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Obama: Bad for the Jews?
Barack Obama says he's a solid friend of Israel and its American supporters. But his actions and associates suggest otherwise.
She has also alluded to domestic interest groups with great financial power who exercise too much influence in the formulation of foreign policy in America. During a book tour earlier in the year, she complained that criticism of Barack Obama all too often came down to what was “good for the Jews.” Obama supporters might argue that she is no longer part of the campaign but it should give one pause to consider her his key foreign policy adviser, given her views towards the Middle East and towards American Jews. Such concern should be heightened because she has indicated that she may very well serve in an Obama administration — despite her “resignation” from the campaign.
His most recent top Middle East adviser is Daniel Kurtzer, whose own history and plans might generate some concern. He has been criticized for promoting the goals of the Palestinians at the expense of Israel’s security; he previously worked to enhance the status of Yasser Arafat; he has called for more push against Israel so as to provide a “balanced” approach; and — like a distressingly large number of Obama’s advisers — looks askance at “domestic interest groups” influencing foreign policy.
Merrill “Tony” McPeak — the vice chair of Senator Obama’s campaign and his chief military adviser — blamed problems in the Middle East on the influence of people who live in New York City and Miami whom no “politician wants to run against” and who exercise undue influence on foreign affairs in America.
Readers might note that I have focused not on Israel but on American Jews and how those closest to Barack Obama seem to have very problematic views towards them. But the candidate himself holds views that are problematic towards Israel and call into question his commitment to maintaining the strongest of relationships with the Jewish state.
There are Obama’s naïve (at best) views on outreach towards Iran — which, just a few weeks ago, he dismissed as a “tiny” nation that was not a threat.
He has singled out two figures demonized by anti-Semites, Paul Wolfowitz and Richard Perle, as being responsible for the Iraq War. This despite the fact that Perle was not in the government and George Bush, Dick Cheney, and Donald Rumsfeld were the key figures and decision-makers.
His use of the term “separation barrier” or “wall” rather than the far more commonly used “security barrier” has apartheid-like connotations, echoing the slurs of Jimmy Carter. And he expressed his feelings that “nobody has suffered more than the Palestinians” — a remark which he and his campaign have tried to “make over,” though their attempts to “redo” it were caught by the highly regarded and non-partisan FactCheck.Org.
Other warning signs include his feelings that Hezbollah and Hamas have legitimate grievances; that he has refused in the past to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terror group; that he has stated that an Obama administration would have problems dealing with an Israeli government headed by a member of Israel’s Likud Party, thus interfering with the domestic politics of another nation (oddly, he seems to have no problems dealing with Iranian mullahs); that he would eviscerate American defense programs that are vital to maintain the qualitative edge that our allies, including Israel, enjoy over their adversaries; that, as president, he would convene a Muslim summit to listen to their grievances (the major ones would be the existence of Israel and American support for the same); and that the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians was an “open sore” that corrupted our foreign policy. Senator Obama seems to find the root of this conflict in the settlements — ignoring the ethno-religious nationalism and anti-Semitism that corrupt much of the Arab/Iranian world and that is the crux of the conflict. (Israeli removal of all settlements from Gaza has not resulted in peace.) Perhaps he has become inured to criticism of Israel — he has voluntarily chosen to expose himself and his wife and young daughters to it for years.
His seeming reliance on international institutions should also give one qualms considering the historic bias and hostility these groups have always shown towards Israel and, even worse, that they have been promoters of anti-Semitism, as documented by Professor Anne Bayefsky and others.
However, various views exist on the proper approach going forward in terms of our foreign policy. What can American Jews agree upon? One principle is that our leaders and their chosen advisers should not stoke the fires of anti-Semitism by making claims and charges that have precisely that effect. Too many people whose opinions Barack Obama values seem to hold views that do not provide much comfort regarding how they view Israel, the American-Israeli relationship, and American Jews.
In his efforts to calm the concern of many Americans who support our ally Israel, he has been on a charm offensive, giving a series of speeches in front of Jewish groups in politically important states, culminating in his much ballyhooed speech at the recent annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
He used inspiring words and eloquent rhetoric to try to reassure those in the audience of his sincerity when it comes to supporting Israel. He was warmly received, with the irony that many of his foreign policy advisers are harshly critical of the very type of activist for the American-Israeli relationship that was in the banquet room that night. He received his greatest applause when he announced that as president “Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided.” This was the secular equivalent of manna from heaven to many in the audience. For two thousand years the return to Jerusalem was a dream that was symbolized in the Passover religious ceremony’s hopeful pledge of “next year in Jerusalem.”
