At Debate, Democrats Clash Over Mideast -NYT

[Rose Siding]

BALTIMORE, Sept. 9 — The Democratic presidential candidates battled tonight over United States foreign policy in Iraq, with candidates who opposed the invasion ridiculing rivals who voted for the war but who have become critics of it as the Democratic presidential campaign took off.

In a debate sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus, two of the Democrats, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut and Dr. Howard Dean, a former governor of Vermont, also clashed heatedly over a statement Dr. Dean made last week that "it's not our place to take sides" in the Middle East.

"Howard Dean's statements break a 50-year record in which presidents — Republicans and Democrats, members of Congress — have supported our relationship with Israel," Mr. Lieberman said. He added, "We do not gain strength as negotiators if we compromise our support of Israel."

Dr. Dean responded, "I'm disappointed in Joe — my position is exactly the same as President Clinton's."

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/10/politics/campaigns/10DEBA.html?ex=1063857600&en=4dbe847e608e688c&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

[damnraddem]

1. Thanks. I had to miss the debate. I wondered what happened.

Now, what do posters here feel about it?

[Resistance]

2. you know things are really bad

when Democrats must resort to bragging about how staunchly right-wing conservative their stance is towards Israel and the Occupied Territories.

I wonder how specific it could get with these two:

Howie: I have never condemned expansion of settlements.

Joe: Oh yeah? Well I have always fully supported expansion of settlements.

Howie: Oh yeah? Well I have always fully supported collective punishment of Palestinians.

Joe: Oh yeah? Well I support demolishing Palestinian homes!

Howie: Oh yeah? Well I support not only demolishing them - but dropping bombs on those homes!

Joe: Oh yeah? Well Ariel Sharon is a close personal friend of mine!

Howie: Oh yeah? Well my campain fundraiser was the head of AIPAC!

Kucinich: You know what, guys - I think we Democrats should start taking a more even-handed approach to the situation

Joe and Howie, in a chorus of condemnation: Oh, Shaddup you anti-semite!

Don't these two make ya proud?

[Resistance]

3. Iraq, Mideast among Democratic debate topics

Similar article at The Olympian: http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20030910/frontpage/96351.shtml

RON FOURNIER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BALTIMORE -- Sen. Joe Lieberman accused Howard Dean in campaign debate Tuesday night of turning his back on Israel, and the Democratic presidential front-runner shot back that he and former President Clinton had the same view on the issue.

The 2000 Democratic vice presidential candidate, Lieberman said comments Dean made last week about the Middle East "break a 50-year record in which presidents, Republicans and Democrats, members of Congress of both parties have supported our relationship with Israel."

The Jewish senator added that Dean "has said he would not take sides" in the Middle East, "but then he has said Israel ought to get out of the West Bank and an enormous number of settlements" should be demolished.

"I'm disappointed in Joe," Dean said. "My position on Israel is exactly the same as Bill Clinton's," he said. "I think America needs to be an honest broker. We desperately need peace in the Middle East."

[Resistance]

4. my comment

Oh my GOSH, JOE!!!! Did Dean really say that an "enormous number of settlements" should be demolished?? Wow how awful!! What a left-wing radical pinko he is!! And there really is no room for this kind of anti-semitic crap in the Democratic Party, is there Joe?

No - you know what? Joe you really are disgusting. Get a goddamn spine, for once - and same goes for all you two faced politicians. Take a stand for human rights - just ONCE in your life.

[lumpy]

5. Hey, Joe marched with Martin Luther King

so he's an all right guy, dontcha' know, might even glean a few black votes. Of course that doesn't alter the fact that he pledges allegience to the holy state of Israel.
Dean is right, the US should not be taking sides. People of Lieberman's ilk no nothing to help Israel's cause, it only has the effect of ingraining 'anti semitism'.

[Resistance]

6. well he seems to have forgotten MLK's message

(if he ever got it in the first place)

I am skeptical on Dean (his chief fundraiser really is a former head of AIPAC), as you might have noticed from my post #2 -- but Joe is just utterly pathetic. Democrats should begin walking the path of redemption by disowning that chump.