Obama and anti-semitism
Let me just preface this post by pointing out that I am an ardent Obama supporter. So much so that I canvassed yesterday in DC - (like that made a difference!)
This recent post gave me pause:
I am also an Israeli (I hold dual citizenship) - I spent 13 years in Israel and have strong emotional ties to the country. Even though I know in my head that the smears are hogwash, they do get under my skin. My thoughts race away: "What if they are true? Why does Obama belong to a church whose leader has such questionable opinions?" The Clintons have a very strong record supporting Israel, its hard to imagine Obama as more supportive then them - and the smears just brings out this logic.
I think these attacks will affect the Jewish electorate, which generally breaks over 80% democratic. I have no idea if they much matter to anyone else. Does anyone have any thoughts?
This recent post gave me pause:
I am also an Israeli (I hold dual citizenship) - I spent 13 years in Israel and have strong emotional ties to the country. Even though I know in my head that the smears are hogwash, they do get under my skin. My thoughts race away: "What if they are true? Why does Obama belong to a church whose leader has such questionable opinions?" The Clintons have a very strong record supporting Israel, its hard to imagine Obama as more supportive then them - and the smears just brings out this logic.
I think these attacks will affect the Jewish electorate, which generally breaks over 80% democratic. I have no idea if they much matter to anyone else. Does anyone have any thoughts?
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Speaking as a Jew and a long-time Obama supporter (he was my state representative before he went to DC), I have been appalled by the use of Obama's minister's positions to slam him, and the not-so-whispering campaign that Obama is soft on Israel. It's not new this week; it has been there all along. Even before Super Tuesday, I was startled when an otherwise intelligent Hillary supporter from CT - female, professional, mid-50s - turned to me and very angrily asked me how I could support Obama after his minister embraced Farrakhan. (I bit my tongue to keep from asking whether she agreed with all her rabbi's political positions!) Frankly that's ALL she could come up with against Obama, but that was enough to justify her emotional embrace of Hillary.
This is a big issue for the Obama campaign, and they have to jump on this before the Ohio vote - maybe they should email-blast Marty Peretz' recent column in New Republic about Obama on Israel.
February 13, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder just what kind of media attention Hillary's campaign would be receiving if it were her minister with the same comments and thoughts about Farrakan.
February 13, 2008 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
How closely should we hold Barack accountable for something he has no direct hand in supporting? Growing up in Arizona, it was in my own shul-- Ahavat Torah, during a Men's Club breakfast-- that notorious then-Governor Ev Meacham made his famous "This is a Christian nation" remark. Does that mean that because my Father spread some lox and cream cheese on a bagel while Crazy Ev said this, and in fact paid to be there that morning, that he somehow became a Meacham supporter or took to sanctioning the man's views?
Of course not.
I think it's best to counteract these claims with informed knowledge and some basic logic. There are several letters from Jewish senators and Jewish organizations (ADL, etc.) floating around that defend Barack against claims of anti-Semitism (let me know if you can't find them) as well as numerous publicly position papers on his site that clearly spell out his pro-Israel stance.
Barack is no anti-Semite, but the most unfortunate aspect of this non-troversy is that merely making a post entitled "Obama and anti-Semitism" generates the exact sort of result those who have engineered this whisper campaign desired, and also serves to fan the fires of rumor.
February 13, 2008 12:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
This should be a non-issue on many fronts, least of all the fact that Obama doesn't have direct control over everyone that is even marginally associated with him.
You said you are a dual citizen, but also recognize that you are living in the US.
A bit of perspective here:
Nixon was the biggest anti-semite to hold the office of the POTUS in the last 40 years.
And he was one of the strongest proponents of Israel.
Here's what I expect from the POTUS:
a) to be a strong advocate of religious freedom in the US
b) to be an equally strong advocate of separation of church and state
c) to worry about the strategic US position in the world
The policy made by the US should be in the best interest of the US, not for some vocal minority. It's okay for the minority to be vocal to help sway US policy, but reasonable expectations should be given as well. This applies to special interest areas like Cuba, etc.
Claimed antisemitism is just another version of the race/gender card that will distract us from the central issues of this campaign.
February 13, 2008 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the perspectives. Clearthinker, I agree that this should not be an issue - but the question is: will it?
February 13, 2008 2:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess it's up to us to keep educating the public. Think globally, act locally sort of thing. Apparently, we've been doing well so far!
February 13, 2008 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here is my thought: it is silly to ask why someone would belong to a church where the leader holds questionable opinions. "Holding questionable opinions" is the very definition of being a church leader (or churchgoer, for that matter).
February 13, 2008 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/foreignpolicy/#onisrael
February 13, 2008 2:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Damn straight, Al! Very funny.
February 13, 2008 4:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Shhh… You'll scare away the believers. Anyways, now that you've had a good laugh, how about a good cry? You'll note that only one group scored less than 50% on that poll…
February 13, 2008 7:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Brent,
I have received emails and questions from relatives about this, so it is out there as an issue. But the only ones that seem to take it seriously are those looking for a justification of their own racism. Obama's positions on Israel are as clear as possible and to doubt that he means it is absurd. They don't question any other candidates in that regard and there is nothing in his own history, behavior, or voting record to raise questions.
Race is the only thing that distinguishes their perception of Obama's position on Israel from all the other candidates since on paper there are no meaningful differences.
In response to these questions, I ask "what are you afraid he would do as President- unilaterally withdraw American support for Israel? Despite the attempts by the current regime, Presidents don't just change years of policy by decree. So what exactly are you afraid of, and why?
February 13, 2008 6:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I found these helpful:
Why I still support Obama
Obama and Israel: Missing the Point
February 13, 2008 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
The linked column is one of those smear pieces filled with ominous innuendo and very little fact. Look who is quoted in the article Tucker Carlson and Richard Cohen, any article that uses those two hacks as its primary sources is not something I take seriously.
I do think that Obama has shown more sympathy for the plight of the Palestinian people than many American people, but empathy for the people is different than support for Hamas or Fatah. I think his Muslim background and his empathy for all sides in the conflict will help him to work the problem. There is nothing in Obama's history that supports a conclusion that he carries prejudice of any kind against any ethnic or religious group; he is the embodiment of tolerance and inclusivity.
February 14, 2008 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink