For all the adulation lavished on Barack Obama by his cult of followers, there is one group of friends who are disappointed in the direction of his campaign: the Arabs and Palestinians. One old pal, Ali Abunimah, relates his tale of disaffection at The Electronic Infitada:
Over the years since I first saw Obama speak I met him about half a dozen times, often at Palestinian and Arab-American community events in Chicago including a May 1998 community fundraiser at which Edward Said was the keynote speaker. In 2000, when Obama unsuccessfully ran for Congress I heard him speak at a campaign fundraiser hosted by a University of Chicago professor. On that occasion and others Obama was forthright in his criticism of US policy and his call for an even-handed approach to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.The last time I spoke to Obama was in the winter of 2004 at a gathering in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. He was in the midst of a primary campaign to secure the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate seat he now occupies. But at that time polls showed him trailing.
As he came in from the cold and took off his coat, I went up to greet him. He responded warmly, and volunteered, "Hey, I'm sorry I haven't said more about Palestine right now, but we are in a tough primary race. I'm hoping when things calm down I can be more up front." He referred to my activism, including columns I was contributing to the The Chicago Tribune critical of Israeli and US policy, "Keep up the good work!"
Read the rest at the link above, and get the free bonus of a picture of Barack and Michelle at dinner with PLO apologist Edward Said, noted liar and former Arafat toadie.
It's sad that politicians have to lay aside their true feelings just to appease the Zionists, don't you think?
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Filed under:
2008 Presidential Race, Democrats, Obama, Special Interest Groups
Tags: Democratic presidential campaign, infitada, Obama, Palestinians
Comments (2)
My blood boiled as I read t... (Below threshold)1. Posted by COgirl | March 22, 2008 11:17 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
My blood boiled as I read the link. It was Yassir Arafat who walked out from the peace talks with just about everything he wanted and started the Intifada. So the discussion of who started this skirmish or that skirmish first is ludicrous. At this point the Palestinians have put Hamas in charge, an organization committed to the DESTRUCTION of Israel, not peaceful co-existence.
While Ali Abunimah dissects each battle and blames the Israelis for starting it first, he forgets to provide the broader perspective by going back just a little bit in time. Maybe he can tell us just how many Arabs were killed by Israeli suicide bombers in markets, on buses, at madrases, at weddings. I can't come up with the number myself.
Now on to the shameful Obama. I have no doubt that his sympathies rest with the Palestinians, but this is shameful political pandering. He doesn't support Israel, he just needs American Jews to gain power and to get money. And if he's this way on something so obvious, surely he's doing the same with other groups. Reverend Wright's comments and views probably are a bit closer to his own.
Why American Jews are so fooled into acting against their own best interests is a mystery to me. Republicans have long had stronger commitments to Israel than Democrats. And as the kooky left fringe gains more influence, it's not going to get any better. Wake up!
1. Posted by COgirl | March 22, 2008 11:17 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on March 22, 2008 11:17
2. Posted by bryanD | March 22, 2008 10:45 PM | Score: -2 (2 votes cast)
Jim, your relativistic and apparently insincere post (though quite good by Wizbang standards) reminds me of the classic BBC documentary "The Power of Nightmares". Have you seen it? I'll let you surmise its relevance to the mindset you've subscribed to.
It's in 3 parts (scroll down). Happy "Easter"/ Passover.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1320822957676559056&q=power+of+nightmares&total=582&start=10&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=4
(The 1st part tends to go out of synch. The 2nd and 3rd are fine.)
CO girl: Special K for your overburdened brain regarding whatever the hell you're yapping about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_-CHDV9IWw&feature=related
2. Posted by bryanD | March 22, 2008 10:45 PM |
Score: -2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on March 22, 2008 22:45