If Barack Obama was Barry Smith, Would Some Jews Still Not Trust Him?

As many of you are by now aware, Sen. Obama spoke at this year's AIPAC summit the other day. For those of you that do not know, AIPAC represents the Israel lobby in Washington D.C. and is one of the top 5 most influential interest groups in the country. As many of you might also be aware, some Jewish Americans do not trust Obama, and think that if he is elected, Israel will be destroyed. Obama opened his remarks to the conference by stating:

Before I begin, I also want to mention that I know some have been receiving provocative e-mails that have been circulating throughout Jewish communities across the country. A few of you may have gotten them. They’re filled with tall tales and dire warnings about a certain candidate for president. And all I want to say is — let me know if you see this guy named Barack Obama, because he sounds pretty scary.

I thought it was a funny and aggressive way to take the issue on head first, but was the speech effective? For starters, lets try and figure out how we got to this point. Ironically, there are some on the left that think Obama is too "pro-Israel". Furthermore, The Jerusalem Post and Haaretz Daily, two reasonable and mainstream Israeli newspapers, have recently published articles debunking these myths. But why did they have to? Why did these myths develop in the first place?

The truth is, I really don't know the answer, and I am actually asking you, the reader, to please explain it to me. Could it be are the above mentioned emails, some of which read as follows, courtesy of JTA (Jewish Telegraphic Agency), an actively pro-Israel news organization:

The following is an example of an e-mail including fabrications and distortions
about presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) now circulating among
U.S. Jews. The origins of this particular e-mail appear to be in Israel; JTA is
attempting to track it to the original source.--

Who is Barack Obama? Very interesting and something that should be considered in your choice. If you do not ever forward anything else, please forward this to all your contacts...this is very scary to think of what lies ahead of us here in our own United States ...better heed this and pray about it and share it.We checked this out on "snopes.com". It is factual. Check for yourself. Who is Barack Obama? Probable U. S. presidential candidate, Barack Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a black MUSLIM from Nyangoma-Kogel, Kenya and Ann Dunham, a white ATHEIST from Wichita, Kansas. Obama's parents met at the University of Hawaii. When Obama was two years old, his parents divorced. His father returned to Kenya . His mother then married Lolo Soetoro, a RADICAL Muslim from Indonesia. When Obama was 6 years old, the family relocate to Indonesia. Obama attended a MUSLIM school in Jakarta . He also spent two years in a Catholic school. Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim. He is quick to point out that, "He was once a Muslim, but that he also attended Catholic school." Obama's political handlers are attempting to make it appear that that he is not a radical. Obama's introduction to Islam came via his father, and that this influence was temporary at best. In reality, the senior Obama returned to Kenya soon after the divorce, and never again had any direct influence over his son's education. Lolo Soetoro, the second husband of Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, introduced his stepson to Islam. Obama was enrolled in a Wahabi school in Jakarta . Wahabism is the RADICAL teaching that is followed by the Muslim terrorists who are now waging Jihad against the western world. Since it is politically expedient to be a CHRISTIAN when seeking major public office in the United States, Barack Hussein Obama has joined the United Church of Christ in an attempt to downplay his Muslim background. ALSO, keep in mind that when he was sworn into office he DID NOT use the Holy Bible, but instead the Koran. Barack Hussein Obama will NOT recite the Pledge of Allegiance nor will he show any reverence for our flag. While others place their hands over their hearts, Obama turn s his back to the flag and slouches. Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected presidential candidacy. The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside out, what better way to start than at the highest level - through the President of the United States , one of their own!!!! Please forward to everyone you know. Would you want this man leading our country?...... NOT ME!!

The"facts" of this email have been debunked and are widely known to be untrue. And while we are at it, does anyone still trust an email that begins by stating that you must email it to everyone you know and that it is true because Snopes.com says it is? I doubt that the recipients of the email aren't influenced at all by its contents. I have to think that most people in the Jewish community do not Obama because of an email.

The Weekly Standard, a publication run mostly by Jewish Neo-Conservatives, published a piece stating that Obama attended a dinner in 2003 where someone mentioned that the Palestinians must have their own country or there will never be peace. Well, not only is that sentiment true, it is also the official policy of both the Israeli and American government to make this happen, precisely because of the accuracy of the premise. That is the entire idea behind a two state solution, the core idea behind Camp David II, the Quartet, ect...

