The following letter distributed by the National Jewish Democratic Council should not be construed as an Ameinu endorsement of Senator Barack Obama. We simply want to assist in dispelling the false rumors circulating the Internet and print media regarding the senator. For other coverage of the presidential campaign and Israel, please see articles by Gershom Gorenberg and Dan Fleshler on the Ameinu website.
We have received several reports about dishonest emails circulating about Senator Obama, aimed at Jewish voters. The fact of the matter is, Senator Obama is a good friend of the Jewish Community. He is very popular in the Chicago Jewish Community (one of the most vibrant centers of Jewish life in the nation) and has made courting Jewish votes a priority in his presidential campaign. A recent profile about Senator Obama in the Jewish Telegraphic Agency explained: "What you might not hear is that the Illinois senator, who made history by winning the Democratic caucus in Iowa, has made Jewish leaders an early stop at every stage in his political career."
Some of the viral emails sent out about Obama claim that the Senator is anti-Israel. Such charges are off-base. Like the other Democratic candidates, Barack Obama is a strong supporter of the U.S.-Israel relationship. He has never cast a vote against the position of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Shmuel Rosner, the U.S. correspondent for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz writes that Senator Obama "is pro-Israel. Period."
Senator Obama told the audience at NJDC’s 2007 Washington Conference, "When I am President, the United States will stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel in search of this peace, and in defense against those who seek its destruction." Likewise, in March 2007, Senator Obama told an AIPAC audience in Chicago that he believes the U.S. must have "a clear and strong commitment to the security of Israel: our strongest ally in the region and its only established democracy. That will always be my starting point" in approaching Middle East policy. Continued Obama: "And when we see all of the growing threats in the region: from Iran to Iraq to the resurgence of al-Qaeda to the reinvigoration of Hamas and Hezbollah, that loyalty and that friendship will guide me as we begin to lay the stones that will build the road that takes us from the current instability to lasting peace and security."
Senator Obama has been endorsed by several prominent supporters of Israel, including Jewish Congressman Robert Wexler of Florida, who wrote: "What has always struck me about Senator Obama – and this is one of the reasons I have endorsed his candidacy for the United States Presidency – is that a love for Israel and a desire to keep the Jewish people secure is evident not just in his work, but also in his heart." Another prominent supporter of Israel, distinguished financier Lester Crown, wrote: "As president, [Obama] will be the friend to Israel that we all want to see in the White House - stalwart in his defense of Israel's security, and committed to helping Israel achieve peace with its neighbors."
The New York Sun – hardly a bastion of support for Democrats – editorialized: "We're no shills for Mr. Obama, but these Republicans [who questioned the Senator’s support for Israel] haven't checked their facts. At least by our lights, Mr. Obama's commitment to Israel, as he has articulated it so far in his campaign, is quite moving and a tribute to the broad, bipartisan support that the Jewish state has in America."
It is also worth noting that Senator Obama is an outspoken critic of Iran, who wrote legislation to make it easier for states to divest from Iranian holdings. (The legislation is being blocked by a Republican Senator.)
Another Republican smear campaign falsely claims Senator Obama was educated in a radical Muslim madrassa – a blatant lie. While Senator Obama’s religion – he is Christian – should not matter in the Presidential election, setting the facts straight is important. We’ve seen terrible fear mongering by the right wing in the form of baseless attacks against Muslim Congressman Keith Ellison – a good public servant and a friend of Israel and the Jewish Community. Similar attacks seem to be sprouting up against Senator Obama although he is Christian.
If a friend or neighbor asks you about an email or internet rumor regarding Senator Obama’s religious upbringing, here are some important things to tell him/her:
(1)CNN reports "Allegations that Sen. Barack Obama was educated in a radical Muslim school known as a ‘madrassa’ are not accurate, according to CNN reporting."
(2) The false "madrassa" rumors were published in a right wing smear magazine owned by the same company that owns the ultra-conservative Washington Times. These are the same people who have printed numerous falsehoods about the Clintons through the years.
