Israeli Election Hopefuls Campaign Obama Style (VIDEO)

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JERUSALEM — The star of Israel's election campaign seems to be Barack Obama.

A religious party has translated "yes we can" into Hebrew. Front-runner Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu's Web page looks a lot like Obama's, and a candidate for Parliament has his own version of an "Obama-girl" Internet ad.

As for Labor Party leader Ehud Barak, vying with Netanyahu for the premiership in the Feb. 10 election, his surname prompts party colleague Amir Peretz to joke that he's "halfway there."

Whether they like or dislike Obama's politics hardly seems to matter. Nor can they claim to be fresh faces. Barak and Netanyahu are both former prime ministers with mixed records, while Tzipi Livni, the third candidate for the job, is foreign minister in the outgoing government.

"What's sad and tragic is that there really is no one who is a real Obama, who can say, here is something new, here is something different," said Oriella Ben-Zvi, an Israeli political consultant who worked for the Clinton administration.

She said it was part of a larger trend of Israel playing catch-up with America. "Bibi is a rerun, Barak is a rerun. It is depressingly not about change, it is about going back," she said. "What we are probably going to get is our own George W. Bush."

That may not be such a negative; Bush is remembered here as the most supportive president Israel ever had.

Initially many Israelis were wary of Obama over his stated willingness to speak with Israel's archenemy, Iran, and over the opinions of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, his former pastor, whose church he later quit. They particularly recoiled over Wright's support for Black Muslim leader Louis Farrakhan, who has made anti-Semitic remarks.

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Israeli public opinion heavily favored Republican John McCain for president. But since the election, Obama-mania has swept across the Jewish state, and even Shas, a party of black-coated ultra-Orthodox Jews, has jumped aboard.

Its spiritual leader is Ovadia Yosef, an 88-year-old rabbi who has compared women to donkeys and has called Hurricane Katrina divine punishment. "Ken, anakhnu yekholim" may sound less snappy than "yes we can," but that hasn't prevented Shas from putting it on billboards and buses _ always dutifully preceded by "God Willing."

Shas spokesman Roy Lachmanovitch said the slogan was fitting because the party also preached change and a revolution for the underclass. "We are the Israeli Obama because we are fighting for those the establishment has ignored," he said.

Netanyahu also seems an unlikely Obama admirer. His hawkish politics are far more in sync with those of McCain, but he insists he has developed a rapport with the president-elect and can work with him.

Netanyahu spokesman Ron Dermer acknowledged that the campaign's Web site _ which features nearly identical colors, fonts and features _ was inspired by Obama's. "We wanted to learn from the best," he said.

Livni and Barak haven't gone that far, but the foreign minister's solemn face features in "Livni Boy," an Internet clip of a hip young man singing her praises.

Watch "Livni Boy:"

Supporters of Sagiv Assulin, a parliamentary candidate for Netanyahu's Likud party, went a step further, producing a clip virtually identical to the cult Internet video "I've got a crush on Obama."

"Assulin girl," in which a T-shirted woman sings "I'm crazy about Assulin," became an instant Youtube hit, and the 30-year-old unknown has since been elected No. 33 on Likud's slate of candidates, giving him a good shot at getting into Parliament.

Assulin, who considers himself ultranationalist, says he's the ideological opposite of Obama but respects his message.

"Obama is a role model in what he represents," he said, "a new, young, different leader."

Watch "Assulin Girl:"

____

On the Net:

Obama Web site: http://www.barackobama.com/index.php

Netanyahu Web site: http://www.netanyahu.org.il/

YouTube Livni boy clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?vBXC5tT3T7Qs

Comments

[SiberianRat]

If Netanyahu wins because he nearly plagiarized Obama, that will be a disaster for the country and for Obama himself. Netanyahu is no friend to Israel (he's in favor of a permanent state of war) and no friend of the US. I don't see any of the major candidates as being that great, and I therefore see no end to the illegal occupation and Israel will be allowed to continue to flaunt against international law and public opinion. Unfortunately, I don't think Obama will do enough to pressure them. In any case, with our financial meltdown, it's time for Israel to get of the US taxpayer gravy-train and fund its own occupation and human rights violations.

[Desdemondo]

Nothing new with Israeli politics - same old story: more money from America, occupation of its neighbours land and suppression of Arabs and Palestinians in particular.

President-elect Obama has absolutely nothing in common with these warhorses.

[chaos4700]

...except that he whole-heartedly supports their right to "defend themselves." Check out change.gov for his stance on our vaunted ally for yourself.

[edballs]

Vote for Russian occupation and oppression! Vote Netanyahu!

[flyingmonkey]

People have been using other people's campaign tactics for ever. Good lord, you'd think that Obama was the first candidate in the history of mankind to use the "change" and "hope" strategy.
I personally couldn't care less what marketing tactics they use.
What worries me is the possibility of Netanyahu winning. I consider him to be one of the most evil people on the world stage. And at one point, so did a lot of Israelis. If Bibi can make Israel forget what an opportunistic, warmongering liar he is with a marketing trick, I may just have to curse Israel and take my chances with the Big Guy.

[lizziekw]

I've always liked Bibi. I know, I know, he's no good - absolutely no good. But I still like him, I have no idea why. I'm sure we disagree about everything.

[chaos4700]

Meh. I have to confess it's hard for me to despise Condoleeza Rice, in spite of the intellectual dishonesty she represents, so I suppose on some level I can sympathize.

[lizziekw]

Yep. Sometimes, even though we know better, we just can't despise these people as much as they deserve to be despised.

I feel sorry for us now!

[concernvoter]

COPY CAT!!!

[ILikeH00ters]

imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

[Trogenhorse]

I think the article points out that US president/candidates don't have to and shouldn't worry about what Isreal thinks of them. They couldn't stand O and now he's the man. If a US president does what is right for the US and right as a citizen of the world, maybe some of the special population targeting would end.

He's also the best and only hope Isreal has for keeping some stablization in the region. I'm glad to see the article

[drsmc41]

"Imitation is the best form of flattery."

[typhoon1999]

Way to recycle your own old news.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/14/iraeli-pm-candidates-webs_n_143959.html

[tailgateshirts]

yea totally

[iggy06]

This just goes to show you how much elections in the west these days are due primarily to media manipulation. In Canada they elected rightwing Bushie, Steven Harper, even though just 2 months b4 the elections his poll rating was just around 24 percent positive. How did he win? Well, wouldn't you know, Canada had a perfectly timed "terrorist attack", (the Toronto 18) an attack which has now proven totally false and it is now known that this was the work of a multiple felon convict informer, who was paid 100's of thousands of dollars by Canada to set up a bunch of unaware muslim teenagers. "Hey, go pick up this van and drive it here", not telling the guy there was sacks of fertilizer in the back. No detonators either so it was basically harmless.

Netanyahu is the worst possible candidate. Do your research. Google "Operation Clean Break" written up in 1997. See that Bibi was very close with 9-11's WTC leaser, Silverstein, who talked "daily" on the phone with Bibi. Or what about the 7/7 London bombings? Where he was notified in advance, before any bomb had exploded. How did he know? The list goes on and on.

WE need viable 3rd and 4th parties that are allowed to participate in the debates with no corporate campaign donors allowed.

[Terrence0258]

I know pundits said Obama would change the way politicians conducted their campaigns but damn.

[mcantwell]

Quote: "Israeli public opinion heavily favored Republican John McCain for president. But since the election, Obama-mania has swept across the Jewish state, and even Shas, a party of black-coated ultra-Orthodox Jews, has jumped aboard."

**Wow

[Amennyc]

Obama style is simple.... Acquire a diverse base. Appear to be on their side and then throw on of them under the bus after you win the election. Have one of the biggest lobbyists against their cause speak at the inauguration.

[ProgressDon]

With friends like you, who needs enemies ?

[lafrance]

fair weather supporters are always depressing.

[bronzy]

I am starting to see little difference between you guys and the far right.

[SKOC211]

Ideologues are ideologues no matter which side of the spectrum they're on.

[chaos4700]

Here's a clue... we don't torture people.

[AtheistUS]

I think you are wrong. I voted against 8 and I think inevitably it will be rejected in a few years. I also think that Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld must be in prison. But I also think that we must give voice to all sides and bring back culture of productive discussion (which is like a death to republican 'ideas').

[geobushono]

You will be seen as weak by republicans......they operate at the reptile brain level.
Torturers-you are going to apppeal th the higher motives / processes of torturers an their base?
An iron fist is what the right needs to experience.

[x004Ronin]

Absolutely, by having Warren speak at his inauguration, clearly Obama is going to push for constitution ban on gay marriage, abortion, and thinking impure thoughts. You're not being a drama queen, don't worry. You're being *totally* reasonable here.

[mredder4]

It is the fate of all good ideas to be copied endlessly and eventually distorted to promote the very thing that the original idea stood against.