Yet until Israel conquered Jerusalem in the 1967 war — Jordan was asked by Israel to refrain from hostilities; when Jordan was tricked into launching an offensive against Israel by its Arab “allies,” Israel was forced to fight Jordan and came into possession of Jerusalem and the West Bank — it was an unfulfilled dream that was more akin to a nightmare. Jordan had divided Jerusalem with barbed wire and other barriers; Jews and Christians not only could not reach or pray at their holy sites in much of Jerusalem and the West Bank, but these shrines were desecrated and destroyed by the Jordanians. Jews who went to pray at the holiest site of Judaism, the Western Wall, were stoned and spat upon by Muslim worshipers on the Temple Mount above them. When Senator Obama promised Israel that the city would remain undivided, he basically promised that the religious freedom enjoyed by all faiths would be preserved under Israeli sovereignty. Less than 24 hours later — after the applause had come and gone — he disavowed the plain meaning of his words and stated that the future of Jerusalem would be subject to negotiations. His attempts, and those of his adviser Daniel Kurtzer, to obfuscate the issue have caused additional jitters about his views, intentions, knowledge, naiveté, and experience.
Former Senator Rick Santorum has pointed out another problem with the AIPAC speech:
Military sales and cooperation in developing military technology are vital to our relationship with Israel. The most important cooperative program is missile defense. The worry is not just short-range missiles from Hezbollah, but long-range missiles from Iran and beyond.
Obama, however, has called for the largest defense cuts since the Cold War. He has further stated he will “not weaponize space” and has called for an end to missile defense development. Yet, at the AIPAC convention, he said: “We can enhance our cooperation on missile defense.” Hmm.
This pattern, “the Obama shuffle,” has disconcerted many Americans — as it should. Barack Obama says one thing in front of one group and reverses course in front of another group. He uses his oratorical gifts to persuade and assuage, but these promises and proposals vanish in miasma when faced with criticism or inquiry about the veracity of his promises (see his reversals on NAFTA and campaign financing). He promises to protect Israelis from their enemies, but he previously made an “absolute” promise to provide security for Iraqis, only to later abandon this promise when he called for withdrawing troops from Iraq — whatever consequences, including the possibility of “genocide,” might follow.
This is a quandary for those who care to scrutinize Barack Obama when it comes to many issues. But with Israel facing a genocidal threat, it is particularly troublesome for her supporters. With such a sparse legislative record, can they rely on just his speeches on the campaign trail — especially when he often contradicts his own words? Given that his own long history is marked by closeness to people with very problematic views towards Israel and that he has chosen a group of advisers who have very harsh attitudes towards American Jews, some concerns are warranted.
Yes, he still commands a great deal of support from the Jewish community. Four reasons can be advanced for why this is so: American Jews for a variety of reasons tend towards the Democratic Party (since the days of Franklin Delano Roosevelt); they too may have been inspired by his rhetoric and policies (most Jews are not single-issue voters; the future of Israel may just be one of many concerns, all of which have different weights); a just unawareness (promoted by an adoring media) regarding some of the problematic aspects of Barack Obama; and a yearning for reconciliation between the African-American and Jewish populations, a promise Obama made on the campaign trail.
But a promise that rings hollow when one scrutinizes the history of Barack Obama.
[This article is a rebuttal to the PJM piece here]
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Ed Lasky is news editor of the American Thinker.
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43 Comments
1. Pajamas Media » Obama: Good for the Jews?:[...] Obama? Despite the rumors and scare tactics, the answer is yes. [Part 1 in a debate: Part 2 appears here] June 24, 2008 – by Daniel [...]
Jun 25, 2008 - 1:03 am 2. watcher:Obama will be the end of Israel.
Jun 25, 2008 - 1:18 am 3. sean birnie:Yes, it is clear from the company he keeps that Barry 0 is no friend to Israel (or America). What is not clear, like almost everything to do with this guy, is the extent to which he is an actual enemy. My advice:
When in doubt, fear the worst.
Jun 25, 2008 - 3:23 am 4. SAF:Jews have a history of doing what is bad for them. No doubt a majority will vote for Obama.
Israelis, for the most part, have done what is OK for Israel. But the paper tigerization of America started by Bush who has done nothing about Iran and Syria will be completed by Mr. Obama. Israel may not be finished but they are certainly on the way to mortal danger.
Jun 25, 2008 - 3:50 am 5. Smarty:Like blacks, jews will flock to Obama. For no logical reason at all, or at least not for the “logical” reasons that they present.
