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Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
A-vital Blog: Give Obama a break
Posted by MK Colette Avital
Comments: 49
    
The American Presidential campaign recently entered a new stage, with Hillary Clinton dropping out of the race. Now it is up to John McCain and Barack Obama to each convince the American voter that they are worthy of leading the most powerful country in the world in the coming four years. Throughout much of the campaign, Obama was subjected to excessive nitpicking, rumors and accusations, many of which were baseless and unfair. He was judged not only for his worldview, but also doomed for his name, his color, his religion and his personal background. Obama's critics werent limited to the US: our former Ambassador to the United States, Danny Ayalon, opined in a JPost.com blog that during his meetings with Obama he felt that the Senator "was not entirely forthright with his thinking." Ayalon added that Obamas campaign is "leaving us with more questions than answers." Aside from this being imprudent, coming from a senior Israeli diplomat who served for several years in Washington, this accusation was premature: in the months that have passed Obama has supplied ample evidence of the clarity of his policies and views, including those regarding Israel. At the recent AIPAC policy conference Obama addressed a whole gamut of issues concerning Israel, ranging from Holocaust denial to ensuring Israel's qualitative military advantage. He pledged to implement a Memorandum of Understanding that will provide $30 billion in assistance to Israel. However, what seems to differentiate Senator Obama from Senator McCain is his understanding that Israel's security depends on a lasting peace agreement with its neighbors no less than on military aid. Peace is a key goal for Obama, who said at AIPAC "that is why we, as friends of Israel, must resolve to do all we can to help Israel and its neighbors to achieve it." The election of Obama as President of the United States would constitute an amazing shift in its history. Like Israel, the US is an immigrant society; its population a colorful array of ethnic groups and world cultures. Despite this, entire segments of American society - Women, African-Americans, Hispanics, etc. - have never succeeded in making their way into the Oval Office. A victory for Senator Obama would do a great deal to dissipate feelings of disenfranchisement prevalent today in the United States; it would indeed be a victory of fairness over bigotry and past racism. Senator Obama recently received an important endorsement from Former Vice President Al Gore, who said in a conference in Detroit that he would do all he could to help Obama win the White House. "Take it from me, elections matter" said Gore, and he's right. Today, Israel enjoys overwhelming bipartisan support in the United States, and will continue to enjoy it for the foreseeable future. The upcoming Presidential elections, however, will determine whether this support manifests itself mainly in security aid, or also in fresh thinking and a committed, prolonged, effort to bring about peace in our region.
1 |
Morton Friedman Lanham, MD USA,
Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
Is this a joke? Immediately after his 'clarification' at AIPAC came a renunciation. It took a few weeks to see him divorce himself from Wright, or did he? Now he refers to Sharpton as the Bible interpretation to be followed. A vote for him is a vote against bigotry? Who wrote that? Farrakahn? Note that the $30 billion referred to is a 10 year figure, no more and no less than the present level of support. and most of which goes to support purchases from the US. Ayalon may have been un-diplomatic, but he was absolutely correct. Perhaps he might have been even more un-PC.
2 |
Ron Colorado,
Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
Are you kidding? This guy and his wife are avowed but disguised Marxists. Her past comments about America, her thesis while in college, their associations with an unrepentant terrorist and they unblievable denial of knowing what their Rev. taught in the pews for 20 years all point to one conclusion--that they agree in philosophy with these people. Are you SO naive that you would endorse somebody like this? What do you think will happen to Israel with this man in power? He will do nothing to protect and defend your country unless it is in his own selfish interest.
3 |
Mica NYC,
Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
It would only be a victory for fairness if he wins in fairness. As to your silly little notion that voting for Obama is making up for past racism-that is only true if the voter has impeded the career progress of others because they were black. otherwise you are asking us to make a decision not on the content of his character or his judgment but rather on the color of his skin. to assert that he has been subject to disproportionate smears, requires some willful blindness. Now the media uses the "cycle of violence" technique every time Obama does something negative and contrary to his image.
