Obama Makes Predawn Visit To Western Wall In Jerusalem

JERUSALEM — Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama paid a predawn visit to the holiest place in Judaism on Thursday, bowing his head in prayer at the Western Wall.

Obama placed a small note inside a crevice in the ancient wall, a custom observed by many. He made his brief stop as he completed a trip to the Middle East in which he met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders as well as Jordan's King Abdullah.

Comments

[Mattjoe]

Little old ladies, angry veterans and anti war protesters yell loud enough at McCain to get dragged away. If Jews were that offended, they"d have done a little better than one dude . . .and with a better one-liner.

[brainuser]

Here's your link, lazy.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4388078.ece/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4388078.ece

Note the home page for future reference: http://www.timesonline.co.uk

I think the articles can be read two ways: 1) there were multiple hecklers, with just one quoted, or
2) there was only one heckler, who was quoted. If tne latter, was that even worth reporting?

My point is that even the non-MSM can be biased in its reporting. Because I'm retired, I have the time to read most of the newspapers listed at aldaily.com, about half a dozen daily and then skip around the rest of the list at least weekly. I also watch French, German, Italian, and German news on TV daily and visit their websites for further details. Also the Dubai TV news and others, such as Chile's. Comically, the Serbian and Croatian are the only two with musical cooling down between them.

Since Obama's in Germany now, try http://www.dw-world.de, since you need links.
Oh, I almost forgot -- ;)

[HopeandChange]

Were those campaign posters plastered on the wall? That's disgusting. How low will this guy go?

[waiguoren]

The signs were NOT ON THE WALL.

You don't know what you are talking about.

People bring signs of every description to the area in front of the Wall all the time.

[luvangelHussein330]

There weren't campaign posters on the wall....swear these days people will make up anything. it's fine to not want to vote for the guy but to lie....tisk tisk

[sdaflm]

I'm not sure what photo you were looking at but I didn't see any posters. Do you really think Obama or his campaign would have even been allowed to place posters or any other type of campaign signage on a wall that is considered so sacred? Hardly!! There is nothing low about him or his campaign, he continues to remain on point on the issues and above the frey.

[wutzhappn]

I saw that too. The presumptuous nominee is so full of himself, that his campaign plastered his image at the entrance of the holiest site in Judaism, in Hebrew no less. How Arrogant.

[HopeandChange]

Would McCain survive if he put his name all over the Vatican?

[theknightb4]

Why does the article say nothing about the heckler?

[realtalk]

ONE heckler out of the HUNDREDS of supporters Obama met while in Isreal, SO WHAT!!!

[SecondBase]

So the republicans have screwed themselves so bad that they can only afford ONE heckler?

[wm1066]

Hmmm... Obama goes on a Mid East and European speaking tour and only one protester shows up, and he is drowned out by adoring crowds.
There is Hope to reclaim our image in the world.

[geobushono]

Obama sure is jumping through a lot of hoops for what amounts to 3% of the voters.

[spiderbucket]

Faux News reported 'multiple' hecklers - did they...gulp,,,lie ?

[chyko]

I am glad that the media have reported that Obama was hackled during his visit to the Western Wall and contrary to the right wing believe, it goes to show that Obama does not have the world and the media in his pocket who sings cumbaya every where he goes.

[LiberalBuzz]

Yeah the whole world saw ONE heckler who appeared mentally unstable (republican on vacation?) Yep that sure showed the world.

ONE.

Ever see how many show up for Bush and his fellow war criminals? Blocks and blocks of them, sometimes miles long.

Buy hey ONE for Obama.

[CocteausTwin]

Heckled apparently by a single man.

[YankeeCanuck]

"Heckled"

Yes, good point--fair reporting (especially in this country) would be a start.

[sheikwil]

Now I heard a lot of stupid excuses people have, but to make a big deal about who he met with first is just stupidity. It doesn't matter who he met with because what he said was reported before he met with the next group. I'm just glad that Obama has millions of people praying for him to ward off the evil spirits out there, Satan don't even have to work to get control over mean hateful racist people, they just had control over to him and I pray for you all.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

The Israelis who are right wing to the extreme right now like McBush by a 2-1 margin. That's not necessarily a bad thing for 0bama.

[lainey]

If you gain your information from the Jerusalem Post, this would be your assessment. However, if you chose to read Haaretz or ynet, you would see that most Israeli's are quite liberal. They have a very open society and are very tough on their government. Having just returned from there, it is safe to say that 2-1 is not a correct assessment. Just as many assessments done by polls and pundits are incorrect about the American public. Most Isreali's don't trust their government, so they are much more liberal than you are lead to believe. It is important to understand the culture and the people before making blanket statements. Obama himself has said himself how the Israeli's are far more open to discussion and criticism of their government and it is there that there is a more open debate. The people are rightfully afraid of Iran, as denial of the Holocaust and nuclear weapons are nearby, yet this would not put most in the category of extreme right. In fact, it is just the opposite. Read Haaretz and you will find that many love Obama, as was evidenced in his recent trip.

[kellygrrrl]

let's see how CBS and Faux will spin this thing

[smartcookienyc]

Separate but equal?

Notice right where the Senator stands continues the practice of segregation.

[rcozad]

One man out of an entire crowd...same ratio Obama has here in the USA

[Rotwang]

Yes, and Berlin is the former Nazi capital. And if he spoke in front of the pyramids, you'd point out that they were constructed by slaves. And if he spoke at Mt. Rushmore, it would be a sign that he condones the genocide of the Sioux and the defacement of their sacred mountain.

I'd be very grateful if Obama denounced all the evil in the world and exposed all of America's convenient accommodations with fiends and tyrants. Unfortunately, I'd wind up with President McCain.

[Docbcs]

Thanks, cookie. This is exactly the comment that I was going to make.On my visit to Israel, I did not approach the Wailing Wall, as I was not permitted entry with my partner and two sons, but was asked to go to a "separate but equal part of the wall. I refused.

[YankeeCanuck]

You and cookie need to remember that this trip is about beginning to build bridges. Your personal experience, in which you made a choice that you felt was ethical and made a statement, cannot be equated with an official visit of a presidential candidate.

O cannot be all things to all people-- he's only one man. He has to chart a course to win this election before he can even begin to effect any change. And, we need enough right here at home to keep him busy for a looong time. THen, there's our tarnished image abroad-- no need to enumerate.

[DavieB36]

Jesus would have done it and not bitched this has been our religion for thousands of years. If you dont like it then dont go.

[califlefty]

My gosh, I thought the "ugly American" traveler was a thing of the past. Did you also refuse to take off your shoes at a mosque, or dress appropriately before entering a church? Imagine insisting on wearing shorts and thus missing the joys of visiting the Vatican! One of the pleasures of travel to enjoy other people's culture, but don't let that put you off, there are plenty of McDonalds all over the world for the timid and the the arrogant.

[Apphouse50]

Out at SludgeRept is a tale of Obama being heckled at the Wall. This will no doubt feed those who have launched a bitch fest over his trip. I s'pose in visiting Jerusalem he shouldn't have gone to the Wall, is that it? Oh wait, he shouldn't have gone, is that it? Oh wait, he shouldn't have won, is that it? No! Wait! He shouldn't have run.

That's it.

[shengirl]

Until huffpost changed their own headline, it seemed O was being heckled by mobs or something. Not by just one angry person. Glad to see they amended that. At least people show up at his appearances, unlike...

[naschkatze]

Apphouse50 is right about Drudge. Over there the one man heckler has turned into the whole country protesting Obama praying at the Wall or in Israel period.