "slaves to white America." Hillary Clinton demanded her opponent condemn Farrakhan and reject his endorsement.
Last week we learned that journalist Askia Muhammad shielded a photo that could have changed the course of the campaign. In the photo, taken at a Congressional Black Caucus meeting, Obama is standing and smiling with Farrakhan. Had the photo seen the light of the day during the campaign, it may very well may have ended his candidacy. A Congressional Black Caucus representative called the journalist in a "panic," asking for the photo, Muhammad recalled.
Maybe these Democrats should distance themselves from Farrakhan before Trump?
Join the conversation as a VIP Member