Jewish Donors Warn Obama on Israel

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Jewish donors and fund-raisers are warning the Obama re-election campaign that the president is at risk of losing financial support because of concerns about his handling of Israel.

The complaints began early in President Barack Obama's term, centered on a perception that Mr. Obama has been too tough on Israel.

Some Jewish donors say Mr. Obama has pushed Israeli leaders too hard to halt construction of housing settlements in disputed territory, a longstanding element of U.S. policy. Some also worry that Mr. Obama is putting more pressure on the Israelis than the Palestinians to enter peace negotiations, and say they are disappointed Mr. Obama has not visited Israel yet.

One top Democratic fund-raiser, Miami developer Michael Adler, said he urged Obama campaign manager Jim Messina to be "extremely proactive" in countering the perception in the Jewish community that Mr. Obama is too critical of Israel.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703509104576331661918527154.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

[Sonoman]

1. What the heck, just let them write the rules.

And we keep our money and weaponry for Americans.

Sonoman

[frazzled]

2. Question to WSJ: Which Jewish donors? How many?

Two, twenty-seven, ten thousand?

This is journalism of the "some people say" variety, and it's not surprising that it comes from the WSJ (Murdoch).

[slackmaster]

3. We should round up all the usual suspects!

[Fuddnik]

5. Translation: AIPAC and Likudists.

[oberliner]

29. AIPAC doesn't donate money to candidates

And if by "Likudists" you mean supporters of the right-wing party in Israel - they probably wouldn't be donating to Obama in the first place.

[KoKo]

36. Can you give me a "Link" that says AIPAC doesn't give money to US Candidates?

Please do this.

[Tempest]

4. Consider the source

The right wing WSJ isn't known for being objective.


The last poll I've seen showed U.S. Jews supported Obama over Israel's hard line in the peace plans by a big margin.

[Corruption Winz]

6. Just change the percetion...

Yes. perception is indeed reality.

[Citizen Worker]

7. AIPAC has spoken and so it shall be. Just ask Cynthia McKinney. AIPAC and the American Likkud

Party defeated her twice.

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. She defeated herself, and her racist father didn't help

[wellst0nev0ter]

15. Yeah, How DARE She Be Born To That Father! (n/t)

[Freddie Stubbs]

20. She could have disavowed his racist rhetoric, but she did not

[wellst0nev0ter]

21. Let's Say She Has A History With Her Father.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-812734.html

But I guess her detractors won't be satisfied unless she disowns her father or something :eyes:

[Freddie Stubbs]

24. He has made racist statements after that, and she herself has made racist remarks

Saying things like

"Gore's Negro tolerance level has never been too high. I've never known him to have more than one black person around him at any given time."

didn't exactly endear her to voters.

[KoKo]

37. Being "Biblical Here"...but you are saying the "Sins of the Father" are Now Visited on the Daughter?

:eyes: It's Cynthia's Cross to Bear?

[Behind the Aegis]

22. LOL!

:rofl:

[elleng]

9. Nothing new here.

Fortunately 'the Jewish community' is not single-minded, whatever AIPAC, and some media characters, would like us to believe.

[DesertFlower]

10. i'm a member of NJDC. i'm not jewish

but i signed a petition years ago and now i'm considered a member. haven't heard from them yet. i'm sure i'll get an e-mail from them soon. they tend to be supportive of obama.

[FarLeftFist]

11. BULLSHIT!

Name the donors who said that Murdoch.

[blackdem76]

12. Obama is taking a big political risk here. That's brave. n/t

[Kingofalldems]

13. Unrec for constant anti-Democratic party tone

And using Rupert Murdoch's rag as a source for it.

[Freddie Stubbs]

26. Really?

[BIGFOOTSDADDY333]

14. americans primary concern should be what's best for this country

shouldnt it? not who is seen to treat israel better. would they rather see the repubs take the country back and finally drown it?

[Exultant Democracy]

16. This is a canard, left leaning Jewish people will still support him. The right wingers never would

have anyways.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

18. yup.

[primavera]

25. Actually, one of the reasons the Jewish American community carries so much weight...

... is because they have an unusually high percentage of nonaligned voters, i.e., swing voters. The community is also concentrated in some of the key toss-up states like Florida and Pennsylvania. As a consequence, the Jewish American constituency can make a significant impact on an election. Since the same cannot be said for American voters of Palestinian descent, it's usually been a no brainer for the campaign bean counters.

[Exultant Democracy]

31. Actually Jewish people are the second most reliable democratic voting block behind black people.

You are correct about Florida, but that state is almost always the exception that proves the rule when it comes to politics.

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/article/the-election-and-the-jewish-vote/

[KoKo]

35. Indeed...this is true. Important that you posted this.

[Exultant Democracy]

38. Everyone is allowed their own opinion, but there is one set of facts...

they just happen to have a liberal bias.

[w4rma]

17. These specific ones are neo-cons, anyway. I say ignore them until they aren't neo-cons. (nt)

[and-justice-for-all]

19. OK, then halt the financial aide Israel receives from the US..nt

[Hardrada]

23. May this happen ASAP.

[Mr. Jefferson]

27. The question I have is:

Where do you begin the negotiation when the opposition holds the view that you do not exist, or that you do not have the right to exist?

In other words, if you do not exist, how do you negotiate?

[Bigmack]

28. I posted this several places today...

"Don't know about you, but my loyalties are to the US... not Israel, not Pakistan... just the US. Israel gets about 12% of our foreign aid every year. We have given Israel $134 Billion over the years, and that should give us some voice in their policies that may effect us. Seems to me that we are begging Israel to take our money and do what they want with it. If they want to be our ally, and accept our funding, they need to listen to us, at least."

[oberliner]

30. Not only do we have some voice in their policies, but we dictate where some of that money must go

And where it must go is back to America, where they buy US-made military equipment.

[maxsolomon]

32. "Pushed... too hard to halt construction of housing settlements"?

symbolic temporary freeze aside, how did Obama push too hard when the country he's pushing on completely ignores his pushing?

[NoodleyAppendage]

33. Screw them. I tell you what. Why don't we EARMARK their money for the Israel funding the US gives.

Rather than spend US taxpayer money on Israeli foreign aid, why don't we just EARMARK the funds from the EXTORTIONIST donors such that they fund the country they clearly prefer over the US?

J

[KoKo]

34. There's "NO WAY" Jewish Settlers are going to give up their homes and land

to Paletinians.. They will blow heads off before they do that. What WAS OBAMA THINKING?

[Bluebear]

39. They just want a magic wand and President Palin. nt