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Wednesday Aug 05, 2009
Rosner's Domain: NJDC's David Harris heard "rumors" but isn't "concerned" about Obama and IsraelPosted by SHMUEL ROSNER
Comments: 73      Follow Rosner's Domain on Twitter!!! David A. Harris is the newly appointed President of the National Jewish Democratic Council. David previously worked as NJDC's Deputy Executive Director for seven years, and as the Executive Director of the Israel on Campus Coalition for three years. David has also served as the Director of Governmental and Public Affairs for the American Jewish Congress and as the Washington Representative for the Israel Policy Forum; in Democratic politics, David was a congressional fellow for the late Senator Paul Simon (D-IL) and a congressional campaign manager as well. David is a native of West Lafayette, Indiana, and now lives in Washington, DC. I sent his a couple of questions:
1. Many polls show that Democrats don't support Israel as strongly as Republicans. Why? First, I would challenge the heart of your supposition; support for Israel is widespread in America, and it is and should be nonpartisan. Clearly the base of today's Republican Party in America is indeed pro-Israel, and much of this support comes from Evangelical Christians and other similar constituencies (For the vast majority of Jews, Israel would be the only potential point of agreement with today's Republican Party). Democrats in America, by contrast, take a broader approach in our support for Israel - reflecting, for example, the range of thinking about Israel seen everyday in the Israeli press. So Democrats demonstrate their support for Israel while also backing a wide range of domestic policies favored by most American Jews. And the Democrats in the U.S. House and Senate - not to mention the White House - take a back seat to nobody in their support for Israel. 2. Do you think the NJDC has a role in changing Democratic perceptions on Israel, or do you think this role should be reserved to other organizations? Why?NJDC's primary role is two-fold; to share information about the good and relevant work of our Democratic leaders in the House, Senate and White House with our members and other American Jews around the country, and to help educate our Democratic elected officials and other policy makers about key Jewish concerns - including Israel. So we certainly have a role when it comes to addressing policy toward Israel among Democratic office holders. We do work closely with our Democratic Party friends to bolster public opinion, but educating all Americans regarding support for Israel is a role that the entire American Jewish community pursues in a non-partisan way - engaging both sides of the aisle. 3. Why does one even need a NJDC when 4 out of 5 American Jews vote Democratic anyways?NJDC is needed to keep open the two-way flow of information that I described above, and to help American Jews make informed choices. The American Jewish community does not vote overwhelmingly Democratic out of habit; they don't merely do it because their parents did it, and because their parents did it before them, etc. American Jews vote Democratic because after achieving a key comfort level regarding Israel's security within the Democratic Party, they see that the wide array of other policies they care about are accurately reflected in this party. Our role is to keep Jews engaged in the political process throughout, and to keep the information flowing. In addition, political parties in America today play an essential role. NJDC's ability to play a vital role in the Democratic Party is a great asset to the American Jewish community. 4. Aren't you afraid that having an organization that is highlighting the religion of American congressional leaders and voters can be problematic? Can it not play into the hands of those thinking that "American Jews have too much power"?We don't spend much time highlighting the Jewishness of members of Congress, but the rich American tradition of Jewish civic engagement is positively worth celebrating. The United States is the first non-Jewish country where Jews have participated so fully in the political process; since the 1960's and 1970's, a number of political professions have become at first welcoming and later heavily occupied by American Jews. Jewish participation in American politics is good for America, good for American Jews and good for Israel. And civic engagement in the community in which we live is a Jewish imperative as well. 5. Do you - like some other American Jewish leaders - also hear rumors according to which more Jewish voters are now "concerned" about the policies of President Obama in the Middle East? Have I heard a rumor and received an e-mail in which someone expressed concern? Absolutely. Do I have any concern at all that President Barack Obama is committed to anything less than Israel's total and complete security? I have no such concern at all. I believe that a sharp double standard is at play here among some when comparing this president to previous presidents, and I can't fully explain why. Obama stood before the Arab world in Cairo and said that the U.S.-Israel bond is unbreakable, and that the Arab world's incitement to violence must end... and that isn't enough for the critics. He and his Secretary of State could not be clearer that a nuclear Iran - the most profound threat to Israel today - is a non-starter... and that isn't enough. In word and deed, this administration is working collaboratively to build Israel's security and attain regional peace like none before. I'm a Zionist and a lover of Israel to the core of my being, and I'm sleeping well at night in my position. 6. With so many Jews voting Democrats and so many Jewish legislators - what other goal can someone in your position hope to achieve in the coming years? While we are always looking to spread the Democratic message, we do not take a single Jewish vote for granted, and our work in the community continues unabated - regardless of the outcome of any single election. Our larger goals of working with officeholders - and the critical work within the Democratic Party - will be very much needed for many years to come.
1 | rll USA, Wednesday Aug 05, 2009
More republicans value Israel not because of the Jewish population, a less broad view of issues or any of that. It is very simple. Republicans value tradition, history, and heritige. Republicans believe in the Bible and believe that Israel and Jerusalem is God's chosen Holy Land and should be protected. Most Republicans are Christians and value life and peace, more than material objects and fame, as the democrates do. Many Americans may have been born in the USA but relate Isreal as the land of their (Heavenly) Father.
