Earlier this week I wrote about the endorsement Obama received from the National of Islam, specifically Louis Farrakhan.

Well, it seems that Obama was, as I predicted, not enthused by the endorsement.

Obama was asked a fairly direct question from Russert (The first of the night, I might add):

“Do you accept the support of Louis Farrakhan?”

Rather than a simple and straightforward “No” he gave the following wordy reply:

“You know, I have been very clear in my denunciation of Minister Farrakhan’s anti-Semitic comments. I think that they are unacceptable and reprehensible. I did not solicit this support. He expressed pride in an African-American who seems to be bringing the country together. I obviously can’t censor him, but it is not support that I sought. And we’re not doing anything, I assure you, formally or informally, with Minister Farrakhan.”

It seems to me that he was trying to both distance himself from the Farrakhan’s view, but not from his support. A sidestep that was not a well executed as it should have been.

Here is the video, courtesy of YouTube:

I do have to give Tim Russett some credit here. After handling Obama with kit gloves most of the night, he did hit him pretty hard on this issue. To bad he couldn’t have shown some of that forcefulness on matter than actually matter.

I know, it is a border line issue, and some would even call it inappropriate to spend time on it. However, it is important to know the types of extreme individuals who are landing on Obama’s doorstep. Want it or not, support it or not, you do not draw in people like Farrakhan unless they see you as a way to advance their agenda.

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