Since I endorsed Obama on this website (“I choose Obama” 5/7/08) I have received a few emails, and communications from Jewish constituents expressing displeasure with my choice. The reasons range from the bizarre (“I think he is with Hamas”) to the absurd (“he is a Muslim AND a member of a Christian church”). Most of their information comes from emails. To the casual observer it might seem odd that anyone would actually believe Senator Obama has an Israel problem considering that throughout his public life through word and deed he has been unflinching in his support for the security of Israel. He believes and has said that Israel’s security is non-negotiable; has opposed the purported right of return of Palestinians; repeatedly defended Israel’s right to control Jerusalem; criticized the United Nations for their treatment of Israel; supported Israel’s recent counter attack against Hezbollah; and criticized former President Jimmy Carter for his meeting with Hamas. His voting record reflects all those views. That is why his most ardent Florida supporter (and Chairman of his Florida Campaign) is United States Congressman Robert Wexler. I recently traveled with Congressman Wexler to Israel on a state trade mission, and after participating in dozens of high level meetings with Israeli officials – civilian, military and political – it was clear to me that there is no greater authority or advocate for Israel in the federal congress than Wexler. His unwavering support for Obama should be a strong signal for anyone wondering. So how did Obama develop an “Israel” problem? Friends, is it possible that elements of the Republican Party might be using fear and false innuendo to exploit an issue for which people have passion in an attempt to gain an election day advantage? My goodness, could there be gambling going on in Casablanca? What you are watching unfold is just the most recent incarnation of the same tactics that have become an unfortunate part of the Republican Party’s playbook. If deep passions and fear exist, you can trust the Rovellian wing of the Republican Party to shamelessly exploit them without regard to the truth. It has been this way for decades. The fear surrounding the Cold War inspired Joe McCarthy to exploit anti-communist sentiments at the expense of innocent Americans, and when Democrats embraced the Civil Rights movement in the 1960’s, Republicans were quick to take advantage of racial animus in their infamous "southern strategy." After 9-11 when the nation and the world were prepared to unite to fight extremist terrorism, the same gang misused that patriotism to advance a partisan political strategy in the midyear elections (even questioning the patriotism of a man who left three limbs on the battlefields of Vietnam). And now with the Republican brand having lost enormous credibility at home, the same tactic is being used to manipulate passions for Israel to gain political advantage in the upcoming Presidential election. Just take President Bush’s recent appearance before the Israeli Knesset where he used the occasion of Israel’s 60th anniversary to make a poorly veiled insinuation that Obama might try to appease terrorists like Hamas. Forget for a moment the inappropriateness of the President using an important foreign policy address for partisan gamesmanship back home. (we’ve grown to expect only less from this Administration). Of course the real problem is that Senator Obama has consistently said Hamas is a terrorist organization with whom he would not meet. While it comes as no surprise that President Bush would falsely insinuate about Senator Obama’s position on Israel, I am very disappointed that Senator McCain, (a man who I worked with as staff in the United States Senate and respect greatly for his service to our country), did not immediately repudiate and reject the President’s attacks as simply untrue and unfair. Ironically, it was Senator McCain who a few years ago told a reporter about Hamas: "They're the government; sooner or later we are going to have to deal with them, one way or another, and I understand why this administration and previous administrations had such antipathy towards Hamas because of their dedication to violence and the things that they not only espouse but practice, so . . . but it's a new reality in the Middle East.” But be certain that Republican operatives will repeat the fabrication and the false insinuation repeatedly with the hope that email traffic begins to confirm itself to the ought-to-know-better reader. I believe it is patently disloyal to Israel for any of her supporters – no matter their party affiliation -- to dishonestly manipulate heart-felt passion for Israel as a cheap election year tactic. Eleven minutes after Israel declared its Independence 60 years ago, Democratic President Harry Truman overruled his State Department and recognized the new nation of Israel. Since then, and more recently over the last two decades, support for Israel has become bipartisan. Republicans like U.S. Senator Connie Mack joined with long standing Democratic stalwarts for Israel like Senator Bob Graham in crafting high-minded and principled foreign policy that firmly established Israel as our nation’s most cherished ally. It is, perhaps, the only foreign policy issue that enjoys nearly monolithic support in the Congress. The only way that will change is if political thugs drag Israel into the partisan gutter. The truth is, Senator Obama doesn’t have an Israel problem – he has done and said everything the most ardent supporters of Israel would expect and hope for - Republicans have an election problem. So some of their operatives will do anything they can to inflame or suppress the electorate in any manner that suits them. But fair warning to them: if they drag Israel into partisan bickering they may hear about how this Administration’s foreign policy mistakes and bumbling have left our nation only weaker in the international community, and how a weaker America does not make for a stronger, more secure, Israel. If they want to throw mud and innuendo, they may have trouble ducking the cold hard facts that come flying back at them. That said, if you want to hear and read Senator Obama’s actual words they will follow below at the end of this blog. If on the other hand, you would rather base your opinion on the unfounded emails you are receiving off the internet, then I will tell a Nigerian businessman I know that you might want to do business with him. What follows are Senator Obama’s own words on Israel:Senator Barack Obama on Israel's Security: "Israel's security is sacrosanct, it's non-negotiable…. Israel has to remain a Jewish State and what I believe that means is that any negotiated peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians is going to have to involve the Palestinians relinquishing the right of return as it has been understood in the past."http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnXUE2cfxGk Senator Obama's Strong Support for Israel: "The relationship between the United States and Israel is rooted in shared interests, shared values, and deep friendship among our people. It is supported by a strong, bipartisan consensus that I have been proud to be a part of, and a broad majority of the American people. And when I am