When Barry (it's time to give him a nice American name, don't you think?) Obama clinched the Democratic nomination for the American presidency, he gave a speech before AIPAC, the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee. And boy, was it a stem-winder, let me tell you. He said all the right things, hit all the right notes; he had the whole crowd at AIPAC in his hands.
Before we get into details though, for those of you who have been drinking port wine under a bridge for the last three years, AIPAC is that dreaded, powerful, ever-present JEWISH LOBBY that, according to some, runs America.
Yup!
When those evil Elders of Zion got tired of meeting in the Shabtai Tzvi Nursing Home in Geneva Switzerland, they all went to their grandkids, plastic surgeons, and dentists, all of them, and got tummy tucks and chin mods, facials and false teeth and the like, so they would all look like Steven Spielberg and Barbra Streisand or maybe even the Piano Man when he still had hair on his head. You don't believe me? Ask Steven Walt and Don Mearsheimer or consumer advocate Ralph Nader. After all, a wise consumer is an informed consumer.
Anyway, now that we know who AIPAC is, we can go to that Obama stem-winder where he wowed 'em and sounded as if, instead of attending Trinity United Church of Christ for the last twenty years listening to black liberation rants by Jeremiah Wright, he was really wrapping t'fillín (phylacteries worn on the head and arm) and praying the 'amidá (the central feature of all Jewish prayer services), begging the Almighty to re-build Jerusalem, restore the royal House of David, and bring home His Children Israel from the four corners of the earth.
In this speech, Obama spoke as a true friend of Israel, speaking from his heart. He talked about being among friends who were grassroots activists; he talked about understanding that, "...there is always a homeland at the center of the story" ... As president, I will never compromise when it comes to Israel's security." He laid the butter on thick. "Support for Israel goes beyond party ... Those who threaten Israel threaten us ... I will always stand up for Israel's right to defend itself in the United Nations and around the world! ... Israel's security is sacrosanct ... And Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel and it must remain undivided!"
And the crowd at AIPAC applauded wildly. These folks assumed he meant that a Jerusalem undivided meant a Jerusalem under the Shield of David, under the blue and white flag of the Zionist movement and the State of Israel.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Dan Miller
Ruvy,
Your friend Senator Obama seeks to have backtracked just a little wee bit on his position since some folks didn't like it.
Oh, well.
Dan
2 - Howard
I will take this opportunity to relay what the King James Holy Bible has to say about Samaria; and there is a big difference between the 20 or so versions that have been re-written over the years. The net effect of so many re-writes, obviously, is the confusion and rejection of the King James Holy Bible in its most accurate translation from the Greek/Hebrew. Most Christians of the latter America have never read any of the book, although they will claim they know all about it. The true Bible states that God forbids and disdain's people who juxtapose the sexual similarity between a man's body and a woman's body as the "same area". Deceivers and anti-Christs will explain that the meaning behind those verses mean the geographical region of Samaria. The language of the Bible speaks in metaphor and simile, known as Parable. The further meaning of the Parable explains how Same-areans, or uni-sexuals in modern heathenism, will return to the dirt they stand on for eternity. So, Sodom and Gomorrah America, have at it while you can.
3 - Lee Richards
Let's make Israel the 51st state, Iraq the 52nd, and Sodom and Gommorah 53 and 54.
Then we'll have a stronger military, more oil, and 2 more Disneylands for deceivers, anti-christs, uni-sexuals(?) and heathens.
While we're at it, let's offer to trade the Clintons for Bin Laden.
Problems solved, everybody happy.
4 - Zedd
Ruvy,
No other country gets the attention that Israel gets in American politics, from Obama or anyone else. What else do you want?
You are reaching with this one.
Also, why is it good to hold American politicians hostage; where people have to nervously kiss up like they are dealing with the mafia. The bullying is terrible and needs to stop.
5 - Dr Dreadful
Dream on, Ruvy... dream on.
6 - EH
Please correct your quote. Barrack said:
"And Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel and it must remain uhm.... divided!"