Jun 25, 2008 - 4:32 am 6. Alberto Gonzalez:Yes, Obama is and will be if elected president very bad for Israel, the Jewish people and the world. His past, the friends he keeps, the people who influence his views, the muslin background, his deamenor when confronted with controversial statements, his inexperience in foreign affairs, the hatred he keeps under his skin for all the humilliations he has suffered in his live, and many more things makes him unfitted to be Senator, much less President of the U.S.
Jun 25, 2008 - 5:30 am 7. Ed Lasky:I have known another person like Obama, his name is Fidel Castro, they both have the same traits, they are equal in everything, and mainly they both have a sinister mind. Obama is a very dangerous person, and I ask the Jewish people, please don’t vote for him, if you can’t vote for McCain, stay home.
HI Everyone,
Thank you for reading the article and for your comments. I would just like to add a couple of points that did not make it into the column by the publication deadline.
There is another adviser who might raise concerns:
Senator Obama’s nuclear affairs expert, Joseph Cirincione http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/schoenfeld/3547 is quick to blame Israel for all manners of ills and mistakes-from disputing the idea that the Syrian site attacked by Israel in September of last year was a nuclear site (it was); to blaming Israel for nuclear proliferation in the Middle East; to suggesting that Israel be stripped of its putative nuclear arsenal (whose threat possibly saved it from destruction in 1973 and is the only counterweight to the burgeoning nuclear program of Iran).http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/04/obama_keeps_hiring_antiisraeli.html
Also there should be concerns about Senator Obama’s approach towards Iran:
The alacrity which he accepted the findings of the wholly discredited National Intelligence Estimate report that all but absolved Iran of charges that it was developing nuclear weapons should also be cause for concern-after all, politicians across the political spectrum in America and our European allies thought the report was deeply flawed. But not Senator Obama who used the report to help him politically. Indeed, Obama’s views towards Iran are causing consternation with our European friends who have been working to sanction and pressure the Iranian regime to prevent its development of nuclear weapons. These nations fear a President Obama would cause grievous harm to their efforts to pressure Iran. http://hotair.com/archives/2008/06/22/europe-fears-obama-on-iran/
Thanks again,
Jun 25, 2008 - 6:12 am 8. Roark:Ed Lasky
Obama is not just bad for the Jews, he’s bad for everyone.
Jun 25, 2008 - 8:26 am 9. Jay:He will find it easy to sacrifice Israel to the left since the Israeli left is suicidal in its policies.
Jun 25, 2008 - 8:30 am 10. AJ:“These concerns are valid and worthy of debate; they cannot just be dismissed by his supporters and by his campaign as “smears.””
Precisely. Libs, full of emotion rather than logic, use name calling to “debate.” That does not work. For liberal “Jews” not to understand that BHO, aside from his other shortcomings, could care less about Israel, is naive but typical.
Good article. Full of facts, logic and rational discourse.
Jun 25, 2008 - 8:42 am 11. Loren:One should not refer to Israel or any other country as “her” or “herself”, IMO. It detracts from the essay.
Jun 25, 2008 - 9:22 am 12. Gliker:Obama will destroy Israel.
Jun 25, 2008 - 9:41 am 13. Ken Besig:Keep in mind that even dyed in the wool anti Semites and Israel haters like Pat Buchanan always express their support for Israel and her security, just like Barack Obama. Indeed, Barack Obama probably believes that if Israel would only withdraw from all of her ancient homeland, negotiate with the Palestinians and give in to all their demands, then true peace would be achieved. Actually, this seems to be Obama’s approach to the Iranian problem, only with Iran, he believes that they will give up their nuclear program if America will just negotiate with them to reach an agreement to let them have the nuclear weapons. Barack Obama is dangerous to the Jews, dangerous to Israel, and will be a catastrophic danger to America and what is left of the Free World.
Jun 25, 2008 - 9:52 am 14. cfbleachers:Great job, Ed. This article summarizes what I have been writing for months. I believe that Sen. Obama has signaled a strong antipathy for Israel and a willingness to embrace very strident voices of anti-Semitism from within his inner circle.
The deadwood media has intentionally whitewashed this issue and they have avoided vetting it like the plague. For whatever reason, it still has very little traction.
Malley, Power, McPeak, Brzezinski….these were and are the voices that most accurately represent the wind direction on the presumed Middle East policies of an Obama administration.
The late Edward Said, Rashid Khalidi, Ali Abunimah were and are the voices that most accurately represent the worldview of the “Palestinian” question for an Obama administration.
Ayers, Dorhn, Meeks, Pfleger, Wright, Frank Marshall Davis were and are the voices that most accurately represent the “social conciousness” of Barack and Michelle Obama.
