Ed Koch changes his mind about Obama and Israel

[ProSense]

Ed Koch changes his mind about Obama and Israel

By Greg Sargent

When Ed Koch endorsed the Republican in New York’s ninth Congressional district a few weeks ago, leading to a surprise victory for the GOP in a heavily Jewish district, many proclaimed that a certain type of Jewish swing voter looked to be deserting Obama. After all, Koch had specifically cited Obama’s alleged “open hostility to the State of Israel” as a reason to endorse the Republican.

But that was then. Koch has now come out and endorsed Obama, specifically citing Obama’s cooperation with the Israeli military as a key reason:

The President should be praised for intervening with the Egyptian army to save the Israeli diplomatic personnel from physical assault and providing the Israeli military with bunker buster bombs, advanced military technology and providing military intelligence cooperation far exceeding his predecessors. I’m now on board the Obama Reelection Express.

<...>

Perhaps, but a few quick points. First, anyone who read too much into the signficance of Koch’s earlier criticism of Obama got played. Koch has been a go-to guy for whacking Democrats as allegedly soft on Israel for many years now. Indeed, Koch already has a well documented history of criticizing Obama on Israel before coming around to supporting him. In 2008, Koch spent weeks coyly refusing to reveal whether he would back Obama over John McCain — leading to reams of speculation that he would endorse the Republican, and bring many Jewish Americans with him — before finally coming out for Obama.

<...>

It’s absolutely true that Obama’s campaign views the defection of Jewish voters as a possibility they must take seriously. It would be malpractive if his campaign advisers didn’t prepare for every worst case scenario. Koch’s endorsement will likely drain some of the momentum out of the right’s perennial narrative about inevitable Jewish desertions, but given Koch’s unreliability and affection for game-playing, it won’t diminish the campaign’s vigilence on this front, as well it shouldn’t.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. ...and then he shit his diaper.

[Cali_Democrat]

3. LOL

[Historic NY]

2. Really ED your an old coot...perhaps its time to just STFU before you do more damage !

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. Ugh. I despise Koch so much at this point, I really don't give a shit what he thinks.

I just heard on NPR that Israel has approved yet another 1500 homes in the disputed territory, with absolutely no negotiation with their Palestinian neighbors. They seem to be trying awfully hard to sabotage the efforts of the US, as the middle man in all this. Why would that be? :shrug:

[Phx_Dem]

5. Maybe he realized he was wrong to begin with. And who cares what that tired old fart thinks anyway.

[elleng]

6. Unfortunately, some in NY may have cared about what Koch said,

but I do take issue w Sargent: 'leading to a surprise victory for the GOP.' Maybe 'followed by GOP victory.' Saw several others discussing the demographic carefully, like Randi Rhodes.

[LiberalFighter]

7. Do you mean that Koch saw what the result would be and

came out ahead to make it appear as if his supporters were the reason that the Democrat lost?

[elleng]

8. No.

He may have wanted to express anti-Obama as anti-Israel 'sincerely.' May have wanted to get some free trips to Florida, too.

;-(

[styersc]

9. Thanks for nothing Ed.

Now what are you going to do about the Congressional Seat that you helped go to the GOP?

[Number23]

10. Face-palmingly stupid

This is the type of political shenanigans that don't help anyone but the person playing them.