(3) The Obama campaign has a fact sheet on its website which serves as an excellent resource about his background and sets the record straight about his religion. While Obama’s religion should not be a political issue, lying about a candidate’s religion is noteworthy. The fact sheet explains that, despite lies saying otherwise, Obama "is not and has never been a Muslim."
Scurrilous emails have also been circulating which attempt to smear Senator Obama because a magazine associated with his church gave an award to Louis Farrakhan. In the response to inquiries about Farrakhan, Obama repudiated and decried Farrakhan and his anti-Semitism. He was praised by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for so-doing.
ADL National Director Abraham Foxman released a statement saying: "We welcome Barack Obama's condemnation of the anti-Semitic rhetoric of Minister Louis Farrakhan, and his making clear that he did not agree with his church's decision to honor Farrakhan. Issues of racism and anti-Semitism must be beyond the bounds of politics. When someone close to a political figure shows sympathy and support for an individual who makes his name espousing bigotry, that political figure needs to distance himself from that decision. Senator Obama has done just that."
The rhetoric in some of these viral emails about Obama is so over the top, that recently several leaders of national Jewish organizations signed on to a letter condemning the smear campaign being run against him. The signatories represent non-partisan organizations which do not endorse political candidates. In the letter, they wrote: "Of particular concern, over the past several weeks, many in our community have received hateful emails that use falsehood and innuendo to mischaracterize Senator Barack Obama’s religious beliefs and who he is as a person" and "These tactics attempt to drive a wedge between our community and a presidential candidate based on despicable and false attacks and innuendo based on religion. We reject these efforts to manipulate members of our community into supporting or opposing candidates."
The signatories include William Daroff of United Jewish Communities, Nathan J. Diament of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, Abraham Foxman of Anti-Defamation League, Richard S. Gordon of the American Jewish Congress, David Harris of the American Jewish Committee, Rabbi Marvin Hier of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Rabbi David Saperstein of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Phyllis Snyder of the National Council of Jewish Women and Hadar Susskind of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.
QUOTE: April 23rd, 2008 - 16:45:04 By rafi benyehuda I bet his pastor would say that Barack has shed light on areas where he was blinded by his own resentment. There are still many whites who are racist and demeaning to blacks and they are still angry over it, their restraint actually amazes me. As a jew I can easily empathize with their plight having experienced hatred from skinheads and other white supremists. As far as the church's association with Farakan I believe it is one more of the plight of the black man in America than an agreement with him on anti-semitism or religious views where they differ quite a lot.
I don't believe Obama is a messiah of any kind, and I know domestically he will be better for America than McCain. He brings a progressive approach vs who know what it will be like approach, McCain said himself that the economy was not his strong suit.
As far as Iraq goes, there is no way the United States can force Iraq to segregate from Iran, most of them are cousins or closer in the shia.
We can still fight al qaeda from the air with drones and smart bombs in iraq, afganistan, pakistan or wherever else they decide to rear their head.
Remember Obama was for the unmanned strikes in Pakistan before Bush was, Obama will fight terrorism with a more competent approach.
SENATOR OBAMA, PLEASE TELL AMERICA YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS AMERICAN JUDICIAL INJUSTICE ???
LETS ALL HOPE OUR MEDIA FRIENDS ALSO SHOW AN INTEREST IN REPORTING ON THIS AMERICAN HORROR FACING THESE (TENS OF THOUSANDS) FORGOTTEN AND TRAPPED POORER AMERICANS, AND HOW THIS PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER HANDLES THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE FACING AMERICA'S LATINO AND BLACK AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ????
**WITH 80% OF THE BLACK AMERICAN VOTERS SAYING THEY SUPPORT SENATOR OBAMA IN THIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, IT IS ONLY FAIR FOR EVERYONE TO KNOW PRIOR BEING ELECTED OUR NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HOW THIS DEMOCRATIC SENATOR TRULY FEELS ABOUT THIS AMERICAN JUDICIAL HORROR CONTINUING TO INFLICT GRAVE HARM ON THE BLACK AMERICAN FAMILIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE ??????
*** WHEN GOD'S FACE BECAME VERY RED ***
THE US SUPREME COURT GAVE ENEMY COMBATANTS FEDERAL APPEAL HC RIGHTS LAWYERS AND PROPER ACCESS TO US FEDERAL COURTS,AND POORER AMERICANS (MANY EVEN ON DEATH ROW) ARE DENIED PROPER FEDERAL APPEAL LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO OUR US FEDERAL COURTS OF APPEAL, AND ROTTING IN AMERICAN PRISONS NATIONWIDE ?????????
**** INNOCENT AMERICANS ARE DENIED REAL HC RIGHTS WITH THEIR FEDERAL APPEALS !
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE $LOWLY FINDING OUT HOW EA$Y IT I$ FOR MIDDLE CLA$$ AND WORKING POOR AMERICAN$ TO FALL VICTIM TO OUR U$ MONETARY JUDICIAL $Y$TEM.
****WHEN THE US INNOCENT WERE ABANDONED BY THE GUILTY ****
The prison experts have reported that there are 100,000 innocent Americans currently being falsely imprisoned along with the 2,300,000 total US prison population nationwide.
Since our US Congress has never afforded poor prison inmates federal appeal legal counsel for their federal retrials,they have effectively closed the doors on these tens of thousands of innocent citizens ever being capable of possibly exonerating themselves to regain their freedom through being granted new retrials.
This same exact unjust situation was happening in our Southern States when poor and mostly uneducated Black Americans were being falsely imprisoned for endless decades without the needed educational skills to properly submit their own written federal trial appeals.
This devious and deceptive judicial process of making our poor and innocent prison inmates formulate and write their own federal appeal legal cases for possible retrials on their state criminal cases,is still in effect today even though everyone in our US judicial system knows that without proper legal representation, these tens of thousands of innocent prison inmates will be denied their rightful opportunities of ever being granted new trials from our federal appeal judges!!
Sadly, the true US *legal* Federal Appeal situation that occurs when any of our uneducated American prison inmates are forced to attempt to submit their own written Federal Appeals (from our prisons nationwide) without the assistance of proper legal counsel, is that they all are in reality being denied their legitimate rights for Habeas Corpus and will win any future Supreme Court Case concerning this injustice!
For our judicial system and our US Congressional Leaders Of The Free World to continue to pretend that this is a real and fair opportunity for our American Middle Class and Working Poor Citizens, only delays the very needed future change of Federal Financing of all these Federal appeals becoming a normal formula of Our American judicial system.
It was not so very long ago that Public Defenders became a Reality in this country.Prior that legal reality taking place, their were also some who thought giving anyone charged with a crime a free lawyer was a waste of taxpayers $$.
This FACADE and HORROR of our Federal Appeal proce$$ is not worthy of the Greatest Country In The World!
***GREAT SOCIETIES THAT DO NOT PROTECT EVEN THEIR INNOCENT, BECOME THE GUILTY!
A MUST READ ABOUT AMERICAN INJUSTICE:
1) YAHOO AND 2) GOOGLE
MANNY GONZALES THE KID THAT EVERYONE FORGOT IN THE CA PRISON SYSTEM. ** A JUDICIAL RIDE OF ONES LIFE !
QUOTE: February 29th, 2008 - 15:19:21 By RavDav Despite his recent statements in support of Israel, I fear that, when push comes to shove, Barack Obama will ‘turn a blind eye’ toward the fate of the Jewish State. Obama will allow America’s historical ally to ‘twist in the wind’ not because his middle name is Hussein, not because his Illinois church published anti-Semitic rants by Nation of Islam founder Louis Farrakhan and not because he told 60 Minutes that, as President he would negotiate unconditionally with Syria and Iran. Barack Obama will acquiesce into abandoning Israel, because Iran and Syria will demand he do so, in exchange for Ahmadinejad and Assad agreeing to stay out of Iraq, in the aftermath of Obama’s immediate and unilateral withdrawal from Mesopotamia.
Regardless of what else might ‘change’ during his administration, Obama will be considered a total disaster if after his precipitous departure from Iraq; Iran, Syria and Al Qaeda overrun that country, execute all who fought for their freedom and turn that oil rich land into a launching pad for Islamic Fundamentalism and international terrorism.
In order to satisfy his ‘cut & run’ supporters but not ‘snatch defeat from the jaws of victory’, I’m afraid Obama would cut such a deal with Israel’s sworn enemies. He’s already on record supporting the relaxation of restrictions on direct aid to the Palestinians, despite their election of Hamas, and has said that, "nobody is suffering more than the Palestinian people". Obama voted against a Senate resolution urging the Bush administration to label the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. He opposed that measure because he feared it might give the President the authority to use military action against a nuclear Iran. Does anyone really think that an Obama Administration would actually stop Iran’s 25 year march toward securing nuclear weapons?
After fleeing Iraq, Obama’s other great international priority is “making America respected around the world again”. Considering the dozens and dozens of anti-Israel resolutions passed by the United Nations, Barack could find a lot of friends among the despots and dictators of the world by simply ignoring Israel. Obama mistakes ‘respect’ for ‘appeasement’ in a headlong rush to his ‘can‘t we all just get along’ world. Despite his lack of experience and Pollyannaish naiveté, America might survive Obama’s kumbaya presidency, but it could come at the expense of Israel’s existence.
QUOTE: April 7th, 2008 - 22:57:09 By RavDav Barack Obama claims that he is uniquely qualified to “bring our country together” and that despite his lack of experience and relative youth, he has demonstrated superior “judgment”.
Obama has now acknowledged Reverend Jeremiah Wright, used incendiary language that widened the racial divide. Obama says of (his) fellow congregants that (their) anger is real; it is powerful; and that not understanding its roots, serves to widen the chasm between the races.
If Obama is really the Reconciler in Chief, why didn’t he change the hearts of Rev. Wright and his flock over the past 20 years? Everyone is asking what influence the good Reverend had on the candidate, but shouldn’t we be wondering why the very people Obama knew best, still hate America, the White Man and Israel?
With regard to the issue of judgment; Obama demeans President Bush, John McCain and the Clintons claiming that they didn’t know what was going on inside Saddam’s closed police state, (10,000 miles away) when he didn’t know what was happening in the pew right next to him.
I think that pretty well sums up the qualifications issue.
I bet his pastor would say that Barack has shed light on areas where he was blinded by his own resentment. There are still many whites who are racist and demeaning to blacks and they are still angry over it, their restraint actually amazes me. As a jew I can easily empathize with their plight having experienced hatred from skinheads and other white supremists. As far as the church's association with Farakan I believe it is one more of the plight of the black man in America than an agreement with him on anti-semitism or religious views where they differ quite a lot.
I don't believe Obama is a messiah of any kind, and I know domestically he will be better for America than McCain. He brings a progressive approach vs who know what it will be like approach, McCain said himself that the economy was not his strong suit.
As far as Iraq goes, there is no way the United States can force Iraq to segregate from Iran, most of them are cousins or closer in the shia.
We can still fight al qaeda from the air with drones and smart bombs in iraq, afganistan, pakistan or wherever else they decide to rear their head.
Remember Obama was for the unmanned strikes in Pakistan before Bush was, Obama will fight terrorism with a more competent approach.
QUOTE: April 2nd, 2008 - 15:18:57 By rafi benyehuda Obama has a vision to bring peace, his pastor is controversial but if you watch his speech on 911 he was speaking out against al qaeda. I don't agree with his pastor, but after reading both of his books I believe he wants blacks and whites to learn to get along, and israeli's and palestinians to come to a peaceful resolution. We have to stop the killing, violence only breeds violence. This is all part of the smear campaign on Obama, he is the best man to lead this country in many decades. You should check into his record and his vision of America. G-d bless Barack Obama.
Barack Obama claims that he is uniquely qualified to “bring our country together” and that despite his lack of experience and relative youth, he has demonstrated superior “judgment”.
Obama has now acknowledged Reverend Jeremiah Wright, used incendiary language that widened the racial divide. Obama says of (his) fellow congregants that (their) anger is real; it is powerful; and that not understanding its roots, serves to widen the chasm between the races.
