Obama to Israel: Message — I Care
EmailSDEROT, ISRAEL — In a clear effort to show that he understands the security needs of Israel, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, visited a town near the border of Gaza that has for seven years been targeted with terrorist rockets and mortars, fired largely by Hamas.
"I’m here to say as an American and as a friend of Israel that we stand with the people of Sderot and with all the people of Israel," Obama proclaimed in prepared remarks, "I’m deeply committed to helping Israel achieve a lasting peace with Palestinians who are prepared to accept the State of Israel, renounce violence and terrorism, and abide by agreements."
Obama was accompanied by Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, came to the Sderot police station where he was shown a collection on display of Qassam rockets and mortar shells. More than a dozen citizens of Sderot have been killed in these attacks, with aid organizations estimating that up to 25% of the town’s citizens have fled.
“This terror is intolerable,” Obama said. “Israelis should not have to live endangered in their homes and schools.” Obama reaffirmed his support for an Israeli-Palestinian peace process, mentioning his meeting earlier in the day with Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, saying “we must support Palestinian leaders who share this vision” for peace.
Obama condemned the Iranian nuclear threat and an act of terrorism that occurred just yards from his hotel on Tuesday, when a resident of East Jerusalem wreaked havoc with a bulldozer.
A Tour of Threats
Before his trip to Sderot, Obama had been briefed by Barak, Livni, and an official of the Israeli Defense Force on the various threats facing Israel. They then boarded an Israeli Blackhawk helicopter for an hour-long aerial tour of the area, including visits to the Dome of the Rock, the Western Wall, Tel Aviv, and a border area with the West Bank.
Upon landing, Obama was taken by motorcade to a suburb of Sderot to visit the Amar family, whose modest home had been destroyed by a Qassam rocket in December.
Mother Eliza Amar, injured by shrapnel, now walks with a cane.
Her daughter, 22-year-old Tamar, gave Defense Minister Ehud Barak a hug, and said: “I want to say something about this gorgeous man. You give us a lot of strength. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Obama joked that he wasn’t sure that Barak is “that gorgeous,” but agreed he’s a “good” and “strong” man. The Amar family gave Obama a flower arrangement and a framed photo of their destroyed home
Tough Crowd
Livni then introduced Obama to a throng of reporters, many Israeli, by saying that “Israel’s people’s suffering is not understood by the international community, and in your visit here, you showed that you really care.”
But many Israelis apparently still need some convincing.
The first question Obama was asked challenged him on his shift from declaring before a convention of the American Jewish pro-Israel group AIPAC that he supported an “undivided Jerusalem,” a declaration he backed off just days later. How can Israelis know he won’t change other positions, he was asked.
“First of all, I didn’t change my statement,” Obama said, though he clearly has backed off the term “undivided Jerusalem,” which means that Israel will not make any land concessions when it comes to Jerusalem. The Palestinian National Authority would like the capital of a future Palestinian state to be East Jerusalem, which has only been part of Israel since 1967.
“I continue to say that Jerusalem will be the capital of Israel,” Obama said, addressing an issue that had not been raised. “And I have said that before and I will say it again.”
Obama said that while it is important that the city is not simply sliced in half, he also says that it’s a final status issue to be dealt with by the Palestinians and the Israelis – and not the job of the US to dictate the form in which that will take.
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said those skeptical of Obama don’t need “to just look at my words. You can look at my deeds.” Obama pointed out past legislative and rhetorical action he’d taken, including a recent “bill to call for divestment from Iran as a way of ratcheting up the pressure to ensure that they don’t obtain a nuclear weapon.”
Apparently trying to elicit an emotional response from the cool and measured candidate, a reporter from Israeli Radio asked him about “all these rockets there behind you.” Would he think it acceptable if the U.S. suffered similar attacks?
“I don’t think any country would find it acceptable to have missiles raining down on the heads of their citizens,” Obama said. “I can assure you that if — I don’t even care if I was a politician. If somebody was sending rockets into my house, where my two daughters sleep at night, I’m going to do everything in my power to stop that. And I would expect Israelis to do the same thing.”
An American reporter from Reuters asked Obama about the concerns of some Israelis that a President Obama would be too willing to pressure Israel into making major concessions with the Palestinians.
Obama disputed the notion, citing examples of his meetings today as proof.
“I don’t think that Minister Livni or Minister Barak or Bibi Netanyahu or the others, President Peres, when they spoke to me today, got any sense that I would be pressuring them to accept any kinds of concessions that would put their security at stake,” Obama saod. “We don’t need a peace deal just to have a piece of paper that doesn’t result in peace. We need something that’s meaningful, and it’s not going to be meaningful if Israel’s security is not part of that package.”
Another Israeli reporter asked if Obama’s willingness to express support for its military action against Hezbollah in would also apply if Israel took action against Iran, a country pursuing nuclear weapons, whose president has threatened to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.
Obama reiterated that he will take “no options off the table” when it comes to the potential Iranian nuclear threat.
“Iranians need to understand that, whether it’s the Bush administration or an Obama administration, that this is a paramount concern to the United States,” he said. “And I think there are opportunities for us to mobilize a much more serious regime of sanctions on Iran, but also to offer them the possibility of improved relations in the international community if they stand down on these nuclear weapons.”
Anniversary of Controversial Pledge
At a Democratic presidential debate exactly one year ago, Obama was asked if he would “be willing to meet separately, without precondition, during the first year of your administration, in Washington or anywhere else, with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea?”
"I would," he answered.
Surrounded by mortar shells fired upon Sderot that Israel government officials say come from Iran, Obama was asked by a Washington Post reporter if there is “anything you have heard today in your discussions with Israeli leaders that has made you rethink that pledge”?
