Obama and Israel–It Gets Worse [alienate American Jews and Evangelicals]

Commentary Magazine ^ | 1-27-08 | Noah Pollak

[SJackson]

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High volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel, WOT

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Of course she's gone now, but not over these statements.

[TxAg1981]

OH MAN! This is just too sweet. Here is the dhim's problem:
Support HRC and loose the faithful black vote.
Support Obamalamadingdong and loose the faithful Jewish vote.
Either way they lose about 10-20% of their base support. I'm glad its finally out about the dhim's duplicity as it relates to Israel.

[DallasDeb]

or investing, I think, more than sacrificing — billions of dollars, not in servicing Israel’s military, but actually investing in the new state of Palestine

Right. And have those billions get shifted to Swiss bank accounts. There is too much corruption in third-world countries to just invest more money.

Besides, as long as Hamas encourages violence, a Palestinian "State" will be a state in name only.

[AslanLion36]

One good thing can come if Obama does win in November, his anti-Israel approach will be so known to Israelis and the Israel GOV that they will say ENOUGH and will finally stop abiding by the USA.

Bush does it differently, at the beginning everyone thought he would be the best friend Israel would ever have - so Israelis went along with it - now they understand.

Obama will finally push the regular Israeli to say ENOUGH to America’s demands of what they see as “sacrifices for peace”.

[From many - one.]

I posted before that Obama himself, in his Senate campaign, said something about waiting to speak out until his election was safe. I’ll try to find it.

[paleorite]

—Obama will finally push the regular Israeli to say ENOUGH to America’s demands of what they see as “sacrifices for peace”.—

So, what you are saying is that:

1. Israel will be able to be Israel without worrying about what Uncle Sam thinks and:

2. Uncle Sam will finally be free of the millstone around his neck?

Just asking.

[Defiant]

I love reading about Obama’s Power Rager.

[From many - one.]

Here it is, it was posted to Eric_at-the-beach. So far I thnk it’s the only smoking gun we have re Obama and Israel.

\How  About an Obama About-Face by George S. Hishmeh

http://www.us4arabs.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=356.

“...In 2000, when Obama ran unsuccessfully for Congress, Abunimah wrote this week that he heard him being “forthright in his criticism of US policy and his call for an even-handed approach to
the Palestinian-Israeli conflict”.At their last meeting four years ago in a Chicago neighborhood, Abunimah recalled Obama telling him “warmly” that he was sorry that “I haven’t said more about Palestine right now, but we are in a tough primary race (for his Senate seat). I’m hoping when things calm down, I can be more up front.”

“More upfront when things calm down”...but now he’s running for president.

[AslanLion36]

Umm, you do know there was a weapons embargo placed on Israel during the War of Independence?

Do you understand that every single time Israel wants to protect its citizens - America comes in and says please STOP, peace must go forward, remove your checkpoints, give up your land, stop retaliating, give up Jerusalem, our capital.

[SJackson]

Thanks. That would be the same Abunimah who claims Obama has raised funds for palestinian groups with him.

[SJackson]

It could impact turnout, but not really enough Jewish votes to really matter. Black votes, a turnout problem perhaps, but I don’t see them shifting enmasse to McCain.

[paleorite]

—Umm, you do know there was a weapons embargo placed on Israel during the War of Independence?—

Umm ... yeah. Was a pretty porous embargo though. Seems like enough old WW2 equipment (including Czech-built Me109s, ironically enough) got through to the embryonic IDF for it to defeat FIVE armies. The US didn’t do much to discourage volunteers like former US fighter pilots to help Israel either (one of whom shot down a RAF mosquito with IIRC a spitfire—again, ironic).

[brooklyn dave]

This lady is whacked out of her gourd. For all her huggy kissy routine with Arafat’s wife etc. I don’t think Hillary would even try to attempt this one. Not a very shrewd move for the Obama camp. I can see where they can pretty much write off Evangelicals—who for the most part wouldn’t contemplate voting for Obama anyway. But American Jews are still front and center in the American Left. But hopefully, even to these liberal Jews, the state of Israel still means something. (I think it does to a great majority on some level) Why do you think the Democratic Party for the most part has maintained the status quo on Israel? It needs the traditional loyalty of American Jews. There are some vociferous American Jews who have come over to the Republican camp, but by and large, the majority (even among the Orthodox) have stayed Democrat but with a hawkish view on Israel. Sen. Joe Lieberman is a good example. He is a typical lefty in his opinions on economic and probably most social issues, but he understands what is at stake in the realm of national security, and maintaining a strong Israel that can defend itself from the like of Hamas Hezbollah and the rest of the gang is as important to US security as our actions to defeat jihad elsewhere. If Obama is going to alienate American Jews over the question of Israel he can basically kiss his hopes for the presidency (if he wins the nomination in the first place) goodby. I wonder what constituency he thinks will take up the slack for all those alienated Jewish liberals? Anti-semitic elements in the black community (his pastor & co.), Arab-Americans? Israel hating/jihad-loving academics from Harvard & Yale? I guess when Obama means change he really means change (don’t know about the hope part)

[From many - one.]

Serious question: do we have any reason to disbelieve him?

[AslanLion36]

My point is treat Israel how you treat the UK.

America would never have the gall to tell the UK to give up its land or any other country nor would a President ever give up Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico to its “original” owners for “peace”.

BUT it treats Israel differently, that’s the point.

[justiceseeker93]

"... "a domestic constituency of tremendous political and financial import ..."

Seems to be a more long-winded equivalent of Pat Buchanan's "Amen corner."

[SJackson]

Serious question: do we have any reason to disbelieve him?

Not that I'm aware of, though it's 8 years old. There's no doubt he was close to Obama, nor that he's raised funds for palestinian groups. A short bio of Abunimah in the next post, not a fellow for a Senator to be hanging with.

[Stepan12]

If one would read that dumb chick magazine, “Marie Claire,” one would find that Samantha Powers is called the smartest woman in America.

SHEESH!

[justiceseeker93]

I read where this Samantha Power lass came to the US from Ireland at age 10 and is only 37 now. I’m just wondering what influenced her intellectual development in such a pernicious direction.