Republicans on "Invented people"

[ProSense]

Think Progress:

Newt says he spoke as an "historian" when saying Palestinians are an "invented people"

Perry weighs in. Says Newt calling the Palestinians an "invented people" is a "minor issue."

Daily Kos

Ron Paul says Gingrich saying Palestenians are an "invented people" was reckless shooting-from-the hip, but he does say that he believes Gingrich is "technically correct."

[FSogol]

1. Remember when the GOP spun the "Gore invented the internet" meme? Start this meme:

"Gingrich claims to have invented the Palestinians."

:shrug:

[Ter]

2. Paul just said the same can be said for Israel

That was awesome.

[karynnj]

3. This is a very dangerous situation where about half of the people running

to be President in a major party agree to this. Gingrich may have a PHD in history, but his comment is absurd. First of all, there is a difference between a name given to people and the people themselves. The facts are that there were Arabs, living in Israel in 1948 who felt compelled to flee during the war of independence - many taking the keys to their houses. These people and their children and grandchildren were in various refugee camps for decades - as they were not allowed back in Israel or allowed to assimilate in the neighboring Arab countries. The fact is that they exist and they are real. Calling them "invented" is bizarre and completely unhelpful.

It does suggest how nasty the general election will be. It is clear that any Republican will try to make an issue of President Obama being "against" Israel. This will not be done to win the Jewish vote - most American Jews are not fans of Netanyahu. It will be to reach Christian Americans, who already bought the demonizing of Islam. I completely expect a "Who lost China?" type of attack with regards to the Middle East. They need to turn Obama's largely successful foriegn policy to a negative.

[totodeinhere]

4. I think that Newt will live to regret that comment. n/t