If Obama is really the Reconciler in Chief, why didn’t he change the hearts of Rev. Wright and his flock over the past 20 years? Everyone is asking what influence the good Reverend had on the candidate, but shouldn’t we be wondering why the very people Obama knew best, still hate America, the White Man and Israel?
With regard to the issue of judgment; Obama demeans President Bush, John McCain and the Clintons claiming that they didn’t know what was going on inside Saddam’s closed police state, (10,000 miles away) when he didn’t know what was happening in the pew right next to him.
I think that pretty well sums up the qualifications issue.
QUOTE: March 17th, 2008 - 20:26:56 By jack rubin It is quite clear that all the right wing hock against Obama has validity, now that ABC has reported that Sen Obama's spiritual leader being virulently anti-Israel, and probably anti-White-American. Barak sat through 20 years of these sermons, never once got up and made a peep that his Church is racist to the core. How many of us would support a candidate who belonged to a church that espoused white supremacy? Why is it OK to support a candidate whose chuch espouses Black supremacy and is obviously anti-White and anti-semitic?
Obama has a vision to bring peace, his pastor is controversial but if you watch his speech on 911 he was speaking out against al qaeda. I don't agree with his pastor, but after reading both of his books I believe he wants blacks and whites to learn to get along, and israeli's and palestinians to come to a peaceful resolution. We have to stop the killing, violence only breeds violence. This is all part of the smear campaign on Obama, he is the best man to lead this country in many decades. You should check into his record and his vision of America. G-d bless Barack Obama.
It is quite clear that all the right wing hock against Obama has validity, now that ABC has reported that Sen Obama's spiritual leader being virulently anti-Israel, and probably anti-White-American. Barak sat through 20 years of these sermons, never once got up and made a peep that his Church is racist to the core. How many of us would support a candidate who belonged to a church that espoused white supremacy? Why is it OK to support a candidate whose chuch espouses Black supremacy and is obviously anti-White and anti-semitic?
Despite his recent statements in support of Israel, I fear that, when push comes to shove, Barack Obama will ‘turn a blind eye’ toward the fate of the Jewish State. Obama will allow America’s historical ally to ‘twist in the wind’ not because his middle name is Hussein, not because his Illinois church published anti-Semitic rants by Nation of Islam founder Louis Farrakhan and not because he told 60 Minutes that, as President he would negotiate unconditionally with Syria and Iran. Barack Obama will acquiesce into abandoning Israel, because Iran and Syria will demand he do so, in exchange for Ahmadinejad and Assad agreeing to stay out of Iraq, in the aftermath of Obama’s immediate and unilateral withdrawal from Mesopotamia.
Regardless of what else might ‘change’ during his administration, Obama will be considered a total disaster if after his precipitous departure from Iraq; Iran, Syria and Al Qaeda overrun that country, execute all who fought for their freedom and turn that oil rich land into a launching pad for Islamic Fundamentalism and international terrorism.
In order to satisfy his ‘cut & run’ supporters but not ‘snatch defeat from the jaws of victory’, I’m afraid Obama would cut such a deal with Israel’s sworn enemies. He’s already on record supporting the relaxation of restrictions on direct aid to the Palestinians, despite their election of Hamas, and has said that, "nobody is suffering more than the Palestinian people". Obama voted against a Senate resolution urging the Bush administration to label the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. He opposed that measure because he feared it might give the President the authority to use military action against a nuclear Iran. Does anyone really think that an Obama Administration would actually stop Iran’s 25 year march toward securing nuclear weapons?
After fleeing Iraq, Obama’s other great international priority is “making America respected around the world again”. Considering the dozens and dozens of anti-Israel resolutions passed by the United Nations, Barack could find a lot of friends among the despots and dictators of the world by simply ignoring Israel. Obama mistakes ‘respect’ for ‘appeasement’ in a headlong rush to his ‘can‘t we all just get along’ world. Despite his lack of experience and Pollyannaish naiveté, America might survive Obama’s kumbaya presidency, but it could come at the expense of Israel’s existence.
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