Obama affirmed that he “would, at my time and choosing, be willing to meet with any leader if I thought it would promote the national security interests of the United States of America.”
Obama said, his “whole goal, in terms of having tough, serious direct diplomacy, is not because I’m naive about the nature of any of these regimes.”
Given Obama’s emphasis on diplomacy, Obama was also asked if he believed Israel should negotiate with Hamas.
“It is very hard to negotiate with a group that is not representative of a nation-state, does not recognize your right to exist, has consistently used terror as a weapon and is deeply influenced by other countries,” he said. “I think that Hamas leadership will have to make a decision at some point as to whether it is a serious political party seeking to represent the aspirations of the Palestinian people — and, as a consequence, willing to recognize Israel’s right to exist and renounce violence as a tool to achieve its aims — or whether it wants to continue to operate as a terrorist organization.”
Olmert Visit
Obama’s last official stop in the day was the home of embattled Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
“I’m very happy that you found the time to come and visit with us in the tradition of all the great friends of the state of Israel,” Olmert said, “and I know how friendly you are and how much you care for us.”
Obama thanked Olmert and noted that he was “pleased that in conversations with Palestinian leadership in Ramallah there’s a strong sense that progress is being made.”
“Indeed,” Olmert said.
“And that honest conversations are taking place,” Obama continued.
“That’s right,” Olmert said.
“So we appreciate your leadership on that front,” Obama said, “and I just want to communicate my stalwart support for Israel’s security and the hope that the United States of America will continue to serve a constructive role in moving the process forward, so thank you.”
– Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller
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Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
The soon to be 10 year president of these 58 states doesn’t make gaffes, didn’t you guys know that?!
But, worse than that to me is how he consistently gets a pass from the media for repeatedly saying “I didn’t change my statement,” in this case, for example, and in many others. He did say that he was for an undivided Jerusalem, and then he retracted it, “refined it” is what we’re supposed to constantly believe.
Posted by: Thank God for Karma | July 23, 2008, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm
Media also won’t mention how Obama has flip flopped all the issue of the security barrier in israel.
He had one position when he was running for the senate and another now.
They also won’t mention how in 2004 Obama told a palestinian activist that had written many columns bashing Israel that he couldn’t talk about Israel now but keep up the good work.
Or about Obama’s close relationship with Khalidi a palestinian activist who has said incredibly offensive things about Israel.
Or Obama going to a church for 20 years that called zionism racism and put up on the bullet articles praising Hamas.
Rev Wright was very critical of Israel. So is Father Pfleger.
The guy who Obama wants to make defense secretary General McPeak blamed the middle east problem on the jews in miami and new york.
Posted by: Steve | July 23, 2008, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm
It’s very disturbing to watch this guy lie about his past statements without batting an one.
Simply Clintonesque.
Posted by: Robert | July 23, 2008, 3:45 pm 3:45 pm
Another pitiful piece of propaganda.
“Obama condemned the Iranian nuclear threat”
What nuclear threat? No threat. No nuclear weapons. Israel has nukes and does nothing but threaten.
“a country pursuing nuclear weapons, whose president has threatened to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.”
Where is your evidence that Iran is “pursuing nuclear weapons”? And you can stop lying about the Farsi mistranslation any time now.
Treat the Palestinians like human beings and there will be peace.
Posted by: ariel | July 23, 2008, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm
Anybody hear Obama’s gaffe “Israel has always been a friend of Israels”? Mann if McCain had said that, press would be all over it. Why did Andrea Mitchell at MSNBC say last night on Matthews that this has been orchestrated press coverage….like fake, staged interviews. Duh. You think Obama could ever take off the cuff questions and have a spontaneous moment in this campaign. Everything is very micro managed…just like an Obama Presidency will have to be. THE MOST Advisor driven Presidency of all time, IF Americans are stupid to put this community organizer into office.
Ever notice before a flip flop, he starts his sentence with “Well, look”.
When ever you hear him say that…..listen very carefully. Boy Wonder’s Magical Mystery Tour is almost over.
McCain ’08/Hillary ’12
Posted by: Debra | July 23, 2008, 3:51 pm 3:51 pm
what it seems is Obama is striking the right tone…the right message and the right demuring… right now.
all the while McCain is screaming about him and threatening Iran and ignoring the fact that the joint chiefs said today that we can’t go into afghanistan until we pull troops out from Iraq.
so Obama is showing still clearly he is better at this than McCain.
Posted by: dl | July 23, 2008, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm
Anyone going to challenge the Boy Blunder for claiming that the Senate Banking Committee (chaired by Chris Dodd) is “his” committee? Obama is not even ON the darn committee …. if McCain had made this claim, CNN would be interrupting regularly scheduled programming. But not the meglomaniac. The media just issues one more “pass.”
Posted by: beebop | July 23, 2008, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
OF Course he cares. He wants the Jewish vote here in the states. What a joke,
Posted by: Brian -South Hampton | July 23, 2008, 4:01 pm 4:01 pm
Be careful what you wish for middle East. What you hear is not what you will get. the Obuma will “refine YOU TO AN ANT HILL!
Posted by: HP Boston | July 23, 2008, 4:03 pm 4:03 pm
I’m glad that Obama went to Pallestine/Israel as it is clear that innocents on both sides have suffered greatly.
What I am wondering is: what did the Pallestinians now living in the West Bank/Gaza strip and refugee camps in Lebanon do to be expelled there?