7 - Al Barger
Ruvy, if you were picking out an American politician for president who would be properly and genuinely supportive of Israel, who would it be?
8 - RJ Elliott
#7:
Al,
Maybe Joe Lieberman? Or Abe Foxman?
I find it baffling that an Israeli Jew (and a former American citizen) would hold such a negative view of the US.
Bush recently traveled to Israel and basically pledged all of America's might in support of Israel. McCain has seemingly spent half his campaign denouncing Iran for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's lunatic comments about Israel. And even Barack Obama throws red meat to the AIPAC crowd.
The United States sends billions of taxpayer dollars in military aid every year to Israel. The United States is often practically the only friend Israel has in the UN, vetoing anti-Israel resolutions quite regularly.
And AIPAC is considered one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Washington DC.
What exactly do you want from us, Ruvy?
9 - Clavos
"(and a former American citizen)"
Not "former," RJ.
He plans to vote in November.
Said so right here on BC.
The other night.
10 - Dr Dreadful
Says so as the punchline of this very article, actually.
11 - RJ Elliott
Okay. Change that to "former, long-time resident" of the US. Whatever.
Isn't dual citizenship sort of troubling, since it can create a conflict of interest in such voters?
12 - Dr Dreadful
No conflict of interest in Ruvy's case. His POV is articulated very clearly in the article and his numerous past comments about Obama.
13 - Clavos
"Isn't dual citizenship sort of troubling, since it can create a conflict of interest in such voters?"
Troubling to whom? I'm a dual citizen, as are both of my siblings; it's legal and recognized by both of the countries in which I can vote (Mexico and USA).
I vote my conscience; so far, with no conflicts (for me), though I'll admit some of my compatriots from either country might and do, look askance at some of my positions, but that would probably happen even if I only had one passport.
One cool thing about two passports: I get priority treatment entering both countries; I just use the right passport.
14 - Cindy D
ROFLOL @#3 Lee
You've got my vote Lee.
15 - Dr Dreadful
One cool thing about two passports: I get priority treatment entering both countries; I just use the right passport.
Well, I don't have dual citizenship, but I do enjoy using my British passport at Heathrow and my permanent resident card when returning to the US... I get to use the quick line at both ends. Tee hee!
16 - Baronius
Also, to clarify, Obama was talking about Jerusalem, New York.
17 - Jet in Columbus
With that particular poster Cisco, but he's been re-banned after he slipped under the radar today.
Let the be peace across the landlll
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhoooooooooooooooooom
18 - Dr Dreadful
I've heard of praying to Gods, angels, spirits, animals, trees, idols, icons, deceased relatives and Elvis, but praying to a sermon??? Now I know the world has gone crazy. Oh my sainted aunt...
19 - Baronius
I dunno, Doc. The phrasing makes sense to me. Just as you sing along to a favorite song, you'd pray to a particular prayer. That's why you get the shouted "amens" during a sermon as you would at the end of a prayer. The sermon is a prayer.
As for dual citizenship, the idea has always bothered me. Ruvy has no loyalty to the US. His home is Israel. I don't understand why he'd want to be called an American. He anticipates a showdown between his two countries, and has no qualms about which one he'd support, so why retain US citizenship?
Third topic: Ruvy, you want to judge McCain and Obama as anti-Israel based on their associations. That's not fair. You couldn't assemble an advisory staff or a campaign without some variation of opinion. By your account, you can't assemble a government *in Israel* that's pro-Israel. No one's asking you to entrust Israel's fate to James Baker. Look at the candidates and decide.
20 - Ruvy
Avi,
You don't pray to a sermon, you listen to it - it's like a d'rashá that a rabbi gives.
Beyond that, I have no clue what kind of prayers are recited at the Obamas' former church, but, if you are really curious, their web-site is in the article.
Dr. Dreadful can be picky with his English (so can I) and you did make a tiny usage error....
Hope you enjoyed Shavuot, aHí. Did you have some good cheesecake, at least?