Thursday, May 19, 2011

Did He Lie?

If not, what's the significant change that's merited this tectonic flip-flop?
In 2008 Barack Obama told American Jewish leaders that he would not divide Jerusalem.

But that was when he needed the Jewish vote.

Today Obama rewarded the Hamas-Farah alliance by telling Israel to divide Jerusalem and move back to the 1967 borders.

Jews, who in this country vote overwhelmingly Democrat, should be embarrassed by their support of this president.

Update, 5/20/11: Does this guy sound like a madman? He sounds calm and realistic to me.

Update #2, 5/22/11: Did Obama backtrack? Reiterate? Say whatever he had to in order to get reelection money from AIPAC? Regarding his speech at AIPAC:
The president did not disappoint. The speech, as you can read for yourself, was full of obligatory promises of how the United States stands by Israel, and how his administration has done whatever it had to in order to guarantee Israel’s military requirements and security...

So what are we to make of all this?

On this issue, the critical response came during the panel that followed. The points in the president’s speech, Wall Street Journal columnist Bret Stephens said, “are not as innocent as he made them out to be.” To this, Stephens received a large ovation from the assembled delegates, more than Obama received for any points that he had made...

So the question is, as I conclude, whether or not the president means it, whether or not he will backpedal in the other direction, and whether he will seek to mend matters with Prime Minister Netanyahu, rather than push him in directions Israel does not want to go. We now have evidence that in a few short days, the pressure moved the president away from the contentious trap he set before meeting PM Netanyahu. Will he now change again facing pressure from the “realists,” the anti-Israel left wing, and the Arab nations — including those of the Arab Spring that are turning out to be vigorous enemies of Israel? Time, as usual, will tell.

4 comments:

Ellen K said...

The American Jewish population should have been embarrassed at their naivite far longer than just the Obama election. Hollywood's power brokers, largely members of the Jewish community although not particularly religious,presented a united front for Obama entering his campaign lines into popular movies and televisions shows. It was chic to bash conservatives and frankly, in some circles, it still is. This arrogance paired with his pandering to specific demographic groups should serve as a warning to American Jewish groups and all other groups that he will say and do anything to get their vote and then conveniently forget it after the election.

Anonymous said...

Well ... technically, Obama hasn't divided Jerusalem. He has called for some other organization (the government of Israel) to do so.

And that organization is going to tell him to take a flying leap (although probably much more indirectly).

Even with this, I don't think the 2012 Republican presidential candidate is going to pick up much of the Jewish vote.

-Mark Roulo

Mike Thiac said...

Darren....did Obama looked really annoyed in that video....hand on the chin and other arm back like was uncomfortable to be there?

Darren said...

Yes, he did, and that's what he gets for being such a buffoon.