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Pelosi from page A21
mine U.S. prestige as long as Iran
backs terrorism, develops a nuclear
weapons program and wishes for
Israel's extinction. Instead, he advo-
cates isolation
Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., the sole
Jewish Republican in the U.S. House of
Representatives and his party's deputy
whip, said Pelosi was "living in anoth-
er world" if she believed Bush's poli-
cies had harmed Israel. "There is near
unanimity in those who are interested
in the U.S.-Israel relationship that this
has been the best president Israel has
had in the White House Cantor said.
"I don't think you hear a foreign policy
speech by this White House and this
administration that doesn't mention
Iran?'
Most influential pro-Israel organiza-
tions in Washington indeed have wel-
comed the administration's posture
toward Iran and given it high marks
for rallying world support for sanc-
tions over the past few years. However,
some senior pro-Israel lobbyists fault-
ed Bush in 2003 for focusing too much
on Iraq while neglecting Iran. Other
analysts have said the Bush adminis-
tration squandered an opportunity at
that time by ignoring overtures from
moderates in the regime in Tehran.
At a news conference after her
return from Israel, Pelosi held her
tongue when she was asked about
Bush's remarks to the Israeli Knesset
regarding the dangers of negotiat-
ing with terrorists and radicals.
Democrats interpreted the remarks
as a thinly veiled attack on their Iran
policies.
"We were overseas and did not want
to take up what you're referring to as
the president's appeasement speech:'
she told a reporter, referring to a cus-
tom — not always observed — of not
criticizing U.S. foreign policy while
overseas. "But I'll have something to
say for that when we're in another set-
ting."
That setting turned out to be an
interview a few minutes later in her
Capitol office. "The fact that in my
view President Bush has made mat-
ters worse, I think the more the Jewish
community hears from our presiden-
tial candidates, whether it's Senator
Clinton or Senator Obama, the more
confidence I know they will have in
the fact that Israel should not make
any difference in this election:' she
said.
Democrats overall are determined
not to let McCain, a war hero, gain
the upper hand on security issues, an
area they believe their 2004 candidate,
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. needlessly
ceded to Bush. As for Israel's security,
they have been especially aggressive
in fending off perceived Republican
attacks. They also have sought to link
McCain to Bush, the most unpopular
president in modern polling history.
The Democratic strategy was in
evidence two weeks ago after Bush,
speaking to the Knesset, likened
"some" advocates of direct nego-
tiations with radicals to America's
Nazi-era appeasers. Democrats, led by
Obama, piled on.
Obama took on Bush's speech in
two successive news conferences
and was followed by a phalanx of
Democrats who repeated a common
refrain: The "Bush-McCain" policies,
particularly the Iraq war, had under-
cut U.S. national security interests.
Pelosi picked up on that theme.
"The challenge we face in Iraq is one
of President Bush's own making, just
as Hamas' participation in the elec-
tion and his lack of emphasis on the
diplomacy needed to stop Iran," she
said. "What we're talking about is
an honorable, safe and responsible
redeployment out of Iraq. We cannot
sustain our own national security
or be there to help our friends if our
military strength continues to be
eroded in Iraq without any positive
consequences?'
Cantor was confident McCain, with
his reputation as a foreign policy
hawk and a moderate on social issues,
would take a bite out of the Jewish
vote. "There is no doubt in my mind
that the American Jewish community
is going to register an unprecedented
number of votes for the Republicans
and Mr. McCain:' he said, because
Jewish voters will balk at Obama's
pledge of direct talks with Iran. "That
does put fear in the minds of national
security voters; and many in the
Jewish community would consider
themselves national security voters?'
Pelosi said bipartisan consensus on
Israel's security and the Jewish ten-
dency to identify with the Democrats'
liberal social policies would keep the
community voting Democratic. "The
Jewish community votes in large num-
bers for the Democrats because of
our position on Israel and because of
our commonality of interests we have
on the domestic front, relating to our
economy and relating to the education
and health of the American people
she said. ❑
Alex
Bradley
Vieder
Mild Day School
We marvel
at your academic,
musical and
athletic
achievements,
and look
forward to
the next chapter
in your life,
at the
Frankel Jewish
Academy
Love,
Mom, Dad,
Brandon and Nicky
THESE NUMBERS REALLY ADD UP.
30
of Israel's 100 largest companies
are led by Technion graduates.
3 3 %
s29
of Israeli companies on NASDAQ
are run by Technion graduates.
billion:
the market value of Israeli companies
headed by Technion graduates.
0
years
of Technion breakthroughs
for Israel and the world.
Support the Technion. Secure Israel's future.
Email: detroit®ats.org I Call: (248) 737-1990
V American
Technion
Society
Jo Strausz Rosen, Director
30230 Orchard Lake Road, Suite 155
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
www.ats.orgilsraelat60
1386400
SN
May 29 • 2008
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