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Title: Obama: America's First Jewish President
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URL Source: http://www.nysun.com/blogs/latest-p ... ama-americas-first-jewish.html
Published: Jun 8, 2008
Author: Josh Gerstein
Post Date: 2008-06-08 15:49:50 by Jethro Tull
Keywords: None
Views: 311
Comments: 19
by Josh Gerstein Bill Clinton was America's first black president. Or so we thought. Until recently, John Edwards was running to be America's first woman president. Now, shocking word that Barack Obama may be in line to be America's first Jewish president. Discussing his affinity for Israel, Senator Obama tells the Atlantic magazine, "I've got it in the gut." He describes his own thought process as agonized (dare we say neurotic?) in a way that some might view as quintessentially Jewish. And he professes an "enormous emotional attachment and sympathy for Israel" that would make an Aipac board member jealous. "Sometimes I'm attacked in the press for maybe being too deliberative. My staff teases me sometimes about anguishing over moral questions. I think I learned that partly from Jewish thought, that your actions have consequences and that they matter and that we have moral imperatives. The point is, if you look at my writings and my history, my commitment to Israel and the Jewish people is more than skin-deep and it's more than political expediency. When it comes to the gut issue, I have such ardent defenders among my Jewish friends in Chicago. I don't think people have noticed how fiercely they defend me, and how central they are to my success, because they've interacted with me long enough to know that I've got it in my gut," Mr. Obama told the magazine. The senator from Illinois and likely Democratic presidential nominee also traced his ties to Jewish writers, thinkers--and even camp counselors. "I always joke that my intellectual formation was through Jewish scholars and writers, even though I didn't know it at the time. Whether it was theologians or Philip Roth who helped shape my sensibility, or some of the more popular writers like Leon Uris. So when I became more politically conscious, my starting point when I think about the Middle East is this enormous emotional attachment and sympathy for Israel, mindful of its history, mindful of the hardship and pain and suffering that the Jewish people have undergone, but also mindful of the incredible opportunity that is presented when people finally return to a land and are able to try to excavate their best traditions and their best selves. And obviously it's something that has great resonance with the African-American experience," the senator said. So, even if Americans are ready for their first black president, are they ready for their first Jewish one? For what it's worth, back in January, a Huffington Post contributor posited this play by Mr. Obama. And even earlier, Mayor Giuliani seemed to be seeking the mantle of the breakthrough Jewish candidate.
Poster Comment: The man knows who butters his bagel.
Obama: America's First Jewish President
Mon, 12 May 2008 at 9:21 PM 
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JEFFREY GOLDBERG: I’m curious to hear you talk about the Zionist idea. Do you believe that it has justice on its side? BARACK OBAMA: You know, when I think about the Zionist idea, I think about how my feelings about Israel were shaped as a young man -- as a child, in fact. I had a camp counselor when I was in sixth grade who was Jewish-American but who had spent time in Israel, and during the course of this two-week camp he shared with me the idea of returning to a homeland and what that meant for people who had suffered from the Holocaust, and he talked about the idea of preserving a culture when a people had been uprooted with the view of eventually returning home. There was something so powerful and compelling for me, maybe because I was a kid who never entirely felt like he was rooted. That was part of my upbringing, to be traveling and always having a sense of values and culture but wanting a place. So that is my first memory of thinking about Israel. And then that mixed with a great affinity for the idea of social justice that was embodied in the early Zionist movement and the kibbutz, and the notion that not only do you find a place but you also have this opportunity to start over and to repair the breaches of the past. I found this very appealing. JG: You’ve talked about the role of Jews in the development of your thinking BO: I always joke that my intellectual formation was through Jewish scholars and writers, even though I didn’t know it at the time. Whether it was theologians or Philip Roth who helped shape my sensibility, or some of the more popular writers like Leon Uris. So when I became more politically conscious, my starting point when I think about the Middle East is this enormous emotional attachment and sympathy for Israel, mindful of its history, mindful of the hardship and pain and suffering that the Jewish people have undergone, but also mindful of the incredible opportunity that is presented when people finally return to a land and are able to try to excavate their best traditions and their best selves. And obviously it’s something that has great resonance with the African-American experience. One of the things that is frustrating about the recent conversations on Israel is the loss of what I think is the natural affinity between the African- American community and the Jewish community, one that was deeply understood by Jewish and black leaders in the early civil-rights movement but has been estranged for a whole host of reasons that you and I don’t need to elaborate. JG: Do you think that justice is still on Israel’s side? BO: I think that the idea of a secure Jewish state is a fundamentally just idea, and a necessary idea, given not only world history but the active existence of anti- Semitism, the potential vulnerability that the Jewish people could still experience. I know that that there are those who would argue that in some ways America has become a safe refuge for the Jewish people, but if you’ve gone through the Holocaust, then that does not offer the same sense of confidence and security as the idea that the Jewish people can take care of themselves no matter what happens. That makes it a fundamentally just idea. That does not mean that I would agree with every action of the state of Israel, because it’s a government and it has politicians, and as a politician myself I am deeply mindful that we are imperfect creatures and don’t always act with justice uppermost on our minds. But the fundamental premise of Israel and the need to preserve a Jewish state that is secure is, I think, a just idea and one that should be supported here in the United States and around the world. JG: Go to the kishke question, the gut question: the idea that if Jews know that you love them, then