Standing O For Obama At AIPAC
WASHINGTON -- Introduced as the presumptive Democratic nominee,Barack Obama received a warm standing ovation a few moments ago at the AIPAC policy conference.
At the start of his speech to a packed convention center, Obama mentioned the emails circulating on the Web alleging that he's a Muslim. Those messages, Obama said, should be disregarded. "Let me know if you see this guy named Barack Obama because he sounds pretty scary," Obama said.
He added: "But if any of you have seen these emails, I want you to know that I’ll be speaking from my heart and as a true friend of Israel."
Obama, seeking to kindle a warm and trusting relationship with a Jewish community, affirmed his commitment to Israel's security and, more deeply, to the Zionist cause. Obama mentioned his own wandering childhood, his father from Kenya and mother from Kansas, to illuminate a kinship with the Jewish people.
"In many ways I didn’t know where I came from," he said. "… I understand the Zionist idea that there is always a homeland at the center of our story."
Obama, too, made a firm vow to protect the security interests of Israel, promising to commit $30B to the Jewish nation over the course of his term, "investments in the nation's security that will not be tied to any other nation."
"We know that the establishment of Israel was just and necessary, rooted in centries of struggle," he said. "We cannot relent, we cannot yield, and as president, I will never compromise when it comes to Israel’s security.
More to come.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Off-topic, an awesome bit of subtle commentary from the Washington Post:
"McCain spoke in Kenner, a suburb of New Orleans hit hard by Hurricane Katrina and a place that McCain's campaign said exemplifies the government dysfunction that he vows to fix. A couple of hundred people crammed into a small room at a local convention center, while nearly another thousand lined up outside."
A slight change in wording makes for a nice synopsis/metaphor: "McCain's campaign exemplifies the government dysfunction that he vows to fix."
Here's another candidate willing to ignore the interest of the USA to protect the interest of Israel.
Why?
So, how exactly is this "change we can believe in" when BO goes to AIPAC and kisses Zio butt like any other Washington political hack?
Too bad, too bad, he was almost plausible there for a minute....
Bint Deeb: There's nothing wrong with vigorously supporting the region's only real democracy. If Arab states in the region want to be afforded the same respect, they should think about casting off their miserable tyrannical regimes and embracing democracy, pluralism, freedom of religion and freedom of thought as fully as Israel has.
Having lived in Yemen for two years, it's plainly apparent that countries of the greater Middle East know nothing close to the freedom earned by the people of Israel. UAE is close, but the government there is still not limited by or responsible to its people.
For too long, Arab leaders and religious figures have played off religion and fear to deflect criticism of their own regimes towards an external target. It's time folks around the world stopped blaming Israel for their own internal problems and took some responsibility for themselves.
Obama has just lost my vote. This ignorant support for Israel/Jerusalem is a main reason for the Iraq invasion, because israel did not want the UN sanctions lifted against Iraq and could not have legally stopped it from happening.
Jerusalem was taken by Israel in an illegal land grab during an act of war. Jerusalem was taken from the UN and the UN wants Jerusalem back. Jerusalem was never capitol of modern day Israel, and is not recognized as such by the UN, not even part of it. The UN also did not recognize Jordan's occupation of Jerusalem before Israel took over as the illegal occupiers. Nothing has changed since. Read it all at the UN website.
Obama's ignorance to the facts is just more of the same, no change. The majority of the world will still see the USA as a biased supporter on the wrong side of the fence, allowing Israel to continue to flaunt international justice, causing suffering and damage to innocent people.
I'm sorry William, but I still do not see it. Why in this country can't we have a serious discussion about Israel without calling people anti-semi? One thing is to support Israel and another thing is kissing Israel's behing. The United States of America's presidential candidates have no business attending another country's convension like AIPAC! You are running for America. Also, why don't we hold their gov't accountable as we hold our OWN gov't accountable (i.e. for previous palestine people's abuses and corruption)? Can't we have an intelligent sociological and political conversation of our role w/ Israel and the consequences of our involvement (i.e. terrorism)?