2 | Scott from Philadelphia, Wednesday Aug 05, 2009
David Harris is a man I highly respect and his allegiance to Obama, especially after expressing concerns following the meeting Obama had with predominantly left-wing Jewish organizations, is a bit surprising but makes me optimistic. I fail to believe that Harris has such a blind allegiance to the Democratic party that he would support Obama and his policies if he did not truly believe they were well-intentioned. My skepticism for Obama is ubiquitous, but Harris's "ok" is an interesting development and one I will follow closely. If Harris and Dershowitz flip, Israel is really in trouble.
3 | #2 and other Liberal Jews (redundant), Wednesday Aug 05, 2009
It doesn't matter if Obama's policies towards Jews and Israel are "well-intentioned", if they are wrong and dangerous then he should be called out. Whether American "Jews" admit it or not, they are more loyal to liberalism/universalism/anything-goes-ism than they are to Judaism. Why? Because they grew up without a proper Jewish education and the education they got (if they got any) was so watered down/gentile-like that they naturally are drawn to liberalism to fill the psychological void of being in the minority and not having a strong Jewish identity. I know, I'm one of these Jews.
4 | #2 and other Liberal Jews (redundant), Wednesday Aug 05, 2009
It doesn't matter if Obama's policies towards Jews and Israel are "well-intentioned", if they are wrong and dangerous then he should be called out. Whether American "Jews" admit it or not, they are more loyal to liberalism/universalism/anything-goes-ism than they are to Judaism. Why? Because they grew up without a proper Jewish education and the education they got was so watered down/gentile-like that they naturally are drawn to liberalism to fill the psychological void of being in the minority and not having a strong Jewish identity. I know, I'm one of these Jews. At least I'm fixing it
5 | Steve in Maryland, Wednesday Aug 05, 2009
Shmuel, your readers may benefit from knowing that there are two men named David A. Harris, both of whom are outstanding leaders of American Jewish community organizations in Washington DC: your guest, and the other David A. Harris, who heads the American Jewish Committee.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_A._Harris
Both are worthy of attention and both are entitled to their viewpoints, and, no doubt, neither would wish that their views be attributed to the other or the other's organization unwittingly.
6 | asc, Wednesday Aug 05, 2009
The premise of your "rumors" question, and thus the hedline of your post, is flawed. You are asking this: "Malcolm Hoenlein and others say they've heard from Obama supporters who are disaffected with the president. Do think that there is such disaffection, and if so, how widespread?" That gives Harris the chance to say, "I know Malcolm and others are saying this, but other than an occasional e-mail, I don't see that sort of disaffection." Then your hedline is, "NJDC chief says support for Obama isn't slipping among his Jewish allies." I think there's a distinction there.
7 | PZ, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
Scott, there's two different Jewish communal leaders named David A. Harris:
http://www.ajc.org/site/c.ijITI2PHKoG/b.817851/k.2E7F/AJC_Experts.htm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-a-harris
Looks like you have confused them.
8 | Rafi, Israel, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
The sad thing is, if not for Evangelica Republicans, Democrats led by Obama would have already thrown Israel under the bus long time ago, led by American Jews supporting pressure on Israel in order to demonstrate how loyal they are as Americans.
Lets summarize the fundamental problem with Obama: LINKAGE between IRAN nukes and ISRAEL/Palestinians. Such linkage exemplifies the emptiness and nievete of Obama's foreign policy. Obama is far from a great leader. He is a speach reader, and underaccomplished community organizer, who is now leading USA into many years of economic stagnation.
9 | Terry - Eilat, Israel, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
I think I'll throw up. This was positively nauseating. You can't even call this public relations, it's just outright propaganda, total BS. This is just part of the effort to BS Jews in America & Israel to sell Obama's anti-Israel policies. Remove the BS rhetoric & you have zero substance. So, Mr Harris had no problem with Obama's Cairo speech? He thinks Jerusalem is a ''settlement'' & I guess also believes that Israeli law does not apply to E. Jerusalem. Not a word about Arabs refusing to even consider moves to ''normailize'' relations with Israel.
10 | Terry - Eilat, Israel, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
Notice, not a comment on the Fatah conference where anyone with even half a brain could see their unwillingness for any kind of peace. Maybe Mr Harris just doesn't read newspapers or anything else except Obama's speeches? The left wing of the Democratic party is anti-Israel & drifting into anti-Semitism just like their looney-left counterparts in Europe. In my opinion, either Mr Harris is just a dupe & a fool or he is a very dishonest man with no integrity, a liar. He sounds a lot like Dershowitz who is so blinded by his loyalty to the Democrat Party he can't see reality.
11 | Terry - Eilat, Israel, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
Mr Harris also seemingly has no problem with Obama's Iran policy, if you can call impotence a policy.
I guess Mr Harris would also say that Neville Chamberlain was a great success. What exactly is Obama doing about Iran? The fanatics in Teheran are laughing at Obama, they think he is a weak fool & have openly rejected stopping their nuclear program. The truth is that the Obama administration has tacitly accepted the idea of a nuclear-armed Iran. So tell me, Mr Harris, how does that improve Israel's security? Why has Obama sent his stooges here to STOP Israel from taking action?
12 | Ori ,Hertzliya Israel, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
This is Unbelievable ! The truth is that the Democratic party has moved to the left and now almost identical to the european left in its attitude towards Israel ! I urge everyone to go to the most popular weblogs of the american left: Huffington post,Daily kos ,and see how vile and hatefull are the comments directed at Israel!.On every issue:Jerusalem,Iran,Syria The Republicans are in the line with most Israeli's while the Dems agree with the palestinian position! Check out how anti israel the new york times compares to the new york post and there is one conclusion:onlyTHE GOP Supports Israel!
