Obama Rebuffs Challenges on Israel Stance

Washington Post: Growing Republican Effort To Question His Tolerance, Support Of Israel

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Jonathan Weisman.

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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.

[tigerjcs]

All you hear from Obama is...I''''m gonna change that! Yes I can! Yes I can! Trouble is, he can''''t even articulate what he''''s going to change. His whole campaign was based on one anti-iraq war speech in 2002. He is long on words but short on action. He can%u2019t put a plan to cut funding or to bring the troops home. He has done nothing. He is a discrete Muslim who served on a board that funded a pro PLO group.

Michelle Obama tries to resemble Jacquline Kennedy style with her makeover. She is nothing but a Xerox, just like her husband. Nothing real in them. They are the snake oil salesmen. They are not proud to be Americans, unless they win.

Hillary is the true leader who can bring the Change through her detail plans. She is the proud American all the time. GO HILLARY!

[grazinggoat]

Democrats | 2,025 Needed to Clinch
OBAMA 1,379
CLINTON 1,267
EDWARDS 26

Numbers speak for Obama. A lead of 112 delegates over Cliton. The gap is growing wider as time goes by. Way to go Barack!

[quetzal0666]

MuddyFlower,

did you learn this at a Cross burning, i mean Southern Barbeque?

[mudrose-2009]

I Just want for once for a President to have enough nuts to stand up to the Zionist Lobby and make things right!!!!!!!
Posted by Quetzal0666

David Duke supports Obama. Yeh they certainly have the nuts to stand up to the Zionist Lobby.

[popstom1]

Bernice after the 1972 Olympics it was not real smart to be a muslim in the USA

[quetzal0666]

Zionistas are just as much a terrorists as they come,
Put down that bible long enough to get over your blind faith..

Death is Death... Politics and Religion are a bad combination....

[pelosisstill]

No, Quezzzel,

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.

[quetzal0666]

pelosisstill...

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,

[pelosisstill]

Obama is enough for me to hold my nose and vote for McCain.

As for clowns like Queztocal. GKC99, and Tucker(sic) - how''s Adolf these days? You certainly would know.

[quetzal0666]

I Just want for once for a President to have enough nuts to stand up to the Zionist Lobby and make things right!!!!!!!

[xzonz]

I HAVE CAREFULLY FWOLLOWED THE CAMAPIGHN. I UNDERSTAND OBAMA VERY WELL. HE WANTS ALL OF US TO THINK OF OURSELVES AS AMERICANS FIRST BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE. HE IS A UNITER AND AS CAN BE SEEN FROM THE THEME OF HIS CAMPAIGHN. I SUPPORT OBAMA AND I WILL VOTE FOR HIM AS MY PRSIDENT.

[rudy654-2009]

There is no such thing asa fundamentalist Republican, that''''s like saying a truthfull Democrat.Posted by jowand at 06:35 PM

Or truthful Republican! You are all liars! So shut up.

[dovesong-2009]

Racists and scepticts are playing into the hands of the "anti-semites" and other dysfunctional people in the world. Barak believes hat ALL people are created equal, and I do too. I will vote OBAMA in ''08

[bernice222]

WHY WOULD OBAMA BE IN A CHRISTIAN CHURCH FOR 20 YEARS IF IN FACT HE IS MUSLIM? DO YOU THINK HE STAYED THERE ALL THIS TIME JUST TO SNOWBALL YOU?
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!

[bernice222]

REPUBLICAN TENNESSEANS, THESE IMPS FROM HELL ARE THE ONES JEWS AND BLACKS HAD BETTER PRAY NEVER GET INTO OFFICE.

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.

[popstom1]

tibu I would not be call Mr.Obama OH I am sorry Senator Obama thanks to his good friend Tony Rezko.
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

[gkc99]

There is no such thing asa fundamentalist Republican, --Posted by jowand


And what would you call John McCain kissing Jerry Falwell''s fundament?

[chuegevera]

I always heard the title "America vote" or US election but I think you should call it "America &Israel vote"ot US & Istrael election if this is the stance

[grazinggoat]

Yeah, right, Is that why Chicago is still ridden with slums and substandard housing?
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.

[likeitis5050]

I''m glad he''s finally having to sweat some of these hard questions...he''s been given a pass based solely the hysteria of fainting fans whipped up by Oprah''s battle cries.

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?