McCain's Attack On Obama Gets Standing Ovation At AIPAC

Republican strategists who hope to cut into Democrats' usual advantage among Jewish voters have some cause for optimism this morning. Speaking on Monday to the annual policy conference of the most powerful Jewish lobbying organization in Washington, DC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Sen. John McCain received his most enthusiastic standing ovation at the close of his most pointed attack on Sen. Barack Obama.

"We must apply the full force of law to prevent business dealings with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. I was pleased to join Senators Lieberman and Kyl in backing an amendment calling for the designation of the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization responsible for killing American troops in Iraq. Over three quarters of the Senate supported this obvious step, but not Senator Obama. He opposed this resolution because its support for countering Iranian influence in Iraq was, he said, a 'wrong message not only to the world, but also to the region.' But here, too, he is mistaken. Holding Iran's influence in check, and holding a terrorist organization accountable, sends exactly the right message -- to Iran, to the region and to the world."

Many cheers and whistles accompanied that part of McCain's address, followed by a convention-wide standing ovation. Meanwhile, the Obama campaign fired off a response to McCain's speech before he was even finished delivering it, explaining that the Illinois Democrat's opposition to the resolution McCain cited was due to its inclusion of "aggressive passages" alongside what Obama felt was an accurate description of Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. Obama will have a chance to explain that vote to the conference on Wednesday.

The importance of the AIPAC's three-day event to both political parties was underscored by the range of participants in the panel discussion that directly followed McCain's speech. Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs committee Howard Berman, a California Democrat, shared the stage with Liz Cheney, Ambassador Dennis Ross and the Knesset's deputy defense minister. As Berman spoke, it was clear he was trying to gently contrast some of McCain's rhetoric, telling the crowd that despite bipartisan consensus that Iran's nuclear ambitions represent a danger, the current administration's policy toward Iran "is not working."

After noting the conference's non-partisan spirit, Liz Cheney went ahead and cast her response in partisan terms, telling the assembled group that the outcome of this fall's election -- and whether the next president will follow the Bush administration's example in fighting the war on terror -- will necessarily have a large impact on where Israel finds itself this time next year.

Comments

[jaslyn]

Does Grampy McCain ever talk about anything else besides his beloved war? He's out of touch with Americans and he still hasn't figured out what a humungouse blunder the war has been. He's too old and to set in his ways to see anything else. This will make his defeat in the election all the simpler and all the sweeter.

[EuroPreacher]

The Obama campaign has two questions for McCain: 1) how will his foreign policy be different from George Bush’s, and 2) if it is not different, why should anyone expect better results than Bush has achieved?

[tinkabell]

John McCain: I was pleased to join Senators Lieberman and Kyl in backing an amendment calling for the designation of the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization responsible for killing American troops in Iraq.
Yes he will join Lieberman Kyl in backing an amendment.­...but will he vote for it?
That is the question!

[DennyCrane]

I wonder why he didn't just sing his Bomb Iran song again. I bet that would've gotten cheers from AIPAC.

[starboymikey]

AIPAC is relevant chiefly to itself, and to the right wing government of Israel. Most American Jews think it's a pile of s**t, about as relevant Project for a New American Century.

[naschkatze]

My memory is not so good anymore, but I believe American Jews have come up with a rival (more peaceful solution oriented) organization to AIPAC. Does anyone know its name?

[betz55]

J Street. Still Lobbyist's but we'll see.....

[midtown]

Jewish voters amount to 2-3% of the population, at best. Inconsequential as a portion of the electorate. As Philip Weiss points out on his excellent blog, and quoting Ari Berman, it's the Jewish donors and Jewish media (journalists, editors, owners) that are the kingmakers.
http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2008/05/this-piece-in-the-forward.html
"Again I have to insist that Jewish voters are far less meaningful in the presidential process than Jewish donors and Jewish reporters. Ari Berman said this the other day at the Center for Jewish History, and I applaud him for his candor and urge journalists to think about this and drop the hypocrisy.­"

See also:
http://tinyurl.com/4z9gwl

[All4One08]

Hey Grandpa McSame,

Check the polls out buddy; Most Americans are NOT opposed to talking to our adversaries!

Americans responding to poll:
Americans say it’s a good idea for the President to meet with Adversaries/Iran!