4 |
Tod Zuckerman , San Francisco,
Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
Typical Avital Pap. Not a word about her hero's 20 year membership in a church led by Israel demonizer and Farrakan worshipper, Jeremiah Wright - perhaps, Avital believes Wright was correct when he equated Zionism with Nazism, and instructed his parishoners to join the divestment from Israel campaign. Also, no mention how Obama, two weeks before his AIPAC speech, at a rally actually mocked those who worry about the Iranian threat. Maybe, Avital , like Obama, thinks we can play patty cake with the Iranian mullahs. No, what really upsets Avital are Pro-Israel Christians - go figure ! (I gave up)
5 |
Bill-South Dakota,
Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
Obama has, indeed, given us many answers as to how he would run the country if elected as our President. He has indicated that he would try to place Supreme Court justices who interpret the constitution as he does...from the far left...not from the far right...not from the moderate middle. But from the far left. And if we vote for him simply because he's black, wouldn't we be doing precisely what we're being told NOT to do...voting for someone because of their color? Fresh thinking? Raise the taxes on corporate America, and they'll pass the taxes onto us. Not my kind of fresh thinking.
6 |
Ronnie Glass Robertsdale Alabama , America,
Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
I would have voted for Barbara Jordan if she had ran for president.
If this is the way MKs think, Israel is in deeper feces than I thought.
7 |
Nona Faber, Ankara, Turkey,
Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
Do your research: Obama is NO friend of Israel. Look at the people he surrounds himself with. He is also a Marxist. Look at his policy ideas: Take from the rich and give to the poor. It will weaken America. A weak US is not good for Israel.
8 |
szs Melbourne, Fl.,
Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
What fresh thinking? One Jerusalem or two?
9 |
Elly Hensel, Denmark,
Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
You can use all the fine words you can find regarding this man. One thing is for sure: He cannot be trusted nor can his wife. You and a lot of other of other people are not the least realistic with you r glorification of him..
10 |
Linn Denton Keller Texas,
Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
I'm a us citizen with great respect for israel. it is plain for me to see that there will be no peace in Israel without war. You guys with our help need to take your enemy's seriously. They want you all dead. Along with all Americans. In my life time I have never seen peace in Israel. Mainly because your enemys don't want peace. If it were up to Israel you would have peace and live with your neighbors side by side, This is not even a concideration to your enemy's. Wake up smell the bagels. Hit them before they hit you, again.....
We can do it!!!! Togeather!!!
11 |
annonymous,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
good post
12 |
Lenny Steinberg, Brooklyn, NY,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
Obama, after he said at AIPAC that Jerusalem would remain the undivided capital of Israel, backtracked the next day saying that it is for the parties involved to negotiate. He knew when he made the speech what a hot button issue it is and then he quickly unabashedly backtracked. How many more issues will he backtrack on? He clearly says things very lightly and retracts them just as quickly. So how will we know what he really thinks?
13 |
Amarilys Pons Spain,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
look at who Obamas advisors are, Zbgnew Brzinski, who is a big fan of Mearsheimer and Walt, Samantha Power, who commented that the US should invade Israel, on behalf of the Palestinians, Reverend Wright, who gave the Jew-hating Black Muslim leader a man of the year award, etc. Obamas foreign policy advisers now are mostly affilliated with George Soros. George Soros is famous for hating Israel and anything associated with Israel. Obama had another adviser who blamed Israel for the failure of the Camp David talks. Obama will say he supports Israel when he speaks to aipac but then changes his mind
14 |
Paul Zucker Phoenix, Arizona, USA,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
I am a Jew and I am voting for Barack Obama.
15 |
Heymish, Ashdod,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
Fresh thinking? Like the 'disengagement' Colette? You represent the dying Isralien who will have to make way for the Jew in the Land of Israel. Better you should go to America and be with B.O. than to merit the Land of Israel, as your 'values' are more in tune with socialist, reactionary sophomores like B.O. and Hugo Chavez than that of the Jewish people. Yes, B.O. has fresh ideas, and he can 'make peace.' Are you kidding? Do you really believe that it's a matter of having fresh ideas? I wonder how much of your support comes from Arab voters versus Jewish voters.
16 |
mhl,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
As one of the leaders of the Israeli Appeasement Lobby, it is no surprise that Avital leans to Hussein Obama, who wants to pursue similar appeasement policies in the US. What a black mark on Israel that this woman pretended to represent her country in the UN
17 |
Amadeus Birmingham U.S.A.,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
My concern about Barack Obama being elected president is his years of experience in the Senate - TWO! Two years experience is hardly enough to deal with the economic and political problems that await the next president. And, from what I've heard, Barack Obama is long on rhetoric and very short on specific details about his proposals. With his inexperience, he will be extremely dependent on his advisers. And those advisers give me great pause. If Obama isn't elected, it won't be because of race; it will be because of inexperience.
18 |
Edward B., USA,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
The support that Israel enjoys today will not last forever - the first pacifist President, such as Obama, will see to it. Some of his statements have already drawn a parallel between the actions of the so-called Palestinians and Israel. "Equivalency" is a part of his vocabulary. Al Gore? The guy that invented the internet, global warming and peaceful arabs... With friends like Gore and Obama who needs the enemies... DO NOTE VOTE FOR OBAMA!!!!!!!
19 |
Marsha, US,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
Have you seen the list of Obama supporters, Collette? Jimmy Carter, for starters. And are you unaware that after the AIPAC convention he did a total turn around, to no one's surprise. How about the fact that for 20 years Obama belonged to a church headed by a raving anti-semite? I guess it shouldn't surprise anyone that someone with your leftist anti-Jewish feelings would endorse such a leftist candidate. But don't you have anything better to do?
20 |
Bruce from San Francisco,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
Thank you for your intelligent and heartfelt article. As an American--a Jewish American--I feel a sense of hope and possibility with Barack Obama that I haven't felt, in a long time. He's brilliant, a superb speaker and has demonstrated an ability to unify diverse groups of people. I'd feel proud to have him represent the U.S.
21 |
USA,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
We're not going to comprimise choosing a bad leader for president just so the rest of the world can feel good about race relations. What an ignorant reason to choose a leader of the super power and leader of the free world just to "dissipate feelings of disenfranchisement". There's other ways to deal with race. And if ethnic people in the USA feel disenfranchised because of history, they can go live in another country and feel disenfranchised because of current racism and hardships. A US president should not be picked to appease victimhood.
22 |
C.Barnett,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
It is sad that a former Israeli foreign official to the US can so badly assess this election. This is blatant tripe, and if Ms.Avital should know better. Obama was not unfairly charged with anything that was not amply verifiable.The Rev.Wright whom he said" brought him to Christianity",was a former Muslim,married and baptized his children,was his pastor for 20 years,served on his campaign advisory committee,was broadcast to be anti-White,damning the US andshowntobe anti-Semitic.His close friends,WmAyres,a Weatherman, admits to many acts of terror, was tried, and acquitted on a technicality.
23 |
Elchanan Cohen, Rehovot,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
MK Colette Avital should be more circumspect in her criticism of Danny Ayalon when she says, "Aside from this being imprudent, coming from a senior Israeli diplomat who served for several years in Washington, this accusation was premature", since she herself was quoted in the U.S. Press when asked why she, as an Israeli diplomat stationed in the U.S., did not defend a particular Israeli policy issue, stated that "she could not defend a policy she disagreed with". To have this position and to publicly state it while representing Israel on foreign soil is unforgivable!!!
24 |
C. Barnett,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
In the interest of truthfulness for the record ,it must be added, Rev. Wright supports and printed the entire Hamas mission statement in the church newspaper.Obama is friends of Farrakhan, hiring Nation of Islam members to work in both his state and US Senate offices.The head of his US Senate election finance campaign was a member.He was friends with Edward Said, a PLO Council Member and renowned hater of Israel. He and Prof.Khalidi together raised funds for terror groups.His advisers are openly anti-Israel.He voted against funding our troops at war.His Texas office posts Che's picture....
25 |
Blues, Portland USA,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
Please tell me you are kidding! Race, sex, religion are NOT good reasons to elect (or not elect) someone to office! Don't rely on a politician says he will do, look at his history to see what he has done! Obama and the Democratic Party is not friendly to Israel, and never has been. When Obama says he desires peace in the ME, does he mean peace for Israel, or peace in the ME at the expense of Israeli sovereignty, of the Israeli way of life, or of Israeli land? What is Obama's plan for peace in the ME? My experience with the Democratic Party is that he doesn't have one, he's just talking.
26 |
JB,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
Like Sarkozy, Obama loves Israel, but like an abusive spouse, he wants to cut her into pieces, but he still loves her. I have zero tolerance for that kind of lover.
27 |
Jon_Boy,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
Give us all a break Collette. You be the turkey that wants to vote for christamas if you want.
Collette only ethnically Jewish but religiously a left wing zealot.
28 |
daat y,jerusalem,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
As a knesset member you are obliged to not choose elected officials in foreign governments.
Of course Obama agrees with your mistaken notion of 'peace' at any cost.
29 |
halevi,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
Give Ms. Avital a brain- judging from Obama advisers - the radical left wing Israel haters - I just can not believe that a keneset member wrote rhis article. There is a limit to the stupidity and ignorance of our MKs.