in the White House, I will bring with me an unshakeable commitment to Israel's security, and to the friendship between our countries."http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFkzB2IhoA0 Senator Obama Disagrees with Former President Carter's Meeting Hamas: "I will work on behalf of peace with the full knowledge that Israel still has bitter enemies. We see their intention every time a suicide bomber strikes. We saw their intentions in the Katyusha rockets that Hezbollah rained down on Israel from Lebanon in 2006. And we see it today in the Qassams that Hamas fires into Israel every day from Gaza. That is why I have a fundamental difference with President Carter, and disagreed with his decision to meet with Hamas. We must not negotiate with a terrorist group intent on Israel's destruction. We should only sit down with Hamas if they renounce terrorism, recognize Israel's right to exist, and abide by past agreements."http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIHKKVm67wk Senator Barack Obama on Bush Foreign Policy: "I do not understand how anybody who is concerned about Israel's security and the threat of Iran could be supportive of George Bush's foreign policy. It has completely backfired. It is indisputable that Iran is the biggest strategic beneficiary of the war in Iraq. We have spent what will soon be close to a trillion dollars strengthening Iran, expanding their influence. How is that helpful to Israel? How is that helpful to Israel?"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89W6rGj39fY Senator Obama on Strong Diplomacy to stop Iran from achieving a nuclear weapon "We, I hope, benefit in terms of legitimacy around the world if we say we are willing to talk directly. Not because we approve of these states but because it shows that we are willing to listen. By doing so I think we actually further isolate Iran as opposed to strengthening them. I know that there is an argument about what kind of propaganda coup it would be for Iran...I actually think that the propaganda coup for Iran has been this sense of being embattled and attacked. As a consequence it gives an excuse for countries like China or countries like Russia to sit on the sidelines and not engage in the kinds of aggressive pressure that's needed for them to step down from their nuclear program."http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s8nm-6Pg9s Senator Obama Believes Israel Must Retain Control of Jerusalem: "Israel, I think, has a historic claim on Jerusalem. I think that obviously there are sacred sites in the Old City that are central to not just Judaism but also to Islam and Christianity. I think it is very important for us to find a way in which all those claims are respected. And this is something that I think is very important for the parties themselves to decide. But, I believe that it is not an acceptable option for Jerusalem to be severed from Israel along the lines of the 1967 border, so that is not going to be an option."http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saBv2OaOyow Senator Obama Will Continue To Defend Israel at the United Nations: "Part of the task, I think, of the United States and part of a leadership I think I can provide is – I think I can be a powerful voice on the world stage in saying, "Let's stop the nonsense with respect to Israel". The reason I say that is precisely because I would - for a variety of reasons – be somebody unique in expressing that. Not just in terms of being the first African American president but also being somebody who has been raised overseas, who has family who lives overseas, had lived in a Muslim country (in Indonesia when I was a child for a time), who has family in Africa...I think for me to speak to the General Assembly and lift up the hypocrisy that has been operating within the United Nations for so long – that targets Israel for constant harassment, often times led by regimes that have no observance of human rights and no regard for their own people – I think that kind of blunt talk is something that I can deliver with more credibility than maybe some other Presidents might."http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD3CtLwNk_0 Senator Barack Obama on Israel's right to Self-Defense: "When Israel launched its counterattack against Hezbollah in Lebanon during the summer of 2006...I said, if somebody invades my country or is firing rockets into my country or kidnapping my soldiers, I will not tolerate that. And there's no nation in the world that would."http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuMNF6m9ALE Senator Barack Obama on Bridging African-American and Jewish Relations "….one of my goals constantly in my public career has been to try to bridge what was a historically powerful bond between the African American and Jewish communities that has been frayed in recent years. For a whole variety of reasons. I think that I have served as an effective bridge and that's the reason I have overwhelming support among the Jewish community that knows me best, which is the Jewish community in Chicago. And I think that anybody who has friends among the Jewish community in Chicago should check out those credentials."http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFlOt_TZREQ Senator Barack Obama's Closing Comments from the Heart on the Jewish Community "Let me make one last comment about my relationship to the Jewish community as I depart here today. I've spoken a lot about policy and I think that nobody has been able to identify any set of comments that I've made or any positions that I've taken that are contrary to the interests of the Jewish community or Israel. But if people don't mind I'd like to be honest, a lot of the concern has been generated as a consequence of scurrilous emails that have been sent. A lot of it has been generated based on speculation of the fact that my middle name is Hussein. A lot of it has been generated as a consequence of the fact that I'm African American and at times there have been tensions between the African American leadership and the Jewish community. So I just want to emphasize I guess what's in my heart, which is that my ties to the Jewish community are not political. They precede me entering politics… I think about novels by writers like Philip Roth. And when I think about my friendships through my college years and my early public life and who supported me and who's been most sympathetic to the causes that I care about, so many of the people have been rooted in the Jewish community. And so there is a kinship and a sense of shared commitments that predates my politics and will extend beyond this particular election. And so what I've asked people to do is to not base decisions about who to support or not on emails or superficial characteristics or associations that are tangential to who I am and what I believe in. And know that I will be there for you, just as I believe you will be there for me. And that if we can work together, I'm confident that we can actually move forward in a direction that is not only good for the Jewish community or the African America community, but good for America, good for our children, and good for our grandchildren, so, thank you very much."http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVkckG6RKd0 |