Posted by: Last Call | July 23, 2008, 4:05 pm 4:05 pm
will someone please in the mccain family tell MR. MCCAIN he is to old to
be running for president.he keep getting things wrong and the media keep makeing fun of him.i feel so bad for Mccain because his family will not
tell him to step down and let the next republican run so that he can stop makeing a fool out of him self.he is to old and makeing to many mistakes.why won’t Cindy his wife help him to relize that this job will be to much for him to deal with.is it because she want to be first lady so bad that she can not see the sadness in her poor husband tired old body and how all this is taken a toll on him.please people of this american state speak up and help mr.mccain
Posted by: BOBBIE | July 23, 2008, 4:09 pm 4:09 pm
Obama to Israel: Message — I Care
only of himself, his image, his money, his power
if caring about Israel publicly is going to make him more popular, I guess then he cares
obama is a meglomaniac, who was a community leader wanting to be a commander in chief
Posted by: carpenter.nyc | July 23, 2008, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm
Obama’s meekness is not weakness.
Posted by: :) | July 23, 2008, 4:11 pm 4:11 pm
dl:
So is this the new version of Hopey Changey?
I hopey no one notices I am not on that committee before I have a chance to changey the subject? What the heck? I thought that McCain was the one who was supposed to make all the mistakes? 57 states? Two terms equal TEN YEARS? WTH? Does he know where he is, who he talks to or what he promises? He is clearly out of his league.
Posted by: beebop | July 23, 2008, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
carpenter.nyc
you seem to disagree with almost every world leader who has met with him…
wow you must be so smart.
lol
Posted by: dl | July 23, 2008, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
He won’t answer DID THE SURGE WORK? The Surge debate is hurting Obama…as a result of the Surge, violence has been reduced, we all know it BUT THIS ARROGANT SUIT CAN NEVER ADMIT A MISTAKE. He is so above all others, breathing some rarefied air. Hillary at least would admit her errors and clarify…this guy’s ego is really scarey.
McCain ’08/Hillary ’12
Posted by: Debra | July 23, 2008, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
beebop
if obama is “out of his league” lol…then we need to switch the majors and the minors because this guy seems to be playing better in the league than any pol I have seen visit the middle east in about three or four DECADES.
are you watching what they are saying and how he is answering the questions with the right answers…by almost everyone’s judgment
and why?
because for the first time in a while we are picking a guy who is smart first…not politically connected first.
thankgod for the internet and internet fundraising.
Posted by: dl | July 23, 2008, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm
WHEN IN GODS NAME IS MCCAIN GONNA STOP WITH THE SURGE AND BASHING OBAMA MCCAIN HAS GOT TO BE AN IDIOT HERE HE IS THE WHOLE COUNTRY TO HIMSELF HE COULD BE FOCUSING ON THE ISSUSES LIKE THE ECONOMY,ENERGRY, HEALTH CARE ETC BUT NO ALLS HES TALKING ABOUT IS THE WAR AND WHINING HES NOT GETTING MEDIA ATTENTION MCCAIN I WILL BE SO GLAD WHEN I DONT HAVE TO LISTEN TO YOU ANYMORE AFTER NOV
OBAMA08!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: angie | July 23, 2008, 4:22 pm 4:22 pm
Debra
you are kidding right?
that last comment …oy
I’m speechless and laughing that you made that comparison…
That is like saying Obama needs to learn how to say he is wrong like George Bush does. oy.
He’s not wrong…what we have just done in Iraq is what we did in afghanistan in the 80′s gave money and guns to muslim extremists to make sure the other enemy doesn’t win…
well in afghanistan we did not spend 200,000,000,000 dollars on a “surge” but from that afghanistan choice we ended up with …drumroll… Osama Bin Laden, the Taliban…and …drum roll …al qaeda.
Now we just reused that tactic in iraq… you think it was worth the risk?
we won’t know for 20 years. (That is about how long it took for al qaeda to get from the guns and money we gave to Azaam to build terrorist cells and fly planes).
so read a little history before everyone is jumping up and down and saying victory.
Posted by: dl | July 23, 2008, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
Debra:
The “surge” had at least two components:
1. More US troops
2. US funding and reconcilliation with local groups — buying off and making “peace” with local terrorists
ABC News reported this a few months ago –
“THE COUNCILS and THE SUNNIS – Moreover, an integral part of the surge strategy – the creation of U.S.-funded and -equipped “Awakening Councils” to provide local security – is generally popular. The councils are better-rated than the United States, local leaders, local militias and even the Iraqi government.
Fifty-six percent of Iraqis express confidence in the councils, compared with 49 percent in the national government of Iraq, 47 percent in local leaders, 22 percent in local militias and 20 percent in U.S. forces. ”
Based on this, it was not what McCain wanted — more forces/targets on the ground but $$ working with locals that made things better. Locals fighting their own battles is much better in a civil war situation.
Don’t forget the invasion opened the door for Al Qaeda to get into Iraq.
Posted by: Last Call | July 23, 2008, 4:26 pm 4:26 pm
tsk, tsk. Americans should realize by now that when Obama says: “As I have said many times before…”, it means that he is going to flip flop about something, say that is what he is always meant, and lie that he ever said anything differently before.
And it is clearly biased and age-discrimination when the press gets all over McCain for so called “gaffes”, and let’s Obama go scot-free for his numerous speech impediments, which happens again and again, whenever he doesn’t have a teleprompter handy.
Posted by: dblstndrd | July 23, 2008, 4:26 pm 4:26 pm
Obama looks like to be the national strategist. What he has done so far on his trip abroad, outshines McCains. His capacities qualify him to be Commander in Chief.