you can say whatever you want about Israel, but if we don’t know you –- Jim Baker, Zbigniew Brzezinski –- then everything is suspect. There seems to be in some quarters, in Florida and other places, a sense that you don’t feel Jewish worry the way a senator from New York would feel it. BO: I find that really interesting. I think the idea of Israel and the reality of Israel is one that I find important to me personally. Because it speaks to my history of being uprooted, it speaks to the African-American story of exodus, it describes the history of overcoming great odds and a courage and a commitment to carving out a democracy and prosperity in the midst of hardscrabble land. One of the things I loved about Israel when I went there is that the land itself is a metaphor for rebirth, for what’s been accomplished. What I also love about Israel is the fact that people argue about these issues, and that they’re asking themselves moral questions. Sometimes I’m attacked in the press for maybe being too deliberative. My staff teases me sometimes about anguishing over moral questions. I think I learned that partly from Jewish thought, that your actions have consequences and that they matter and that we have moral imperatives. The point is, if you look at my writings and my history, my commitment to Israel and the Jewish people is more than skin-deep and it’s more than political expediency. When it comes to the gut issue, I have such ardent defenders among my Jewish friends in Chicago. I don’t think people have noticed how fiercely they defend me, and how central they are to my success, because they’ve interacted with me long enough to know that I've got it in my gut. During the Wright episode, they didn’t flinch for a minute, because they know me and trust me, and they’ve seen me operate in difficult political situations. The other irony in this whole process is that in my early political life in Chicago, one of the raps against me in the black community is that I was too close to the Jews. When I ran against Bobby Rush [for Congress], the perception was that I was Hyde Park, I’m University of Chicago, I’ve got all these Jewish friends. When I started organizing, the two fellow organizers in Chicago were Jews, and I was attacked for associating with them. So I’ve been in the foxhole with my Jewish friends, so when I find on the national level my commitment being questioned, it’s curious. JG: Why do you think Ahmed Yousef of Hamas said what he said about you? BO: My position on Hamas is indistinguishable from the position of Hillary Clinton or John McCain. I said they are a terrorist organization and I’ve repeatedly condemned them. I’ve repeatedly said, and I mean what I say: since they are a terrorist organization, we should not be dealing with them until they recognize Israel, renounce terrorism, and abide by previous agreements. JG: Were you flummoxed by it? BO: I wasn’t flummoxed. I think what is going on there is the same reason why there are some suspicions of me in the Jewish community. Look, we don’t do nuance well in politics and especially don’t do it well on Middle East policy. We look at things as black and white, and not gray. It’s conceivable that there are those in the Arab world who say to themselves, “This is a guy who spent some time in the Muslim world, has a middle name of Hussein, and appears more worldly and has called for talks with people, and so he’s not going to be engaging in the same sort of cowboy diplomacy as George Bush,” and that’s something they’re hopeful about. I think that’s a perfectly legitimate perception as long as they’re not confused about my unyielding support for Israel’s security. When I visited Ramallah, among a group of Palestinian students, one of the things that I said to those students was: “Look, I am sympathetic to you and the need for you guys to have a country that can function, but understand this: if you’re waiting for America to distance itself from Israel, you are delusional. Because my commitment, our commitment, to Israel’s security is non- negotiable.” I’ve said this in front of audiences where, if there were any doubts about my position, that’d be a place where you’d hear it. JG: What do you make of Jimmy Carter’s suggestion that Israel resembles an apartheid state? BO: I strongly reject the characterization. Israel is a vibrant democracy, the only one in the Middle East, and there’s no doubt that Israel and the Palestinians have tough issues to work out to get to the goal of two states living side by side in peace and security, but injecting a term like apartheid into the discussion doesn’t advance that goal. It’s emotionally loaded, historically inaccurate, and it’s not what I believe. JG: If you become President, will you denounce settlements publicly? BO: What I will say is what I’ve said previously. Settlements at this juncture are not helpful. Look, my interest is in solving this problem not only for Israel but for the United States. JG: Do you think that Israel is a drag on America’s reputation overseas? BO: No, no, no. But what I think is that this constant wound, that this constant sore, does infect all of our foreign policy. The lack of a resolution to this problem provides an excuse for anti-American militant jihadists to engage in inexcusable actions, and so we have a national-security interest in solving this, and I also believe that Israel has a security interest in solving this because I believe that the status quo is unsustainable. I am absolutely convinced of that, and some of the tensions that might arise between me and some of the more hawkish elements in the Jewish community in the United States might stem from the fact that I’m not going to blindly adhere to whatever the most hawkish position is just because that’s the safest ground politically. I want to solve the problem, and so my job in being a friend to Israel is partly to hold up a mirror and tell the truth and say if Israel is building settlements without any regard to the effects that this has on the peace process, then we’re going to be stuck in the same status quo that we’ve been stuck in for decades now, and that won’t lift that existential dread that David Grossman described in your article. The notion that a vibrant, successful society with incredible economic growth and incredible cultural vitality is still plagued by this notion that this could all end at any moment -- you know, I don’t know what that feels like, but I can use my imagination to understand it. I would not want to raise my children in those circumstances. I want to make sure that the people of Israel, when they kiss their kids and put them on that bus, feel at least no more existential dread than any parent does whenever their kids leave their sight. So that then becomes the question: is settlement policy conducive to relieving that over the long term, or is it just making the situation worse? That’s the question that has to be asked.