What conclusions may be rightfully reach, given the shell game that the complicit media has foisted upon us with regard to getting legitimate answers to each of the above?
We are staring down both barrels of Euro-socialism/leftism of Chirac, for example…whereby a barely beneath the surface hatred of Jews, rabidly pro-Palestinian and equally rabid anti-Israel foreign policy, combined with a black retribution/redistribution of social “balancing” and anti-corporate America, anti-capitalism takes hold.
Taxes you never dreamed of, taxes on goods, taxes on services, taxes on gains, taxes on death, taxes on business, taxes on investments.
A crippling of the national defense…to levels beneath the Keystone Kop levels of Dhimmi Carter.
This is about wealth redistribution…from your pockets…to someone else’s. This is about punishing corporate success. This is about power redistribution. Power and money are to be labeled evil…and concurretntly ….American Jews are in the crosshairs…and don’t even know it. The deadwood media is the conduit for this assault and they are complicit up to their mendacious ears.
This is Jimmy Carter redux on steroids. We are slouching toward Chirac Socialism. We are dying on the vine as a great nation. And our own deadwood media ….well, the blood is already on their hands.
Jun 25, 2008 - 10:13 am 15. Glenn:For what it’s worth here’s my opinion. IF we let Israel be destroyed, and like it or not, that’s the goal of the Arab world, the West will have lost whatever claim we had to moral standing. After that our material prosperity will disappear like smoke from a dying campfire. The only thing which holds the US together is that prosperity, once it’s gone we’re just a bunch of people living on the same land. IF.
Jun 25, 2008 - 10:50 am 16. Lynn:Loren: When speaking of the land of a people’s birth or citizenship, I believe it would be perfectly proper to speak of it in the feminine form.
It is inconceivable to me that Israel would divide Jerusalem the heart of their faith. To me it would be like dividing the Vatican or Medina. This I think is the stickiest of sticking points in all the negotiations.
Obama seems to have chosen questionable people to negotate his way through politics. I do not think that is good for the United States or Israel or Iraq etc. Thanks for the good article.
Jun 25, 2008 - 11:11 am 17. David Thomson:I am utterly convinced that Barack “Barry” Obama perceives both the United States and Israel as victimizers of the dark skin peoples of the Third World. We are at fault if terrorists wish to harm us. Why shouldn’t we therefore expect these well deserved blowback actions? Obama wants to apologize to our enemies for our misdeeds. Appeasement is instinctively his default position. Khrushchev took full advantage of John F. Kennedy’s immaturity. Much worse will happen if Obama is our next elected leader.
Jun 25, 2008 - 11:16 am 18. L.C:PEACE TO ALL…I MUST SAY THIS PAGE IS FULL OF HATE AND BITTERNESS TO POLITICIANS,MINISTER’S,AND COMMUNITY GROUP’S THAT MOST ARE NOT AWARE OF…BARACK OBAMA HAS TAKEN ON THE TASK TO REBUILD THE INTREST OF THIS NATION…IT IS A FACT THAT PRESIDENT BUSH IS IN CONTROL OF POLICY ISSUE’S ,SO THEIR FOR RESPONSIBLE FOR WHERE THE COUNTRY IS NOW…WE AS AMERICAN’S BELIEVE WHAT IS GIVEN TO US BY THE PRESS,AND GOVERNMENT WITH OUT QUESTION…AND AS A RESULT LOOK WHAT IT HAS GIVEN IN RETURN…WE HAVE TO NOT ALLOW THE SAME PEOPLE CHOOSE FOR US WHO IS BEST …WE SHOULD BE MORE INFORMED TO RESEARCH FOR OURSELF…
Jun 25, 2008 - 4:35 pm 19. L.C:PEACE TO ALL…TO ALSO ADD…THE MILLION MAN MARCH WAS A DAY OF ATONEMENT…IT WAS A DAY THAT WE AS BLACK MEN STOOD UP AND BEGIN TO HEAL THE PROBLEMS WE HAD WITH FAMILY,COMMUNITY,POLITIC’S,AND SELF…AND FOR THIS POST TO BE MAID JUST GOES TO SHOW JUST HOW SILLY SOME CAN BE…THE MILLION MAN MARCH WAS A MARCH MAID UP OF ALL FAITH BASE TRADITION’S,POLITICIANS,AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUPS…OF WHICH ALL HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK REGARDLESS OF YOUR BELIEVE,GENDER,EVEN RACE… TOGETHER WORKING ON OUR DIFFERANCE’S…ON THAT DAY IT WAS A DAY OF PRAYER AND PEACE…THE MILLION MAN MARCH CHANGED ALOT OF PEOPLE’S LIVE’S FOR THE BETTER…AND IT ALSO WENT DOWN IN HISTORY…
Jun 25, 2008 - 4:54 pm 20. fred:I came to the conclusion a long time ago that an ordinary Roman Catholic, goyim like myself is a far better friend to Jews and Israel than American Jews are to themselves and to their cousins’ nation. And I am not alone. But, in this upcoming election there are not enough of us who know about Obama’s intellectual roots in Communism/Marxism, or of his associations with Jew-haters, whether in the form of people like Prof. Rashid Khalidi or in the kind of advisers that George Soros selects for him.