13 | Terry - Eilat, Israel, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
I read a great quote recently that is most appropriate to Obama. It was in one of the great comedy classics by the Marx Bros. - Chico Marx says, ''Who are you going to believe, me or your eyes?"
Mr Harris is doing a Chico Marx impression. By the way, when people say Obama is a Marxist, you could take it for a double meaning. It's not just Karl Marx, the Obama administration functions like the Marx Bros. judging by their use of Orwellin language to cover up incompetence.
14 | Terry - Eilat, Israel, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
People like Mr Harris count on people being naive, gullible, & uninformed. Mr Harris is a salesman, he is selling BS. I ran a large sales organization for a while - we called this, ''painting a pretty picture'' & I stopped the practice among my sales staff because it was unethical. Of course, I was selling a much better product than Mr Harris, I didn't have to lie & obfuscate, my product had a good track record, solid history of success. Can Mr Harris say the same for his product? Let him explain the great history of success that Obama's policies are based on. You know, like Oslo.
15 | moron galut, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
of 12 jewish democrats in the senate only one-lieberman who democrats threw under the bus and won re-election as independent would vote to even allow john bolton,s appointment (israels best friend since reagan)as un ambassador to be considered---dems support identity politics(racism),class warfare(covet)liberal values(read gay and feminist agendas) and appeasement--none of them traditional jewish values-this official and countless others like him are simply interested in their own influence--jews support the left at their own peril--what good has it ever done anyone but its apologists?
16 | Yacov Yosifovitch NYC :ISLAMicPakistan"STOLEN-LAND"FrmINDIA, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
Note: Islamic Pakistan (W. & E.) is on "Stolen-Landa", not SABRAsL, from Peacefull & Ancient India! Not Aegypt? Amazing; Recently SAUDI Arabous's mouth-PEACE? 'Amelech' ABDULLA (not little-ABDULLA of JORDAN) said to HIS (not OUR) Divided, but Jealous/Mad iSHMAEL Brohood, but not Sisterhood?;, "...the ARROGANT & CRiMINIAL ENEMY [Sabra's]....." [similar said]. May the-Real scorpion-King ABDULLAH stand-up!? This amelech, of THEOCRAT + MONARCH ARAB?, aka EX-IiDOL worshiping Desert kings ,of the SOUTH (Invaded GAZA&JERU 632/9 AD) suddenly turned ISLAM, via STOLEN ABE-Religion, is SATAN!
17 | Mike Feldman, Canada, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
#!14 Terry. I, too, have managed a sales force. Where I come from, we call it putting lipstick on the pig. (I believe Biden said something like that about Pailin). In a blog about a week ago I noted that Obama is in the process of naming a "behavioral" Czar, to determine what people are thinking and how the government can alter the message to change the way people think to be in line with govenment policy. Sorta brainwashing-lite. Harris within the "Israeli issue" is an attempt to fulfill a similar function. But his preaching to the left wing choir and he won't get any converts from the other side.
18 | Gardis - CT - USA, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
Living in the USA, not a Jew, but have worked for Hasidim for 13 years. I can only say to you, PLEASE READ Post #12 above! Heed the advice, and go check out those websites. If you can stand the rank vulgarity, you will be shocked at the anti-Israel sentiment, even by Jews. Remember, the apostates Rahm Emanuel and David Axelrod are in the WH! Post #3, you hit it right also. Good post.
19 | Yacov Yosifovitch "SATANIC-SAUDi" Isnot-HALAL-KOSHER-anymore, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
continued On SATANIic Words by Abdullah Re-visited, according to Salman Rushdie's expos'e http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Satanic_Verses. Note: The copy-cat Arab Word (not in Malaysian or Indonesian... musloms, not-ARABous muslims) "AL TAQIYAH"ism, that Mr. Rushdie & Co., did not mention, and so like saying Hallal (Kosher) ,means "Infiltrate, secretly/stealthly the Infidel, aka 'Non-Believers" includes 'People-Of-The-Books', wherever they are & take-Back our- World, not theirs...All in the '99-names, of ALLAH' (Hashem, Ishvara, Yaweh, Lord, The-Rock.., not by1000+ Names oftheSame G-D anymore?
20 | Gardis - CT - USA, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
Another question: how does an observant Jew support a President who is so radically left in his position on abortion? Isn't abortion against Judaism? This President's position on abortion is to the LEFT of Planned Parenthood. I cannot understand how Jews support this man.
21 | Sally - U.S.A., Thursday Aug 06, 2009
Since Mr. Harris claims that democrats in the House, Senate and White House "take a back seat to nobdy in their support for Israel" and he "does not take any Jewish vote for granted," here are my concerns which I want rectified.
1. Why is Mr. Obama giving Mary Robinson the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom? Ms. Robinson was responsible for the Durban I conference, which is a "meeting of hatred characterized by wickedness" and a "moral catastrophe." (Elie Wiesel) Tom Lantos thoroughly documented Robinson's counter-productive acts of omission & commision as UN human rights chief. Her "biasness
22 | daat y, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
David Harris is in complete denial of reality.Obama's security for Israel is out on an island in the Pacific Ocean.WHOEVER CANNOT SEE THAT OBAMA MEDDLES ONLY IN ISRAEL IS DELUSIONAL.