is there any doubt whatsoever who owns obama? i'd really like to know from whom his campaign $$ have really come. surely, we cannot believe that the majority of it hasn't come from the lobby. millions from grassroots individual donors? i think not. now, about that foreign policy "change that we can believe in." ;)
BO is so full of vacuous shiite.
Did you know that the information was readily avialable? It's HERE. It's better to take a look and find the smoking guns before writing 'is there any doubt whatsoever...?' Of course there are doubts and there should be doubts about everything but, sometimes, making use of available information helps. By the way, I don't buy the idea that contributors 'own' a politician. There was recently a discussion on this forum having to do with the Stormfronters contribution to Barr being rejected. We were in general agreement that citizens have the freedom to support whomever they want and there was a positive quote from Ron Paul, stating that when people give him money, it's them picking him, not he picking them. It is my impression that a small but cohesive group of screamers have managed to degrade the quality of the debate on this forum - see the post immediately following yours for a good illustration - and some more intelligent contributors are letting them get away with it, because it is convenient to do so since their inarticulate screaming appears be in agreement with their views. I am sorry to see this happening.
Antiparty - find out why, think about 'how'
what i meant by my comment is that it is my belief that obama is owned by AIPAC and the IsraelFirsters just as is every other establishment politician. see Justin Raimondo's latest denouncement of obama for the same reason. obama's own words, cited in this article, confirms it, in my mind.
Obama can't defeat AIPAC all by himself, especially not while he is a candidate. There is some evidence that the radical Zionists and the Neocons find Obama to be the least desirable candidate for US prez. Can he openly tell the AIPACs to stay away from him? Of course not. He IS a Demo and he does wish to be elected - remember what they did to Buchanan. If Obama is elected I do not expect to see the American Jews herded into concentration camps or for the US aid to Israel being cut down to zero - but he could surprise us all. I also do not expect Obama to send our boys and girls to die when Israel or AIPAC says so.
Antiparty - find out why, think about 'how'
Obama is so full of it. Africans Americans are NOT finally returning to their homeland. Far from it, more Africans are coming to America everyday. Obama seems to always try to bring race into the equation when race has nothing to do with the topic at hand. Why? Because Obama is a racist.
God is always good!
we'll (justin and i) will have to agree to disagree with you. ;) I have to say I was wrong – dead wrong – about Obama. In my eagerness to find a bright spot in a rapidly darkening world, I grasped on to his alluring rhetoric and his at-times trenchant critique of the Bush foreign policy, like a sinking man holding on to a life-jacket. But looking for hope in all the wrong places doesn't create opportunities for peace – it only prolongs our illusions. We must face the prospect of a much more terrible conflict than we have ever known, and look it squarely in the face, without flinching or looking for false messiahs. I know many of you are disappointed, and some of you are now exclaiming "I told you so!" All that we can do now is hope, and pray, that our country – and the Iranian people – will somehow survive the coming catastrophe. Justin Raimondo
Date: May 22, 2008 Companies mentioned: The Associated Press When Will Obama Stop Denying That He Has Lobbyists Connected To His WASHINGTON, May 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ Obama Has At Least 14 Bundlers Who Were Previously Registered As Federal Lobbyists. "Obama now has 14 bundlers who are also federally registered lobbyists, but they are currently inactive, according to Public Citizen." (Christopher Beam, "Obama's Lobbying Ties," Slate's "Trailhead" Blog, http://www.slate.com/, 5/19/08) Obama's Former Lobbyist Bundlers: Timothy M. Broas, Frank Clark, Howard W. Gutman, Scott Harris, Allan J. Katz, William T. Lake, Robert S. Litt, Kenneth G. Lore, Thomas J. Perrelli, Thomas A. Reed, Paul N. Roth, Alan Solomont, Robert M. Sussman And