So can that really be it? In my opinion, the answer is no, but I might be wrong. Again, I ask, what is the problem here? Why do some Jewish Americans distrust this man? And again I remind you, I really don't know the answer to this question.

I am Jewish, I have been to Israel four times and used to work for an Israeli organization. I usually think I understand the American Jewish community, but this I don't get. I don't think it is solely because he is black, though I think for some that plays a part. Rather, I think it is a gut feeling many get from his name, and the association that anyone with the middle name of Hussein, whose last name sounds like Osama, who lived in Indonesia (even though he was 5 at the time) could ever be fair to Israel. If I am right, this opens several very large cans of worms.

If you are an American Jew that cares more about Israel then the United States, I ask you, what does it mean for America to be good to Israel? Funding? Protection? Isn't the most important premise hold that a strong America is best for Israel? Wouldn't McCain, who in essence wants to continue Bush's economic and foreign policies that have weakened this country thus weaken Israel?

This mistrust does not make sense, which is, I think, my point. There is no logic to this mistrust, it is a visceral, emotional reaction to a man that reminds them of people they do not trust, merely because of his name and skin color.

That is my guess at least, for all I can do is guess, as I really don't know what the true answer might possibly be. If you fall in this category, please leave a comment and enlighten me as to why I, an American Jew, should not trust Obama on Israel. I think enough of us have worked to convince the (as Bush would probably say) "mistrusters" as to why there is no reason of there to be mistrust. So please, drop a brutha a note, and let me know where and why I am wrong for not only trusting, but enthusiastically supporting Sen. Obama.

Hillary Machiavelli on K.O., Pennsylvania Update:

Apparently there are some voting problems going on in Pennsylvania. I assume that this can only help the senator "from" New York, as turnout should be Obama's biggest ally today. Which is bad news for him, as early reports indicate that turnout is by no means overwhelming:

Barack Obama, senator from Illinois, and Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York are fighting a fierce battle for Pennsylvania votes at the same time that nine Republicans and three Democrats are fighting for party nominations for Congress in the 5th district.
At Penn State’s Heritage Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center, where five precincts are voting, lines no longer than 10 or 15 students waited early this morning to vote.
At 9:30 a.m., Mike Gruendler of York, an Obama volunteer, said he estimated about 300 students had already visited the polls, which opened at 7 a.m.

If that estimate is true, and only 300 out of more than 40,000 students (according to Wikipedia, for what its worth). He needs these bastards to come out for him, now...

- This is a great read on the lack of logic that Clinton has incorporated in her campaign's thought processes.

She mentions a gas holiday, just like McCain...Ugg.

- On a lighter note, I just paid $3.91 for a gallon of gas in San Diego.

Doom Rant:

For those who do not know me, or only know me in my former role as CEO of Metal Slut Records, allow me to offer that I am a college professor. In my role as a college professor I have to speak at seminars from time to time. One of these times occurred on Wednesday, when I gave a presentation to dissect the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and Frantz Fanon and filter them through the prism of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. I did what I always do, give as even an account of the conflict, or condition, as I possibly can, being that I really think both "sides" are fucked up and fucked. I wanted to spend most of the talk discussing Gandhi and Fanon, which I in fact did.

During the question and answer phase of the presentation I was asked by a student "What do you think is the solution for the conflict?"

It is a reasonable question. I have spent over ten years writing about and analyzing the situation, in addition to visiting the region on multiple occasions. In 2003 I really reached a point that one reaches in a dead relationship, where one must accept that they are part of a deal that is not going to change. This, in essence, was my answer. I am starting to think that this is it. I think the conflict is going to end badly. I think it is going to end with a series of deadly explosions. That is where it is going. Like Country Joe said :

"And it's five, six, seven, open up the pearly gates, ain't no time to wonder why, whoopee we're all gonna die"

How does one explain that? It is downright morbid. But I also think it is true. There are only two ways for this to end, and the possibility of a two state solution seems less likely everyday. But one can not utter this things in polite company. Thus, we have this blog.

Anyhow, I seemed to piss off an Israeli in the class who thought I was being unfair to Israel. I just got told by a student that she thought I was a pussy by being too fair to Israel. Do I look her in the eye and say they are all going to die needlessly violent deaths, deal with it? Is that responsible pedagogy? This is the problem. A lack of ability to see a situation in a holistic fashion leads to gridlock, and in the case of a ticking time bomb, gridlock leads to death.