Posted by: Peace | July 23, 2008, 4:27 pm 4:27 pm
dl sweetie:
He LIED today about the Banking Committee being “his” committee. He didn’t misspeak. He Lied. He certainly knows whether or not he is on the committee and the truth of the matter is, he isn’t. It’s bad enough he doesn’t hold meetings of his own committees, but to take credit for the actions of committees he is not part of is beyond the pale. He is a FRAUD. He is a lying, fraud.
Posted by: beebop | July 23, 2008, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
and the “awakening councils” are based on a tactic used in Vietnam.
It would be a good tactic if it was in a culture like Vietnam was.
This is not vietnam…this is “councils” who are suceptible to be superceded by tribal religious differences and beliefs that go back centuries…
the other factor in why the surge worked (as has been repeated over and over by experts on sunni shia and fatwa politics…) because al qaeda could not continue risking being seen as causing a rift in the muslim community which blurred their ability to recruit based on the original al qaeda fatwa against “occupying countries of muslim lands”
the same fatwa that helped them build (with our guns and money we gave them) against Russia trying to occupy Afghanistan…adn was the large recruitment that made them a player in this theater in the first place
Posted by: dl | July 23, 2008, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
beebop
It’s my committee too.
He is learning as a candidate running for the us and defacto ambassador…representing the US.
oy.
Posted by: dl | July 23, 2008, 4:34 pm 4:34 pm
Barry is willing to do, say, or promise anything to get elected. Lying about the Senate Banking Committee — something that any sixth grader can check with internet access — is a macaca moment.
Posted by: beebop | July 23, 2008, 4:36 pm 4:36 pm
All Obama cares about is the Photo Op and getting elected. Obama supported the withdraw and putting timetables on a war.
Posted by: nowaty | July 23, 2008, 4:36 pm 4:36 pm
you people are ridiculous the man has a hundred cameras pointed at him and more microphones and people of the world in his face and all over everything he is saying right now…
and Debra
(i amlaughing so hard right now)
you think he would lie about being on a committee?
Posted by: dl | July 23, 2008, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm
Can’t wait when Obama destroys America with his big ego.
I live in Canada and am tired of hearing his big mouth
Posted by: mouthy | July 23, 2008, 4:38 pm 4:38 pm
no achievement, no record, thin resume. The only thing left is himself — his family, his daughters, his great uncles, his parents, his grandparents. What else haven’t we heard?
Obama is confused with the fact that electing a president is to serve the country not to make him a symbol for admiration. His ego is to explode soon, and the MSM bias is to backfire!
Annoy media, No obama
Posted by: amy | July 23, 2008, 4:40 pm 4:40 pm
dl:
I hope you got a good point spread on the election. Poor oboychick just can’t stop himself from digging holes, can he? No reason to put himself on that committee. No reason to take credit for work not his. Is that how he intends to “unite?” All credit comes to one person? Him? Sounds an awful lot like the current occupant of the WH. How well has that worked out for America?
Posted by: beebop | July 23, 2008, 4:42 pm 4:42 pm
Obama has been more for US Foreign Relations than The Shrub has done in 8 years.
Posted by: Jane Hussein | July 23, 2008, 4:42 pm 4:42 pm
Jane:
At least Bush waited until he was actually President before he began the horrific lies that have led to where we are now. Barry doesn’t have a clue where reality ends and his fantasy world view begins. His novels are a wonderful look at how little credence he gives to a “fact” based reality.
Posted by: beebop | July 23, 2008, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm
Just wondering what exactly has Obama ever done for Israel.
Posted by: footy | July 23, 2008, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm
beebop
who cares about a gaffe about some committee…he is hitting it out of the park and no one cares…go look at the news…no one cares …
they care more about McCain not getting his timelines and borders and tribes right…
the things that matter.
but he sure didn’t “lie” lol
the spread on Obama is not worth betting…lol there is no pay off with the odds.
Posted by: dl | July 23, 2008, 4:47 pm 4:47 pm
Obama’s trip looks more and more like circus. which is his “my committee”? what did he mean that “Israel has always been a friend of Israels”? more fake, staged interviews, more happy faces and shooting hoops, please — just to make it more fun. He has become a quite good entertainer. Thank you, BO.
no achievement, no record, thin resume. The only thing left is himself — his family, his daughters, his great uncles, his parents, his grandparents. What else haven’t we heard?
Obama is confused with the fact that electing a president is to serve the country not to make him a symbol for admiration. His ego is to explode soon,and the MSM bias is to backfire!
Annoy media, no obama
Posted by: amy | July 23, 2008, 4:47 pm 4:47 pm
You just wish McCain had the confidence and intelligence to do this same mid-East tour and maintain his composure and clarity throughout, the way Obama has done. His remarks are coherent and consistent. Saying Israel was always a friend of Israel is his worst “blunder”? Wow!! And you desperate moaners who insist on harping on the “57 states” thing – he was talking about 57 primary elections – 50 states plus Guam, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Democratic Americans Overseas, etc. You make it sound like every other sentence is a blunder – you are confusing him with McCain! When they debate, we’ll see who looks better. Obama doesn’t need a teleprompter, and Mc Cain can’t read from one if he had to. Obama has his own thoughts on world issues, doesn’t need his speech writers to spoon-feed him on what is going on with World politics. He is, after all, a constitutional law professor, so he knows something about how this country ought to be run. He is going to make a great President. I am so anxious for the debates to begin after the conventions. I can’t wait until November.
Posted by: geecee | July 23, 2008, 4:48 pm 4:48 pm
It’s my committee too.
He is learning as a candidate running for the us and defacto ambassador…representing the US.