23 | Sally - U.S.A., Thursday Aug 06, 2009
she displayed as UN human rights chief was one -sided criticism of Israel matched with indifference to Palestinian terrorism." If Mr. Obama is claiming that she is "an agent of change," it appears to me that she changed things for the worse.
2. Why did Mr. Obama join the UN HRC and appoint as its head Ms. Powers? - Samantha Powers - the perpetuator of the false "Jenin Massacre" is now head of the U.S.'s UN Human Rights Council. The UN Human Rights Council is notorious for its anti-Israeli castigations and prior to Mr. Obama, the U.S. did not sit on the Council because of its views.
24 | Sally - U.S.A., Thursday Aug 06, 2009
3. Why is Mr. Obama continuously and repeatedly berating Israel on the settlement issue when Mr. Bush had an agreement with Israel about settlements on which Mr. Obama is reneging? (See Olmert's article in the Washington Post.)
4. Why did Mr. Obama tell AIPAC one united Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty & then switch 24 hours later & say "that is up to the parties?" Why did Mr. Obama do this when the U.S. has written into law that the U.S. embassy to Israel is to be in Jerusalem & Jerusalem is to remain united under Israel? Why has the U.S. not moved its embassy to Israel to Jerusalem yet?
25 | Yacov Yosifovitch aLebanese+Israeli+W.Bank-UNITED-STATES-now, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
W-A-R-N-i-N-G. Not only SATAN iRANi potential "SHiA'-islamic-A-BOMB" but, By "AL TAQIYAH"ist (Islamic Zionists) Wahabi-bi's Theocrat+Monarch SUNNi-Saudi's are , by Proxy, Owners of the PAKISTAN (Khan/king/amelech) "SUNNY'-islamic-A-Bomb"! Yes, king/Khans/Shahs of ARABian's, stealthly now-owns an Atomic-Bomb! Hear YE Hear Ye O' Dear Middle-East; Divide ME as The-S.outh ("SHARiA" Orthodox Lovers) and The-N.orth ("SECULAR" Orthodox Lovers) Remember "Seculari"sm is a Religion too! UNITE! UNITE Leban-Army/Police+Israel-Army/+W.Bank Palistine-Police. w/aSECULAR-CONSTITUTION not Halakah/Sharia!
26 | Sally - U.S.A., Thursday Aug 06, 2009
5. Why, Mr. Harris, are you parsing Mr. Obama's Cairo Speech & only "claiming" Mr. Obama's stand on the U.S. bond with Israel while Mr. Obama has resorted to revisionist history of the Jewish people being in the land of Israel since the holocaust and used moral equivalency to equate the Jewish people to keeping the Arab Palestinians in slavery and called the murder and terror of the Jewish people non peaceful resistance? Why are you not appalled and sickened by his Cairo Speech as the Jewish community is? Why have you not strongly informed Mr. Obama how outraged the Jewish community is?
27 | Sally - U.S.A., Thursday Aug 06, 2009
6. Why as a zionist did you not insist that Mr. Obama meet with the head of the American Zionist Organization when he met with other Jewish leaders?
7. Why on earth would you still support Mr. Obama's treatment of Israel when, whatever his intentions, the Saudis said no! to recognition of Israel.
8. Why have you not pushed Mr. Obama to force fatah & hamas to renounce violance and accept Israel as a Jewish state?
9. Why have you allowed Mr. Obama to change his words from no nuclear Iran to no nuclear weapon Iran and not hold him accountable?
28 | Sally - U.S.A., Thursday Aug 06, 2009
10. How come you have not denounce Walt's and Meisheimer's "The Israel Lobby?' It's a good thing that the Russian secret police did not have a copyright on the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" otherwise they be in court or is that the reset button that Hiliary Clinton pushed? If you believe that Jewish participation is good for America, how could you stomach such a work by fellow democrats?
These are just but a few of the many questions that I'd appreciate if Mr. Harris would address.
29 | Yacov Yosifovitch :How to Kill Sharia&Halakah w/the 3-ROCK"s, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
Note: On U.S. of "LiP" (Lebani+iSraeli+Palisti) idea: Sharia isnt Kosher. Halakah isnt Halal either. niether is the Swine? Flu nor the Bird?Flu THAT; Modern-Israel (has aAbrahamic A-Bomb, not VEDIC/ISLAMic) is Not-"Ancient"-Israel anymore; same goes for "Modern" Palistinians+Lebanians via Sabra-ians (have a real Abrahamic-A-Bomb now) Soo, OUR-non-flat WORLD, aka S.S. Earth, needs to "FIGHT" & "U-N-i-T-E", All "OUR" (not AL TAQIYAHists) confused N.orthrn Brothers&Sisters too, in all the real/G-D given LANDs of the Three Great, SECULAR potential, "U.S. of L+i+P".So Goodbye S.outhrn ARABous's!!
30 | Mike Feldman, Canada, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
Well done Sally. The silver lining is the fact that Hilary Clinton is encouraged and optimistic about recent pronouncements from Saudi Arabia and Jordon. I suppose if Israel said screw you we're going full speed with new settlements she'd say "we're making progress towards peace".
