melanie phillips: this rejection of anti-semitism is actually an endorsement

It's time for another game of "Melanie Phillips Close Reading Tango," as Phillips decides the following from Barack Obama:

Obama said. 'I think that they [Farakh's views] 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.'

is in fact some kind of stealth support for anti-semitic, racist views. For an alternative (and frankly less alternative-universe) take on the same moment in the most recent Democratic debate, see Talking Points Memo.

If you missed the first round, jump back a couple of months to when Phillips declared that the phrase "Let us respect each other, be fair, just and kind to another and live in sincere peace, harmony and mutual goodwill" actually meant "submit or die." No, really.