Dems Denounce Farrakhan’s Remarks

L O S  A N G E L E S, Aug. 12 -- The Democratic Party denounced Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan today for suggesting vice presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman, anOrthodox Jew, may be more loyal to Israel than to the UnitedStates.

“I’m sure most Americans would repudiate those remarks,”said Rick Hess, deputy press secretary for the DemocraticNational Committee. “There is always that element in America,but it is distinctly the minority view.”

Lieberman, a two-term U.S. senator from Connecticut, is thefirst Jewish politician to run on a major U.S. political ticket,and says his “first and primary loyalty” is to the UnitedStates.

Nevertheless his selection by Democratic presidentialhopeful Al Gore is testing the extent to which U.S. voters arecomfortable with the idea of an Orthodox Jew holding thenation’s second-highest post—one in which he would assume thepresidency should the commander-in-chief die in office.

Farrakhan Makes Incorrect Statement

Sharply criticised by Jewish leaders as anti-Semitic,Farrakhan on Friday questioned Lieberman’s national loyalty,asking if his religion made him more faithful to Israel or theUnited States, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“Mr. Lieberman, as an Orthodox Jew, is also a dual citizenof Israel,” Farrakhan asserted incorrectly at a newsconference. “The state of Israel is not synonymous with theUnited States, and the test he would probably have to pass is:Would he be more faithful to the Constitution of the UnitedStates than to the ties that any Jewish person would have to thestate of Israel?”

Farrakhan’s comments come just ahead of the DemocraticNational Convention in Los Angeles, where delegates willformally anoint Gore and Lieberman as their presidential ticket.

Lieberman Refutes Accusation

Appearing on CNN’s “Larry King Live” earlier this week,Lieberman rejected suggestions that his religion would influencehis policies regarding Israel.