See, the thing is he’s NOT representing the US any more than any other Senator on a fact finding mission visiting a foreign nation. He is the presumptuous candidate of the Democratic party. Nothing else. He is not empowered to do anything more than learn. He should do more with his mouth closed and he would be more likely to put himself in a better learning position. But then, we know all about his wonderful credentials, don’t we? LOL
Posted by: beebop | July 23, 2008, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
so funny
all the comments on here about
“his committee” “banking committee”
trying to make it like “9/11″ “9/11″!!!!
you people have a very weak case right now…funny but weak.
meanwhile none of you can talk about the fact that what he has been saying on policy and plans is right.
funny…stupid…but funny
Posted by: dl | July 23, 2008, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
Go Obama go….There some of us that will never vote for you because of ignorance. I want you to know that your efforts are greatly appriciated. Although some will see your statemanship as an act or some way to achieve a greater position of power. I know you have seen a grave need arise to step up and use you talents to right the ship. G-d speed.
Posted by: mims nj | July 23, 2008, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
Beebop
Go look at the oaths Senators take about their office… and what they agree to when on foreign travel…how they should conduct themselves.
Posted by: dl | July 23, 2008, 4:54 pm 4:54 pm
Look. For the three Barry supporters … the polls are bad and he should be up by at least 20 percent. But he isn’t. He raised less than half of what he bragged he would get in June. The kids aren’t supporting him. They’ve moved on to the new Batman movie. It happens. Adults don’t support him. They won’t vote for him. He’s not going to pull it off. Deal with it.
Posted by: beebop | July 23, 2008, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
Obama is staging fake PHOTO OPS and Interviews in the Middle East. How come the Main Stream News media is not reporting this.
How many times did the Americans troops or Iraqs heckle Obama is the real question.
Posted by: footy | July 23, 2008, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm
So to recap:
others, and more precisely McCain, take significant political risks in putting forward bi-partisan legislation (immigration, campaign reform etc.), political acts of bravery, so to speak,
while Obama, who has no such acts of bravery to speak of,
simply chooses to appropriate them for himself. Trying to take the aura of bravery for himself, with no risks. Sort of an intellectually dishonest bravery leech.
Change we can believe in??
Posted by: biff | July 23, 2008, 4:59 pm 4:59 pm
>yawns< same ole crap. Obama this Obama that. Polls are now showing that people are getting Obamie fatigue
Posted by: Steve | July 23, 2008, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
As we discussed in the previous thread,
while McCain as many, many acts of bravery, both legislative, and the life-threatening kind,
Obama has literally none to speak of.
None.
Forget bravery, he has precious few accomplishments, brave or mundane.
But now we have Obama, taking credit for committees he’s not even on.
But it’s much, much worse:
He’s claiming to be on committees (for the purpose of trying to take credit where none is due to him), that he’s not on (as reported on Powerlineblog):
- In Sderot today, Obama didn’t say anything about Jerusalem being the Palestinian capital, but he essentially repeated, not his original call for a Jerusalem that “must” be “undivided,” but his mushier fall-back position. In doing so, he not only failed to acknowledge, but specifically denied, that this was a change from his AIPAC call for a Jerusalem that “must remain undivided.”
Obama continued:
‘Now, in terms of knowing my commitments, you don’t have to just look at my words, you can look at my deeds. Just this past week, we passed out of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, which is my committee, a bill to call for divestment from Iran, as a way of ratcheting up the pressure to ensure that they don’t obtain a nuclear weapon.’
But Obama is not a member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. Obama just made that up so he could count the committee’s action as one of “my deeds.” -
Posted by: biff | July 23, 2008, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
Polls are the salve to soothe the morons til election day. But hey, use them if you need to!
Posted by: Jane Hussein | July 23, 2008, 5:01 pm 5:01 pm
and in addition you all are talking about the fact that he referred to the bill he pushed through “his” meaning “the senate’s” banking committee…
Gaaawwwd you people are reaching for anything you can scramble for…
I just watched the video since you all are making it seem like he didn’t know his borders …or his timeframes…or his tribes…
what a joke
the MOST it could be is a missed gaffe…if he wasn’t talking about HIS bill that he had to get through HIS meaning the SENATES committee…
Posted by: dl | July 23, 2008, 5:01 pm 5:01 pm
Can anybody that supports Obama tell me what has Obama ever done for Israel
Posted by: footy | July 23, 2008, 5:02 pm 5:02 pm
Maybe Barak will get a second chance as Prime Minister to close the peace deal that Arafat rejected in 2000. One senses that a Pres. Obama would go hard at finishing what Pres. Clinton started. You must take the Israeli/Palestinian conflict out of the equation. That’s job #1 in the Middle East. It all starts with that core conflict which only the U.S. can broker. Bush never got that.
Posted by: hopesprings52 | July 23, 2008, 5:04 pm 5:04 pm
Obama giving fake interviews in the Middle East. Is it a shock to anyone since Obama has stolen speeches before
Posted by: footy | July 23, 2008, 5:05 pm 5:05 pm
I can help but wonder how come no one has written about the similarity between Obama and China’s Chairman Mao.
Elect Obama for he is the “ONE”?
Posted by: Amy | July 23, 2008, 5:06 pm 5:06 pm
obama is a FRAUD – an arrogant, radical FRAUD. His entire campaign and this trip are staged to perfection – at our expense. The media is the main prop – he will use whatever he can and say whatever he must to suit his political gain. This guy is a joke!
Posted by: Molly | July 23, 2008, 5:06 pm 5:06 pm
Tired of Obama, tired of Flip-flopping.
Tired of FISA and Obama’s empty promises.