The media is openly in the tank for this guy. They are not going to broadcast one critical segment about him. They won’t ask probing questions about where he comes from and what he really thinks. He is going to be allowed to shimmy-shammy his way through to the election. So far, Johnny McLame seems to not have the kind of advisers who direct him to hammer this guy where he is vulnerable.
I’ve got a bad vibe about this election. He is much farther to the Left than Jimmy Carter was in 1976, and every bit as stealthy. This guy is farther to the Left than open socialist Bernie Sanders of Vermont is. But no one in the mainstream media exposes this.
The under-40 kiddies, where most of his support is found, do not even know what Marxism and its analysis and principles are. Truly, they do not. They’ve been simply told that the Sugar Daddy State is “progressive” and conservative principles of limited government and an unshackled business community are retrograde. Their teachers and professors told them so – and they believe it. Maybe some have questioned it in the the privacy of their own minds and dare not make it public at the university or among their cool, hip, progressive friends.
The official weblog site manager for Obama’s campaign is an open Communist named Sam Graham-Felsen. He was a known Communist at Harvard. The kid’s father is a Marxist and a labor lawyer who was a sixties’ radical – no doubt a Red Diaper Baby.
Obama’s victory is a triumph for the Gramscian “long march through the institutions.” My hope is that the four years of disaster will teach a lot of these kids a valuable, if painful lesson.
Jun 25, 2008 - 5:06 pm 21. PJ:What’s wrong with you people? Barak Obama is running for the President of the *United States*, not the President of Israel; the President of the United States shouldn’t be elected on other countries’ merits. It’s inconsequential. Besides one can be critical of *any* foreign government without wanting to destroy it or without hating the people of whatever religion who occupy it. Well…unless you’re the U.S. because they’ll destroy anyone. Korea, Lebanon, Vietnam, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Columbia, Panama, Yugoslavia, and they don’t even need a good reason. i.e. Iraq. Actually, the U.S. *does* still owe payback to Israel for the USS Liberty thing. So, yeah, maybe you’re right. Obama might be bad for Israel. Point well taken. Touche.
Jun 25, 2008 - 5:23 pm 22. Former Belgian:Let’s ignore the other BS and innuendo that PJ writes and consider the point “on other countries’ merits.
Every Euro “New Class” type I talked to on recent business trips want to see zerObama elected. A few had the brutal honesty to tell me their opinion that the US is too strong in world affairs and that it would be good for Europe for the US to be taken down a couple of pegs. Others simply recognized him as a Euro-style socialist like themselves. Is this really the sort of president the US wants for itself?
An interesting factoid for those wondering about USS Liberty: about ten percent of ISRAELI casualties in the Six-Day War were due to “friendly fire” (in war, sh*t happens). [sarcasm] Perhaps Israel owes payback to Israel? [/sarcasm]
Jun 26, 2008 - 4:30 am 23. sean birnie:L.C please don’t shout, we can read perfectly well in lower case with appropriately placed capitals (usually at the beginning of sentences and propr nouns, if you know what those are (which I doubt). Not that correct grammar would make your post any less idiotic.
On second thoughts please continue SHOUTING, it makes it easier for everyone to see the profound depth of your impolite ignorance.
PJ. The subject of the piece was Obama’s likely foreign policy concerning Israel. Maybe you don’t think that foreign policy is something a President should bother with. Of course you don’t think that. The inconvenient truth is that you are a merely typical common or garden anti-semite (ie: a racist).
It is amazing how when Obamaniacs post they demonstrate, not only their inability to write, but their inability to think (closely related mental disorders, methinks).
Jun 26, 2008 - 5:47 am 24. Got Kids:You people remind me why I left the blogosphere in 2000.
Jun 26, 2008 - 7:04 am 25. sean birnie:Got Kids, “You people remind me why I left the blogosphere in 2000.”