31 | Terry - Eilat, Israel, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
#17 Mike Feldman. So you know all about salesman's BS which is what Mr Harris is basically about. The unfortunate truth, however, is that this works with the uninformed & well-intentioned, nice liberal people who have only the most superficial knowledge of history, politics in the Middle-East, & who only give a quick glance at mainstream media such as the NYT, BBC, CNN, even Fox. The general public, including Jews, has been dumbed-down & brainwashed by an avalanche of liberal BS for so long that they swallow rhetoric even if it has little or no connexion to reality.
32 | Yacov Yosifovitch "POTEOZ" isaCZARist&STALiN-blessed-Product, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
#28: According to OUr STALiN-Shoah'd Victimized Mother THAT, the E. Orthodox "CZARist"-Monarchic Russki's&Bruski's who created that so called MYTH (opposite of TRUTH; like someone-elses man-made, not thee G-D made, Chumash/Bibles, Quran/Korans & Geeta/Kangyurs et al) "POTEOZ"! Today Them "JEALOUS" Wahabi-bi Saudi ISLAMICA Southrn-BADuions? have thr versionof "ZiON"ism, called "AL TAQIYAH"! No "Lobby"ists shall ignor This Satanic Conspiracy! Sudenly Hijack'd "ABE"-Religion; iSLAM? Hijack's OUR/"ATOMS" or Theirs? Note: "COMMUNiSM" is a type-Of-Zionism, So is "HiNDUTVA"ism PleaseSee-thmWORDs!
33 | Terry - Eilat, Israel, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
SALLY - USA. Bravo. You should be conducting a public interview with Mr Harris. Thanks for listing all the ''Obamaisms'' that I was too lazy to list. Great job, really.
If Mr Haris had any integrity, he would have brought up these issues himself & offered some kind of explanation & perhaps voiced some concerns. But, of course, he doesn't have any integrity or he wouldn't support Obama.
34 | Ray Saperstein, Baltimore,MD, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
Obama may be concerned about the security of Israel, but security is in the eyes of the beholder. How many times have we heard that someone is in favor of security for Israel, but then demands that Israel promote Palestinian economic growth by removing roadblocks, which can have the effect of reducing Israeli security. Security may be like pornography- you may not be able to define it, but you think you know it when you see it. The problem is that security for Israel from the American or European standpoint is not necessarily the same security from an Israeli viewpoint.
35 | Steven J, Florida, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
Jewish Americans are Americans. We are Americans first. So Israelis must understand that President Obama represents American interests. It is not the same as Israel's or it's lobbies in washington. So stopping bugging us. We do not need some washington lobby reprenting Israel telling us who to vote. We will tell Israel when she builds settlements, abuses minorities and breaks international norms. Americans have the right to speak out. Lets not forget who give biilions to you in dollars and high tech weapons. America vetos for Israel while Israel shows arrogance.
36 | Mladen Andrijasevic, Be'er Sheva, Israel, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
David A. Harris says: ‘Do I have any concern at all that President Barack Obama is committed to anything less than Israel's total and complete security? I have no such concern at all.” Terry, you are quite right. This is nauseating. It is sad that these people do not understand that they are demeaning themselves by claiming such explicit nonsense. As Solzhenitsyn wrote in The Gulag Archipelago, people used to be terrified to be the first to stop applauding when Stalin spoke so the applause would last for dozens of minutes while their hands would hurt, and yet they all would continue.
37 | Mladen Andrijasevic, Be'er Sheva, Israel, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
It is therefore quite disgusting to see that in the US where no life threatening situation hovers over their heads, politicians like David A. Harris are willing to lie point blank. They insult the intelligence of the Jerusalem Post readers, they insult 92 percent of Israelis who think the Obama administration is not pro Israel, and most of all they betray the ideals of the West at a time when moral clarity is essential. It is fascinating how during the Cold War the West had a clear understanding of what the totalitarian regimes stood for.
38 | Mladen Andrijasevic, Be'er Sheva, Israel, Thursday Aug 06, 2009
Diplomats like George F. Kennan set clear goals in defense of the Western world, and almost all understood the importance of confronting the totalitarian regimes. Today many are afraid to define the enemy let alone fight it. At the time when Israel is facing a nuclear Iran they support ObamaÂ’s absurd emphasis on the settlements. How is it possible that the West has lost its soul in less than 20 years?
39 | Claudia, Tampa, FL USA, Friday Aug 07, 2009
Mladen, I believe that the liberal Dems here in America are committed to nothing less than the destruction of conservative America as I knew it. Narscistic Obama is terrified of confronting any regime that will fight back even just with words. Look at his indifferent behavior towards Iran during their corrupt election, and playing nice with Chavez while blasting Honduras for replacing their president ACCORDING TO THEIR CONSTITUTION when he tried to do a Chavez take over on the people. Obama is stupid about history and he is totally inept at foreign policy, which means so is his staff!
40 | Claudia, Tampa, FL USA, Friday Aug 07, 2009
Mladen, and this David Harris, if he hasn't heard the rumblings about discontent in the Jewish community regarding Obama and Emanuel's policy on Israel he is a liar. But Obama, et al are lying about the protests from citizens on domestic policy so of course they will lie about anything!
41 | Ben K NY, Friday Aug 07, 2009
What about the repeated public bullying of Israel and refusal to honour a publicly exchanged letter from Pres Bush to PM Sharon regarding large settlement blocs and Palestinian refugees!?