People United Means Action
Posted by: Fran | July 23, 2008, 5:07 pm 5:07 pm
As Americans we just aren’t used to having a leader we are proud of. It has been a darn long time. I think its okay that a person emerged on the world scene and the world loves him. Everybody acts like that is a breach as a human being or something. Let’s be glad that we can share responsible leadership with someone we actually believe in. It’s not always going to be rosy, but we have an opportunity to bring America back from the garage sale mess that was made of it.
Posted by: shannon | July 23, 2008, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm
DL,
poor try at a cover up. Indeed this’ll be hard to cover up,
given that he paused to make the particular point that “this is my committee”.
Note also that he also does not even sit on any of the sub-committees.
Stealing credit where he’s earned none.
Sort of like the dirt poor, needing to steal bread to eat, Obama must steal accomplishments given that his cupboard of accomplishments is literally bare.
Posted by: biff | July 23, 2008, 5:10 pm 5:10 pm
Footy
Well I can tell you that McCain did for Israel…with his sabrerattling he got them to start testing missiles and try to blow their chests up with falsifying pictures …
yeah that’s it…that’s how to get peace in the middle east …keeep banging the drum for war agaionst Iran…
the same way you beat the drum for war in Iraq (see- speeches made just before the war to organizations like AIPAC and his co-chair status on the “Committee for the Liberation of iraq” with Joey “the I really like you Johnny” Lieberman.
McCain does not get the need for something outside of military action…he’s not good at it obviously…kinda like…uh…oh yeah..Bush.
Posted by: dl | July 23, 2008, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm
I can’t help but wonder how come no one has written about the similarity between Obama and China’s Chairman Mao.
1. Mao generated the same level (more actually) of enthusiasm among young people in late 1960s. His words and writings were recited widely, just like how Obama’s speeches are treated now. Young people were crazy about Mao, they worshiped him, calling him the savior of China. Just like how Obama is dubbed “the one”.
2. Mao tried to change (completely) and re-educate Chinese people. He later sent thousands of young men and women to remote rural lands to have them learn “experience” . Obama joked about using “slavery” to change Americans. I deeply suspect that if he had the power like Mao, he would really do that.
3. Mao’s mantra at that time was “revolution” and “radical change”. He trashed much of the traditions like Confucian. The Obamas have similar views toward America now.
4. it turned out, Mao had in fact used the young people to help him defeat the then number 2 politician (Liu) as he felt his status threatened. Obama used young people to defeat Clinton.
Elect Obama for he is the “ONE”?
Posted by: Amy | July 23, 2008, 5:13 pm 5:13 pm
And don’t you just loved how he invited the gathering to judge “my deeds”, not just his words, in giving the false banking committee example?
Could it be more brazen?
Posted by: biff | July 23, 2008, 5:14 pm 5:14 pm
Biff and the rest
you think that Barack would get up at an international press conference with am thousand cameras pointing at him… and a hundred reporters with their blackberry’s out and their staffs looking for any single gaffe they can sink their stories into and…oy…
…and lie to them?
Posted by: dl | July 23, 2008, 5:15 pm 5:15 pm
Maybe since Barry thinks he owns Dodd, he thinks it’s okay to “borrow” his committee? I can’t wait for Elizabeth Dole — who is actually on the committee — to speak up. We know how uppity Barry thinks most “sweeties” are, right?
Posted by: beebop | July 23, 2008, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
dl,
wow thats quite the defence,
the more brazen the more he gets off.
Perhaps completely ignoring the plain and obvious meaning of his words and the obvious intention of those words in the context,
because you chose to believe he is infallible,
is a sign that you have become a cult like follower, of the variety that creeps the rest of us out.
Posted by: biff | July 23, 2008, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
Jane,
which of my statements confuses you?
I’d be happy to clarify.
Posted by: biff | July 23, 2008, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm
“you think that Barack would get up at an international press conference…and lie to them?”
In a word, yes. Past performance predicts future behavior. He’s been in the public eye a fairly short time and the number of ‘refinements’ are staggering.
He may not know he is lieing. He is spinning answers for the occasion and he is masterful at it because he believes it when he says it. Then he believes the next thing he says.
It is the essential quality of the true narcissist. He is in love with his voice and what he says. He swims in it. It is the most gratifying part of his life.
It doesn’t matter that it is contradictory. He is a thrill-seeker in adoration and for such, all that matters is the moment and the applause. There is no center to the tootsie-pop. Once through the shell, it just cracks and melts.
Posted by: len | July 23, 2008, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm
amy,
I have a co-worker at the Chrysler Beijing Plant right now and he was telling me that the Obama ’08 t-shirts are outselling the ’08 Olympic t-shirts. Chinese people wearing Obama ’08 across their chest!
Posted by: Jane Hussein | July 23, 2008, 5:31 pm 5:31 pm
biff,
Oh, doll, nothing you say confuses me. But everything you say AMUSES me!
Posted by: Jane Hussein | July 23, 2008, 5:32 pm 5:32 pm
>>>>dl:you said:
“Well I can tell you that McCain did for Israel…with his sabrerattling he got them to start testing missiles and try to ….”
__________
Yeah!
How foolish of McCain to suggest that they might want to protect themselves
from a repeat inaction AND annihilation
Actually, I LIKE that in McCain! He stands up for what he believes in….. and I believe people should be permitted to live in peace if that’s what they want.
And Israel does!
HILLARY OR MCCAIN
but always:
COUNTRY BEFORE BROKEN DOWN DONKEY PARTY!
Posted by: hmmmmm | July 23, 2008, 5:35 pm 5:35 pm
Jane:
“Young Man WALKS IN Cloud!”
Posted by: hmmmmm | July 23, 2008, 5:37 pm 5:37 pm
What makes the lie most reprehensible is the context:
He rightly sees that Israel considers Iran to be a fundamental threat to every man woman, and yes, child in the country.