So how did you find your way here then, peabrain? Please leave for good and good riddance.
Jun 26, 2008 - 7:12 am 26. thku4grace:I mean, really! Does this even need to be debated? Of course, Obama is anti-semite! What? Do you need to waste more time writing the obvious? Since when are words from a politician more important than actions? At the very least, an Obama administration will greatly encourage and embolden Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, Syria, and Al-Qaida. They know that within the first 4 years, its do or die. They will see this as their best opportunity, by far to see their dream of pushing Israel into the sea. Honestly, I can see why they would think that as well. First, it is believed by many that Obama is an Islamic sympathizer, whether it is true is besides the point. Second, and most important, If Muslim nations support a terrorist grand scheme to overthrow Israel, an Obama administration will positively do nothing but maybe talk, and will probably at best criticize Israel for defending itself. Instead he will demand Israel enter into immediate negotiations to give up more of their national sovereignty to terrorists who will only use it set up future wars against Israel.
Jun 26, 2008 - 7:22 am 27. Russel:Just thought I’d share a recent experience I had while walking through the old city of Jerusalem while wearing a “Barack Obama for President” T-shirt. A gift from a friend, I am probably the only person in Israel who has such a shirt. I’m not American and I hold Israeli citizenship, but I’d support the candidate who would be “good for Israel”. So I decided to wear it and see what reaction I would get…
In the Jewish areas I was met by indifference and light criticism; but in the arab quarter I was suddenly overwhelmingly welcome. Thumbs ups everywhere for Obama; smiles of welcome in restaurants, and top notch service.
The comments tended to go along these lines:
“Barack Obama! Barack Obama! Cool man!”
“Obama! Barack Obama! You vote him? He’s good!”
“Obama – I love him, man!”
All this stood in sharp contrast to the times when my Israeli girlfriend and I walked through the same streets and ate at the same restaurants: we were met with surly, simmering, indifference. Service was grudgingly given and while we may have been smiled at in welcome, a sudden about-face showed those same waiters glaring at us with hatred.
Makes ya think, doesn’t it?
Jun 26, 2008 - 7:43 am 28. Roy M:It does make me think. If I did sudden about-faces in restaurants, what would I see?
Jun 26, 2008 - 1:14 pm 29. vita:Just for the record, Barack Obama is running for President of the USA not Israel. Our other choice is John Mccain who sings, “bomb, bomb Iran”.
Hasn’t the last few years shown, Israel is safest when the President is as an honest broker as was the case with previous adminsistrations?
Jun 26, 2008 - 2:14 pm 30. REB SHLOMO:Obama is smart enough to make allies out of detractors. Its time to quit bitching & join the team of congressman Wexler, senator Levin & many other Jews, who I am sure will explain our cause & the truth to Obama & make him an instrument of truth & justice like he says he wants to be. REB SHLOMO
Jun 26, 2008 - 3:04 pm 31. Smarty:Wexler and Levin are socialist POS Dhimmis. They are worse for Jews than any GOPer.
Jun 26, 2008 - 4:31 pm 32. Homer:I’m a pro-Israeli Bible believing redneck who owns guns, so Obama doesn’t give a rip what I think anyway. BUT, all Obama really cares about is making history by being the first “black” man elected into the White House. His Senate voting record speaks for itself – he is against Israel! The Jews actually supported Germany at first and the Catholics approved Hilter’s plan to get rid of those hated Jews (never mind the fact Hilter was afraid that he was half-Jew himself). The question is: what does someone who was raised in both Muslim and Catholic schools learn in these schools – TO HATE JEWS! The day the USA turns its back on Israel, rest assured that the Most High GOD will turn His back on us!
Jun 26, 2008 - 4:58 pm 33. PJ:Look. I admit it, I was trying to rile someone up. That was immature. I apologize.
Jun 26, 2008 - 5:33 pm 34. fred:In all seriousness though, I believe if you vote for the President of the U.S. *solely* on who would be best for Israel (or any country for that matter) you are at best unpatriotic or at worst borderline-treasonous because you don’t have the U.S. in your best interests. However, if you weigh all the U.S.’s best interests and you come to the conclusion McCain, the oldest man ever running for president, is actually going to bring change to the sorry state of our nation, then great. I’d like to hear about THAT.
Besides, do you honestly think that any U.S. president would ever let Israel be destroyed? I don’t think so–save for a preemptive nuclear strike by Israel. That might be the line in the proverbial sand.