Tom E. Wheeler. (Public Citizen Website, http://www.whitehouseforsale.org/, Accessed 5/21/08) And Obama Also Employs And Relies On The Advice Of Lobbyists: Obama Does Not Ban Current Lobbyists From Providing Unpaid Advice To His Campaign; Advisers Who Are Federal Lobbyists Include Moses Mercado Of Ogilvy Government Relations. "Obama does not ban even current lobbyists from lending advice to the campaign--which could be considered an 'in kind' contribution. Moses Mercado, a former adviser to Dick Gephardt and a lobbyist for Ogilvy Government Relations, volunteers his advice and time for the campaign but declined to be on payroll." (Christopher Beam, "Obama's Lobbying Ties," Slate's "Trailhead" Blog, http://www.slate.com/, 5/19/08) Obama's Campaign Has Refused To Release A Comprehensive List Of Outside Advisers. "There is no full list of lobbyists advising Sen. Obama, and a campaign spokesman declined to release the campaign's list of outside advisers. Some advisers have asked to remain anonymous, citing professional or personal reasons, said Tommy Vietor, an Obama spokesman, who acknowledged that federally registered lobbyists may be among them." (Mary Jacoby, "Obama Campaign Enlists Lobbyists," The Wall Street Journal, 3/1/08) Broderick Johnson, An Informal Political Adviser, Directs The Lobbying Efforts Of Bryan Cave LLP. "Broderick Johnson, a friend and informal political adviser, heads up the lobbying arm in Washington of the Bryan Cave LLP law firm, where he represents Verizon and Shell Oil, among other clients." (Mary Jacoby, "Obama Campaign Enlists Lobbyists," The Wall Street Journal, 3/1/08) "Among Those In Obama's Circle Of Advisers Is Broderick Johnson, President Of Bryan Cave Strategies LLC, And Several Other Well-Connected Lobbyists In Washington." (Jim Kuhnhenn, "Obama Returns More Than $50,000 In Lobbyists' Contributions," The Associated Press, 4/14/07) Johnson Is Currently Registered To Lobby On Behalf Of Multiple Companies And Organizations. (U.S. Senate Office Of Public Records, sopr.senate.gov, Accessed 5/22/08) Former Federal Lobbyists Are On Obama's Staff, Including Deputy Campaign Manager Steve Hildebrand, Teal Baker And Emmett Beliveau. "The Obama campaign restricts current lobbyists from joining the campaign. But a bunch of former lobbyists have helped out--including deputy campaign manager Steve Hildebrand, Teal Baker, and Emmett Beliveau--who could easily slip back onto K Street once the campaign is over." (Christopher Beam, "Obama's Lobbying Ties," Slate's "Trailhead" Blog, http://www.slate.com/, 5/19/08) Jeffrey Berman Currently Serves As The Obama Campaign's National Director Of Delegate Selection. "Berman, Sen. Barack Obama's director of delegate selection, chimed in during a conference call with the media to make an unexpected case: Despite Clinton's popular vote victory in Nevada and an authoritative Associated Press count giving Clinton the edge in the Nevada delegate count, Obama had actually won the state by the only measure that mattered." (Ben Smith and Avi Zenilman, "The Obama Campaign's 'Unsung Hero'," The Politico, 5/11/08) Berman Previously Served As A Lobbyist At Winston & Strawn LLP, Working On Behalf Of Telecommunications Firms. "Berman, despite the Obama campaign's anti- lobbyist stance, has spent most non-campaign time at the Washington law and lobbying firm Winston and Strawn, where he specialized in telecommunications. His main lobbying client, according to federal filings, was the in-flight telecommunications firm Aircell." (Ben Smith and Avi Zenilman, "The Obama Campaign's 'Unsung Hero'," The Politico, 5/11/08) From 1999 Through 2003, Winston & Strawn LLP Reported Jeffrey G. Berman As Lobbying On Behalf Of AirCell, Inc. (U.S. Senate Office Of Public Records Website, sopr.senate.gov, Accessed 2/25/08) "A Former South Carolina Governor Who Now Runs A Lobbying And Consulting Firm Endorsed Democratic White House Hopeful Barack Obama ... Despite The Illinois Senator's Constant Criticism Of Lobbyists." (Jim Davenport, "Former South Carolina Governor, Head Of Lobbyist/Consulting Group, Endorses Obama," The Associated Press, 1/2/08) "Hodges [Is] A Co-Chairman Of Obama's National Campaign..." (Jim Davenport, "Former South Carolina Governor, Head Of Lobbyist/Consulting Group, Endorses Obama," The Associated Press, 1/2/08) Former Gov. Jim Hodges (D-SC) Was A Registered Federal Lobbyist Until March Of 