Feb. 28, 2008
Obama Rebuffs Challenges on Israel Stance
Washington Post: Growing Republican Effort To Question His Tolerance, Support Of Israel
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Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Friday, March 2, 2007, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
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Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is engaged in a concerted effort to reassure Jewish leaders in the face of an increasingly aggressive Republican campaign to question his tolerance and his commitment to supporting Israel.
In a typical attack, the Tennessee Republican Party, under the headline "Anti-Semites for Obama," said Monday that it was joining "a growing chorus of Americans concerned about the future of the nation of Israel, the only stable democracy in the Middle East, if Sen. Barack Hussein Obama is elected president of the United States."
Two controversial Chicago figures -- Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, pastor of Obama's church -- have figured prominently in the criticism of Obama. In Tuesday's Democratic debate in Cleveland, Obama disavowed an endorsement from Farrakhan but did not directly answer a question about Wright once having said that Farrakhan "epitomizes greatness."
Asked by moderator Tim Russert what he could do to reassure Jewish Americans, Obama cited his belief that Israel's security is "sacrosanct." He also said he has strong support in the Jewish community because of his opposition to anti-Semitism and his efforts to rebuild the relationship between Jews and African Americans.
On Sunday, Obama took time from his campaign to air out concerns with about 100 Jewish leaders in Cleveland, assuring them of "an unshakable commitment to the security of Israel and the friendship between the United States and Israel."
After the meeting, Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor of the liberal Jewish magazine Tikkun, issued a statement declaring that Obama "has been very successful . . . in reassuring the bulk of American Jews that the innuendoes and overt attacks on his alleged hostility to or indifference to the well-being of Israel are false."
To some Jewish leaders, even ones who have remained neutral in the presidential campaign, Obama's struggles are exasperating. Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said yesterday from Jerusalem that Obama has gone much further than other black leaders in his denunciation of Farrakhan and has recently expressed stalwartly pro-Israel views.
"As far as I'm concerned, this issue is behind us," said Foxman, who has not endorsed a candidate. "But with the Internet, as all Jews should know, these things have a half-life. They just keep going."
Rep. Stephen I. Cohen (D-Tenn.), one of about half a dozen announced Jewish Obama supporters in the House, noted that Obama had gone to Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church on Martin Luther King Day to speak out against anti-Semitism in the African American community. But he and other Jewish Democrats expressed concern that perception and innuendo could be taking a toll among Jewish voters, some of whom could shift allegiances to Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the presumptive Republican nominee, in November.
In the Democratic presidential primaries, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) has run well ahead of Obama among Jewish voters in states with large Jewish populations, taking 67 percent of the Jewish vote in Nevada, 63 percent in New Jersey, 65 percent in New York and 60 percent in Maryland. Obama narrowly won the Jewish vote in Arizona, California and Massachusetts, and captured 61 percent in Connecticut.
"The campaign's going to have to make a strong effort against these rumors," Cohen said.
Alan Solomont, a Boston financier who is Obama's Northeastern finance chairman, said he has been fielding almost daily calls from Jewish friends, asking about Obama's position on Israel and on other policy issues important to them.
Another issue for Obama besides Farrakhan and White has been his campaign's association with Zbigniew Brzezinski and Robert Malley, two prominent foreign policy experts whom some Jews regard as anti-Israel.
Obama took on those issues in Cleveland when he told Jewish leaders that Brzezinski, a national security adviser to President Jimmy Carter, is not a key adviser but merely someone he had lunch with and exchanged e-mails with "maybe three times." Malley, a State Department official in the Clinton White House involved in failed efforts to complete a comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, "is one of hundreds of people who have sent advice to the campaign," Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.), an Obama supporter, wrote in the Jerusalem Post yesterday.
The persistence of the changes against Obama has left his supporters pointing fingers, both at the GOP and at the Clinton campaign. Wexler pointed to a Newsweek article this week that said Clinton senior adviser Ann Lewis had called Brzezinski Obama's "chief foreign policy adviser" during a conference call in January with leaders of major Jewish organizations. Clinton campaign spokesman Phil Singer had no comment.
And the Obama campaign released a letter to Clinton from more than two dozen Ohio Jewish leaders condemning "baseless attacks" that they said are being spread by her campaign.