30 |
Mladen Andrijasevic, Be'er Sheva, Israel,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
Part 1 of 5: I sympathize with the arguments of some the posters who are trying with logic and facts to convince Colette Avital that she is wrong. But it is hopeless. I know because Ive tried, with my own left-wing friends.
31 |
Mladen Andrijasevic, Be'er Sheva, Israel,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
Part 2 of 5: It took me almost 10 years to persuade TWO of several of my left-wing friends to read ONE book on Islam Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. My attempts were numerous and quite unsuccessful. I offered The Koran A Very Short Introduction, Trifkovics The Sword of the Prophet, DVD What the West Needs to Know and others ( the film is now even available on line) . The books were returned unread, the film unwatched. It cannot be laziness to have all the information at your fingertips and refuse to budge.
32 |
Mladen Andrijasevic, Be'er Sheva, Israel,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
Part 3of 5: So what is it? I am not sure. It may be that the truth would offend and destroy their core liberal beliefs, and they cannot permit it. Even at the expense of jeopardizing their own life, their familys and that of their country? Apparently so. It is not easy to change your mind and admit that all these efforts all these years were in vain.
33 |
Mladen Andrijasevic, Be'er Sheva, Israel,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
Part 4 of 5: On the other hand we have the Jerusalem Post which last week published six articles on Islam in the UPFRONT section, including an interview with Ali Sina. The information is out, but I am quite convinced that people like Collette Avital would never read it.
34 |
Mladen Andrijasevic, Be'er Sheva, Israel,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
Part 5 of 5: As for Obama, his site is lying, as Daniel Pipes proved, but the mainstream media could not care less : Obama's site: [ Link to page ] Daniel Pipes's site : [ Link to page ]
35 |
paul david swinford Christian truck driver,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
I would love to give him a break but it is against the law in the US.
I follow politics closely. I even voted against Obama for US Senator.
The more I learn about him the worse it gets.
I go into Chicago every day and follow his story up close and personal.
The most dangerous person on this earth to Israel isn't Ahmadinejad but
rather the southside Chicagoian. This planet is watching a nightmare come
true.
36 |
Ellis United States,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
The notion that the U.S. has to vote for Obama to assuage past racial discrimination in this country is absurd. To justify this kind of behaviour will only lead to the tearing usunder of the U.S. and Israel.
I will not repeat what previous posters have written (all clear and concise points of view) but I would like to stress that the people holding the strings of the marionette Obama are dangerous and come from the hate America first group. The word Marxist leaps into your mind when you hear Obama speak. He is a modern day piped piper and described as an "empty vessel of hope" by Pat Cadell.
37 |
Big Jim Boston MA USA,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
I thought Obama's wife was named Michelle not Colette. Ah live and learn. When Obama was running in the primaries in the Rust Belt he promised to change the NAFTA agreement then later told Canada and Mexico that it was just political talk and he would change nothing. Now he is looking for the Jewish vote and making promises to us. Once a liar, always a liar. John McCain is the best option for Jews. Go John Go.
38 |
Nach,
Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
99 percent of about the 30 talkbackers thus far do not agree with you Colette. I guess one has to be a leftist M.K. to get the JPost to agree to write what 99 percent of the sample talkbckers disagree with and spells omen of how they will not vote for you and yours the next time around.
39 |
C.Barnett,
Thursday Jun 26, 2008
No.20-Please enumerate HOW he has brought 'unity' anywhere,anytime. It is the reverse.He subscribes to an openly racist church practicing Black Liberationist concepts.His close friends mentioned above are haters-of America, Whites, and Jews.They support terror groups-foreign as in Hamas and the PLO-Fatah, and domestic as in the Weathermen.He is tied into the Chi.mobster, Rezco and Saddam's illegal arms dealer,Auchi.His ME advisory team are all anti-Israel and Pro-Arab Palestinian.To his cousin Odinga he gave $1M to his campaign,campaigning for him in Kenya.Yet,he voted no to funding UStroops
40 |
Manny,
Thursday Jun 26, 2008
Obama may well become President, irrespective of how Jews vote. The problem of Israel is Israeli leadership. Israel needs strong leaders, to stand up to the US and protect Israeli interests. The US public is with Israel, but with leaders like Avital who needs enemies?