2008. (U.S. Senate Office Of Public Records Website, sopr.senate.gov, Accessed 5/14/08) Buffy Wicks Serves As A Paid Obama Campaign Staffer And Western Region Field Director. (George Washington University Website, http://www.gwu.edu/, Accessed 2/25/08; CQ Money Line Website, moneyline.cq.com, Accessed 2/25/08) From 2005 Through 2006, The United Food And Commercial Workers International Union Reported Buffy Wicks As One Of Its Lobbyists. (U.S. Senate Office Of Public Records Website, sopr.senate.gov, Accessed 2/25/08) Brandon Hurlbut, Obama Campaign Liaison To Veterans, Union Members And Senior Citizens, Has Lobbied On Behalf Of Several Clients At The Federal Level. "Brandon Hurlbut, Obama's liaison to veterans, union members and senior citizens in New Hampshire, represented clients such as the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies and the Allegheny County Housing Authority from January to June, according to public records." (Alexander Bolton and Brittney Moraski, "Lobbyists On Obama's '08 Payroll," The Hill, 12/20/07) "Six Clients Paid B&D Consulting $380,000 For Hurlbut To Lobby Their Causes." (Alexander Bolton and Brittney Moraski, "Lobbyists On Obama's '08 Payroll," The Hill, 12/20/07) Emmett Beliveau Is Listed As Director Of Advance For Obama's Campaign. (George Washington University Website, http://www.gwu.edu/, Accessed 2/25/08) "[Emmett] Beliveau Received A $3,050 Payment From Obama's Campaign For Advance Work On Feb. 21, A Campaign Finance Report Shows." (Alexander Bolton and Brittney Moraski, "Lobbyists On Obama's '08 Payroll," The Hill, 12/20/07) "Clients Such As Oshkosh Truck And Pinkerton Consulting Paid More Than $700,000 For Emmett Beliveau And His Colleagues At Patton Boggs To Represent Them During The First Half Of 2007." (Alexander Bolton and Brittney Moraski, "Lobbyists On Obama's '08 Payroll," The Hill, 12/20/07) Robert Sussman Serves As An Obama Campaign Energy And Environment Policy Adviser. (George Washington University Website, http://www.gwu.edu/, Accessed 2/25/08) Sussman Was A Registered Federal Lobbyist Until February Of 2007, Days Before He Contributed To Obama's Presidential Campaign. "Sussman dropped his lobbying registration on Feb. 28 of last year and made his Obama campaign contribution March 8." (Dawn Reeves, "Former Top EPA Officials Play Key Advisory Roles In Presidential Races," Inside EPA, 1/11/08) Sussman Served As Lead Lobbyist For An Organization Called Energy For A Clean Air Future. "Sussman is the lead lawyer and lobbyist for a group of electricity- producing companies called Energy for a Clean Air Future. That group represents Cinergy Corp., PPL (Pennsylvania Power & Light) Corp., Reliant Energy Inc., Tampa Electric Co., TransAlta Corp., and Wisconsin Electric Power Co." ("Energy- Industry's Links To Regulators, Administration Worry Environmentalists," The Washington Post, 9/10/01) Former Commerce Secretary William Daley Serves As An Obama Adviser For Economic Policy. "At his stop in New Mexico, Obama sought to keep the focus almost exclusively on the economy, appearing with a panel of experts that included William Daley, brother of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and a former U.S. commerce secretary." (John McCormick and Jill Zuckman, "Rivals Spend Day As Frequent Fliers," Chicago Tribune, 2/2/08) Daley Served As One Of The Leading Lobbyists In An Effort To Bring Funding For A Rare Isotope Accelerator To Illinois. "Before the Rare Isotope Accelerator was put on hold two years ago, Gov. Rod Blagojevich and the state's congressional delegation joined ranks to bring the facility to Illinois. Former Gov. James Thompson and William Daley, former Clinton-era Cabinet member, signed on to head the Illinois lobbying effort." (Jon Van, "Isotope Project Back On Track," Chicago Tribune, 12/9/06) While Serving As President Of SBC, Daley Also Led A $40 Million Lobbying Effort For Industry Deregulation. "Last week those three companies, led by SBC President William Daley, summoned chief executives of several large vendors, including Christopher Galvin of Motorola Inc., to a Washington dinner where they outlined plans to launch a $40 million marketing and lobbying offensive to abolish industry regulations." (Jon Van, "SBC Competitors Seek Congress' Help," Chicago Tribune, 11/1/03) "Daniel Shapiro, Who Advises Sen. Obama On Foreign Policy Issues, Is Registered To Lobby