McCain causes chaos at Israel's Western Wall

Here is a story about a guy named John who visited a holy site (so photographers could take his photo) and caused a mess. More soon...

Two great stories from this month's Vanity Fair

I)

The $3 Trillion War

After wildly lowballing the cost of the Iraq conflict at a mere $50 to $60 billion, the Bush administration has been concealing the full economic toll. The spending on military operations is merely the tip of a vast fiscal iceberg. In an excerpt from their new book, the authors calculate the grim bottom line. (click here for more)

II)

The Gaza Bombshell

After failing to anticipate Hamas’s victory over Fatah in the 2006 Palestinian election, the White House cooked up yet another scandalously covert and self-defeating Middle East debacle: part Iran-contra, part Bay of Pigs. With confidential documents, corroborated by outraged former and current U.S. officials, David Rose reveals how President Bush, Condoleezza Rice, and Deputy National-Security Adviser Elliott Abrams backed an armed force under Fatah strongman Muhammad Dahlan, touching off a bloody civil war in Gaza and leaving Hamas stronger than ever. (click here for more)

Arye Eldad is a Turd

Walter Sobchak: Fucking Germans. Nothing changes. Fucking Nazis.
Donny: They were Nazis, Dude?
Walter Sobchak: Oh, come on Donny, they were threatening castration! Are we gonna split hairs here?

Israel/Palestine(Click here to read the article)

As much as I want to call this asshat a bunch of names and move on to more useful material, I think it is important to expose the pure depth of this fucktard's ignorance, arrogance and intellectual sinfulness. Scum like this (and his sheet fucking friends) are 50% of the reason we have tragedies like these.*

JERUSALEM - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's upcoming address to the Israeli parliament has inflamed passions here, with one lawmaker threatening Wednesday to storm out of the session. Arye Eldad said he was furious Merkel has been allowed to address the Knesset at all because it is a privilege reserved for heads of state — presidents and monarchs.

For starters, in Germany the role of the president as head of state is somewhat symbolic. The bastard is not even popularly elected. The system is designed, in part, to prevent the president from being able to circumvent the constitution, ala, Adolf Hitler. But I regress...

Allowing her to speak in German, instead of the more neutral English, makes it even more painful, he said.

The leader of a friendly nation wants to come and strengthen ties between your two countries and you want her to address your parliament in a tongue that will not allow her to clearly express herself?

"German was the last language my grandmother and grandfather heard before they were murdered. The execution orders were given in German ... I plan to stand up and leave" before she speaks, he said.

You know, as a Jew who, like all Jews, lost a relative somewhere in the Holocaust, I think this is an offensive, ignorant, and small minded point he is making. For starters, it is just as possible that they heard Polish, or Czech, or Yiddish before they were murdered. I don't take this lightly.

Dr. Eldad has probably saved lives as an M.D., which I view as being the most noble of all professions. I would probably like him if I met him (which I don't want to do), and I may even be related to him. His racist and xenophobic mindset is the reason that my grandchildren will be nervous when they visit Israel 60 years from now. All he wants to do is demonize people, even those that are friendly and reaching out to a country that badly needs allies. It is why the nationalist extremists from both the Israeli and Palestinian camps are more likely to kill each other than talk to one another, which would be useless anyway because any logic brought into a discussion would automatically be dismissed by both parties as wrong and irrelevant. Dr. Eldad is wrong, but sadly, he is not irrelevant.

*- The other 50% are these bastards.

UPDATE: I just watched the following video:


I hate myself for agreeing with about 58% of what he says.

On a lighter note, take the Arrested Development quiz...

Morning Memo: Daylight Savings Sucks: Part II

- Looks like Salvia is the new O.B.L. of the ever successful war on drugs. Good thing we have the pharmy companies persuading lawmakers to keep the moral drugs legal!

- El Presidente' is sending El Vice Presidente' to the Middle East to help rein in oil prices. Rumor has it that he will be sending Eliot Spitzer to Nevada to rein in brothels.
The good news is that Bush's time remaining in office is shorter with every letter I type...

Israel/Palestine.

Israel has gay people?

They sure do, and apparently they're causing some real problems!