Believe it or not, Barack: This Matters
By Ben Domenech Posted in 2008 | Barack Obama | Hamas | Israel | John McCain — Comments (12) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
McCain spokesman Brian Rogers offers the following statement, starting where John McCain did today on his blogger call. Let it serve as a sign that Barack Obama's merry little nod toward the nice smiling folks down the street at Hamas, Inc. will not go unnoticed, and will absolutely be an issue in the general election campaign.
Some things John McCain isn't going to touch, but "Do you like me? Yes/No/Maybe" notes passed between terrorists and a presidential candidate? Yeah, that's a bit far.
Barack doesn't have anything to say about the fact that they like him, you know: those people, they did horrible acts, detestable acts, but he was younger then, and they're just in the neighborhood. He's just being nice! Like a senator should be! That's why he sat through all those Jeremiah Wright sermons, you know - it's basic human politeness not to stand up when a Reverend is talking.
Read on . . .
"On April 13, senior Hamas political advisor Ahmed Yousef said, 'We don't mind -- actually we like Mr. Obama. We hope he will (win) the election and I do believe he is like John Kennedy, great man with great principle, and he has a vision to change America to make it in a position to lead the world community but not with domination and arrogance.'
"This is a legitimate issue for the American people to think about. The reason for Hamas' praise of Senator Obama's foreign policy is his commitment to meet unconditionally with Iran -- a nation whose president denies the Holocaust, threatens to wipe Israel off the map, funds terrorists and sends weapons to Iraq to kill American soldiers. Senator Obama's positions present a radical departure from the longstanding bipartisan consensus for isolating rogue regimes like Iran and North Korea.
"It is not only responsible to raise these critical issues in this election, but it would be the height of irresponsibility not to have this discussion with the American people."
Those remarks from Hamas were, again, as follows (in case you need a refresher):
You can hear the Obama explanation now: "I mean, waving to the Hamas guy on one side and Bill Ayers on the other as I walk out in the morning to get my paper ain't so bad, right? Let me finish my waffle already."
...who said this isn't a big deal. I think the fact that Hamas has endorsed him is a HUGE deal, and I'm glad McCain is making an issue of it - although it is strange that McCain is up in arms over the NC GOP ad at the same time he brings this up.
“.....women and minorities hardest hit”
There's nothing to be gained, at this stage, getting into the middle of the Dems destroying themselves - let them do it, at will, and that includes any endorsements from Hamas, Bin Ladin, or Sadr. If McCain want's to spend his time wisely, it will be directing his ad people to begin working with the materials both Obama, Clinton and their surrogates have provided. As for now, just keep making the rounds; making the policy speeches; and let the Dems play with themselves.
I thought the Fox panel was pretty unanimous that this was an unforced error on McCain's part. Heck, Krauthammer I think questioned his sanity and reasoning...
McCain shouldn't "get into the middle" of the Dem primary fight.
But there is most definitely a "tag team" scenario taking place here: The Hillary campaign is picking up talking-points (such as Rezko) from right-wing media and running with them. She circulated an article right from American Spectator. And in fact, Hillary has been using Fox News to spread her own message, because Fox News is the only cable TV network that has given her an even break.
So if McCain makes an issue of it, and the good folks in Indiana and other states hear about it, it helps Hillary with Jewish voters at Obama's expense. Hillary's happy. AND McCain's happy.
can run ads with his picture?
Let's call the Speech Tsar Maverick before we speak, right?
Mike DeVine’s Charlotte Observer columns
http://thehinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
www.race42008.com
"One man with courage makes a majority." - Andrew Jackson
Mike DeVine’s Charlotte Observer columns
http://thehinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
www.race42008.com
"One man with courage makes a majority." - Andrew Jackson
That Hamas would support The Insurgent is surprising but then not really THAT surprising. The Insurgent is the Ultimate anti-American leftist. Is it any wonder that Jewish voters in PA supported Hillary by 2 to 1 ? Usually, Jewish voters support the De,mocrat in a presidential election, recently by about 60 - 40. This time it could be 60 - 40 the other way. That would put NY, NJ, and PA in play and make CA closer than the Democrats would like.
People are practical most of the time. A political party should do likewise.
You are wrong on Jews supporting the democrats 60-40 in recent elections. Way off. Bush in 2004 was 25-75% and that was the BEST that the GOP had done since Reagan in 1980 when it was 40-60.
If McCain plays it correctly he can get up to 40% of the Jewish vote- but I see no sign that his campaign has the foggiest notion over how to win a general election..
"Small town folks get bitter after which they cling to guns or religion, or antipathy to people who aren't like them, or anti-immigrant sentiment, or anti-trade sentiment."
the Dems hadn't repudiated their 2000 VP candidate, one of the most prominent Jewish office holders in America..
Mike DeVine’s Charlotte Observer columns
http://thehinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
www.race42008.com
"One man with courage makes a majority." - Andrew Jackson
Obviously, the "longstanding bipartisan consensus" for isolating "rougue states" is not working. this is because these rougue states are not really rougues to anyone but America. Look at north korea, longstanding isolation only led to a working nuclear program, which is only now being dismantled through bush's talks. also, it turns out they were helping syria build a reactor. isolating "rougue states" only gives them more incentive to band together and to get friendly with america's rivals in china, russia and europe.
Kind of a clumsy metaphor, but in times past, America was a lion in the jungle of international relationships, the ruler. We dealt generously with allies, and dynamically and forcefully with rivals. We cut deals and innovated. In the past few decades we have become a bear, hiding in a smelly cave of isolationism, refusing to deal with realities, while lashing out randomly and inexplicably.
we need a president who will look past our internal kneejerk partisan mudfights, and go out there and do what needs to be done. hopefully mccain will pick up on some of obama's ideas when he becomes president. If we don't deal with these issues, china, europe and russia will.
Yes, Barack... this stuff matters. All of it. Wish he would just freaking understand that and deal with it.
Of course, that would mean copping to his inner-anti-American.
Fred Thompson, 2008