A big fuss over Baraka's anti-semitism. Of course, if New Jersey had bothered to READ, it would have found that Baraka was spouting hatred against the Jews back in the 60s and 70s. It shows what happens when politicians without any real interest in poetry attempt to appoint a "poet laureate." What the >>>> did they expect, odes to Christie Todd Whitman?

Of course, Baraka claims to be a former, not current anti-Semite. Kind of like Trent Lott: a "former" racist nostalgic for the formerly racist policies of a former racist. Baraka defended his statement about the 4,000 Israelis by saying "it must be true, I read it on the internet." Once he turns 100 can we turn nostalgic for his attacks on the Jews? I'm sure his marriage to a Jewish woman could have some role in this discussion.