Posted on 09/19/2011 12:03:26 PM PDT by clove
NEW YORK – Ed Koch, a one-time Democratic U.S. congressman and former mayor of New York City, told a radio host today that his vote in the 2012 presidential election is directly tied to how Barack Obama treats Israel.
Koch surprised the political world when he joined many other Jewish voters in turning against the Democrats in the special election to replace former New York Rep. Anthony Weiner. Koch endorsed the Republican candidate, eventual victor Bob Turner.
"I hope that the president takes note of what happened," Koch told WND Jerusalem Bureau Chief Aaron Klein on his WABC Radio program. "And if he believes that the Jewish vote is not only important, but if he believes that they are correct in assailing his heretofore positions, then he will change those positions and do what I think he should do, which is to send this message to both Turkey and to Egypt, that if you attack Israel, it will be an attack upon the United States.
"That's the same kind of message that Jack Kennedy, president during the Cuban Missile crisis, sent to Khrushchev, which was, 'If you attack any country in the Western Hemisphere, it will be deemed by us as an attack upon the United States,'" he continued. "If [Obama] does that, I'll vote for him."
Audio of the interview can be heard on Klein's website.
Klein asked Koch what would happen if Obama failed to stand up for Israel and if Koch would endorse a Republican for president.
Koch replied, "I see myself staying home and not voting for president."
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
He’s a democRAT, yes. Prominent, no.
Kind of like the question asked to Eric Holder.
If a terrorist had placed a nuclear device in NY City and your daughter was there, would you be willing to torture the terrorist to reveal the location of the bomb and save your daughter?
Well Ed? You going to let Israel die because you don’t want to lift a finger to defend her?
Who is the anti-Semite? Really? You don’t believe Jews are worth saving if it means you have to vote for a Republican.
Sick
To think that just this moring I read an article naming obama as the first Jewish president. The leftards are insane.
LLS
I didn’t hear the Klein interview but he was asked a similar question in another interview and he said if the republicans nominated a nutjob then he would stay home. I agree. If the GOP nominated Ron Paul, I would also stay home.
“If the only reason Koch cannot support Obama has to do with Israel and NOT how he is destroying The USA, then I don’t care about his opinion. “
What...you were considering voting for Obama? ;)
The dems certainly care what Koch does. Weprin was supposed to be a done deal.
ah, but this is difference
This guy says he wouldn’t vote for a generic Republican
And Ron Paul isn’t into defending Israel than Obama, even less so.
“I can’t vote for a guy who says he can’t believe in evolution. The other extreme, right-wing positions that a number of those candidates have, I will not be endorsing.”
Who cares if someone doesn’t believe in evolution? Evolution isn’t going to lower unemployment or deal with Iran’s nuclear threat. If you really believe in evolution then just don’t elect him to be biologist-in-chief.
He’s prominent where I come from, and respected even though he remains a Dem.
Why? I guess because your average “old Jewish guy” can do sanity and common sense with one hand tied behind his back.
(I often disagree with Ed Koch, but he’s right this time.)
Apt analogy. And if Magoo holds Obama’s feet to the fire, good for Magoo.
Klein asked Koch what would happen if Obama failed to stand up for Israel and if Koch would endorse a Republican for president.
still he is not standing up to Obama by staying home.
He’s prominent. Maybe not in YOUR neighborhood but in mine: he’s prominent.
The guy endorsed and campaigned for Al D’Amato, for God’s sake! Now he’s not going to vote for a Republican president? (I think he’s referring to Perry in the anti-evolution bit, hee-hee.)
I guess we have a different definition of prominent. I actually like the guy, I think he’s honest in his convictions.
Well, the guy has been on the scene since the 1960’s. Are you a young person? Maybe you don’t know his history since he’s been out of office.
In New York City politics, he’s a macher. He can be unbelieveably stupid and annoying but then he turns around and does something smart. Luckily, this is one of them.
I know him quite well. Just because someone has a long history, doesn’t make him prominent. Perhaps I am confusing prominent with relevant. But, you’re right.....every once in a while he does indeed do something smart.
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