Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The President’s Charm Offensive
Flopping Aces ^ | 06-08-09 | Wordsmith

Posted on 06/08/2009 11:15:03 AM PDT by Starman417

08ramada09111
An elderly man reads the Koran on the second day of Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, at the Grand Mosque in Sanaa September 2, 2008. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah

The President said:

It is untenable for Israeli citizens to live in terror. It is untenable for Palestinians to live in squalor and occupation. And the current situation offers no prospect that life will improve. Israeli citizens will continue to be victimized by terrorists, and so Israel will continue to defend herself.

In the situation the Palestinian people will grow more and more miserable. My vision is two states, living side by side in peace and security. There is simply no way to achieve that peace until all parties fight terror. Yet, at this critical moment, if all parties will break with the past and set out on a new path, we can overcome the darkness with the light of hope.

~~~

I can understand the deep anger and despair of the Palestinian people. For decades you've been treated as pawns in the Middle East conflict. Your interests have been held hostage to a comprehensive peace agreement that never seems to come, as your lives get worse year by year. You deserve democracy and the rule of law. You deserve an open society and a thriving economy. You deserve a life of hope for your children. An end to occupation and a peaceful democratic Palestinian state may seem distant, but America and our partners throughout the world stand ready to help, help you make them possible as soon as possible.

~~~

I have a hope for the people of Muslim countries. Your commitments to morality, and learning, and tolerance led to great historical achievements. And those values are alive in the Islamic world today. You have a rich culture, and you share the aspirations of men and women in every culture. Prosperity and freedom and dignity are not just American hopes, or Western hopes. They are universal, human hopes. And even in the violence and turmoil of the Middle East, America believes those hopes have the power to transform lives and nations.

This moment is both an opportunity and a test for all parties in the Middle East: an opportunity to lay the foundations for future peace; a test to show who is serious about peace and who is not. The choice here is stark and simple. The Bible says, "I have set before you life and death; therefore, choose life." The time has arrived for everyone in this conflict to choose peace, and hope, and life.

True, it was said in the Rose Garden and not in Cairo; and it was delivered by President #43 and not #44.

Scott posted on this after Obama's "New Beginning" speech, noting the similarities. Others have also noted the "more of the sameness":

Michelle Malkin

Ed Morrissey

Washington Times Editorial

Wall Street Journal Ali Abunimah of The Electric Intifada

Osama bin Laden...

So other than locale, how is it that the press and many in the moderate corner of the Middle East can gush "Ga-ga over Obama" and not give President Bush the same amount of coverage dispersal, when #43's words should reach as far and wide as Obama's words for the same cause of promoting freedom and peace? Is the press doing its job?

Perhaps President Bush should have taken his speech into the heart of the Middle East (imagine the protests!). How much difference would it have made? It's not as if the 2002 Rose Garden speech were the only one of its kind, delivered by President Bush. Perhaps he should have taken lessons on telepromptering speeches?

President Obama, whether because of his transracial features and multicultural background, has the cult of personality and charm offensive going for him. He is a fresh slate.

Muqtedar Khan, Director of Islamic Studies, University of Delaware, writes in a WaPo piece entitled Obama's Charisma Ignites Hope in Muslim Hearts,

(Excerpt) Read more at floppingaces.net ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: charm; islam; obama

1 posted on 06/08/2009 11:15:03 AM PDT by Starman417
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Starman417

0bama stinks


2 posted on 06/08/2009 11:16:55 AM PDT by FreeperFreak
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Starman417
It is untenable for Palestinians to live in squalor and occupation.

This must NOT go on! Open the borders Egypt and Jordan... and let your people back in...

3 posted on 06/08/2009 11:18:18 AM PDT by John123 (Turn on your teleprompter Obama and read your lips... "No New Taxes!!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FreeperFreak

“0bama stinks”

He has all the charm of rotten meat, doesn’t he?


4 posted on 06/08/2009 11:18:34 AM PDT by bestintxas (It's great in Texas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Starman417

The Palestinians do not live in “occupation”. The liberals, Obama and Islamists make it sound like Nazi oppression.


5 posted on 06/08/2009 11:19:01 AM PDT by TheThinker (America doesn't have a president. It has a usurper.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Starman417

The Media don’t think it is.


6 posted on 06/08/2009 6:03:48 PM PDT by Oztrich Boy (a competent small government conservative is good enough for government work)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson