Obama kisses the ring of AIPAC
Hat Tip: Baltimore Afro Newspaper
By James Wright
AFRO Staff Writer
Sen. Barack Obama, one day after clinching the Democratic presidential nomination, assured Jewish leaders on Wednesday of his strong support for Israel and insisted that the nation’s security will be a top priority of his administration.
Speaking before the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the foremost pro-Israel lobby, Obama endorsed a two-state Israel-Palestine settlement, insisted that Jerusalem remain the undivided capital of the Jewish nation and strongly urged Arab governments to normalize relations with Israel. He also said he would refuse to grant recognition to the Hamas government in Palestine until it renounces terrorism and supports Israel’s right to exist.
Obama’s speech to 7,000 pro-Israel activists at the Walter E. Washington Conference Center in Washington D.C., sought to dispel fears that some Jewish voters have about him and his stance on Middle East issues. His previously-scheduled speech before becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee received special attention because many Jews have also expressed concerns about his relations with controversial Black leaders, such as the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and the Nation of Islam’s Louis Farrakhan.
The Illinois senator also sought to dispel fears of his past statements defending his willingness to negotiate with leaders of nations that harbor anti-Israel sentiments. He said flatly that Israel’s security is directly tied to that of the United States.
“Those who threaten Israel, threaten us,” he said to a thunderous standing ovation. “I will always keep the threat of military action on the table to defend our security and our ally, Israel.”
Obama coupled that with a pledge of support for Israel’s security. Negotiating with leaders of nations out of favor with the United States is an option he will consider pursuing, but not out of weakness, he said.
“[Presidents] Truman, Kennedy and Reagan invoked diplomacy in order to achieve peace,” he said. “These negotiations were in the interests of the United States. As president, I will do the same.”
Obama, who was introduced as the Democratic nominee and received a rousing ovation, also drew contrasts with President Bush and Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee. Obama said he differed substantially with Bush and McCain on various Middle East issues.
He blamed the Bush administration’s policies in the Middle East for allowing the growth of Hamas and Hezbollah. Bush’s policies, he said, have allowed Hamas to control Gaza and for Hezbollah to rule over Southern Lebanon and Beirut.
He encouraged AIPAC to urge Israeli leaders to work to improve the economic conditions of the Palestinians and allow the Palestinians more freedom to move within Israel and the occupied territories.
Obama saved his harshest words for Iran. He made it clear that he would not allow the country to build a nuclear weapon and will work to isolate it economically until it recognizes Israel’s right to exist.
“I have supported measures in the Congress to divest from countries that do business in Iran,” he said of his Senate bill that has 33 sponsors from both parties. “Unilateral businesses that do business in Iran should not be allowed to benefit in the United States.”
Tying Iran to the war in Iraq, Obama said “Iraq is unstable and will only serve to fuel the government of Iran.” He continued to denounce the war in Iraq, central to his campaign for the White House, and called for a phased withdrawal.
Shortly after Obama spoke, Sen. Hillary Clinton also addressed the group, vouched for Obama’s friendship and concern for Israel.
“Let me be very clear,” Clinton said. “I know Senator Obama will be a good friend of Israel.”
On the domestic front, Obama said that Jews and African Americans must continue to work together for social justice. Citing the work of slain civil rights workers Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner and James Chaney, Obama said, “We must not allow Jews and African Americans to slumber.”
The Jewish presidential vote has gone to the Democrats since 1924. John Kerry won their vote in 2004 with 76 percent. Al Gore carried the Jewish vote with 79 percent in 2000.
To have a shot at the presidency, Obama would need to increase his support in the Jewish community in swing states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania and Nevada. Jewish voters constitute a strong voting bloc in Florida, particularly in the southern portion.
David Bositis, a senior research associate with the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, said Obama would do well to assure Jewish voters that he is a friend of Israel.
“There is a significant debate in the Jewish community about Obama, even though he has plenty of Jewish supporters,” Bositis said. “It is likely that he will get the majority of Jewish voters just as other Democrats have, but he will need to show that he is a strong supporter of Israel.”
June 6th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
No surprise there. It should also be no surprise whose interests he will serve as President. Black America is engaged in an unrequited love affair with this man. These affairs always end with the ones who are in one sided fantasy love being eternally bruised.
June 7th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
@lindsay,
Unrequited Love Affair??? It kills me to listen to the self-hatred that yourself and others show towards Mr. Obama. If you don’t like his policies, his agenda or him, that’s fine. All Americans in power have been kissing the Jews rear end period!!! Since you and I have been living and before. And the racist ways of Isreal have been overlooked time after time. But let’s talk about unrequited love for a moment.