41 |
Matthew Dickinson,
Thursday Jun 26, 2008
Elections in America are ridiculous. I wish we had a different political system. I propose the idea of giving citizens online profiles which list the issues they support. Once a year a tally is made and the issues with the most popular support are added to the national sales tax. By this way we can limit the importance of "leaders" and political canidates, elections, etc., which are impossible to take seriously. I like McCain's support of nuclear energy and new battery technology, and Obama has mentioned building electric trains, but I'm not voting this year. I agree w/ George Carlin on this.
42 |
Lars, Usa,
Thursday Jun 26, 2008
There is one thing that has always fasinated me...That is how can so many Jews vote Democrat, especially during National elections? I can never figure out why the people of the Jewish faith hold Democrats in such high regard as to the protection and national acceptance of the Nation of Israel. I can tell you this, if the people of Israel believe for ONE moment that Obama will come to your rescue, should all out war break out, similar to the six day war in "67", forget it. Obama will have to be dragged to the Congress before Israel will get what it may need to survive.
43 |
Sharon Klaff,
Friday Jun 27, 2008
If in doubt, opt out. There are too many "stories" about Obama that show him to be liability to the US and to the world. So don't give him a chance because you can't afford for your gift to be mishandled!
44 |
Elvis Ronnie----Minnesota, USA,
Friday Jun 27, 2008
MK Colette Avital, thanks for bringing up this topic. I've been reading this jpost since 2003 but this paper has changed. The people and idears in here about Obama are so Radical. I never thought that Jews, people in Isreal would be so Radical about other people. I know Obama is black, but please he is an American and he can handle issues right here in the US and internationary. I agree with Manny "The problem of Israel is Israeli leadership. Israel needs strong leaders" so stop accusing Obama of all republican failures. I wish all you Old fox accept that this is the 21st century, get a life.
45 |
M.Myer, California, USA,
Saturday Jul 12, 2008
I have always been registered and voted democrat, that is...until now. The U.S., as protector of Israel, and as watchdog of global democracy, cannot afford to compromise its position of power. It is very risky business, indeed utter foolishness, to allow someone with questionable associations (such as Rev. Wright, Edward Said, Wm. Ayers, etc.) to be empowered as our nation's leader. He could completely compromise our security interests as well as Israel's in the pursuit of peace at any cost. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing. The only logical choice is John McCain.
46 |
M.Myer, California, USA,
Saturday Jul 12, 2008
I have always been registered and voted democrat, that is...until now. The U.S., as protector of Israel, and as watchdog of global democracy, cannot afford to compromise its position of power. It is very risky business, indeed utter foolishness, to allow someone with questionable associations (such as Rev. Wright, Edward Said, Wm. Ayers, etc.) to be empowered as our nation's leader. He could completely compromise our security interests as well as Israel's in the pursuit of peace at any cost. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing. The only logical choice is John McCain.
47 |
Danielle in Washington DC,
Wednesday Jul 23, 2008
Do NOT be fooled by Obama in Israel! He is nothing but a phony. I have watched him here in the USA. A man with zero experience and nothing but a photo op and fancy words. He has nothing whatseover to back them. He has set his entire life on the pursuit of our presidency and he has nothing to bring to it but a fairy tale promotion endorsed improperly by the democratic party who would do anything for Obama.
You seriously need to recognize that he has a very real Muslim background. Why would any Muslim group or leader support an apostate Muslim (Obama). Answer...they wouldn't.
48 |
Pam,
Wednesday Jul 23, 2008
He is not fit to lead an American state, let alone our entire country. Please do not fall for his fancy words and please do not let him and his media hype fool you. He is a phony through and through. Here in America....most of us see. As a Democrat, I can tell you, I would never vote for this man. He is not who he says that he is and nothing they can do to illustrate him in foreign policy hype will replace his lack of experience. He simply has zero experience and even has 1300 advisors to make sure he says and does the voting "right" things. Reject him.... thousands of us will in America
49 |
Danielle,
Wednesday Jul 23, 2008
Ron in Colorado:
I agree. He cannot escape from his associations which include many Muslims that cannot stand Israel. Louis Farrakhan calls him his Muslim brother and in an interview within the Finalcallnews.com, he says; "we groomed Obama to be a unifier". The we, is his miserable and false pastor, Dr. Wright, who spewed hatred against Israel and America for years. Obama didn't miss it. He was there for 20 years listening to this Marxist misery. I have a chuch bulletin printed and collected. It is even worse than the video of Wright. Obama is a danger for Israel and America.
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