Clinton Surrogates Question Obama's Commitment To Israel

Newsweek:

The comment seemed like a casual aside. Ann Lewis, a senior adviser to Hillary Clinton, was touting the New York senator's strong support for Israel during a conference call in January with leaders of major American Jewish organizations. During the call, Lewis energetically contrasted Clinton's pro-Israel credentials with those of Barack Obama. To make her point, she said that Obama's "chief foreign-policy adviser" is Zbigniew Brzezinski, says one participant who would talk about the call only if he were not identified.

Brzezinski--the former national-security adviser to Jimmy Carter--is not Obama's "chief foreign-policy adviser." That is the job of a triumvirate who once worked for Bill Clinton: Anthony Lake, Susan Rice and Greg Craig. But Brzezinski, who tells NEWSWEEK he has advised Obama "only on occasion," has a reputation that is close to toxic in the American Jewish community. "When Brzezinski's name appears on an advisory list, that's a red flag right away," says an influential American Jewish leader who did not want to sour relations with the Obama campaign. Many American Jews mistrust Brzezinski because he endorsed a 2006 article, later a book, called "The Israel Lobby," which blames many U.S. foreign-policy problems on Washington's ties to Israel.

Read the whole story: Newsweek

Comments

[MajorKong]

Are these people running for President of the United States or for the Knesset?

[riverhouse]

Truth be told, the vast majority of Americans would like to dump Israel from our welfare rolls. If it's possible to elect a president who would be less supportive of Israel's social welfare system (Israel has a higher per capita income than the USA) and more supportive of our own citizens most Americans would vote for that candidate. If we could have a president who would bring an end to the brutal oppression and occupation of the Palestinian people, thus ending the animosity and resentment in the Muslim world against Americans, the vast majority of Americans would vote for that candidate.

[KPinSEA]

It's even simpler for me: if you can afford to develop nuclear weapons, you don't need a dime of military aid from the U.S.

Israel, India, Pakistan, China .... you don't need our dollars, clearly, you seem to have plenty to do whatever you feel like doing.

[westreal]

Um, Yeah.
I found out last year that Isreal had nuclear weapons and I'm like why are we giving them all this money if they can afford nuclear weapons. It makes no sense.

[outnow]

Do we control the Middle East or does it control us? I believe it works both ways. This started back when FDR died and Harry Truman took over. That was more than sixty years ago, which coincided with the end of WW II.

The British seem to call more than a few shots, too. As far as I'm concerned, it should be America for America.

Exiled Cubans have very much power, and the old Chinese expatriates from Taiwan are powerful, too. Needless to say, the Saudis are up there, too.

Our leaders should avoid conflicts of interest - that's a joke, since they are wholly-owned anyway. Campaign financing reform should help along with limiting favors to government officials.

There are too many "litmus tests" for all special interests. By the time anyone gets elected they have "sold their soul to the devil" to get there. We all realize that to be the truth.

An empire such as the United States can not avoid foreign entanglements as George Washington advised us. This is but one result. Sickening, it's it?

[WHATISTHIS]

Israel WHO!

Israel WHO!

Israel WHO!

THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT AMERICANS!!!
THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT EVEN HANDED PEOPLE
WHO WILL NO LONGER SUPPORT FRIENDS WAR!!!

IF ISREAL WANT TO GO TO WAR LET THEM DO SO ON THERE OWN!!!!

[DennyCrane]

I read an article recently where a woman, when asked why she was voting for Clinton, said, "Well I'm Jewish and Obama hasn't talked about Israel." Funny, but I thought this election was for President of the United States. But Hillary is totally in the pocket of AIPAC, which explains why she's so hung on invading Iraq and Iran. And of course the media can't raise this issue cause they'll be accused of being anti-Semitic. I'll have to read that book, The Israel Lobby. I already agree with its premise. Imagine how much better off we'd be if we stopped worrying about Israel. Maybe when Hillary loses, she can campaign to be Senator of Israel. Oh wait, Joe Lierberman already holds that position.

[SeekerOne]

She's in many pockets. All of them much larger than the collective pocket of U.S. citizens.

[Independent voter]

Israel now refuses to accept US Dollars as a form of payment for it's $3 billion dollars in free money from America. Israel insists that all payments be made in Euros and the Bush adminsitration agreed to this.

[Jimmyboyo]

Uhm

Independent_voter

India no longer accepts US dollars at the Taj Mahal, some tourist destinations in NY city USA are accepting Euros over dollars, many rappers are now singing about euros beign where it is at and the dolar is for poor people, etc

Get the picture?