The love affair that some abused blacks have with the Clinton’s is what is pitiful. Your god(Bill) ran on a domestic agenda which promised a huge job-creation agenda paired with a plan for universal health care for all. After he was elected, he quickly welched on his “election promise”. citing the 4 to 5 trillion debt left by Reagan/Bush I. That is when, quiet as it’s kept, the drastic cuts in health care,education,housing, child care, the job market, the environment and the arts began. His appointment of a few blacks to positions in his administration were crumbs,morsels compared to what black america and overall poor america needed. Under Bill’s watch one-fourth of black children lived in poverty, homeless people were deep in EVERY city, and poor or middle-class women could not afford child care so they could make a way. To glorify, sugar-coat or romanticize the Clinton years is akin to a violently abused lover who was beaten within an inch of his/her life, but still, through the bruises and pain, is still hoping that one day that the abuser will change and that all of the pain is the fault of the victim. Willie Lynch, truth or myth is alive and well. Please God hear my plea and bless our black victims of self-hatred with common sense. As long as a white man is doing it to you, it does not hurt so bad. You are used to the pain. Let a black man even aspire to come up, it’s a problem. Obama is not anywhere yet but by him even thinking bigger…..the nerve of that uppity Negro!!!!!
June 8th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Hey Common Sense,
I’m no fan of Bill Clinton. I am neither moved nor inspired by silver-tongued Obama’s hollow messagesof hope and change. His record in the US Senate does not impress me. I am amazed by the apparant anger I’ve invoked in you just because I see Obama him as another candidate with no allegiance to the very black voters that won him the popular vote in many primaries across the country. It seems many blacks have blind allegiance to him, perhaps because he is a very accomplished black man that gives great speeches. l see Obama as no better or different than Clinton except that he is black. If I have any hope at all, it is that Obama proves me wrong. He has presumptively won the democratic nomination, so what are you so bothered about. Why is it not ok for me to assess Obama’s relationship with black America based on what he has done to date?
June 8th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
@lindsey,
Obama’s relationship with black America is that at first he was not black enough and now we have been his rock. A two way street indeed. But I find it puzzling that folks like you and many others pick apart every line, every cough this man makes just for ASPIRING to be the president. He has not won anything yet. Nothing at all but a lot of you are finding fault on his way to the job interview itself!!! The Clintons and other previous prez have royally shafted us. You have tangible evidence of that but let the black man even get near the gate and then the watchdogs come out howling. And you are correct in the fact that I do get upset when we as a people can never give each other the benefit of a doubt or just plain ol’ racial or cultural pride and respect.
When Ben Cardin runs for office and gets 90-95 percent of the Jewish vote, nothing is said. When Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi get overwhelming Italian support, it’s not a problem. Only when blacks support their own is the fact brought up or people come out of the woodwork saying, “I’m not going to support this one or that one just because they’re black.” The rest of them support their own kind. They can count on their own kind support. We are the only race of people who hate each other so bad that instead of embracing one another, we look for the slightest reason to turn away from one another. Go figure. Willie Lynch is real.
June 9th, 2008 at 12:48 am
First of all, I can determine that Obama is the lesser of evils and vote for him. But, I certainly have a right to remain critical and pragmatic in my thinking about him. Obama is not God. He is not perfect. He is not above reproach. When Cardin gets 90-95 percent of Jewish support, he, in turn, supports Jews interest once elected. Same for Pelosi and Italians. That is truly love on a two way street. Obama has already demonstrated a willingness to abandon blacks and the interest of blacks despite receiving overwhelming support from blacks. That’s love on a one way street.
When Kurt Schmoke became mayor of Baltimore, he was elected with overwhelming black support, very little white support. Yet, he represented the interests of Jews and others, significantly more than blacks. Love on a one way street.
Sheila Dixon made history when she became the first female mayor of Baltimore and first black female at that. Her 20 year record in public offices was restricted to serving the interests of mainly Schmoke, O’Malley, and wealthy business persons that are heavy campaign financeers. Dixon’s support of black interests has been mainly limited to her family and close, personal friends that also usually help finance her campaigns. Did I have a racial duty to remain silent and not critique her abysmal record of non-service because she was a black woman on the brink of making history?
Clarence Thomas, Alan Keyes, both black, should the black community rally in support of them?
Or, is the universal black, deaf, dumb, and blind, support you wish us to show Obama limited to Obama because you just like him and have bought into his rhetoric? Or, perhaps he makes you proud? Whatever the reason you are so passionate about him, he chose to run for President of the US! Man, that assumes risk of the highest degree of crtiticism, scrutiny, expose’, and possibly even ultimate destruction.
Why not criticize Obama for his lack of grattitude and allegiance to blacks, rather than the one or two blacks (such as myself) that have not been wholly mesmorized or captivated by his campaign. Trust me, we are in the minority of blacks. Still, I don’t think it’s fair to have us shut-up and sit in the corner until the election is over. I live in Baltimore, not Stepford. I have not been programmed love robotically. I’m free to love those that love me. If Obama shows blacks some reciprocity in love, he can have me too. Until then, I will not be used even by an accomplished, silver-tongued black man that wants to be president.
Pehaps, we should just agree to disagree.
June 9th, 2008 at 7:57 am
@lindsey,
The key word you said in your previous post is “once elected”. The one or two people as you say that think like you are not even giving the man a chance to get elected before the arrows come out. Obama is not God and to support him is not giving your life to him as a lot of critics say. This is new territory for all of us. I’m just saying give the man a chance to get the job and prove you right/wrong. Don’t sabotage his opportunity to get the job. If he screws up, what have you lost??? The slick talking white man has been doing it for years.
June 9th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
CS,
I, honestly, do not wish to belabor this debate. But, Obama did not fall out of the sky. He has held and continues to hold public office. So, he has a political record. Aside from his record, his actions and positions on the campaign trail are ripe for consideration. That’s what campaigns are for. I’m not more critical of Obama because he is black. I suspect he will be no worse than any white president we’ve ever had. All I’m saying is that like most of them, many of his actions already indicate he will likely do nothing for blacks except for maybe give some of us hope.
June 9th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
@lindsey,
Brother you don’t have to belabor anything. Just don’t respond. The thing about blogs or posts is that someone states an opinion pro or con, and if it is interesting enough or hits a nerve, you respond. That’s it. All I’m saying is allow the man to even get the job before you pass judgement. He has no national record to grade him on. He DOES NOT have the job…..yet.
June 12th, 2008 at 4:32 am
Common Sense,
Throughout the years I witnessed a disturbing phenomenon, it was when black Americans would criticize white Americans for doing the ‘wrong thing’, however, when they acquired the mantel pr positions of power, they turned around and engaged in the same behavior.
From my perspective the bar is set even higher for persons of color who have experienced historical racial injustice and others who have suffered unjust persecution. Why? Because they should know better, they’ve been through it themselves. Speaking truth to power is what is sorely needed. If the Senator who purports to be a change candidate plans to live up to his claim, the situation in the Middle East would be a good place for him to show that he is more than a relic of the past.
Israel should not be drowned in the sea; however, just as Israel protested and struggled under its 400 year bondage, one would think that Israel would be the last nation on Earth that would want to take the place of Pharaoh and his army, and behave as they have been doing by oppressing other nations and people who happen to be in close proximity. One would be hard-pressed to ask, then was Pharaoh wrong by oppressing the Israelites?
Israel would not be able to tolerate being mistreated by a so-called Uber-power like the United States if the tables were turned and the USA was confederate with another nation, say Syria for example; and both nations together were constantly threatening or attacking Israel.
Israel and the United States together have been less than fair in their mistreatment of Hamas, Syria, Hezbollah, Iran and Iraq! Israel should be held to a higher standard given their historical past, just as a black would be President should be held to a higher standard.
Our black ministers and envoys who have visited the ME have concluded that peace is obtainable, that is if Israel would cooperate! Besides the moral implications, my tax dollars could be better utilized to help solve problems in Darfur – we cannot continue to use our dollars to support a nation whose leaders do not have a stake in securing peace, other than by genocide!
June 12th, 2008 at 4:43 am
Lindsey said,
“It seems many blacks have blind allegiance to him, perhaps because he is a very accomplished black man that gives great speeches. l see Obama as no better or different than Clinton except that he is black”.
Factually he is a mixed Scotch-Irish and black man. The schizophrenia in the black community concerns me deeply. And how about the I am against the war and then for the war Democratic members of Congress, who were originally for Clinton and then they switched their allegiance to Senator Obama; are these folks to be trusted?
They’ve already made one huge blunder. I agree with you, Obama must be subjected to scrutiny. It is no more than Senator Obama has done throughout his political history, that is to subject a candidate to scrutiny.
Doing otherwise, would be submitting to the errors of the past when Americans, by and large, voted based on one’s gender and skin color. The winds of change are blowing, however, that does not mean that we have to go back to the future and vote for a male, who appears to be black!