This time it’s personal
NYT:
Mr. Obama has now seized control of Middle East policy himself, particularly since the controversy several weeks ago when Israeli authorities announced new Jewish housing units in Jerusalem during a visit to Israel by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. Mr. Obama, incensed by that snub, has given Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a list of demands, and relations between the United States and Israel have fallen into a chilly standoff. “The president is re-evaluating the tactics his administration is employing toward Israel and the entire Middle East,” said Robert Wexler, a former Democratic congressman
Roger Simon has an analysis, with which we largely concur.
April 17th, 2010 at 1:25 am
No one that I know of, or have read, has offered a clear psychological reason why Jews, as a whole, continue to vote for democrats, or worse, for Obama. Perhaps it’s too “PC” to talk about things like survivor guilt or discuss the religious self-loathing that Jews, and now Catholics it appears, seem to have. Whatever the reason, their collective blindness to his strong anti-Semitic background coupled with the unwavering support they have shown has given him the perception that he has the power to do what he sees right where Israel and the Middle East are involved. I do not believe any good can come of this new direction Obama seems to be taking the U.S. and, indeed, the world. His demands on Israel, while ignoring the intransigence on the part of the gaggle of players who control the Palestinians, will only embolden them in their desire to destroy the Jewish state, something I think he secretly wants anyway, while those living there will feel more and more threatened and, standing alone, forced into the position of living up to their pledge of “never again.”
There is no doubt that some Jews will continue to vote for Obama. Perhaps they will see his actions as a way of atoning for their sins whatever they are. But I do pray that more Jews begin to wake up from their stupor and see the anti-Semitic actions of this would-be-king for what they are before it’s too late. When it comes to the fate of Israel, indeed, for the fate of the Jewish people as a whole, there is much more at stake.
April 17th, 2010 at 2:25 am
We need oil, which requires us to tolerate some pretty loathsome regimes. Were Obama’s intentions benign, it would be difficult to maintain good enough relations with all the countries involved. We’re stuck with a president whose ego far exceeds his abilities. This isn’t going to end well. Dismissing your allies and kowtowing to your enemies usually does not.
April 17th, 2010 at 2:31 am
US Jews are still voting for FDR. FDR recweived the landing of the St Louis. THis was a ship full of Jews that had to return to Germany ( several other counties refused its landing, to be fair). But maybe that is why US Jews are still voting for FDR. They approve ( still) of that decision.
Actually that is not the only reason because Jews in Canada and the UK also support the liberals and the labour parties.
Another theory is that as Jews integrated into North America in the 1960s, they became less practicing of judaism ( few can even read hebrew!) and their religions turned to multiculturalism, blue skies, hamony with nature, affluence, gettting stoned, etc.. just alike other white Americans. The Democrats platform of ethnic inclusion, detente, seemed to mesh better with their new green religions of peace, man, affluence, maryjane and casual sex.
Republicans promote too much perdonal responsibility. Not cool, man. Amen.
April 17th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Nice try, but no cigar. Israel is important to me, as a Jew myself, but I trust Obama and his many Jewish advisers to be fair on that issue. I know exactly why we voted about 4 to 1 for Obama in 2008. It was and remains very clear that he believes in justice and freedom, especially for the underdogs and the impoverished with whom most Jewish adults have long felt a bond. In contrast, the Republican approach to society has long offended most Jews, keeping them out of “restricted” country clubs, adopting an explicit “Southern strategy” to gain the support of segregationist whites, and beginning a major political campaign (Reagan’s) in a town where young Jewish men working for civil rights for descendants of former slaves (another strong theme for nearly all Jews) had been murdered. It is blindingly obvious that Abraham Lincoln would not be a Republican were he alive today.
April 17th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
Good Lord, Steve the Troll is back, spewing nonsense as he always and ONLY does. Do not respnd directly to any of his senseless drival.
April 18th, 2010 at 12:49 am
Steve sounds like those Russians who still come out in rallies in support of Stalin. Obama’s Jewish advisors all come from socialist backgrounds or suspicious backgrounds how they made so much money.
Obama is a dismal failure at so many things, especially when it comes to bridging people together in the USA, as he promised, during his campaign . Everything he spoke of, he has done the opposite; how bills become law, no new taxes, are just two examples.
April 18th, 2010 at 12:53 am
Steve, welcome back. I missed your tripe about global warming. It seems you truly are a leftest intent on saying anything that seems to support your cause. And thank you also for telling me why jews voted for the president:
‘he believes in justice and freedom, especially for the underdogs and the impoverished with whom most Jewish adults have long felt a bond.’
Please, come back and tell me that two years from now when the “Arab Street” decides they’ve finally had enough of Israel and have done their best to eliminate it from the face of the earth as they’ve promised to do. Wait…shouldn’t that make Israel the underdog then? Probably not to those who believe the one is the hero we’ve been waiting for.
Oh, and Steve, check your history. It was democrat Jews in FDR’s cabinet that told him to ignore the Jewish plight in Europe…not republicans. And as for Lincoln, you might be right. I think he would be next to me at the TEA Party rallies not lining up with self-serving politicians of either side.
And when those on the left are done with you (and that is not far away) and they come looking for you at Temple, give me a yell. My neighbors and I remember the truth and will be glad to hide you from them.
April 19th, 2010 at 11:26 am
Steve sez: “Nice try, but no cigar.”
He’s a cliche-spouting tobacco nazi as well.