15,000 Jews Say `No` to Palin at UN Rally on Iran

Israelenews.com ^ | 9/21/08 | Richard Silverstein

[dalight]

J Street has just won its first political skirmish. Only a day or so ago it began a campaign to petition Malcolm Hoenlein and the Conference of Presidents against its decision to invite Sarah Palin to address a UN rally against Iran on the day the latter's president addresses the world body.

[dalight]

I don’t get why Malcolm caved on this. What’s his explanation?

I am looking for the link. He was on radio Friday morning explaining. Essentially 3 of the 5 organizations sponsoring the event announced that they intended to pull out of the Rally if it went ahead with Palin.

Obama had suggested Wexler as the Democrat speaker and when Palin didn't pull out due to the insult, they began pressing for Palin to be disinvited. This pressure was extraordinary including lawyers pressuring the sponsors that their Tax Exempt status would be at risk if they dared to continue to participate in the Rally with Palin speaking.

Malcolm is deeply upset but had to step back and save the rally. He said the truth would come out and the folks responsible for this would have to deal with the consequences of this shameful episode.

He believed allowing this to completely cancel the Rally would be a greater evil so the organization accepted the reality that some Jews love party and power more than Israel.

He is responsible to do what he can to protect our country and Israel by voicing opposition to the evil that Iran is attempting.

[BusterBear]

I don’t get why Malcolm caved on this. What’s his explanation?

Well, the explanation they are putting out is that their tax status, as non-partisan organizations, was being threatened; and that it was more important to focus on Iran and Ahmadinejad than on US politics (which was becoming the focus).

I don't agree with this stance - if you back down from standing up to political and financial intimidation in your own country, then how do you maintain credibility in protesting tyranny in other countries? - but that is their explanation.

[MaxMax]

All that and no mention of Bush.

[dalight]

Someone please, please help me understand why Jews choose to vote for a Party of Islamic sympathizers? It defies logic.

Some folks love the Democrat party more than they love America or Israel. Its the only answer. I am ashamed for all of us that this could have happened but it is a reality that we have to face once in a while.

[DJ Taylor]

"This rally debacle also illustrates how politically out of touch the Israel lobby’s leadership is with the views of mainstream Jews. At best, 30% of them will vote for McCain-Palin in November. 70% will vote for the other guy."

Does Silverstein know this to be a fact, or is he just making it up as he goes along?

[beethoven]

I would imagine in was their leadership. . .It is difficult to understand why the Jewish community can side with the left's political tactics. Their goal is to make people beholden and cause fear. If they vote other than left, "everything will be taken away from them". . .They can't be that uneducated to believe such propaganda.

[dalight]

Did “15,000 Jews” say “no”? Or just their leadership?

This is a J Street operative crowing about their ASTROTURFING campaign. A specialty of David Axelrod of ....

[Reaganesque]

So, Sarah Palin, who supports Israel’s right to exist, is a greater threat to Liberal Jews than is Iran, who have promised to “wipe Israel off the map.” Do I have that clear? And they say Conservatives are the stupid ones.

[dalight]

These are NYC liberal jews who are going to vote RAT no matter what. Palin shouldn’t give them the time of day. Bottom line: she stands with Israel and its right to do what it needs to do to protect itself.

This is not fair. Infact, the real import of this article is that J Street has claimed responsibility for this horror. Much like a terrorist or a bomber claims credit for their crime thinking that normal folks won't be horrified and recoil from this.

[freekitty]

Maybe they really don’t; unless they are from Hollywood, the land of morons.

[dalight]

This is the same group that disinvited Palin because they did not want to lose their tax exemption.

This is the group who worked hard behind the scenes to make any number of threats to all of the organizations who were attempting to coordinate this rally.

[RetiredArmy]

Well, when they help elect Osama Obama, and the next Holocaust happens, let them cry for help again. But this will be a self inflicted wound. So they are going to get what they voted for, a Muslim that hates Jews and will kill them. Vote often for your own deaths.

[Psycho_Runner]

It’s not logic, it is beleiving a lie.

[dalight]

Lots of spin in that article, to believe the writer, one would have to assume that “all” 15,000 or so attendees were there to applaud Governor Palin’s shunning.

Re-read this article. It claims that 15,000 emails were sent to the Rally Organizers that caused Palin to be dis-invited. This may have occurred, but it was the other threats and back room maneuvering that actually forced this crisis.

[Shadraq]

Someone please, please help me understand why Jews choose to vote for a Party of Islamic sympathizers? It defies logic.

Most Jews are anti gun too. First thing Hitler did was take away all the guns. With their history one would think they'd all own a personal arsenal but they don't.

[prov1813man]

Defies all logic and reason, but many are leftists first, Jews second. They now support the party endorsed by those sworn to kill them all.

[Cinnamon Girl]

I heard that, but it's not an answer. If Wexler was offered instead of Hillary!, so take Wexler and have Palin still speak. Malcolm should have made public which organizations pressured him rather than kowtowing to their demands.

[dalight]

No offense to the Jewish Freepers as I have no clue about Jewish political organizations, but it appears that “J Street” is Jewish the way that “Catholics for choice” are Catholic and “Sojourners” are Protestant

Nail meet Head

[dalight]

All that and no mention of Bush.

Palin Derangement Syndrome trumps Bush Derangement Syndrome.

[Rapscallion]

If Jews will not stand beside those who want to defend Israel from Iran, why should I?

Maybe it actually is time to re-evaluate where we should stand on the defense of Israel.