Opinion

HER VIEWS

Obama's Unfriendly
Policy Approach

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FA MIL Y O WNED AND OPERATED SIB CE 1971

78

September 17 g 2009

1530650

G

iven President Obama's
• Obama had an association with
pressure on the settlement
William Ayers, who co-founded
issue and his distorted
the radical Weather Underground
view on the creation of Israel —
Organization, which was responsible
that its foundation is the Holocaust
for bombings in the 1960s and 1970s.
— suddenly, the Jewish body politic
In 2001, Ayers, a professor at the
is "concerned" and has awakened to
University of Illinois-Chicago, said, "I
"it", the "it" being President Obama's don't regret setting bombs ... I feel
apparent one-sided pro-Arab Middle we didn't do enough." No, that does
East policy.
not make Obama a terrorist or even
But the Jewish community should
one who supports terrorism. But affi-
not really be surprised. The signs
ances are important; they are indica-
that Obama would not be friendly to tors of political philosophy.
Jewish interests were all too evident,
• He supported the position that
and we refused to acknowledge the
Jerusalem is the undivided capi-
potential dangers of an
tal of Israel, but quickly
Obama presidency.
changed his mind, caving
In the campaign, we
in to anti-Israel political
paid more attention to his
forces.
speeches than his history
• He attended a Jew-
and now we will have to
and-Israel-bashing dinner
deal with the consequenc-
honoring Rashid Khalidi,
es, not only as it pertains
a venomous Israeli critic.
to Israel but our political
Obama was effusive in
comfort in the U.S. We are
his praise of Khalidi on
in for three more long years
a video tape, accord-
Berl Fal baum
(seven, if he is re-elected).
ing
to Los Angeles Times
Commu nity
Historically, Jews vote
Reporter
Peter Walsten
Vie w
Democratic regardless of
whose paper, incidentally
a candidate's credentials/
and strangely for a media
philosophy; nothing seems
organization dedicated to
to move us. We are unlike any eth-
the "public's right to know," refused
nic special interest group. Consider
to release the tape.
the Arabs: In 2000, they voted (70
When these issues were raised,
percent) for George Bush instead of
Jews responded that critics
Al Gore. In 2004, after four years of
were engaging in "guilt by asso-
President Bush's uncompromising
ciation?' That is absolutely correct.
support for Israel, 90 percent of the
Associations are more important
Arab vote went to John Kerry. Now,
than speeches or campaign promises.
that's voting one's special interest.
We need to judge candidates
During the campaign, defend-
not on speeches, promises, their
ing their support for Obama, Jews
eloquence, charm or the ability to
proclaimed: "Israel is not the only
deliver speeches. We should judge
issue." That was troubling for several them on their record (Obama hardly
reasons: (1) It implied a recogni-
had any), and associations because
tion that Obama might turn against
associations provide insights into
Israel; (2) it failed to understand
candidates' political ideologies.
that an anti-Israel policy would have
Obama associated with the extreme
consequences for Jews in the U.S;
left that has always been anti-Jewish
(3) it will embolden anti-Jewish,
(some of it blatantly anti-Semitic)
anti-Israel forces throughout the
and anti-Israel. Here, strangely, the
world; and, (4) even if unintended, it extreme left and extreme right share
implied that Israel is expendable.
a common interest.
Here are some signals that should
Jews would rather align them-
have disturbed the Jewish community: selves with political blocs that
• His 20-year association with
oppose their interests than the right,
Pastor Jeremiah Wright, who not
which supports them. It's weird and
only ranted against Jews from his
it's nuts! (Neoconservative guru
pulpit, but also had an ongoing rela- Norman Podhoretz examines this
tionship with the anti-Semitic Rev.
issue in his latest book, Why Are
Louis Farrakhan.
Jews Liberal?)