Mayor Bloomberg defends Obama before Florida Jews

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

June 21, 2008

Mayor Michael Bloomberg urged Jewish voters to denounce the whisper campaign that for months has pushed the false rumor that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is secretly a Muslim.

Bloomberg warned a Jewish group in Boca Raton, Fla., Friday that the attempt to portray Obama as having a hidden Muslim agenda often targets Jewish voters online and with e-mails.

The deceptive campaign against Obama, who is Christian, "threatens to undo the enormous strides that Jews and Muslims have made together in this country," the mayor said.

The lies are "cloaked in concern for Israel, but the real concern is about partisan politics," said Bloomberg, who is Jewish. "This is wedge politics at its worst, and we've got to reject it - loudly, clearly and unequivocally."

Bloomberg's passionate defense of Obama in front of a Jewish audience in Florida could help him in the state, which is home to many Jewish voters.

Some pundits have questioned Obama's commitment to Israel, partly because he said he is willing to talk with leaders of such nations as Iran.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain and others have criticized that as a sign Obama underestimates the threat posed to Israel by Iran and others in the Middle East.