June 4, 2008
Obama at AIPAC
There will probably be more said on this later but Barack Obama, fresh from clinching the Democratic nomination for president, spoke before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Given all that has transpired with his controversial choices regarding his foreign policy advisors - well documented on the pages of AT - Obama definitely had some fence mending to do:
Hours after securing his party's nomination, Obama told 7,000 people gathered in Washington Wednesday that rumors and suggestions that he is unfriendly to Israel and to Jewish interests are unfounded.He cited e-mails "filled with tall tales and dire warnings about a certain candidate for president." Obama told the gathering of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee to "let me know if you see this guy named Barack Obama, because he sounds pretty scary."To applause, Obama said: "I will never compromise when it comes to Israel's security."
Fine words - but he has said other things as well such as his willingness to talk to Iran without preconditons and a decidedly pro-Palestinian tilt on the settlement issue. American Jews are watching and listening to Obama very closely - perhaps closer than they have ever listened to a Democratic candidate for president.
American Jews go overwhelmingly for Democrats in elections. But if John McCain can cut significantly into that monolith, it is possible that several states could fall into his lap as a result of the Jewish vote being crucial to the outcome.
Obama has been fiercely criticized for his choice of advisors. But ultimately, it will be what the candidate himself says that will make the difference.
To comment on this or any other American Thinker article or blog, you must be a subscriber to our ad-free service. Login to your subscription to access the comments section. You can subscribe on a monthly basis for $6.79 a month or for a year at $69.99
Login
Subscribe / Change PwdAd Free / Commenting Login
FOLLOW US ON
Recent Articles
- Trillions in Graft
- The Trump Strategy for Ukraine
- President Trump Is Wrong on Gaza
- Digital Prisons
- Can Bounty Hunters Solve Our Immigration Crisis?
- No, Whites Are Not Responsible For Black Outcomes
- The Soul of the Democrats
- Canada at the Crossroads
- Kash Patel: Poised to Lead the FBI Into a New Era
- Never Again?
Blog Posts
- Trump restores oversight, and media decries ‘wrecking ball’ politics
- The crazed 'mainstream' left rapidly marginalizing itself
- Kristi Noem takes action against DHS leaks and implements lie detector tests
- The first Indian-origin FBI director and a new chapter in US law enforcement
- The AP and other media outlets should look in the mirror when they complain about being silenced
- Europeans who love freedom have a friend in the White House
- Time for accountability from Big Tech
- Netanyahu’s humiliation(s)
- Who will replace Mitch McConnell?
- Musk to American people: Look what the feds are doing with your money!
- Could you get away with what the left is doing?
- Smackdown: White House aide Stephen Miller stomps down leftist canard about Elon being 'unelected'
- Tea for two in '72
- High on the hog: Stacey Abrams groups scarfed up $2 billion in environmental grants in 2024 -report
- Now that he’s confirmed, Kash Patel has a Herculean task ahead of him