Wash. Post's Cohen ignored Obama's criticism of Farrakhan and award by church magazine

Summary: Ignoring Sen. Barack Obama's statement "condemn[ing]" Louis Farrakhan's "anti-Semitic statements" and his church's decision to give Farrakhan an award, Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen wrote: "I know what Barack Obama was doing when he refused to confront his minister about the latter's embrace of Louis Farrakhan. He was ducking an issue with no upside for him."

In his February 5 Washington Post column, Richard Cohen wrote: "Look, I know what Barack Obama was doing when he refused to confront his minister about the latter's embrace of Louis Farrakhan. He was ducking an issue with no upside for him." In fact, Obama addressed the "issue." On January 15, after Cohen reported that Trumpet Newsmagazine, which is published by the church Obama attends, gave Farrakhan the Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Trumpeter Award, Obama issued a statement "condemn[ing]" Farrakhan's "anti-Semitic statements" and said of the award: "[I]t is not a decision with which I agree."

Cohen wrote on January 15: "Every year, [Trumpet] makes awards in various categories. Last year, it gave the Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Trumpeter Award to a man it said 'truly epitomized greatness.' That man is Louis Farrakhan." That same day, the Post's The Trail blog provided this statement from the Obama campaign:

"I decry racism and anti-Semitism in every form and strongly condemn the anti-Semitic statements made by Minister Farrakhan. ... I assume that Trumpet Magazine made its own decision to honor Farrakhan based on his efforts to rehabilitate ex-offenders, but it is not a decision with which I agree."

From Cohen's February 5 Washington Post column:

I was not alone in suggesting that on the flag issue, Clinton was readying herself for a presidential race and trying to blunt her image as a harridan of the political left. The New York Times reached the same conclusion and accused her of pandering. Again, precisely so.

Look, I know what Barack Obama was doing when he refused to confront his minister about the latter's embrace of Louis Farrakhan. He was ducking an issue with no upside for him. He will not get my Profiles in Courage award for this, but the rest of his record overwhelms this one chintzy act.

—L.K.A.