On the other hand I don't think we;ve heard as often and as blunt demands that Hamas end it's policies of violence and recognize Israel's right to exist, even as they control Gaza!
I haven't heard demands on the PA to act as if it truly wants a Palestinian state finally, which is what they claim, - as opposed to just wanting to take away what it can from the "infidels."
42 | elliot_456@yahoo.com, Friday Aug 07, 2009
to steven j "35- israel withdrew from lebanon and gaza and was rewarded with attacks-settlements do not necessarily impede peace as arabs are actually settled in israel; international norms set where? in the dictators club that is the un?aid has already beezn cut by half to israel which itself contributes to regional security and lastly, but for leftists the american people can look at a map,see 22 corrupt arab nations threatening a tiny jewish state and continue to support israel--jews who need to support the left no matter what are not defending american interests either
43 | moron galut, Friday Aug 07, 2009
i just sent comment and placed e-mail address in name and location spot by mistake___please do not publish e_mail address'( or comment itself if you cant replace address with name-thanx)
44 | Terry - Eilat, Israel, Friday Aug 07, 2009
#36/37/38 Mladen Andrijasevic, Beersheva. I don't think this is the first time that the West has lost it's soul. As far as Jews are concerned, the West never had a soul. Agreed, after 1948, many in the West realized the threat posed by Soviet Bolshevism & Communist ideology generally. Today, of course, the political elites in the West are not willing to define the enemy & many actually could be called enablers of an ideology that seeks to destroy them & us. You have only to look at Britain as an example of politically correct multi-culturalist politicians undermining their own society.
45 | Shalom Freedman, Friday Aug 07, 2009
Rosner did not ask the real questions regarding U.S. pressure on Israel in many ways. He did not ask the question about focusing on Israel to do things, while the Arabs get away with doing nothing for peace. He did not ask why nothing real has been done to stop Iran. Softball.
46 | Shalom Freedman, Friday Aug 07, 2009
Rosner did not ask the real questions regarding U.S. pressure on Israel in many ways. He did not ask the question about focusing on Israel to do things, while the Arabs get away with doing nothing for peace. He did not ask why nothing real has been done to stop Iran. Softball.
47 | Terry - Eilat, Israel, Friday Aug 07, 2009
#35 Steven J. Florida. You say American Jews are Americans first - fine. No one is saying otherwise. It does not follow, however, to say that support for Obama's policies equals support for America's interests, & that applies to both foreign & domestic policy & not just concerning Israel. Many Americans DO NOT support Obama, at least 50% at last count. Obama's popularity continues to decline in the polls. So, when you say ''America's interests'' you need to be specific about what is in America's interests & exactly how Obama has furthered those interests.
48 | GOLDEN NUGGET Australia, Friday Aug 07, 2009
#35 Steven..Your President is a DUD. He struts the world stage, posing and pontificating and making an ass of himself with his double dealing,walking both sides of the street stratagies...achieving zilch
...zero...nada. We watch what he does,not what he says. As for you Americans, you have been sold a lemon...he will bring America to it's knees and America will rue the day he was elected President....As to Israel...this crafty anti-semite muslim is by stealth engineering the demise of Israel.
America should undersand that It needs Israel more than it realises...yep...better believe it.
49 | Sally - U.S.A., Friday Aug 07, 2009
#35 - I am American and I am speaking out. If you wish to answer any of my 10 questions, please do so. Let me make a very important point, neither you nor Mr. Obama "knows what is best for me!" The reason: because I, like Israel, suffer the consequences from what I say or do - not you and not Mr. Obama. For example, if Iran develops a nuclear bomb, it is aimed at Israel, not the U.S. Since you insist on a quid pro quo, I will give it. What does the U.S. get from Israel for its money? 1. votes - Mr. Obama is in office because of Jewish votes & I do not like a bait & switch.
50 | Amnon, the Great AMERICAN Southwest, Friday Aug 07, 2009
A paid partisan hack. Oh, its "rumors", like the 900 mil going to Hamas is a rumor. Like Obie screaming over Settlements almost every single day while remaining stone silent over the rapes and murders in Iran is a rumor. Or the sending of Gates and Jones to deter Israel from protecting itself is a rumor. And, of course Harris, his cronies Marc Stanley and Ira Forman don't even want you to know about the awarding of the Medal of Freedom to Mary Robinson, a vicious Israel-hater. That's a rumor too.
If Hitler were a Democrat Harris would make excuses for him. And call his policies rumors too.
51 | Amnon, the Great AMERICAN Southwest, Friday Aug 07, 2009
By the way, I sent in a rebuttal to the NDJC refuting everything Marc Stanley, Harris's sidekick wrote about the "chutzpah" of Obie's Jewish critics. Not a word in response though my message was full of facts, unlike the vomit Stanley posted. That's the way of the NDJC, like their friends in J Street or the "Israel" Policy Forum they lie, they twist facts, and they will never respond when confronted with the truth. They know fully well that Obama's party is much more close in ideology to David Duke and Wright than it is to Hubert Humphrey.
2010 is around the corner. Send them a message.
