Clinton's Speech Raises Concerns (Mine: Some Mass. Residents 'Get It')

Metrowest Daily News (Mass.) ^ | Dec. 9, 2002 | Shanley Stern

[mountaineer]

NEWTON - When former U.S. president Bill Clinton comes to Newton Centre today he brings with him not only swarms of supporters and security, but a growing number of dissenters.

A two-year effort and $100,000 was what it took for Temple Beth Avodah to lock in a Clinton appearance. But it's not the former president's mug that got almost 1,100 people to pay $100 a ticket, it's his speech topic.

Clinton is expected to talk about Israel - but whether or not the Clinton administration was really the Israeli ally it professed to be has some Newton residents wondering whether a synagogue appearance is appropriate.

"This is aside from the question of Clinton's morality, but here he is invited to a temple when he's done more to undermine Israel than he did to help," Manchester Road resident Jim Epstein said. "I'm hoping that it might dawn on other Jews that the Republicans, and more particularly President Bush, manifest policies and actions far more in alliance with the interests of Israel and the Jewish people."

Epstein, who plans to attend the event, said in his opinion, the ex-President did more to encourage Israel's enemies and threaten its security than any administration since the creation of the state of Israel.

[mountaineer]

"He actually did a lot of damage," Katzen said. "Arafat visited the White House more than any other leader. Clinton wanted to feel the pain of the Palestinians, he wanted to be the big peacemaker."
___________________
I think this is a remarkable - and encouraging - statement coming from a Boston-area Jewish person.

[2timothy3.16]

Temple Beth Avodah
barney franks temple, in the midst of barney franks district, written by a newspaper that worships the gound barney frank walks on.
With that in mind, we can start to see just how much trouble clinton and his ilk are in.

[mountaineer]

FYI, and freep opportunity in Newton.

[mountaineer]

Anytime x42's traditional constituency disses him - whether blacks, Jews, the media, whatever - I'm encouraged.

[ppaul]

[goodnesswins]

WHY would anyone PAY to hear a liar, lie again?

[Cicero]

Even the organizer feels the need to apologize for this event. The congregation approved it, she says, and the main purpose is to raise money for the Temple. Evidently some rich clintonoid gave a matching grant of $100,000 for the speaker's fee, so admissions will all go to the Temple fund. I'm not sure how comfortable I'd feel about such an arrangement, which looks suspiciously like what Christians call simony (trying to buy salvation).

Also note that secret service agents have been swarming over the area for weeks, although we have recently read that there are barely enough of them to protect Bush because so many have quit for other jobs. Hillary has her band of SS agents too, to carry luggage, run errands, and open doors for her. Not to speak of Chelsea.

[mountaineer]

Brit newspapers reported that on the Toon's recent trip (over Thanksgiving) he had 20 Secret Service agents. A Mexican newspaper reported that when he visited Monterrey last week, he was protected not only by Secret Service, but CIA and FBI agents!

[FReepaholic]

>>...Not to speak of Chelsea...<<

I try not to.

[FryingPan101]

"Evidently some rich clintonoid gave a matching grant of $100,000 for the speaker's fee"

Now that's interesting and, if it's happening elsewhere, could explain why Clinton keeps getting all these high paid speaking engagements. I know he's not drawing crowds in some places, they're giving free passes just to pack arenas. I never thought I'd live to see the day when Clinton might be seen as he is.

[lodwick]

bttt

[mountaineer]

Here's a little background on Clinton's appearance at the Newton synagogue:

NEWTON - Bringing Bill Clinton to Newton wasn't easy. It wasn't cheap, either.

Members of the Jewish reform Temple Beth Avodah in Newton Centre have been working for close to two years to secure the former president's scheduled appearance next month at the synagogue. It also took more than just persistent phone calls to Clinton's Harlem, N.Y., offices - it took a good chunk of change, too.

Beth Avodah member and businessman Robert Carp is paying $100,000 to get Clinton to speak at his temple Monday, Dec. 9. Carp is founder of Chestnut Hill Asset Management and Galaxy Internet service provider.

"I'm writing the check," said Carp, 47.

The synagogue last featured author and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, who spoke to a group of more 1,000 attendees in May, 2001. Since Wiesel's inspiring talk, staff and members of Beth Avodah - including Rabbi Keith Stern - began thinking of an encore.

"Our rabbi and I were discussing who would be a good follow-up," said Carp.

Setting their sights on an ex-president, however, proved to be a task that would take more than 16 months to complete.

Stern worked the phones during that time to land Clinton, getting the green light last September.

Carp, a Chestnut Hill resident, agreed to foot the bill because, "I believe in the mission of our temple." Carp, who launched an unsuccessful bid for alderman last year, added, "I believe (Clinton) has something important to share with the Jewish community."

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. speech are $100 each and can be bought through the synagogue. Like the Wiesel speech, slightly more than 1,000 will be sold. Profits from the talk will benefit Beth Avodah.

"Right now is a very volatile time in the Middle East," added Carp. "He (Clinton) reinforces America's commitment to stand side by side with Israel."

Carp, a registered Democrat, said he's leaning more towards the Republican side of the spectrum lately, but said party affiliations shouldn't play a role in Clinton's coming to the city.

" For the evening, I want everybody to forget their political leanings," Carp said. "I'm very excited about it."

In addition to his two, well-established companies, Carp also wrote several stock trading books and for a while hosted a radio show about the stock market. He even built a glass-walled studio on Needham Street that recently closed as Carp turned his attention away from the radio show and back toward his businesses.

Carp and Beth Avodah staff were allowed to submit questions and a suggested topic for Clinton to draw a speech from, but Carp is not releasing the details.

Clinton's speech will solidify the temple's reputation for being on the cutting edge of Jewish issues, Carp said.

"It truly reinforces Temple Beth Avodah as an entity pushing forward to the front of Jewish-American relations," said Carp, a member of the synagogue for four years.
http://www.dailynewstribune.com/news/local_regional/newt_clinton11272002.htm

[Rocky]

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. speech are $100 each and can be bought through the synagogue. Like the Wiesel speech, slightly more than 1,000 will be sold. Profits from the talk will benefit Beth Avodah.

I don't get it. The guy pays Clinton $100,000 so that they get $100,000 in donations for his synagogue.

[reformed_democrat]

I know -- seems silly to go through the rigmarole of getting the hall, printing the programs, selling the tickets -- he probably could have written a check for $25,000 to the synagogue, and they would have faired better.

[mallardx]

I know, I'm a little confused here...why would a synagogue even THINK of supporting Bill Clinton? He is an enemy to Jewish people, Americans, and our military. What are these people THINKING?

[oust the louse]

"I know, I'm a little confused here...why would a synagogue even THINK of supporting Bill Clinton? He is an enemy to Jewish people, Americans, and our military. What are these people THINKING?"

Maybe they'll throw his ass out of the Temple....I'd pay $100 grand for that honor!

[mountaineer]

You're right, of course, but if the guy had just written a check, he wouldn't have gotten the publicity. He'll probably get his picture taken with the rapist, too. Wow.

[Imal]

"Our rabbi and I were discussing who would be a good follow-up," said Carp.

I'm sure Yasser Arafat is available, and I can't imagine a speaker whose policy on Israel is closer to Clinton's than his.

[okie01]

"With that in mind, we can start to see just how much trouble clinton and his ilk are in."

Thanks for the additional background.

Wonder if the Boston Globe would even think of covering the story in this fashion?

Wondering...wondering...wondering...

Nope!