Solomont referred to e-mails from the Republican Jewish Coalition, which put out a news release Monday in which Executive Director Matthew Brooks said "people should be very skeptical of Barack Obama's shaky Middle East policies."
"I have seen statements by the Republican Jewish Coalition which are distortions and misinformation, and I find it reprehensible," said Solomont, who is Jewish.
Brooks said the coalition's mailings have raised legitimate issues that voters need to scrutinize. "If you can find a distortion, have at it," Brooks said. "But those are all facts, and we think it is important to raise these issues with the Jewish community."
Washington Post Staff writer Matthew Mosk and polling director Jon Cohen contributed to this report.
By Jonathan Weisman
© 2008 The Washington Post Company
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See all 54 CommentsHOUSTON -- The president of the Catholic League today blasted Sen. John McCain for accepting the endorsement of Texas evangelicalist John Hagee, calling the controversial pastor a bigot who has "waged an unrelenting war against the Catholic Church."
Hagee, who is known for his crusading support of Israel, backed McCain''s presidential bid Wednesday, standing next to the senator at a hotel in San Antonio and calling McCain "a man of principle."
But Catholic League President Bill Donohue said in a statement today that Hagee has written extensively in negative ways about the Catholic Church, "calling it ''The Great ***,'' an ''apostate church,'' the ''anti-Christ,'' and a ''false cult system.''"
"Senator Obama has repudiated the endorsement of Louis Farrakhan, another bigot. McCain should follow suit and retract his embrace of Hagee," Donohue said.
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Posted by denn034 at 03:49 PM : Feb 28, 2008
America owes Israel nothing, and can get along just fine without it; besides, Barack is running for the presidency of the United States. Screw Israel.
What happens if the names contradict? Perhaps my last name wants to put my middle in a gas chamber? My point is that it''s SILLY to judge someone by there name. I see lot''s of Jesus'' go to prison, alot of Kennedys'' that don''t support the space program, alot of Britneys'' that dont shave their heads. George was the first president of the united states and the father of our country. He is respected and considered a cornerstone of our great country. Our current president is also a George and that seems to be where the similarities end.
I hope I don''t see Barack "Hussein" Obama in print again. There is no logical reason to be using his middle name. Does anyone even know Hillary''s middle name? Let alone use it? (Don''t say Rodham, that''s her maiden name.) What about McCain, Edwards, Paul, Guiliani, Huckabee? Ever heard their middle names throughout the campaign? OF COURSE NOT! It is only being used to creat controversy and it needs to stop.
John Sidney McCain III
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton
Michael Dale "Mike" Huckabee
Johnny Reid "John" Edwards
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani
Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul
From now on I want to see every candidates FULL NAME used in print. Just Like Obamas is.
-Posted by krannawitter at 04:06 PM : Feb 28, 2008
Me too! We can learn alot about a person by their middle name. Example:
Mitt = Boring fake candidate.
Sydney = Old boring candidate.
Diane = Losing candidate.
Hussein = Anti-Semitic Islamic terrorist.
Obama (%u5C0F%u6D5C), a Japanese surname
Obama clan (%u5C0F%u6D5C%u6C0F), a samurai clan of feudal Japan
So we shouldn''t be concerned about Obama being anti-semite, a muslim, or a black. Those are just covers to protect us from the truth. We should worry that he could sneak into our house undetected and kill us without making a sound.
His first name, Barack, is also a russian brandy. So according to his name he must logically be a drunken muslim hell bent on on using his Ninja skills to destroy the jews. Have I made my point yet!!!!
Have I tought you nothing? If you want to use Sen. Obamas nickname it must be phrased this way:
Barack Hussein "Barry" Obama
"The more we know about Obama, the less of a good idea he seems to be."
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Posted by mike71067 at 04:06 PM : Feb 28, 2008
Mike71067,
Are you anti-semite? The Jewish community feels that Obama is being mis-represented and supports jews/israel. But according to you thats bad? Please explain...
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Posted by mike71067 at 04:06 PM : Feb 28, 2008
To some of you jews maybe, but you jews don''t represent the majority of the country. You''ve gotten by up to this point by fooling the rest of us, but now, you''re only fooling yourselves, if you think that your Israel will drive our national politics, like it has in the past. Just look back into your history, to get a glimpse of what has happened to you, after people have awoken to see that it were some jews, who had gotten them into the mess that they were in. It can''t happen here? Keep fooling yourselves.