It’s literally like the snake oil salesman trying to falsely take credit for the elixir that will save the poor child’s life.
Posted by: biff | July 23, 2008, 5:39 pm 5:39 pm
“NEVER say anything about their guy Grandpa MCCain.”
Just so you get it, Jane. I’m not FOR McCain. I’m against Obama. McCain is simply what is left. I supported Hillary. She really was the best of the candidates and can be again if she so chooses. Spilt milk.
So now I’m choosing among evils.
When choosing among evils, choose the lesser. It’s called ‘hope’. Obama creeps me out and I’ve learned through experience over a long life to trust that instinct. It has never failed me. I don’t mind if McCain wins as long as Obama loses. McCain is acceptable. Obama is not.
Is that clear enough?
Posted by: len | July 23, 2008, 5:39 pm 5:39 pm
hmmmm
Mccain threatening Iran does not help Israel.
One iota.
It hurts them…as we have seen the tensions go up as he is screaming about bombing them…they can’t reach us to threaten us …so in reaction to our bush cheney mccain sabre rattling…who do you think is going to feel more threatened when they stupidly feel they need to show off to let us know they won’t be intimidates by our sabre rattling
this is the problem…
brains need to come back into the white house…
thank god for obama.
Posted by: dl | July 23, 2008, 5:40 pm 5:40 pm
Jane,
which do you find “amusing”
Obama knowingly falsely taking credit for helping to protect the life and limb of Israelis,
or,
my pointing this out and considering it to be reprehensible?
Just curious.
Posted by: biff | July 23, 2008, 5:42 pm 5:42 pm
biff, cite your source for the Obama quote. I would like to see if for myself, Then I will comment on it.
Posted by: Jane Hussein | July 23, 2008, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm
“First of all, I didn’t change my statement,” Obama said . . .
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 23, 2008, 5:46 pm 5:46 pm
So,
Jane,
you opposed me on it, before you even knew about it???
That doesn’t show good judgment. In fact it confirms the worst beliefs of Obama supporters – that you are blindly following your predetermined chosen one, free of pesky facts to clutter your mindset.
As for your query, its all over the place: (hot air, powerline and others), and its on video. I quoted it precisely as he said it below on the thread.
Posted by: biff | July 23, 2008, 5:48 pm 5:48 pm
“Past performance predicts future behavior. He’s been in the public eye a fairly short time and the number of ‘refinements’ are staggering.
He may not know he is lieing. He is spinning answers for the occasion and he is masterful at it because he believes it when he says it. Then he believes the next thing he says.
It is the essential quality of the true narcissist. He is in love with his voice and what he says. He swims in it. It is the most gratifying part of his life.”
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 23, 2008, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm
len,
Do YOU actually find McCain’s Health CAre Plan acceptable? You cannot be serious. Have YOU ever been sick? If so, you will not be able to get coverage. Or it will be too high too afford. So only the healthy and the wealthy will have health care.
When McCain was told that even he would not be able to get coverage he said “Huh, I didn’t know that”!!! HUH!
And NO MORE health care through employers. It will be free market. You know, free markets gave us 35.99% credit card interest. Free markets gave us 25% college loans. Free market now let you bank charge YOU to withdraw YOUR money. Love them FREE MARKETS!
Posted by: Jane Hussein | July 23, 2008, 5:50 pm 5:50 pm
biff said
So,
Jane,
you opposed me on it, before you even knew about it???
***********
Um….I never said a word about the quote.
Posted by: Jane Hussein | July 23, 2008, 5:52 pm 5:52 pm
Obama has a vision of the world that is beyond any that we’ve seen. He’s a fantastic candidate and it is time that America understood that.
Posted by: Aiken Blue | July 23, 2008, 5:54 pm 5:54 pm
hey jane
i see the repubs are all aflutter about their super dummy—-military master of the world—all it takes is a few years in prison camp—what an act.
Posted by: rodney | July 23, 2008, 5:54 pm 5:54 pm
Obama has a vision of the world that is beyond any that we’ve seen. He’s a fantastic candidate and it is time that America understood that. Please vote for Obama!
Posted by: Aiken Blue | July 23, 2008, 6:04 pm 6:04 pm
“Obama has a vision of the world that is beyond any that we’ve seen.”
That is a beyond ridiculous statement.
Posted by: Mack | July 23, 2008, 6:04 pm 6:04 pm
“”Obama has a vision of the world that is beyond any that we’ve seen.”
Hopefully it doesn’t look anything like the southside of Chicago.
Posted by: Mack | July 23, 2008, 6:08 pm 6:08 pm
“who cares about a gaffe about some committee…”
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 23, 2008, 6:11 pm 6:11 pm
Mccain REALLY needs to keep his mouth closed. He taunts Obama about going to Iraq. Obama goes and it’s a HUGE success. McCain whines about no media coverage and THE SAME DAY make a monumental mistake about the Sunni Awakening.
McCain keeps taunting Obama about Town Hall meetings. I, for one, CANNOT wait. After see McCain last Friday in person, Obama will wipe the FLOOR with McCain.
Posted by: Jane Hussein | July 23, 2008, 6:12 pm 6:12 pm
“Obama goes and it’s a HUGE success.”
What did he do that was so hugely successful? Photo ops and rambling, stammering speeches?
Posted by: Mack | July 23, 2008, 6:16 pm 6:16 pm
we should have stayed in afganastan and finished the job—iraq is one of the worst mistakes any president could make—bush senior knew better but his son is an idiot and mcbush is no different.