The fall of the dollar and rise of the euro (thanks to bush and repub policies) is what causes others to want Euros over dollars.

I am critical of many policies that LIKUD right wingers in israel promote, but there is nothing wrong with wanting euros over dollars. It is smart financialy

[mommadona]

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[midtown]

What we were not told is what the rate of exchange was when we agreed to this. Did Condi Rice agree that the Euro would be pegged at $1.25 when now its $1.50?

If she didn't agree to a specific rate of exchange then what was the point of agreeing to pay in Euros in the first place? The Israelis can turn $US into any currency they want.

Does anyone know the rate of exchange on this deal?

[Zhonni]

I can't believe that until I read this myself. Why would Pres. Bush give money to them in Euros?

That is despicable if it happened.

[SoCalDem]

As an American Jew, I am deeply offended by this attack from the Clinton camp. It appears, based on the Newsweek article, that Senator Clinton's surrogates are attempting to willfully mislead Jewish constituents by choosing to ignore Obama's record. His position papers, speech transcripts and voting record stand in stark contrast to the claims put forth by Clinton camp over the weekend. These nefarious tactics are repulsive, desperate and pathetic. Shame on you, Ann Lewis, for perpetuating this nonsense.

[Independent voter]

I hope that you are not surprised by this. The clintons will do anything to get elected - lie, slander, cheat, steal, Foster, obfuscate, hide records in the clinton fortress paid for with Arab money. Anything at all.

[Plowboy]

I would like to ask those so overly concerned with Israel if they are at all interested in America? Are we only here to serve them? I recall one of their finest representatives, Joe Lieberman, exploding when the suggestion was made that we should act more even handedly and pursue JUSTICE in the ME. "Never!" he shouted. We have always supported Israel and must continue doing so."

Why?

What is so unacceptable about justice?

And what is wrong with thinking first about what is good for America?

[iPolitics]

"Obama's voting record on issues pertaining to Israel is impeccable. Amongst his supporters and contributors are prominent Chicago and New York Jewish community and civic leaders" ---Jerusalem Post

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1200308099552

[westreal]

Thank you for posting this. A little clarity in the race baiting politics the Clintons continue to delve in.

[Dap]

))))))))))))))))) BINGO ((((((((((­((((((((((

[KaAp]

Alas, it is the right wing Christians who comprise a large portion of the Israeli lobby (pre-dispensational millennialists who hope to bring about the Rapture and one of the preconditions is the Jews returning to Israel)...
As a Jew I find the Clinton surrogates stance not only wrong but something that goes against what others in the Jewish community are saying check jewsonfirst.org ...
Well, she was always a neo-con anyway ... and the neo-con's have never supported the Israeli peace movement ... but to paint Obama as an anti-semite is just plain out and out lying ... and I will not sit by idly and let this transpire

[cambio]

Nice, stooping to character assassination. I'm sure it is no coincidence that she has basically sold her soul to AIPAC http://www.alternet.org/election08/77287//)(not that they didn't already own most of it) for much needed campaign cash, and now she is going to try to paint Obama as an anti-Semit­e...I'm disgusted. The writing has been on the wall for a while though:

http://thepersonalispolitical.tumblr.com/post/26718671

[Colonial82]

No offense, but who cares about Israel. I mean with all the money we give them, we should make the the 51st state. I mean there are over 200 other countries in the world.

This is a non-issue

[Plowboy]

They wouldn't accept statehood. That'd mean paying taxes instead of receiving them (and sending back a small portion to control our politician­s.)

[Macready]

well said Plowboy . . . well said

[mrdontplay]

The president of the United States should be concerned with the people of the United States.

We are not "in charge" of the world.

This is not justice.

[Countess]

This has been one of the best kept secrets of her campaign. The overwhelming support of the Israeli lobby for her. She has probably assured them she will go back to promoting war against Iran once she is nominated.

[Jimmyboyo]

Yes and no Countess

It is very much a generational thing.

Older Jews are for hillary by and large because Israel is so wrapped up in their self identity. It was only refounded some 60 yrs ago. Her saber ratteling towards arabs is what excites them

A large contigent of younger generation Jews support Obama. Like many later generation children of imigrants (i.e. irish) they don't self identify so closely to a homeland they have never seen nor ever really want to go to.
The idea of actualy talking to arab countries appeals to them because they like the younger generations of irish, british, french, african, asian, etc more self identify as WORLD citizens and know that diplomacy is a much to smooth the transition to a united earth

[Jimmyboyo]

sorry for my typos

[Countess]

Thanks for this clarification. I realize it is not as simple as we would sometimes believe.