Spotlight
POINT/ COUNTERPOINT
So Far, So Good
D
Dallas/JTAA
wring the president's first 100
days in office, the U.S. Jewish
community has already taken
great pleasure with the performance
of Barack Obama. He has
begun to develop a deep and
substantive relationship with
the Jewish community by,
among other things, hosting
the first presidential seder,
creating strong outreach with
our community and working
on key domestic and inter-
national issues of interest to
American Jews.
Impressively, in less than
three and a half months, the
Obama administration has
already made marked prog-
ress with progressive policies that are
important to our community: the econo-
my, Israel, the Middle East, reproductive
rights, renewable energy and stem cell
research.
The aforementioned seder caused
quite a buzz in our community. Not only
was it the first presidential seder in our
nation's history, but also it has become
symbolic of the intimate and deep
relationship our president has with our
community. Obama has put together a
dream team of excellent advisers and
appointments, several of whom are
members of our faith.
As a community, we are grateful that
the president has spoken out loudly
against hate and intolerance. Recently,
Obama spoke at the Holocaust Days
of Remembrance ceremony at the U.S.
Capitol and called on Americans to "con-
template the obligations of the living"
and fight against "those who insist the
Holocaust never happened, who perpe-
trate every form of intolerance." Earlier
in April, under his direction, the United
States boycotted a vehemently anti-Israel
United Nation's conference on racism
(known as Durban II).
Thus far, the Obama administration
has made a concerted effort to commu-
nicate with and involve our community
in major policy decisions. For example,
the administration briefed Jewish com-
munity leaders on regular high-level
conference calls during the formulation
of policy toward Durban II. Before then,
the administration invited community
leaders to participate in a hour-long
conference call with George Mitchell,
U.S. special envoy to the Middle East.
The conversation was substantive, can-
B20
May 14 a 2009
Trail Of Concern
did and meaningful. Those on the call
Washington/JTA
that if Hamas and Fatah ever come
were impressed by both Mitchell's grasp
to share power in a Palestinian unity
of the issues and his attentiveness to the
s Americans examine the
government, the United States can con-
participants' questions.
first 100 days of the Obama
tinue to send millions of dollars to the
In these first 100 days, the most senior
administration, it is impor-
territories.
members of this administration not
tant to make a candid assessment of
We have seen trillions and trillions of
only reached out to the Jewish
the president's actions so
dollars allocated to bailouts
community, they also listened.
far. These first months
and new government spend-
Of critical importance to
are widely considered an
ing. The massive growth of
us, Obama's foreign policy
indicator of the policies the
government engendered by
has immeasurably improved
president will pursue in the
this spending, and the debt
America's image abroad. Both
years to come.
burden to our children and
his foreign and his domestic
So what have we seen in
grandchildren, will haunt us
policy objectives make Israel
the first 100 days of this
for decades.
and the U.S. more secure. The
presidency? As Iran con-
Our security agencies have
president's policies moving
tinues to work feverishly to
been paralyzed by the double
America toward renewable
acquire nuclear weapons,
punch of released intelligence
energy and off Middle East
the United States contin-
memos and vague threats to
Ma tt
oil have already begun to be
ues to pursue its policy of
prosecute those who protect-
Broo ks
implemented. These priori-
"engagement"
ed this country from harm in
Counte rpoint
ties, as well as those whom
North Korea launched a
the previous administration.
Obama has appointed to serve in his
long-range missile. The next day, the
Despite promises of "transpar-
administration, subscribe to strate-
administration announced drastic cuts
ency" and "openness," only one of the
gies that give the utmost importance to
in missile defense funding, including
11 bills signed by the president so
Israel's peace and security.
a halt to further deployment
far have been made available to the
On the economy, the
of Alaska-based interceptors
public for review before signing. (In
AT ISSUE designed
president has shown bold
to counter missiles
fact, some of them weren't actually
leadership to lead America's
from North Korea.
reviewed by members of Congress
economy out of this crisis and
Sizing up
Our president, in a hand-
before they were whisked up to the
will create or save millions
shake seen around the world,
president's desk.)
President
of American jobs, provide
embraced Hugo Chavez while
The president promised not to
tax relief and invest in our
Venezuelan
Jews
face
viru-
appoint
lobbyists to his administra-
Obama's
long-term economic security.
lent, government-sponsored
tion. He has appointed several, includ-
Obama also ensured that we
first 100
harassment.
ing former Raytheon lobbyist William
would not fall behind other
We have seen the president
Lynn to be deputy secretary of defense.
days, a
leading countries in important
reverse the Bush administra-
We have seen thousands of people
areas of research and devel-
tion's
policy
of
boycotting
the
across
the country protest against the
traditional
opment by lifting the ban on
U.N. Human Rights Council,
high taxes and unimaginable gov-
benchmark. the body that organized the
federal funding for embryonic
ernment spending proposed by this
stem cell research.
Durban II conference against
president. These "tea parties" — peace-
As with stem cells, the presi-
racism and that continuously
ful, truly grass-roots demonstrations
dent chose good policy over partisan
focuses on condemning Israel and
of public opinion — were called
politics when he struck down the infa-
turning a blind eye to the genocide in
"unhealthy" by senior White House
mous Global Gag rule, which prohibited
Darfur and other human-rights abuses. adviser David Axelrod.
U.S. money from funding international
The Obama administration chose
As Americans, we all want our
family-planning clinics. This provided
Charles "Chas" Freeman to be chairman president and our country to suc-
lifesaving health services to women and
of the National Intelligence Council.
ceed in tough and challenging times.
also provided counseling or referrals
Freeman is a longstanding apologist for However, for those who care deeply
about abortion services. And finally,
the Saudi regime, a harsh and ideologi- about national security, the economy
after many years of politicization at the
cal critic of Israel, and a proud sub-
and other vital issues, these early days
FDA, Obama is putting science over
scriber to the Walt/Mearsheimer "Israel of the administration offer an opportu-
blind ideology, including allowing Plan
Lobby" thesis. After a public outcry
nity to examine the president's priori-
B, the morning after pill, to be available
against Freeman taking such a sensi-
ties and intentions that should not be
without a prescription to women 17 and
tive security post, Freeman stepped
missed.
older.
down.
While the president's supporters will
However, we are happy to say that the
Many mainstream media outlets
praise his actions in the first 100 days,
first 15 weeks of his presidency have
have reported on the growing "tension" many of the president's actions have
made us proud and have fulfilled his
between the Obama administration
been cause for concern for American
promise of much needed change for our
and the new Israeli government of
Jews. A balanced and honest review is
country. II
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
in order. ❑
The Obama administration has
Marc R. Stanley is chairman of the National
asked Congress to relax sanctions
Matt Brooks is executive director of the
Jewish Democratic Council.
against the terrorist group Hamas, so
Republican Jewish Coalition.
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