<p>In his haste to prove to AIPAC and the Jewish-American electorate that he is Israels unwavering friend, Obama staked a position that not even George Bush or many in the Israeli mainstream have been willing to voice. And sure enough, the next day his advisors had to step in and clarify his remarks, indicating that Jerusalem is a final status issue, which means it has to be negotiated between the two parties. As much as I would like to see the outcome of Israeli sovereignty over an undivided Jerusalem a foregone conclusion, even I know that this has not been U.S. policy and it cannot be a predetermined position of a U.S. president who wants to play a meaningful role in mediating a two-state solution. Maybe his aim was to lose the Hamas endorsement, which it appears he achieved. It seems to be part of a pattern of making strident but naïve and poorly informed foreign policy pronouncements (e.g., unconditional meetings with rogue foreign leaders during the first year of his presidency), only to have his staff, and himself, backtrack later, while denying the contradiction with what was earlier said. In fairness, it appears that Hillary made the same pander at an earlier point, which may have been acceptable when running for senator from New York, but not as a candidate for president, without fully considering its implications. The learning curve may indeed be steep.</p>
<p>[Obama</a> clarifies united J’lem comment | Jerusalem Post](<a href=“Satellite News and latest stories | The Jerusalem Post”>Satellite News and latest stories | The Jerusalem Post)</p>
<p>[Hillary</a> Clinton’s Little-Noticed Israel Problem](<a href=“http://www.motherjones.com/news/update/2008/04/hillary-clintons-little-noticed-israel-problem.html]Hillary”>http://www.motherjones.com/news/update/2008/04/hillary-clintons-little-noticed-israel-problem.html)</p>
<p>Bush (I am no fan of his!) has made similar mumbles.
But your analysis is a good one. As an Orthodox Jew, I can tell you spouse and I are in the minority voting the Dem ticket. The GOP is taking out huge ads in the local Jewish papers (near NYC).</p>
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[quote]
It seems to be part of a pattern of making strident but na</p>
<p>I have no doubt Obama is just another politician, younger, more gracious and more charamistic than his rivals. Pandering or “clarifying his position” or "the Senator never said that, the MEDIA got it wrong " … I am waiting to hear more of same. </p>
<p>I actually have a bet going on with my friends about this. </p>
<p>I always think his “change” is more about tone & style. His wife even dress like Jackie O in her White House days, which she carries off beautifully, btw.</p>
<p>Wow and more wow!!</p>
<p>Are you the Farmdad, who in another thread claims to be a Holocaust survivor?</p>
<p>Am I the only one seeing what you are doing, as being the same type of smear tactics that were used against the Jews, being used against Senator Obama?</p>
<p>Do I have the wrong person, were you a non-Jewish Holocaust survivor?</p>
<p>Shocking!</p>
<p>Actually, I’m the Farmdad who claimed to be the son of Holocaust survivors, who indeed I am. I would love to be able to respond to your sense of shock, but frankly I don’t understand where you’re coming from with it. As a lifelong democrat with a deep interest in the wellbeing of Israel as well as our own country, I am trying to decide if I can vote for a candidate who is in many ways appealing, but inexperienced and at times naive IMHO, particularly in the area of foreign policy. When Senator Obama made these comments, he was trying to get my vote. It sure sounded nice, but it didn’t seem genuine or well-informed, and sure enough, the next day his campaign took it back, which was actually the appropriate thing to do, even though I really really really want Jerusalem to be the undivided capital of Israel. Since you may in fact be the only one who is seeing what I am doing, please tell me what it is and how I am using “smear tactics that were used against the Jews.”</p>
<p>stickershock: “Exactly. Obama is in so far over his head – so completely unprepared to lead the country-- that I find his popularity terrifying”</p>
<p>I second that.</p>