Shalom
Homer,
We Catholics do not teach Jew hatred anymore. Not at all. I know, because I’m old enough and involved enough to straddle the old, pre-Vatican II world and the post-Vatican II world. In the early grades of my Catholic school experience, we were never taught Jew hatred. Plus, I found out recently that in Germany at that time it was not uniformly propagated. Most of the teaching of Jew hatred happened outside of church, in the neighborhoods and associations, but not all of them. Objectively, the Jew hatred was more intense in the Protestant and the atheist sectors. And that included the Communists and the socialists too.
Has the Church fessed up to the role it played in Jew hatred? Yet it has. Has anyone else publicly admitted as much and publicly apologized as often? No.
Israel matters to me because of a variety of reasons. But let me set the record straight to those Buchananites on the board: loyalty to America does not mean one has to be hostile towards Israel. Israel is an underdog in a region full of jackals baying for Jewish blood. It was so long before the formation of the state of Israel. Hello? Hajj Amin al Husseini anyone? As in, a Muslim Arab who went to Hitler to get an entire SS Division (Handschar) for himself to use in Europe to wipe out Jews in the Balkans. Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East (another reason). It is an outpost that stands guard against the hoards of Allah’s minions. Plus, I DO believe they are God’s Chosen People. Jesus Christ and the New Testament do not change that one iota. God has a purpose for these people, and if some of them hate themselves, well that’s their problem. We can support them, but if Israelis and their American cousins do not want to defend themselves, well there’s nothing we can do about that.
Jun 26, 2008 - 7:05 pm 35. Donna:Bravo, Fred. I’m Catholic too and I feel the same way. Israel is our ally and the only democracy in a terrible neighborhood. We must stand by her.
I wouldn’t say that anti-Semitism is entirely dead among Catholics, but there are many friends of Israel among us. Please don’t judge us all by Pat Buchanan.
I support McCain in large part because of his stance on security and foreign affairs. And yes, it is frustrating to talk to Jews who are star-struck over Obama.
I know some very smart Jews. Are they politically smart?
Not so much.
Jun 26, 2008 - 7:42 pm 36. Selecting Dots - The Art of Misrepresentation « Republican Jewish Coalition Watch:[...] The Republican Jewish Coalition wants to tell everyone that they are “connecting the dots” when it comes to Obama and Israel. They try to stress that what they are doing is putting together relevant facts that need to be “considered” rather than dismissed. But when the RJC seeks to examine a record like Obama’s they never talk about the whole picture. They ignore Obama’s voting record on Israel-related bills, disregard Obama’s actual mideast advisors like Dan Shapiro and Dannis McDonough, and make bold and often unsourced claims about Obama’s viewpoints [1]. [...]
Jun 29, 2008 - 3:39 am 37. Ted Lawrence:Obama’s top foreign policy advisor is and has been Dennis Ross who is considered a friend of Israel. Congressman Howard Berman (Chair of the House Foreign Relations Committee)says he has worked closely with Obama and they share the same outlook on the Middle East and that Barack Obama has been and will be a strong supporter of Israel’s. The newspaper Haaretz recently published a report saying that intelligence agents had advised the Israeli government that Israel may have some problems in the first year of an Obama Presidency because some of those on the left that are supporting him don’t realize how strong his support for Israel is and there may be a backlash when they figure out that he means what he says and that Obama is the strongest supporter of Israel to run for President this year. Some of these statements may be too strong, but if so, they are no different than what is in Mr. Lasky’s article. Why not let it go that Obama has a consistent record of supporting the Jewish state and that some people are worried because of his ethnicity and family background that when he gets into the top job, he might be different than he seems. That’s a very fearful way to look at the world, but it’s the only thing that justifies nonsense like this column.
Jun 29, 2008 - 6:55 am 38. Hold_That_Tiger:This opinion piece is what I thought it would be: half truths and innuendos. It is weak beer indeed.
“for our most dependable Middle East ally.”
For whom 2 spies have been prosecuted in the last 30 years…and those were the ones we caught. Why does our “closet ally” in the middle east spy on us?
“He has also said that he has been in the “foxholes” in Chicago with his Jewish friends trying to heal the rifts between the African-American and Jewish populations. There is absolutely no proof of any of these claims.”
And the “proof” of most of your assertions are no where to be seen either.
“the Woods Foundation, a charity with a broad mandate”
Their foremost mandate is fighting poverty.
“(Obama) has singled out two figures demonized by anti-Semites, Paul Wolfowitz and Richard Perle, as being responsible for the Iraq War. This despite the fact that Perle was not in the government and George Bush, Dick Cheney, and Donald Rumsfeld were the key figures and decision-makers.”