52 | Sally - U.S.A., Friday Aug 07, 2009
2. Israel is the only democracy in the region. Yes, the U.S. votes in the U.N. with Israel & Israel votes in the U.N. to help the U.S. The U.S. knows that no matter who is elected in Israel, it will remain a stable democracy - the U.S. does not know which despot or how he will rule, say 5 years from now, in the other non-democratic countries. As for your contention that Israel abuses its minorities - if you have a specific case, take it to Israeli court (they will deal with it & probably to your satisfaction); otherwise, I would not make general allegations unless you can back it up.
53 | Sally - U.S.A., Friday Aug 07, 2009
You have the right in the Israel democracy to write your opinion in this Israeli newspaper or any other Israeli newspaper. Nobody censored it or went after you. That would not be the case in the other non-democratic countries. So you just disproved your own claim.
3. The U.S. benefits from Israeli technology, intelligence, etc... For example, if or when Israel caught a Soviet MIG, who do think had access to it?
54 | Sally - U.S.A., Friday Aug 07, 2009
4. Israel gives full access to all people and to all religions. The holy places for all religions are safeguarded and access to these places for all people is secure. At no other time could this be said. Now, is Israel perfect? No, but as in any democracy, it is the best thing around. (I think the U.S. would only call itself a more perfect union.) As for your contention that Israel breaks international norms, if you call calling zionism as racism an international norm. I think Martin Luther King would be guilty & he said anyone who calls zionism as racism is really anti-semitism.
55 | Jonah in Jamaica, Saturday Aug 08, 2009
There is a reason 80% of Americans living in Israel voted for McCain versus 78% of US Jews voting for Obama It may be partially related to the type of person and strong Zionist feelings they have which brought them to Israel in the first place.I suspect that the main reason is that the Israeli-Americans have to live with the Arab- Iranian threat and are much more aware of BS emanating from Obama. John Kennedy did not tolerate the threat of missles in Cuba and Israel cannot tolerate the threat at its door. Solution - ignore Obama and protect Israel . Whatever it takes.
56 | GOLDEN NUGGET, Saturday Aug 08, 2009
#35 Steven..those billions to Israel you speak of...in terms of value...try to wrap your (thus far demonstrated by you as bigoted) mind as to Israel's genuine proven trustworthy loyaties to America..just try using your moral sense of values. Actually those billions in relative terms represent only a down payment on what America is indebted to Israel....yep...you better believe it.
57 | GOLDEN NUGGET Australia, Saturday Aug 08, 2009
#35 Steven...the billions to Israel represent in relative and moral terms just a token reflection to the genuine trustworthy loyalty of Israel to America. Let's not forget the Soviet days when Israel then
as it is now remained America's bastion in the Middle East. Israel remains America's ONE and ONLY
genuine friends in a sea of American hating Islamists. Sadly given your bigotry you are unwilling or incapable of wraping your mind around such FACTS.
58 | NWC - Seattle, Saturday Aug 08, 2009
Its pretty clear that Obama's foreign policy is, generally speaking, not supportive of Israel. Be prepared for an administration every bit as hostile to Israel as Bush I (I refer to the man whose Secretary of State remarked "fuck the Jews" they don't vote for us anyway.
I have some misgivings about Netanyahu, especially in terms of his domestic policies, but he is absolutely right,...and Obama was wrong. Had there been Israel in the 1920s or 1930s there would have been no holocaust.
59 | Dan Richter, Los Angeles, Saturday Aug 08, 2009
Any president that equates the Holocaust to the "suffering" of the palestenians is an uneducated and biased president. If Jews working for this president "take no back seat" as harris claims then why did I not hear one word of crticim from them? I'll tell you why - becuase they too are biased against israel too and they would not care one iota if this president throws israel under the bus. We live in dangerous times and God bless the evengelical Christians that support Israel.
60 | Clark Dees, NY, Saturday Aug 08, 2009
The bottom line is that Obama does not care about Israel and cares only about being loved by more people (there are, I think more Arabs in this world than jews- Right?). How can anyone care for Israel after sitting in a church of Rev. Wright spewing hate towards israel- and he sat there for 20 years. Harris - wake up.
61 | Sara Levy, Wednesday Aug 12, 2009
I agree with #60, Clark Dees, NY. Everything he writes is correct. Obama is a nice looking charismatic and intelligent young man with a gift of gab. He talks and talks and talks. I also question how he could have sat in church for TWENTY WHOLE YEARS listening to his friend and preacher spout anti-American, anti-white, and anti-semitic words. If you don't agree with a minister or rabbi, you go elsewhere. There are plenty of houses of worship to chose from. So, will the real Barak Obama please stand up! P.S. Reverend Wright looks more white than black, right?
62 | GOLDEN NUGGET Australia, Thursday Aug 13, 2009
#61 Sara..HussienO is a phoney hiding behind his office of "respectabilitiy"...he boasted his Muslim
"Heritige"...knelt in front of the personification of Islam,Abdulla,in the soul of Islam land, Saudi Arabia...
continues to kiss the collective asses of the Muslim World....craftily and stealthily engineering Israel's
demise with his fork tongue double talk...and so the list goes on..Well Sara, the real OBAMA??....ALL
of the above...add..a black man in the white house with a "black" heart. whose heart and soul lies with Islam....A DISGRACE...yep..a disgrace..