On Behalf Of The American Petroleum Institute And Other Corporate Clients." (Mary Jacoby, "Obama Campaign Enlists Lobbyists," The Wall Street Journal, 3/1/08) "A Campaign Spokesman Confirmed That He [Shapiro] Remains An Unpaid Adviser On Middle East Issues." (Mary Jacoby, "Obama Campaign Enlists Lobbyists," The Wall Street Journal, 3/1/08) Cassandra Butts, Senior Vice President For Domestic Policy At The Center For American Progress, Serves An Obama Campaign Education Policy Adviser. (George Washington University Website, http://www.gwu.edu/, Accessed 2/25/08; Center For American Progress Website, http://www.americanprogress.org/, Accessed 2/25/08) In 2005, Butts Was A Registered Lobbyist For Civil Rights And Civil Liberties Issues For Center For American Progress Action Fund. (U.S. Senate Office Of Public Records Website, sopr.senate.gov, Accessed 2/25/08) Lois Schiffer Serves As An Obama Campaign Energy And Environment Policy Adviser. (George Washington University Website, http://www.gwu.edu/, Accessed 2/25/08) In 2001 And 2002, Schiffer Served As An Environmental Lobbyist For National Audubon Society. (U.S. Senate Office Of Public Records Website, sopr.senate.gov, Accessed 2/25/08) Eric Holder Serves As An Obama Campaign Legal Policy Adviser. (George Washington University Website, http://www.gwu.edu/, Accessed 2/25/08) "An Adviser For The Campaign, He [Holder] Was Registered As A Lobbyist In 2003 But Does Not Currently Lobby, Records Show." (Jim McElhatton, "Obama Takes Funds From Lobby Partners," The Washington Times, 2/22/08) Holder Was A Registered Lobbyist With Covington & Burling LLP And Lobbied On Behalf Of Several Organizations. (U.S. Senate Office Of Public Records Website, sopr.senate.gov, Accessed 2/25/08) Stanford Ross Serves As An Obama Campaign Retirement Security Policy Adviser. (George Washington University Website, http://www.gwu.edu/, Accessed 2/25/08) In 1999, Stanford Ross Was A Registered Lobbyist With Arnold & Porter LLP. (U.S. Senate Office Of Public Records Website, sopr.senate.gov, Accessed 2/25/08) Obama's Campaign Advisers, Who Are Considered "K Street Players," Include Former Sen. Daschle, Mark Keam, Jimmy Williams, Thomas Walls And Francis Grab. "Other K Street players working to build momentum for Obama are former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), a consultant for Alston & Bird; Broderick Johnson, president of Bryan Cave Strategies LLC; Mark Keam, the lead Democratic lobbyist at Verizon; Jimmy Williams, vice president of government affairs for the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America; Thomas Walls, vice president of federal public affairs at McGuireWoods Consulting; and Francis Grab, senior manager at Washington Council Ernst & Young." (Alexander Bolton, "Obama's K Street Project," The Hill, 3/29/07)
Mr. Raimondo's site is one of my favorites. However, if peace ever breaks out, Antiwar.com dies. Obama is a relatively young man and he is not a seasoned Washington politician the way Hilly and McCain are. We all know that the pressure for him to give in to feminism/zionism/imperialism/redistributionism/globalism... whatever are going to be enormous. The neocons are not likely to be influential but straight Zionists may get his ear. However, without the neocon facade, Zionism is clearly another nation's pursuit so the Zionist demands are more likely to fall under 'foreign policy' rather than pretend to be part of America's alleged duty to fight bloody wars in the pursuit of universal democracy. So far, Obama did one good thing. He blocked Hillary. If he takes the job and prevents the slavishly neocon McCain to occupy the White House, he would be doing 2 good deeds before even inauguration. He promised to roll back Bush's assault on our individual liberties. If he keeps that promise, he would be, in Orwellian speak, a double-plus positive. As for taxes, spending and such, let's all remember, they fall under the legislative's main prerogative.
Antiparty - find out why, think about 'how'
Raimondo's site is safe for the foreseeable future.
Holy shit, Shirley! Almost half of Gulf War vets are already dead. Oh yeah, that DU's really some safe stuff.
Maybe they don't count those who are still active, meaning that they don't get any veteran benefits.
Antiparty - find out why, think about 'how'
Kicking ass and taking names (for the past 200 years)
FreeOil! FreeOil! FreeOil!
