June 24, 2009
Rich Baehr on the blindness of liberal Jews
American Thinker's Political Correspondent Richard Baehr continues to examine Barack Obama's assault on the US Israel relationship, and asks if liberal American Jews are noticing, and if so, whether they care.
In his latest article published today at Pajamas Media , Baehr tracks recent polling in Israel that shows only 6% of Israeli Jews see the president as pro-Israel:
The administration has made a bet that by focusing on settlements, an issue that has been controversial both within Israel and among American Jews, it can divide and conquer. There are many liberal Jews who are totally in thrall to the Obama agenda on domestic issues and to Obama personally (psychiatric textbooks could be written on this latter item, but regrettably, they would need to be autobiographical).
During the campaign, there was concern among some liberal Jews about Obama's history and long friendship with people hostile to Israel such as Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Professor Rashid Khalidi, Ali Abunimah, and Samantha Power. To counter this, the campaign rolled out a chorus line of Chicago Jews who could swear for Obama's bona fides as to his love for both Israel and the Jews. For most liberal Jews, Israel is an issue - but not the issue. Abortion rights, separation of church and state, stem cell research, universal health care, saving the planet - these issues are what ignite real political passion for many liberal Jews, not support for Israel. When I appeared on a panel for the NJDC at the Democratic convention, people in the audience seemed annoyed that the subjects of support for Israel or the Iranian threat were even raised as issues.
The comments section at PJM is always interesting. How about this one:
might as well put the finishing touches on the korach segment of jewish society, along with all pretentions at zionist morality, huh?
mr dror, dennis ross' mentor, says all jews -not just israelis, but all jews- should abandon their morality when it comes to defending israel.
go out with a bang, drop the big one, now, before eritrea throws you out of those sub bases.
nevermind the big question: "is israel good for the jews?"
And so it goes. Read the entire piece by Rich for some good insight into why the J-Street crowd hasn't abandoned Obama - yet.