Posted on 05/21/2004 1:35:18 PM PDT by veronica
WASHINGTON – To thunderous applause, chants of “four more years,” and at least two dozen standing ovations, President Bush on Tuesday addressed the closing session of the annual policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
The crowd of about 5,000 – which included hundreds of students – was in a distinctly pro-Bush frame of mind even before the president made his appearance at the Washington Convention Center.
The very mention of Bush’s name or the sight of his image on video screens was enough to prompt sustained cheers. When Rep. Tom DeLay, the Republican leader in the U.S. House of Representatives, called Bush “the greatest friend of Israel the world has ever had,” he got a standing ovation.
In his speech, Bush declared, “Our nation and the nation of Israel have much in common. We’re both relatively young nations, born of struggle and sacrifice. We’re both founded by immigrants escaping religious persecution in other lands.
“We have both built vibrant democracies, built on the rule of law.... These ties have made us natural allies, and these ties will never be broken.”
Bush spoke of how the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. had further bonded the two countries.
“The Israeli people have always had enemies at their borders and terrorists close at hand,” said Bush. “Again and again, Israel has defended itself with skill and heroism.... On September 11, 2001, Americans saw that we are no longer protected by geography from the dangers of the world. We experienced the horror of being attacked in our homeland, on our streets, and in places of work.
“And from that experience came an even stronger determination, a fierce determination to defeat terrorism and to eliminate the threat it poses to free people everywhere.”
Bush reiterated that the U.S. remains committed to “helping the Palestinian people establish a democratic and viable state of their own,” but the president repeated the qualifications he first laid down in his historic Mideast policy address of June 24, 2002.
“Before there can be two states,” he said, “all parties must renounce violence and fight terror.... First, the Palestinian people must reject corrupt and failed leaders.... Second, they must renounce terror.... The Palestinian people deserve a better future. And that future can be achieved through democracy.”
The president also spoke of his support for Israeli Prime Minister Sharon’s Gaza withdrawal plan, calling it a “bold and courageous step.”
Some Israeli opponents of the prime minister’s plan – including government ministers Effie Eitam, Uzi Landau and Natan Sharansky – were upset that AIPAC had not invited them to the conference. AIPAC’s response was that it is customary to invite the prime minister or ministers who support his policies, as well as one representative of the opposition.
Bush’s unprecedented support for Israeli claims on the West Bank and his rejection of any “right of return” to Israel for Palestinian refugees has endeared him to many AIPAC members.
Don Shein, for example, disagrees with President Bush on the environment. He disagrees with Bush on stem-cell research. And he disagrees with Bush on abortion.
But he’s voting for Bush anyway.
For Shein, a financial adviser from Baltimore, the 2004 presidential election is about only one thing: Israel. The loyal Democrat said he has been impressed by Bush’s support for the Jewish state and even donated $500 to Bush’s re-election campaign, despite his opposition to the president on many domestic issues.
“My sense is that Bush would stand up for Israel when no Democrat would,” said Shein.
Others also said they would vote for Bush despite disagreeing with his positions on the economy, abortion and other domestic policy issues, because international policy was their main concern.
“I think international stuff is more prominent right now,” said Yifat Hassiel, a lawyer from Los Angeles. “The domestic stuff can be changed with the local leadership.”
Lana Krebs, a computer technical support project manager from Atlanta, said the economy is important to her, but Israel issues have to be her number one priority. She said she feels almost guilty backing a politician who opposes abortion and stricter gun controls.
“It does bother me, but I don’t see a better option,” she said.
While there were those at the convention who said they would be voting for Sen. John Kerry, many others said they had not heard enough from Kerry about Israel and international terrorism, or don’t trust what he has said.
Some have suggested that Kerry did not properly enunciate his pro-Israel credentials in his recent speech to the Anti-Defamation League and needs to do more to show that a Kerry administration would back Israel to the same extent that Bush’s has.
Some attendees say there’s almost nothing Kerry could say that would outweigh Bush’s actions over the past three years. Danny Kohn, a Chicago native who also is a senior at Washington University in St. Louis, says it has been hard for him to convince other AIPAC students to support Kerry.
“Everybody’s made up their minds that Bush is pro-Israel, and even if John Kerry is pro-Israel, it’s not good enough,” Kohn said. –With reporting by JTA and the Jerusalem Post
Liberals have become increasing anti-Israel. Its nice to see the right wing stand up for that country.
Hmmmm
Regardless of what one thinks about the relationship between the U.S. and Israel, I think it must be pointed out that this kind of voter is extremely dangerous to this country.
Don't point out the obvious or the "Amen Corner" will call you nasty names.
Considering the history of American Jews voting for Democrats, this is new territory.
These kinds of people come in many shapes and sizes, many of them can be found right here in Freeperland.
And yes, they are dangerous.
Chalk up the state of Florida for Bush this November. With Dubya seen as strongly pro-Israel, and no Lieberman on the Democratic ticket, Kerry would need a miracle to carry Florida this year.
W still needs either Ohio or Pennsylvania to clinch re-election. It's no sure thing just yet.
"The very mention of Bush’s name or the sight of his image on video screens was enough to prompt sustained cheers."
I have to admit, that got a smile out of me.
and we both are targets of the same enemy ...
I don't what part of this story I find more disturbing: 1) that this voter clearly places the interests of a foreign nation over those of the United States; or 2) that this voter feels comfortable voting for a Republican.
They called me,"Mr. Glass."
Why? How many Christians vote for Bush because of his deep Christian faith? Each voter has a set of priorities. Or are you only bothered by the priorities of Jewish Americans??
This is not about "Amen corners" or "Jewish lobbies"
We are simlar, in that in spite of its location, Israel is a western country
And in spite of its name this is not really a "war on terror" it is Western civilization, versus Islamofascism allied with world socialism (liberalism)
Increasingly America is becoming like Israel in that the socialists of the world are rapidly coming to the conclusion that America can do no right, much the way the feel about Israel. As the Islamofascists attack their allies on the left try to bind our hands with propaganda so we cannot fight back.
Israel and America must learn the same lesson. We cannot listen to the idiots of the world (liberals and socialists) we have to do what is right and if hatred is fomented against us, consider its source and dismiss it for the claptrap that it is.
That sounds like something the "Imam Corner" would say.
Thank you or demonstrating my point.
Thank you for demonstrating mine.
You can please some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can never please the democrats.
If some Christian stood up and told me that he was voting for Bush solely because of his deep Christian faith, I couldn't care less. But if some Christian told me that he was voting for Bush solely because of his support for a nominally Christian nation in Europe or South America, I'd say this country is better off without people like that.
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