from Jethro's article on Obama's consultants...no doubt Daniel Shapiro will counsel Obama to keep our boys and girls from fighting and dying in a foreign war on behalf of Izzy...you betcha! "Daniel Shapiro, Who Advises Sen. Obama On Foreign Policy Issues, Is Registered To Lobby On Behalf Of The American Petroleum Institute And Other Corporate Clients." (Mary Jacoby, "Obama Campaign Enlists Lobbyists," The Wall Street Journal, 3/1/08) "A Campaign Spokesman Confirmed That He [Shapiro] Remains An Unpaid Adviser On Middle East Issues." (Mary Jacoby, "Obama Campaign Enlists Lobbyists," The Wall Street Journal, 3/1/08)
You are wrong, vast, regarding your optimistic view of Obama's foreign policy being a "change" from Bush's, or different from McCain's and Hillary's: From the good Rabbi Kurt Stone, an Obama fan and professor: "The Obama Minyan" Some cut and paste: So just who is advising Senator Obama on Israel and the Middle East? Who makes up "The Obama Minyan?" [n.b. A "minyan" is a lawful quorum of ten Jewish adults -- some athorities say only men -- required for reciting Jewish prayers.] A bit of research available to anyone who wants to know the truth, turns up the following "minyanaires:" Rep. Robert Wexler: Rob, who I am proud to say is my representative in Congress, is a devoutly religious, Miami-bred member of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. As early as 2002 he was calling for the ouster of terrorist leaders in the Mideast and declared that Israel was engaged in full-scale war. When it comes to supporting the Jewish State, no one takes a backseat to Congressman Wexler. Former Rep. Mel Levine: Mel, a good friend of longstanding [who ironically, was my representative when I was still living in Southern California], was a member of the House from 1982-1992. Mel comes from a family whose allegiance to Israel is legendary: in 1948, his late father Sid was Western States' representative for the Haganah. Indeed, one of Mel's earliest memories, as he recounted for my book, The Congressional Minyan: The Jews of Capitol Hill was: ". . . as a five-year old hearing the doorbell ring . . . and being knocked over by a gunny sack filled with God knows what. . . and my dad grabbing me and basically throwing me away from the door. I learned many years later that that was some type of materiel that was on its way to Israel during the War of Independence." During his years in the House, Mel's was one of the most intelligent and passionate voices ever raised on Israel's behalf. Bar none. Ambassador Dan Kurtzer: Dan was President Clinton's Ambassador to Egypt from 1997-2001, and President George W. Bush's Ambassador to Israel from 2001-2005. Prior to entering foreign service, he was dean of his alma mater, Yeshiva University. Now retired, Dan is the first-ever commissioner of the Israel Baseball League. [Which, by the way, drafted Sandy Koufax!] Former U.S. Senator Tom Daschle: Yes, I know, Tom is a Catholic, so technically, cannot be counted in a "minyan." Nonetheless, during all his years in the House and Senate [where he was Minority Leader], Tom was among Israel's strongest and most consistent supporters. Despite coming from a state [South Dakota] that is home to precisely 99 Jews, Tom is well-known for his efforts on behalf of the Jewish State. I first met him back in 1986, when he came to South Florida to get acquainted with the Jewish community. Following a luncheon speech at the Woodlands Country Club, one of the Zionist lions asked him "what was the family name before Daschle? Are you sure you're not Jewish?" Rep. Jan Schakowsky: Jan has represented a Chicago-area district [9] in the House since 1998. One simply cannot be elected and reelected by such wide margins [75% in 2006, 76% in 2004] from Evanston/Skokie unless they are actively, stridently, vociferously pro-Israel. And this Jan is. Penny Pritzker: Scion of the Hyatt Hotel chain and herself the founder/Chair/CEO of "Classic Residency by Hyatt," Penny is one of the wealthiest women in the world. Holder of a Harvard degree in economics, and a graduate of the Stanford University Law School, Penny is part of a famiy that has been among Israel's strongest financial backers for more than two generations. Penny is the Obama campaign's national finance director; as such the senator has come under intense fire from anti-Zionist groups who claim that he is "in the pocket of the Zionists." How can one be anti-Israel and at the same time get slammed by the true haters of Israel for being "overly Zionist?" Beats me. Anthony Lake: The grandson of a Church of England clergyman who came the United States from Oxford to teach New Testament Studies at Harvard, Tony Lake converted to Judaism in 2005. He has long been a foreign policy advisor to Democrats. When questioned by Moment Magazine about his support for Barack Obama vis-a-vis Israel, Lake responded: "The question is: Which America is the strongest friend of Israel? Which America will be the strongest adversary to those who would do us harm? And clearly, the answer is an America that is unified rather than torn apart by the politics of the past 20 years. And it is in Obama's DNA to be a unifier while having clear views." Denis McDonough: Senior Fellow at American Progress and former Legislative Director for Colorado Senator Ken Salazar, Denis is currently the Obama Campaign's Foreign Policy Coordinator. He is an acknowledged expert on Israeli- Arab relations; an area of expertise that has been sorely lacking for the past eight years. Denis is a stalwart supporter of Israel, and despite the fact that he is not "MOT" ["A Member of the Tribe"] he is without question a member- in-good-standing of the Obama Minyan. Dan Shapiro: Former Foreign Policy Adviser to Florida Senator Bill Nelson. Dan was responsible for writing the "Syria Accountability Act of 2003," which was intended among other things, to "halt Syrian terrorism and its occupation of Lebanon . . . and to hold Syria accountable for its role in the Middle East." This measure was co-sponsored by California Senator Barbara Boxer and Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. That bill became law in December 2003. Dan also drafted a 2007 measure that prohibits US contacts with Palestinian leadership. He was brought on board largely on the strength of his close relations with AIPAC. Lee Rosenberg: A Chicago-based independent venture capitalist, Lee is both a member of the Obama Campaign finance team, and, perhaps most importantly, the Treasurer of AIPAC. For anyone who watched the senator's address before AIPAC the other day, that was Lee who did the introduction. And these, my friends are the front-line members of the Obama Minyan.
