Some Jewish Leaders And Groups Are 'Wary' Of Obama

[Purveyor]

Jewish leaders and groups are wary of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) recent rhetoric on the Middle East conflict, according to an article in Monday's Politico.

Obama has sparked concern among Jewish leaders over phrases and remarks not amenable to Israel's most aggressive supporters.

"His attack on cynicism, and another line about the 'cycle of violence' struck hard-line supporters of Israel as suggesting that the Israeli and Palestinian sides are equally to blame – something Obama himself has rejected in other, prepared remarks," writes Politico columnist Ben Smith. "Phrases like 'cycle of violence' and – worse still – pledges to be 'even-handed' are freighted with meaning in that context, and a second-hand report in January from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in January that Obama had once pledged to be 'even-handed' suggested to some Jewish critics that he was taking the Palestinian side."

Obama has been regularly voted "worst for Israel" among all of the American presidential candidates in the liberal Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

"Obama 'fails to understand the totalitarian politics and sensibilities of the folks over there, who are not well meaning,' said E.J. Kessler, a New York Post editor who’s a longtime observer of American-Jewish politics" writes Smith. "'His approach will appeal to a lot of lefty Jews, but it won’t appeal to the serious players,' she said, referring to the better-organized and better funded groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Council, AIPAC, at whose conference Obama put in an appearance earlier this month."

---END OF EXCERPT---

http://rawstory.com/

[eyesroll]

1. I am tired of the word "even-handed" somehow being code for "make love to Palestinians."

I am Jewish and Israel ranks about 40000 on my list of issues for President.

But if we're supposed to be brokering peace, how do we do it credibly without being even-handed?

:shrug:

[formercia]

2. Israel acts like a child that has been living at home too long.

They have nukes and no country is going to be stupid enough to attack them. Time for them to go live on their own and find out what it's like to make an honest living.

[SteppingRazor]

3. Haaretz? Liberal?

I mean, if you're referring to the economic philosophy of laissez-faire, classical liberalism, then certainly. But liberalism as we know it in America? I'd say definitely not.

[cali]

7. Are you kidding?

Haaretz is far more liberal than any major American newspaper.

[theoldman]

4. Bush has done nothing for Israel. How could anyone be worse.

[Lerkfish]

5. not an obama fan per se, but why should ANYONE saying the conflict has two sides be suspicious?

[madrchsod]

6. what makes aipac the moral authority

in the jewish community? why are they the only jewish group who has a voice? is it money trumps peace?

[cali]

8. If Obama is the dem candidate

American Jews will vote for him in overwhelming numbers= 80%+. And the right wingers they're talking about? They never vote dem anyway.

[oberliner]

9. Where is this article?

The link you posted is to raw story's home page.

[Purveyor]

11. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Link to article:

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Obamas_Israel_support_questioned_0319.html

[bemildred]

10. Yawwwwwwn..

The Obama-rama continues. He has zippo chance of being elected in 2008, so why all this obsessing over his suitability? I mean, I've been watching US politics for a long time now, I don't know who will be selected, but it won't be him. He is a stalking horse if I ever saw one, and all the media attention just shows how much the party hacks want us to be sucked in.