Steve,
I agree with you about Obama. But if not for Obama then who? Clinton and McCain have their head as deep in Israe's butt....
Steve,
I agree with you about Obama. But if not for Obama then who? Clinton and McCain have their head as deep in Israel's butt....
Obama has been playing to
Democrats by saying he is against the war, wants to make peace with Iran by holding talks, wants to stop the spending on Iraq and now tells AIPAC while pledging 30 billion to them that he will never compromise when it comes to Isreal's security. I am not saying there is anything wrong with that, but it is a little off message from what he had been feeding Democrats during his stump speeches. I am sorry, but I honestly beleive Obama is offering nothing new here. His chants of change are empty as he obviously will pander like everyone else.
Obama has been playing to
Democrats by saying he is against the war, wants to make peace with Iran by holding talks, wants to stop the spending on Iraq and now tells AIPAC while pledging 30 billion to them that he will never compromise when it comes to Isreal's security. I am not saying there is anything wrong with that, but it is a little off message from what he had been feeding Democrats during his stump speeches. I am sorry, but I honestly beleive Obama is offering nothing new here. His chants of change are empty as he obviously will pander like everyone else.
Mr William J,
With all due respect, Israel is not a Real Democracy. They may vote and elect their leaders, but are not a formal democracy. They do not even have a constitution to rely upon as a basis of justice. Look it up. It's no secret.
Though Israel is tolerant of other religions in Israel, they descriminate against them, treating them as 3rd class citizens not affording them the same support and benefits as Israeli Jews. Again, no secret.
Though most Jews want to live in peace and freedom with their neighbors, they also have radical elements, like Zionists, who spoil it for everyone, causing hostilities. They are like the American Klu-Klux-Klan(KKK) but still active with great influence, not in hiding, wanting the entire region for Israel, non-Jews as slaves, destroying anyone or anything resisting their views.
Antonio J,
you ask a difficult question, requiring explanation to answer. In the last election I 'almost' voted for Kerry, just to prevent Bush from re-election. I could not do it, because I did not like Kerry, at all. With the vast amount of multi-ethnic cultures and differing beliefs in the USA, i do not understand nor accept that only 2 parties and a couple of so-called independents, can reign alone over our nation. Every little country has at least 4 or 5 parties in parliament, another 5 or 10 in the background looking to gain support. I vote during every election but have not been able to vote republican or democrat for a long, long time. I thought that Obama would get my vote this time. Not going to happen. The same goes for Clinton and McCain. I will not take or hold any type of responsibility for any of their actions. Those who don't vote are responsible and deserving of what they get, like the casualties of war they did not want, yet ignored. At least I voted, for real change.
Pretty excellent speech actually despite what people on here are saying. He was tough but fair and showed good knowledge of the situation on the ground. That, plus saying that Jerusalem should be undivided really took chutzpah especially for someone who just won the nomination. Bold, but honest. People, you can disagree with Barack's speech, but anyone who knows the issues and the region knows that his speech and his stance on policy for the region are both strong and honest. Very impressive.
Once again we have no good choices. People will vote for Obabma because they hate republicans
and for McCain becaus he's still better than Obama.
Can we have an election just once where we can choose between two really good candidates?
Maybe we should get involved earlier, and don't allow the party propaganda machines to produce unelectable candidates.
Hmm, why, exactly, did he feel the need to pledge $30B during his presidency? Use of an exact figure like that is odd, given that he can propose, but Congress decides.
Steve,
You voted for real change? You didn't vote for Kerry, so either you didn't vote at all or you voted for Bush. Either way, based on your last statement, you are then responsible for the casualties of an illegal war.
I really believe that Obama will bring some change. Yes I disagree with many of his views. The reason we only have two parties is because the American public is too simplistic and lazy. And attitudes like yours completely loosing support for a candidate based on one issue is what drives this "simplistic" culture. This Blog is about the support for Israel. So if you're not voting for Obama based on this, while McCain has the same or bigger view, then I don't get your logic. Sometimes in life, whether you like it or not, you only have two choices. So you have the responsibility to pick the better one. Your no-vote protest will be fruitless.