Nicely done, scrapper. The case against the empty suit mounts with every passing day. Our departed Democrat operatives, who no doubt peep in w/regularity, might dismiss this material from the sanctity of their nest, but they aren't dopey people. They've fallen for a fraud, which can happen. What should happen is a continue denial of mounting evidence.
bump
http://jeffreygoldberg.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/05/obama_on_zionism_and_hamas.php
When Israel invaded Lebanon two summers ago, I was in South Africa, a place where, obviously, when you get outside the United States, you can hear much more critical commentary about Israel’s actions, and I was asked about this in a press conference, and that time, and for the entire summer, I was very adamant about Israel’s right to defend itself. I said that there’s not a nation- state on Earth that would tolerate having two of its soldiers kidnapped and just let it go. So I welcome the Muslim world’s accurate perception that I am interested in opening up dialogue and interested in moving away from the unilateral policies of George Bush, but nobody should mistake that for a softer stance when it comes to terrorism or when it comes to protecting Israel’s security or making sure that the alliance is strong and firm. You will not see, under my presidency, any slackening in commitment to Israel’s security.
#2. To: Jethro Tull (#0)
(Edited)
"I've got it in the gut." He describes his own thought process as agonized (dare we say neurotic?) in a way that some might view as quintessentially Jewish. And he professes an "enormous emotional attachment and sympathy for Israel" that would make an Aipac board member jealous.
#3. To: Jethro Tull (#1)
#4. To: christine (#2)
(Edited)
is there any doubt whatsoever who owns obama? i'd really like to know from whom his campaign $$ have really come. surely, we cannot believe that
#5. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#4)
(Edited)
#6. To: christine (#5)
#7. To: ALL, *Racist 2008* (#6)
So when I became more politically conscious, my starting point when I think about the Middle East is this enormous emotional attachment and sympathy for Israel, mindful of its history, mindful of the hardship and pain and suffering that the Jewish people have undergone, but also mindful of the incredible opportunity that is presented when people finally return to a land and are able to try to excavate their best traditions and their best selves. And obviously it's something that has great resonance with the African-American experience," the senator said.
#8. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#6)
I also do not expect Obama to send our boys and girls to die when Israel or AIPAC says so.
#9. To: Obama, bought and paid for (#2)
From: US Newswire
#10. To: christine (#8)
#11. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#10)
However, if peace ever breaks out, Antiwar.com dies.
America's Wars and Casualties Participants Deaths in Service Living Veterans 290,000 4,000 0 Last Veteran: Daniel F. Bakeman, died 4/5/1869, age 109
Participants Deaths in Service Living Veterans 287,000 2,000 0 Last Veteran: Hiram Cronk, died 5/13/05, age 105
Participants Deaths in Service Living Veterans 106,000 1,000 0 Last Veteran: Fredrak Fraske, died 6/18/73, age 101
Participants Deaths in Service Living Veterans 79,000 13,000 0 Last Veteran: Owen Thomas Edgar, died 9/3/29, age 98
Union Participants Union Deaths in Service Union Living Veterans 2,213,000 364,000 0 Confederate Participants* Confederate Deaths in Service* Confederate Living Veterans 1,000,000 133,821 0 Last Union Veteran: Albert Woolson, died 8/2/56, age 109 Last Confederate Veteran: Disputed.* Learn more...
Participants Deaths in Service Living Veterans 392,000 11,000 0 Last Veteran: Nathan E. Cook, died 9/10/92, age 106
Participants Deaths in Service Living Veterans 4,744,000 116,000 4,800 Living Veterans does not include World War I veterans with military service in other eras.
Participants Deaths in Service Living Veterans 16,535,000 406,000 6,319,000
Participants Deaths in Service Living Veterans 6,807,000 55,000 4,179,000
Participants Deaths in Service Living Veterans 9,200,000 109,000 8,166,000
Participants Deaths in Service Living Veterans 3,800,000 9,000 2,048,000
Participants Deaths in Service Living Veterans Living Ex- Servicemembers 41,790,000 1,090,200 19,300,000 25,188,000
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, July 1998
* Authoritative statistics for Confederate Forces are not available. An estimated 28,000 Confederate soldiers died in Union prisons. In the VA press release, the last Confederate veteran is listed as John Salling.
Note: Figures on the number of living veterans reflect final 1990 Census data and include only veterans living in the United States. Details may not add to total due to rounding.
#12. To: Jethro Tull (#11)
Gulf War Era, 1990 to TBD
Participants 3,800,000
Deaths in Service 9,000
Living Veterans 2,048,000
#13. To: Esso (#12)
#14. To: Esso (#12)
#15. To: Jethro Tull (#14)
#16. To: christine, a vast rightwing conspirator, Jethro Tull (#8)
I also do not expect Obama to send our boys and girls to die when Israel or AIPAC says so.
#17. To: a vast rightwing conspirator, christine, Jethro Tull, angle, buckeye (#8)
I also do not expect Obama to send our boys and girls to die when Israel or AIPAC says so.
#18. To: scrapper2 (#17)
(Edited)
#19. To: scrapper2, *Obama Reality Check* (#17)
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