63 | , Thursday Aug 13, 2009
64 | joe guest fort worth texas, Thursday Aug 13, 2009
The truth is , most Americans couldn't point Israel out on a map of the world . Republicans seem to agree on the surface with Israeli policies, but sometime this is to a type of political correctness that usually gets obliterated when Israel really needs a strong , loud vocal majority of support from the United States. A good example is the last conflict with Lebanon (a.k.a known as Hezbollah). Any Nation in the world would and should have used a very heavy handed approach to this war. But the rest of the world should have then and now let Israel take care of Lebanon, Syria and Iran!
65 | So Cal Mike, So Cal, USA, Sunday Aug 16, 2009
Like too many democrats, David Harris is blind.
Why waste your breath on people for whom religion is politics?
You have a better chance of convincing Bin Laden to convert to Judaism than ever rationally connecting with the braindead and the brainwashed.
66 | Eli, Los Angeles, Sunday Aug 23, 2009
Obama's foreign and domestic policy are equally bad. Foreign: weak on Iran, not just nukes but democracy, coddling the despot Chavez, wrongheaded on Honduras. Israel: obsessed with the right of Jews to add a room to their house in Jerusalem,Judea, Samaria. Mary Robinson hates Israel AND the U.S. Dhimmi speech to th Arabs which never mentioned democracy and mis-stated Israel's history, stating that Zionism was a post holocaust phenomenon. Domestic: socialism pure and simple, taxing innovators, bailing out deadbeats from homeowners to financial companies to auto companies to bankrupt states.
67 | Eli, Sunday Aug 23, 2009
Obama cont'd...I am a physician and can tell you that what he is proposing will be a disaster. Medicare is already bankrupt without adding millions more freeloaders. Our system is not perfect but why do more "medical tourists" come here than any other country? Our cancer survival rates are the highest in the world. Our life expectancy-not the highest, because we love our cars, motorcycles, guns and extreme sports and we have too may very old and very young mothers. Insurance companies are a necessary evil- profits? Their profits would pay for FOUR DAYS of medical care for all Americans.
68 | Eli, Los Angeles, Sunday Aug 23, 2009
The 78% of Jews who voted for Obama include many Jews in name only. Trends are not on their side. In the Jewish circles in which I travel even in a liberal city like Los Angeles, Jews who are committed to Israel activism or religious observance are strongly Republican. Statistically there are a lot of Jewish seniors who vote Democratic like automatons, but their grandchildren are overwhelmingly not Jewish. In Baltimore 85% of Orthodox Jews voted for McCain. 40% of American Jews under 18 are Orthodox. The local Republican Jewish Coalition here has seen dramatic growth in the last 5yrs
69 | Morton Friedman Lanham, MD, Monday Aug 24, 2009
One can trace the jewish vote for Democrats to the early days of organized labor. A period where Republican governments fought against Labor. Note the origins of the Labor movement by Jews. That label has been difficult to break. A good example is my ignorant mother, who votes as my father's union tells her. She never reads a newspaper, her knowledge of the world around her is miniscule. A true lock-step voter. And she is not alone. FDR's propaganda machine continued it. What is even worse, today, is Rabbis for Obama, liberals with rose-colored glasses.
70 | C.W. not an M.D., Wednesday Aug 26, 2009
Obama sat for twenty years under the preaching of vicious antisemite Jeremiah Wright, was baptized by him and only repudiated Wright's views at the 11th hour. A Jew voting for Obama is like a chicken voting for Col. Sanders. Israel will be pressured for yet more concessions, and no US action will be taken toward Iran. As a great orator Obama will make speeches, engage in dialogues, under the delusion that if he says it like he means it, that will make it real. The liberal Jews that voted for Obama would willingly follow him to the ovens.
71 | Jonathan, Wednesday Aug 26, 2009
I grew up with David Harris in West Lafayette and know him and his family to be fantastic people and very dedicated Zionists and Jews. With that said, I do believe that our President's ME policies and speeches (even if well intentioned, and I wouldn't reflexively assume as such) have done significant harm to Israel AND America. Trying to placate thugs/terrorists/dictators/etc. by putting pressure on Israel does Israel and America no good. Obama's speech in Cairo, though on the surface sounded strong and eloquent, fed into some of the worst lies being propagated by the Arab/Muslim world.
72 | Douglas, Yuma, Arizona, Friday Aug 28, 2009
Has the support of Israel cause a good relationship with the Arabic countries when they do not respect Israel's right to exist let alone defend itself when attack.
I am still trying to figure out just who you are defending, i.e. Nr. 70 and Nr. 71 have it correct.
I wonder it you can see the truth even when it is in your face. Are you for the county or not. Does Israel have the unfettered right to defend itself regardless of the USA support. Do not be fooled. Remember ninety ninety percent of snake venom is protein it is the one tenth of one percent that kills you.
73 | Robert, Boston, Tuesday Sep 01, 2009
To 58. The truth Hurts, so lets put it in perspective. I am a FORMER DEMOCRAT, who PROUDLY voted for McCain. I recall Baker's comment and at the time I was offended. Not anymore because he spoke the truth. When the liberal left hijacked the Democratic party it was a game changer. Hussein, Rahm, Axelrod,Wright, Soros, J Street all swim in the same cesspool. When 78% of the Jews blindly voted for Hussein, and rejected McCain who said that he WILL NOT TOLERATE ANOTHER HOLOCAUST, that vindicates Baker. BHO is saying F.. the Jews they vote for us anyway. Time to decondition Pavlov's dogs the 78%.
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The Israel Factor, Sep. 2009: Obama is rapidly losing favor with panel of Israeli experts
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