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

[rmetz74]

I come from a big Jewish family who wouldn't vote for McCain if arrived at the debate on a flying menorah - and the same is true for pretty much every Jewish friend I have.

But hey, you can't blame a goy for tryin'.

[4wehttam]

I don't get it. They tell us we went to Iraq to "liberate" the country, but we treat the entire Muslim world with disrespect and hold them to a different standard than we do Israel. Why is it Israel can do NO WRONG? As a American, I find it offensive at times that we often put the interests of Israel before the interests of America.

I understand that they are a strong ally, but they ARE their own country. This is not the United States of America and Israel.

[Americanium]

The Media ( Huff Post included) has taken to skewing events with dramatic headlines. While the members and supporters of AIPAC are without doubt pro-Israel, they know that it is not in there interest to belittle presidential candidates. Obama will get ovations. These Israeli lobbyists knows that they cannot afford to alienate McCain or Obama because either of them could be the next President.

One standing ovation does not a president make. Obama does not have to hit a home run Wednesday contrary to what many talking heads believe. He needs to affirm America's support for Israel by advocating a path that reduces violence in the Mid East.

If that means talking to the Iranians on behalf of Israel so be it. No reasonable Israeli supporter can or will object to that.

For McCain to take possible peaceful solutions off the table shows that he is not fully supportive of Israel's peaceful existence but rather Israel's survival in the midst of violence. How many more Israeli lives are worth a policy of not talking to those who have influence over the killers of innocent citizens of Israel?

Obama needs to make the distinction between proactive engagement and fruitless disengagement. Historical events are on his side. It is time he use them.

[ThomasMc]

The ZioNazis are his base. And he is their puppet.

[CaseyBabes]

And you are an anti Semitic nut.

[Shozen]

Yet another Republican of limited intelligence demonstrating the inability to respond beyond the level of a kindergarten playground come back.

[TruepatriotinRI]

It is possible to be anti-Zionist and not be anti-semitic. Look it up.

[LeftLeanWing]

That comment does not make him 'anti-Semitic'.

One must be able to question, oppose, comment, conjole ISRAELI Government Policies without being considered anti-Jewish.

Once someone throws out that 'anti-Semitic' accusation ; all debate and discussion ends.

That is not a good thing.

[chefrasta]

Why should American interest be aipac and the likuds interest?

[escapement]

You know if you are anti-Palestinian you are an anti-semite too, right?... Seeing that they are a semitic people.....

[crossoverwriter]

Aw, c'mon, Jewish neo-cons, don't fall so easily for McDummy's line. His plans are dangerous and idiotic!!!! More of the same. Delve a little deeper. Use your brains.

[harriscrl3]

The BIGGEST clue to that is that they are a LOBBYING group and guess who doesnt take money from lobbyist or want to have anything to do with them. I'm sure they are going to be whispering in the fools air attack Iran if they havent already.

He is a puppet goverment his policies are IDENTICAL to BUSH.

Carol

[billaz1]

How short people’s memories are. Doesn’t anyone remember that McCain made a far bigger religious change than Obama and it went right over the press's heads without questions? Obama is changing churches not religions. McCain changed religions. Since he was elected to congress for his first term he was Episcopalian then suddenly at the start of this election season he is now a Baptist. That is an actually a fairly larger theological change. McCain has never answered that the question. What was suddenly wrong with the Episcopalian faith that you had to change to being a Baptist? It doesn’t seem to have to do with faith but just politics so he could be on the "right" side of the issues like anti-abortion, anti-gay rights, pro-armageddon the Jews must return to Israel before the second coming, ect.

[speakingtruth2power]

AIPAC is Pro-MIC and a major supporter of the Crusade for Muslim Resources.

Their views are not those of most Jewish Americans who want peace in the ME.

The Likudist/neocon plan for a New World Order is a fascist conspiracy lead by

the likes of Rupert Murdoch & GHWB and is a genuine danger to the entire world.

[Bertha40869]

I'm glad SOMEBODY knows this. The last thing AIPAC wants is peace. Their guiding principle is greed, pure and simple.

[PAposter]

Your name says it all, good post!

[unscum]

McBush preaching to the choir. What Jewish American organizations are currently challenging AIPAC?

[Justtellthetruth]

J Street. They are oriented towards peace and a fair resolution of the Israel Palestinian conflict.

[Topfeeder]

They weren't applauding McCain.
They were applauding the excellent knish and kugel at the reception.

[CountryBeforeParty]

I would applaud an excellent knish and kugel too.

That's good eatin' !!!

[Barky]

Someone should ask Sen. McBrown-noser why AIPAC members were involved in 2 very prominent Israeli spy arrests against the US.

[glorysong]

The Bible says, It will not be Water next time, but Fire. If you put McCain in there it is the end for the world. Because he sure will start a war. All that fire power. Iran is not going to set back and let anyone set war on their country. We do not know what they have. Or what they can do. Look where we are at Today. In a war. I have a Grandson over there fighting this war. I pray everyday that he make it back home. Stop. And let's talk with these people. No more war. No more McCain or Bush.

[micahjrose]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Israel have the most powerful military in the Middle East? Don't they have the strongest land, air, and sea power? Don't they have an estimated 100-200 nukes with the ability to fire them if their whole country is destroyed? Isn't the only other significant military power in the region Saudi Arabia, another American ally?

Let Israel keep Iran in check. Our billions of aid a year to their military should do more than give them the option to look fierce, to everyone except the Palestinians--to whom they are draconically fierce, instead of actually being fierce to Hezbollah, and other proxy organizations from Iran.

[JenIA]

How in the world is McCain going to get through a debate with Obama without a teleprompter??? The man cannot speak without one--well I mean he can, but then he has to have Joe Lieberman next to him to correct his mistakes. Obama is going to make McCain look like a blubbering idiot come debate time...oh wait, he is one.

[GingerB]

I long for the day when Israel no longer dictates our foreign policy.

USA FIRST!!!

[rjcrane]

Of course this is scary but so is the organization AIPAC and their supporters. Unfortunately AIPAC has way more influence than their actual numbers would show among most Jewish voters, who wouldn't agree with their neocon warmongering ideology. But until recently there hasn't been any Jewish groups willing to challenge them.

The only way Obama could appeal to these warmongers would be to sound just as belligerent toward Iran as McCain and this isn't something I see him doing as it would cause him to lose support from people who would see this as pandering. It would be better if Obama sent a surrogate like Biden to speak at AIPAC as he would be able to shoot straight from the hip and put them in their place even if they didn't like what they heard.

It's time for the Dems to start separating themselves from the likes of people like Lieberman and their Jewish and religious right neocons who continue to support Israel at any cost and for insane reasons while ignoring the human rights abuses Israel has been inflicting on Palestinians in addition to seizing their territory for more settlements. Our politicians cannot be held hostage forever by AIPAC anymore than they should be held hostage to a bunch of Cubans living in Miami.

RJ Crane, topplebush.com

[Bobzmcishl]

Our presidential candidates should stop pandering to groups like AIPAC who have an extreme right wing political viewpoint vis a vis Middle East foreign policy. We need to stop reinforcing the view that Israel is the 51st state in the union. That prevents the U.S. from acting as an honest broker in any mediation attempts in that part of the world.