71% Democratic say it’s ok
58% Independents say it’s ok
48% Republicans say it’s ok

GET WITH THE PROGRAM YOU HACK!
You’re in a political time warp and "out of touch" “
America is “not afraid” to talk and get thing done!!

[jeanwny]

Did anyone ever take notice of the size of these standing ovation crowds, not so much!

[lizr]

I'mokay even if O gets booed at AIPAC, as long as there is a fair hearing in the media about the AIPAC neocon hawks and how they got us into this Iraq mess in the first place and are major players in terms of the foolhardy jokers who want to take us into IRAN.

The sooner this rock is picked up and we get to look at the worms underneath, the better it will be for all the American people to see how a small, well -heeled but NON-REPRESENTATIVE group of Hard core rt wing Jews gets to buy Undue Influence in our Government­..

Among our representatives who SHOULD be thinking of AMERICA FIRST, and not Israel, in formulating our foreign policy!!!

Time for some real focus on AIPAC and what it means and stands for in our Lazy -as -shit Media.

MSM- what does it take to light a firecracker under your lazy asses?

[HHarvey]

This was kind of my thinking too about AIPAC. Is America nothing but a tool for Israel? Are we their attack dog let out of its cage for Israel's will? I have a hard time believing that most american jewish voters could feel this way.

[naschkatze]

I wouldn't mind if Obama were booed at AIPAC. It might open some eyes about AIPAC and be a plus for Obama.

[Diane1]

Let's wait until we hear the reception that Obama gets from AIPAC on Wednesday. My sense is that he will rock the house. The Jewish vote is not monolithic and I think Obama will be received very well.

Also--where's the video of the standing ovation? So far from what I have heard from the audio, the reception to McCain was respectful, but not tremendous.

[lizr]

AIPAC is not representative of the Jewish community, however. It is skewed way to the rt in favor of the neo con warmongers.

[WAstateliberal]

Well, it is my understanding from reading the posts at TPM that AIPAC is a right wing organization, which supports the ultra-right wing Likud Party, and which does not represent mainstream Judaism in America. If I am wrong, I apologize. But many progressives oppose Obama even speaking to them as though they are a credible group.

[americanwomaninpa]

CNN has video. Reception was tremendous.

[Justtellthetruth]

Lets make this really clear; AIPAC DOES NOT represent the majority of Jewish people either here or in Israel. They and their policies are, in fact, often reviled by those very people.

Obama ought to be telling AIPAC to get bent, and reaching out to the majority of Jewish American voters through some other means than kowtowing to this war mongering, apartheid engendering organization. They are not doing Israel or the US any favors.

[fourex]

"Lets make this really clear; AIPAC DOES NOT represent the majority of Jewish people either here or in Israel."

Of course they don't. AIPAC does not represent the U.S. or it's values. They are an Israeli lobby.
Hagee and Lieberman will also speak at AIPAC.

[oldlakelady]

Too bad all the readers of this misleading article couldn't hear the whole speech this morning. I did watch the whole speech and the applause for McCain was NOT when he talked about Obama. The author (I won't call him a journalist) knows this, but chooses to stir the pot by misleading the reader - trying to create a news soundbit that might have some legs if it is spun in a certain way. McCaib did receive applause and a standing ovation for his ideas on keeping Isreal safe and on committing the US to a strong and unwavering relationship with Isreal. Obama will be giving them the same assurances when he speaks to them on Wednesday. Sure wish we could get news that does not have a partisan spin.

[FredNietzsche]

Who wanted us in Iraq? Who wants us in Iran, and Syria, and g-d knows where else? This election isn't about AIPAC or Israel, it's about us, as in U.S. Go Obama!

[WAstateliberal]

And who has done everything in his power to make Israel less safe, not more? Bush.

[Bootoomee]

Thanks. At time I wonder if America is Israel's lap dog. It's appalling how American politicians will twist and bend to Israel's whims.

It REALLY is a shame.

I think Israel owns America; at least that is how the politicians act.