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Posted by Cbscrash07 at 04:11 PM : Feb 28, 2008
This is what these dual citizenship jews have gotten us.
http://www.viewzone.com/dualcitizen.html
Please feel free to edit as you see fit.
Have you been reading the Turner Diaries?
Relax, everyone who recognizes Israel as an ally is not a Zionist.
As Obama pointed out during the debate, the Jewish community stood up for social justice for African-Americans when most people would not, some even died during the struggle for civil rights.
The Jewish Anti-defamation League and over 25 Rabbinical organizations have been actively defending Obama aginst the smears coming his way, so don''t paint the Jewish community here or the citizens of Israel with such a broad brush.
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Posted by crater7 at 04:12 PM : Feb 28, 2008
+ report abuse
People are upset because its trash.. it''s garbage and it has NOTHING to do with the issues we all should be concerned about. I do believe people are on to you folks! Sieg Heil Bush! Sieg Heil McCain
Yet, it is suicide for any American politican to speak out about the need to balance Palestinian against Israeli interests -- so powerful is the Israeli Lobby and neoconservatism.
The Jewish Anti-defamation League and over 25 Rabbinical organizations have been actively defending Obama aginst the smears coming his way, so don''''t paint the Jewish community here or the citizens of Israel with such a broad brush.
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Posted by realpatriot1 at 04:56 PM : Feb 28, 2008
+ report abuse
Oh I know and it will get worse. These losers do not have a "Marriage Amendment" this time and they can''t Swift Boat Obama so they will get more desperate as the wave that''s going to hit them gets closer.
Please feel free to edit as you see fit.
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Posted by Questionnews at 04:55 PM : Feb 28, 2008
Tiitty Twister, hoh man.
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Posted by realpatriot1 at 04:56 PM : Feb 28, 2008
I didn''t say all Real; I said some, some of the kindest and nicest people that I''ve met and known were jews, but then there are the ones who really got it coming, and I have no sympathy nor kindred for them. And they, will most definitely be the chosen.
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Posted by davewrite1 at 05:03 PM : Feb 28, 2008
These times? They are a changin...and that''s Bob Dylan, Hillary.
-Jews and Neo-Cons are not giving up the USA and its policies in the Middle-East, they are just showing the flexibility that is greatly needed in order to get a peace agreement in the Middle-East between Israel and the Pals.
-Barack Obama has not given up the priorities of the USA and its interests in the Middle-East. He''s the softer version of leadership of the USA there. A version so much needed after a harsh stance the Repukons have given to the populations of the Middle-east and that are suffering our positions and invasions.
Posted by CBS_Oliver at 05:35 PM : Feb 28, 2008
There is no such thing asa fundamentalist Republican, that''s like saying a truthfull Democrat.
But I find it fascinating that these critics of Obama get angry when you point out the truths of when the government subsidizes beliefs they don''t like, and suddenly the violence is so obvious to them. This particular anger against Obama is so hypocritical considering that threats and violence were waged to acquire our tax dollars in the first place.
Posted by jowand
Very good!
Not saying he wouldn''t be the right guy, but let''s face it...if we have a guy in office who is too sensitive to be called by his full name, or who gets the media pass on any question regarding his patriotism or even where he stands on issues of national security (how dare anyone ask him such a inflamatory question!!)...we have a problem. Okay, he''s nice...he''s personable...polar opposite of Hillary...and they both have almost the same game plan for expanding government and raising taxes...so let''s put his feet to the fire and see if he can take it....McCain is going to be roasted, why not Obama?
Posted by hopetrumps at 06:17 PM : Feb 28, 2008
-tlumps, That is why he''s been elected in Senate in order to bring a political change to those slums. An acknowledgement by the Repukons busy stealing the US treasury and throwing money out of the USA in what is known a 935lies-based war in Iraq, that brought absolutely nothing positive to the USA. All it brought is more hatred from other Nations who saw an illegal war waged by The Walking-Liar Bush on the Iraqi people.
-CBS news: ''Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said yesterday from Jerusalem that Obama has gone much further than other black leaders in his denunciation of Farrakhan and has recently expressed stalwartly pro-Israel views.
