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

[cosmic]

HMMM, i watched the whole speech on C-SPAN - there was a big awkward pause after McCain mentioned Obama, and no-one clapped. Also there was a pause between "But here, too, he is mistaken." .. and silence. ... " 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" -- then that's when everyone clapped - kind of a well, that's OK, we'll give you that, after the fact.

Don't believe this spin. They weren't applauding against Obama, and lots in the audience seemed to look away and not clap on some of his more virulent points.

[robXdion]

Yeah it seems they are being more respectful of his position than his actual comments. Watch how Obama rocks the house Wednesday.

[NeoStar9]

Thanks for the correction if that was really the case. I wonder how the media will spin this. Wouldn't be surprised if it was as this article.

[robXdion]

Oh they're already spinning it as if it was some huge smackdown. Like it's a "guess he told him" moment. It's laughable.

[dykalg]

Thanks for this eye-witness account. "The facts are stubborn things"

[momof3inGA]

Thanks, Cosmic -- for speaking the truth against the spin of the media.

[Relax08]

You know the one part I watched was hardly encouraging for McBush. Boy can that guy NOT give a speech. He's so bad that I'm a little worried that people will sorry for him. He sure isn't honest in his presentation because it's obvious that he is saying things that others have told him to say. Not that he doesn't believe them, but he has no capacity to explain things in his own words. His so called straight talk seems more of a stutter to me.

[trollsbwild]

Anyway that a list of the members of AIPAC could be made known? Clearly, they have used their support to put people in power who have screwed most of the world.
No matter. KARMA IS A BITCH AND THEY WILL SURELY RECIEVE THEIR REWARD SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD!

[SwingingFromCenter]

Bravo on supporting a bill labeling a group as a terrorist organization without any proof that they're doing what you say they're doing. Haven't seen that song and dance before.

So much for "respectful campaigns" and not pandering for votes.

[badinko]

it is the united states of america, not united states of "israel". In my opinion, Israel should attack Iran if they want to and we should just stay out of it.

the U.S should focus on their interests and stop allowing another country's politicians and lobby influence our decisions. Let em all fight it out without us.

What do we care so long as they continue to sell us oil.

[ibsteve2u]

I would, instead, advocate a mutual defense treaty with Israel - and with every other nation in the Middle East.

As with Kuwait, should any of those nations be attacked, we simply promise to come down on their attacker like a ton of bricks - or rather, multiple kilotons of whatever explosive seems to be appropriate.

Si vis pacem para bellum.

[PatrickforO]

I have heard word that lots of whisper campaigns have been started within many communities, including the Jewish community, against Obama. I am confident, however, that truth will out. When Obama explains his position, as he did with the misguided pandering on the 'gas tax holiday,' people listened. Obama would have won in Indiana but for Limbaugh's Chaos campaign.

[DietrichMoody]

Isn't this the same Israel-American group that welcomes Rev. Hagee and other Dominionist with open arms?

I don't see how this will help McCain with the REST OF America.

[somekid1234]

Just like W doesnt represent the majority of Americans, AIPAC doesnt represent the majority of Jewish Americans. The best thing to do to help Israel is to make policies that lead to peace and security. You don't do that by angering more muslims which leads to more terrorists. You do it through compromise, trade, etc.

[stillfresh]

CORRECT! There were so many local Jews at a recent delegate caucus for Obama that the joke was we had a minyan. Obama doesn't have a "Jewish problem." He has a right wing problem, including Jews of that inclination.

[AllaboutME]

Welll stated! Thank you.

[ajinnyc]

AIPAC does not speak for all rational US Jews. Their extremist views endanger Israel more than help as they are opposed to any peace initiative, which is best for the entire region.

[xhibi]

No doubt.

McBush, or Bush, likewise don't 't speak for all Americans, but they do make the rules right now.

However, also there's no doubt that all the radical-minded American Jewish people (or the Israelis in Israel) give a bad name to the rest, like the radical-minded Americans give a bad name to all of our around the world.

[cubs325]

as a jew, I have NO problem with Obama - better yet he represents exactly the kind of intelligence and realistic thinking I want in the Middle East. Don't be fooled by the media rhetoric, Israel is a divided country on these issues with strong support for solutions that involve non-military aspects

[MissKaren]

I so agree with you. AIPAC is the Hagee/Lieberman lobby and it will not be satisfied before they have talked Israel into the ditch.

[jeffp26]

I am a jew and I wouldn't take a leak on McCainBush if he were on fire.

[NYC80]

its over IF AIPAC back MCbush then he will be the next president. AIPAC control this government everybody knows that only the ignorants don't know it.

[pfc1369]

"only the ignorants don't know it."

Smartly put!

[momof3inGA]

LOL...

[macaframa]

lol

[LeftLeanWing]

Obviously you are in the Camp Ignorants that doesn't 'Know it'.

[letsgetsmart]

Well I guess their out of the closet now and we can throw them into the same barrel with all of our other favorite people, the republicans. Gee, who would have thought?

[xhibi]

- My friends, here's my foreign policy: Bomb bomb bomb Iran. God bless United States and Israel.
Now I will take your questions.

- Senator, Iran has no nuclear weapons. Israel on the other hand, has hundreds of them and can bomb Iran without our help, if the need to. So what's the eminent threat from Iran?

- No no. Ahmadinejad said "Israel is a stinking corpse" so we should bomb Iran ASAP to prevent a mushroom cloud somewhere.

- But senator, Ahmadinejad is not even the leader of Iran. Do you know the name of the Iranian leader?

- Of course. He's name is Ayatollah.

- Senator, that is actually his tittle, not his name.

- Listen! We are winning in Iraq and Iran is a threat to Israel and to us. What more do you need to know?!
Next question please...

[TGCNY]

seems like they opnly care about one thing which is only there interest what abou the american people we should neglect our troops and standings in the rest of the world just to protect them when were all tapped out who then will protect us

[dukeman]

AiPAC - stealing my taxes to finance Israel's theft of arab land and water

[NeoStar9]

Can someone explain to me exactly why Israel and AIPAC are so special? Sure after WWII Jewish people need a place of their own by why where they put smack in the middle of the Middle East around people that wouldn't like it? Didn't they choose to be there?

Couldn't all the problems they are having been done away with or stop before they started if they simply were given another place where people didn't have a problem with the Jewish faith? If they wanted to be there why is it the US's job to protect them or to take care of it. If they wanted to be there shouldn't it be their responsibility to protect themselves? Wouldn't they tend not try to actually get along with those around them instead of acting all big and tough because they know the US will help them out?

[shades3]

My late mother said to me that if there was truly justice, the Jewish homeland should have been to take over Germany, since that was the country that mounted a campaign to exterminate them.
But, because Jews see Israel as their promised land, even though they were co-existing with the Arabs in the region, the English arbitrarlily divided up the country, and there has been conflict ever since.
McCain was preaching to the choir at AIPAC. Much like Bush was preaching to the choir when he said to a dinner with rich, rich people, "This is my base, the haves and the have mores."
That's a laugh line with those people.

[PuppaX]

Haha...whe­re would that place be, exactly?

[druidlady42]

It's all about religion, i.e "God's chosen people"! Personally, I do not think that God would approve of what the Israelis, with our full support, have done to the Palestinian people! Oppression is wrong, no matter who does it! If someone came and took my land, my home, my orchards, walled me off from any way to make my living,--I'd be MAD, too!

[Knowbetter]

Pre-War Poland. Unfortunately, that location became undesirable once Poland came under German control during the war and under Soviet control after the war.