[charley0008]

After watching so much news centered on the "Jewish" vote & the importance given to every candidates stand on "Israel", at a time when we as Americans & a country are choosing a potential President - it certainly got my attention.
Imagine my surprise when I found out that the American "Jewish" vote made up less than 3% of our population & if what I have read is any indication they are divided on the question of Israel, its policies, the settlements, its treatment of the Palestinians & the never-ending Peace process.
This pre-occupation with Israel, a foreign country, in the midst of our election strikes me as unseemly. I assume like most other countries, Israel has an embassy here to interact & put forward its views to our Government which seems to me an appropriate, arms length venue.
How is it we allowed AIPAC, a hawkish, pro-Israel lobby to become so strong & wield so much power in our Countries electoral process? That kind of influence on behalf of a foreign Government within our political process cannot be healthy nor good for our Country.
The most promising change I see is a rise in strong Jewish voices to counter AIPAC, but that still does not deal with the question of their influence & power in Washington.
I certainly support Israel's right to exist as a country, but that does not mean I think it acceptable for Israel or AIPAC on their behalf, to be messing in our elections.

[conned]

Yea, I'll admit that I just don't understand exactly what leverage Israel holds over our politicians that makes them crawl on their bellies to satisfy this nation's demands, unless what's good for them is also good for the US (as the establishment sees it). All I know for sure is, it revolves around the globalist vision of capitalist economics. If the goal is to have imperialism, or as Bush calls it , "democracy", in the middle east, then it would follow that we are in for many, many more years of war to remove the non-friendly regimes. When GW told us we must prepare for a "long war, like none we ever seen", he really meant subjugating and "passifying the resistance to hostile takeovers of foriegn, non captialist, economicly stagnant societies. This isn't necesserily a Bush Administration strategy or policy, but the dictates of globalism and capitalist expansion. It is also quite possibly the quest for cheap labor by the corporations driving globalism that have come to own our politicians. With our national debt owned by foriegn nations (Israel and China are key), we don't really even own our own country anymore. We're really screwed.

[anthonylee]

Simple answer:

Jewish Americans control a large amount of economic resources and actively maintain strong political influence in America. This coupled with (see demographic stats '96: http://www.arthurhu.com/index/jewish.htm ) education, strong nationality pride for Israel, unified community with a common goals, affords support of Israeli lobbying organizations, direct economic support of Israel, elections/­appointmen­ts to senior advisory and leadership positions within our government, and so on.

Also, from a defense standpoint, Israel provides America with a strategic mobilizaton/strike point against any target in the middle-east, eastern Europe and Asia.

[harriscrl3]

With this and Hagee saying that we should help Jews ushering Armageddon so that Jesus can make his coming on the earth the next 4 years of a McCain administration should be fun.

Carol

[Ihaveadream]

Good point Carol!

[bobwalters]

Without US foreign aid in the Billions and US-supplied armaments, the Israelis would still be wandering in the Negev, looking for water. AIPAC is a front organization for ultra-right-wing (read: fascist war-mongering) Israeli interests, and doesn't represent the majority of American or Israeli Jews. They are riddled with trained spies who not only steal US military secrets, but also engage in industrial and economic espionage in the US. By most any standards, they are an above-ground criminal entreprise, what during WWII was known as a "fifth column" network, all in the PURPORTED interest of Zionism. McNutcase and AIPAC deserve each other. If that makes me anti-Semitic in some eyes, so be it. But as someone earlier observed, Arabs are Semitic people also, and I'm not against them.

[deja669]

Thanks for enlightening me about AIPAC! I never agreed with any thing that AIPAC seemed to stand for and now I know why. No wonder they gave McShame a standing ovation. The really do deserve each other.

[1099]

I see you as anti-semtic now.

[betz55]

Don't start 1099. Go back to our timeout chair over there in the corner.

[researcher]

the jewish people are so much smarter than most americans.

give they credit for that.

america is a brainwashed dumbed down society.

the end of american domination is near

it is called bankruptcy moral spiritual and financial.

see there is such a thing as karma but not stones type. those are natural disasters.

american neo cons you want to be war mongers and capitalist imperialists now pay the price

bye bye middle class hello corp fascism

now tonight look for the terrorist and socialist under your beds.

one dollar = .63 euro and you aint seen nothing yet

[Alejandro]

Are you kidding me? For years Europe has benefited from America. Don't be so angry and naive. If it were not for America, most European countries would be speaking Russian today. But then based on your prophecy it could still occur....d­ah!

[TheNuff]

"Obama campaign fired off a response to McCain's speech before he was even finished delivering it...."

Well HOT DANG.. This is going to be exciting.