Is this a joke? It is clear, from the many investigative pieces, written since 2003, that Perle, Wolfowitz, Feith, et.al, did have undue influence on the prosecution of the War whether they were offically in the Government or not.
“His use of the term “separation barrier” or “wall” rather than the far more commonly used “security barrier” has apartheid-like connotations.”
It seems to me that YOU are the one giving the term “barrier wall”, etc. an apartheid connotation, although if we are being honest the Wall is de facto a “seperation barrier” not to mention that once again, Palestinan Land has been confiscated to build parts of the barrier.
“(Israeli removal of all settlements from Gaza has not resulted in peace.)”
Maybe the fact that Gaza is maintained like the Warsaw Ghetto has something to do with the lack of “peace.”
“this seems to be Obama’s approach to the Iranian problem, only with Iran, he believes that they will give up their nuclear program if America will just negotiate with them to reach an agreement to let them have the nuclear weapons.”
Oh please, Obama never said that “just talking” to the Iranians would take care of their Nuclear Ambitions, but talking first (yes even without pre-conditions) is certainly better than threatening them with the “Obliterate” button ala Clinton and McCain. Cold War Era Politics are simply not working any longer…the fact is that going into Iraq has emboldened Iran and weakened our “friend” Israel. BTW, Ronald Reagan actually did speak privately to Gorbachov before Communism imploded (they corrosponded with Letters.) Reagan knew that you could catch a fly or 2 with Honey instead of vinegar. Need more proof that “talking” can make a positive change? Look at the Bush Administration’s success with North Korea this past week; diplomacy should always be the first line of defense..(someone needs to wake McCain up to this fact before he bomb,bomb,bombs Iran.)
Obama would rather keep Iran from going Nuclear and diplomacy is on the table, but military action, he has made clear, will always be an option, In short, Obama promises to “speak softly but carry a BIG stick.”
Personally I’m an American Firster who actually doesn’t give a rat’s patoot about protecting Israel, especially at the cost of American lives, that said, I believe that Obama meant what he said at AIPAC: he will continue the strong relationship between the US and Israel that Harry Truman got rolling 60 years ago (a mistake, IMO, but I digress.)
Jun 29, 2008 - 1:46 pm 39. myna:Why elect Obama Messiah? Just elect George Soros, he is the mastermind. Obama is surrounded by Soros’ associates. We do not need a proxy. Elect Soros instead!
Jun 29, 2008 - 8:02 pm 40. In Excess Of Demand » Blog Archive » Obama and the Jews:[...] Ed Lasky has written an excellent article on Obama and the Jews: [...]
Jun 30, 2008 - 9:35 pm 41. philz:Obama’s election and his policies may actually be a wakeup call for the Europeans, the Israelis, and even the Arabs, who will no longer be able to rely upon the U.S. as a shield/supporter against the bad guys like Iran. The result could be a stronge Europe militarily, an Israel that finally does what it must do to the Palestinian Arabs to stop their aggression against Israel, and the Arab states may actually decide to cooperate with Israel against Iran and Syria. This may be the great plan from above as there is no way we should even be taking aboout a lightweight nothing like Obama as a serious candidate for President.
Jul 1, 2008 - 10:01 am 42. Mike Morast:WILD WITH FEAR….. That’s what you people are… Has any of you brilliant people read his book ‘Audacity of Hope”? I bet not,,, as a Christian he knows that he is just GRAFTED IN to the chosen people of Israel and God has special plans for His people…. And in the Bible it does state.. Those that bless Israel will be blessed, and those that curse Israel will be cursed… If you don’t believe me, just look at history and the countries and civilizations that have been destroyed for hurting Israel…
Obama is not out to hurt Israel… and, by the way, if you didn’t know it,
HE IS NOT A MUSLIM………..
Jul 16, 2008 - 10:53 am 43. Sylvie:Now that Obama has finally been elected as President, there has not been the slightest hint of animosity nor hatred for the Jewish people nor of the ‘questionable’ existence of the State of Israel as yet. Infact neither has there been any passion shown for the Palestinians except for the reminder of the fact that Palestinians first have to accept their responsibilities towards implementing the Road Map by first recognising the existence of the State of Israel … and then also accepting all past agreements before a Palestinian State could be achieved. Indeed, for the time being anyway Obama sounds ‘fair play’ all round and whether it is only ‘the Beginning’ is a question that might be answered in the not too distant future. By the same token people do change sometimes and who may know if his visit to Israel last summer and the insight he may have gained during that experience of visiting the Holocaust Museum and the different historical sites may have had some new influences on his until then, rather one-sided approach? We shall soon see ……
Jan 24, 2009 - 7:27 am