"As far as I''m concerned, this issue is behind us," said Foxman, who has not endorsed a candidate. "But with the Internet, as all Jews should know, these things have a half-life. They just keep going." ''
- I guess it''s true for all denomintaions. Peace is a CONSTANT effort of negotiation and valuable beliefs dissimination.
And what would you call John McCain kissing Jerry Falwell''s fundament?
Who some say Obama would not be Senator Obama.
and there is something about A contributor''s son
and a internship well Mr.Fitzpatrick may want to know about that so until He''s elected he''s no president maybe Rezko will show more loyality than john lewis
THEY ARE STILL VERY MUCH STUCK IN THEIR DADDIES MENALITIES AFRAID OF OTHER PEOPLE AND THIS IS JUST A PLOT TO CAUSE FEAR AND TO DIVIDE IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP OBAMA OUT OF OFFICE.IF ANYTHING THEY ARE TRULY AFRAID OF THE SUPPORT HE WILL OFFER THE JEWS.
THEY ARE THE SAME OLD CHEATS, LIARS ONLY THEY HAVE PROFECTED THEIR WAYS.POLITICALY CORRECTIONS, BUT IT DOES NOT TAKE MUCH IMAGINATION TO SEE THROUGH THEM. BELIEVE ME I LIVE DOWN HERE WITH THEM.
DON''T TRUST NOTHING THEY SAY, NOTHING!!!!!THEY THINK THIS IS THEIR WORLD AND THERE''S NO ROOM FOR ANYBODY ELSE THAT DON''T LOOK LIKE OR THINK LIKE THEM AND THEY WILL DO ANYTHING TO GET THEY''RE WAY.
NOW HIS FATHER LEFT HIM AND HIS MOTHER WHEN OBAMA WAS 2 YEARS OLD DO YOU THINK WITHIN THAT TIME OBAMA WAS TRAINED TO BE MUSLIM? OR DO YOU THINK HIS WHITE MOTHER AND GRANDPARENTS TRAINED HIM? OR DO YOU THINK HE HAD A SAY IN WHAT HIS NAME SHOULD BE? DID YOU NAME YOURSELF AT BIRTH?
THOSE OF YOU WHO CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIANS HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF I WHO DON''T KNOW YOU TELL YOU NO, YOU ARE NOT! YOUR FAITH IS IT SOMETHING THAT YOU LIKE QUESTIONED? OR DO YOU NOT ADHERD TO DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO TO YOU? OR DO YOU GET TO PICK AND CHOOSE?
AND IF HE WAS A MUSLIM DOES THAT MEAN THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONVERT OVER TO Y O U R CHRISTIAN FAITH? IS THER NO ROOM FOR THAT? WHAT DOES THIS SAY TO THE REST OF THE MULLUMS YOU ARE CALLED ON TO WITNESS TO, TO BE THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST TO?
YOU CHRISTIANS ARE BEING HYPOCRICS AND NOT REPRESENTATIVES OF CHRIST. AND THOSE OF YOU THAT ONLY HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF NEED TO BE SILENT YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO ATTACK HIS FAITH BECAUSE YOU DON''T UNDERSTAND HIS.
I HAVE A STRONG IMPRESSION ALL OF THIS STEMS FROM RACISM, HATRED AND EVEN FEAR!
Or truthful Republican! You are all liars! So shut up.
As for clowns like Queztocal. GKC99, and Tucker(sic) - how''s Adolf these days? You certainly would know.
is that all you got? namecalling because we dont agree with a Zionist Lobby dictating foreign policy?
or do you actually think 911 was because the U.S. is a Democracy?
It Happened because People are Fed up with our 1 way treatment of other people in the middle east,
It''s because you never took advantage of an education, or if you did, it was from some woolly-left professor who gave you a bunch of bull about suffering people - who, like the Palestinians, weren''t suffering at all except for their own blindness and stupidity.
Hint: boy - The Palestinians are TERRORISTS. The Islamonuts are TERRORISTS. They would gladly kill an idiot like you as much as they would me - and slave a nincompoop and coward like Obama in an instant.
Learn about the REAL world, not your blame this and that nonsense.
Put down that bible long enough to get over your blind faith..
Death is Death... Politics and Religion are a bad combination....
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