Posted by: rodney | July 23, 2008, 6:17 pm 6:17 pm
hey bell get mccains military records and tell all of us what you think—should be interesting—
Posted by: rodney | July 23, 2008, 6:22 pm 6:22 pm
“hey bell get mccains military records and tell all of us what you think—should be interesting—”
Posted by: Belle Starr | July 23, 2008, 6:26 pm 6:26 pm
i have been for some time trying to get cheney to take mccain quail hunting
Posted by: rodney | July 23, 2008, 6:27 pm 6:27 pm
belle
if romney was running for pres i would give him some thought
Posted by: rodney | July 23, 2008, 6:29 pm 6:29 pm
hey hummer—-at least there is truth with obama—–mccain is an old geser with a lot of skelitons in his closet—-someone will spill the beans before it is over
Posted by: rodney | July 23, 2008, 6:32 pm 6:32 pm
way to go jane
Posted by: rodney | July 23, 2008, 6:35 pm 6:35 pm
when the repubs have someone like romney or huckabee—–what the hell is mcdummy doing on the ticket—–shows very poor judgement and leadership by repub party.
Posted by: rodney | July 23, 2008, 6:49 pm 6:49 pm
hey mack—do you not know that to make a repub out of a democrat—–hit him on the head when young.
Posted by: rodney | July 23, 2008, 6:55 pm 6:55 pm
Eyes, You said it. Talk is cheap. What has he done? No need to answer that since we all know what the answer is.
Posted by: Mack | July 23, 2008, 7:06 pm 7:06 pm
“Obama has been more for US Foreign Relations than The Shrub has done in 8 years.
Posted by: Jane Hussein | Jul 23, 2008 4:42:27 PM
_____________________________________-
L I K E W H A T ?????
Oh… you mean he HAS more foreign relations… like his brothers and cousins and step sisters and so on and so forth………..
You’re probably right!
But that certainly doesn’t add to his credibility as a foreign policy expert…. or any other kind of expert … unless you count dirty politics…..like when B O got rid ov EVERY ONE OF HIS CONTENDERS IN AN ELECTION HERE IN ILLINOIS……
Posted by: be careful WHO you wish for.... | July 23, 2008, 8:22 pm 8:22 pm
Obama to Israel: Message — I Care…about the Jewish vote back home.
That’s Aljazeera’s reasoning for Obama X-ing Iran from his agenda on this photo-op mission.
Posted by: strike a pose | July 23, 2008, 8:59 pm 8:59 pm
Why hasn’t anyone noticed how Bush completely owned Obama’s face? He attempts Obama’s hailed “diplomacy/appeasement” approach to Iran and Iran completely rejects Obama’s plan.
Smart move by Bush, show the world just how dangerous and foolish Obama’s policies of diplomacy at all costs are.
Posted by: p0s3r | July 23, 2008, 9:05 pm 9:05 pm
If Obama’s numbers don’t get a little bump from his Magical Mystery Tour next week and he’s still neck and neck with McCain…..I foresee trouble in Democratic paradise and a need to bring back Hillary. All the poll have her at the top of his VP list (and Romney for McCain…even higher numbers).
McCain ’08/Hillary ’12
Posted by: Debra | July 23, 2008, 9:41 pm 9:41 pm
After what they did to the men on the USS Liberty, I could care less for what Israel thinks? They have enough money and enough people to take care of themselves. Why do we always need to assert our interests in place of hers in EVERY single issue. They don’t “need” us any more than we “need” them. It would be in both of our countries best interest if Israel would stand up on her own feet. She is a soveriegn country, and we should treat her as such, and not as a client state of the US. She doesn’t need the US to tell her what she can an cannot do in her own self defense. She should be able to do so, and we should respect that, and get out of the way. Maybe if we allowed some of these countries to pay for and run their own self defense, we wouldn’t need to be in 130 countries and to start all of these war that don’t end…
Posted by: jeez! | July 23, 2008, 9:49 pm 9:49 pm
roll call vote…just say do deal…
Posted by: pp | July 23, 2008, 10:13 pm 10:13 pm
“Mccain threatening Iran does not help Israel.”
dl, Iran is threatening Israel and has been doing so for decades. Now they are on the brink of having nuclear weapons. Israel has had them for forty years and never threatened anyone with them. As Haig said to an irate Reagan after the Israelis bombed the reactors in Iraq, “You will be glad for this day.”
This isn’t a movie. This isn’t a fairy tale. The Iranians aren’t playing with a full deck. Read their President’s lies about the Holocaust. We’ve seen their type before in the 1930s.
It is likely that the Israelis will take out the Iranian facilities before November.
McCain did the right thing calling for the surge. Obama and the rest of us were dead wrong but he can’t own up to it. Such a man has no character and little to offer in terms of leadership. It’s a road show and he is the front man. Wake up and smell the manure.
Posted by: len | July 23, 2008, 10:36 pm 10:36 pm
I’ll admit that there is much truth to Obama saying to Israel that he cares. However, he cares about himself and getting elected President and that is all he cares about. There are other countries in the region around Israel and they should not be treated as if they are the only ones who matter in the region. This just continues adding to the hostilities that the other countries in that region feel towards the West. Israel has made their share of mistakes themselves and they are far from perfect.
Posted by: Mary Anne | July 27, 2008, 11:08 am 11:08 am
Ooohhh, Obama better watch himself otherwise they will begin calling him a flip flopper on changing his statements. Of course, it makes perfect sense because kerry the biggest flip flopper of them all endorses Obama and gave Obama his contributor’s list to help him raise the big bucks so he could just roll over everyone and win the nomination. I am voting McCain in November!!
Posted by: Mary Anne | July 27, 2008, 11:10 am 11:10 am