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McCain's IRI Group Funded Khalidi's Organization in 1993?
Politico | 10/29/2008 | Various

Posted on 10/29/2008 3:01:10 PM PDT by txzman

Just got this sent to me from an Obama fan - from Politico, other forums apparently. Breaking now.

"During the 1990s, while he served as chairman of the International Republican Institute (IRI), McCain distributed several grants to the Palestinian research center co-founded by Khalidi, including one worth half a million dollars.

A 1998 tax filing for the McCain-led group shows a $448,873 grant to Khalidi's Center for Palestine Research and Studies for work in the West Bank. (See grant number 5180, "West Bank: CPRS" on page 14 of this PDF.)

The relationship extends back as far as 1993, when John McCain joined IRI as chairman in January. Foreign Affairs noted in September of that year that IRI had helped fund several extensive studies in Palestine run by Khalidi's group, including over 30 public opinion polls and a study of "sociopolitical attitudes."

Anyone got any background on this?


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: antichrist; conspiracy; khalidi; mccain; obama
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To: icwhatudo
absolutely — this is a capitulation from Obama — he has gone from stonewallling, to denying, to claiming this is a “distraction” -— nothing has worked — so now we are at... fake moral equivalency a la;

“I know I am but so are you...” and THIS insanely thin piece of “evidence”

Obama is scared — mostly scared that all his work to get the Jewish vote in FL will be for naught...

Still — I think there is zero chance the LA Times releases the tape — if we see it, it will be from some other source. What weasels.

41 posted on 10/29/2008 3:21:06 PM PDT by NYC_BULLMOOSE ("extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice" -- BG)
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To: JoseScales
i think joe the plumber, taxes and security was working. we dont need so much distractions that may bring up info we dont want to go out there.

There is no distraction being attempted. The LAT says they have the tape but will not release it because of, ohh four or five reasons, the latest being that they don't want to reveal the source. The question therefore is why would they have been given a copy if they just needed verification? Simply showing the tape would have sufficed to prove the veracity of the tapes content.

But again this is not a distraction. McCain said the LAT should release the tape. The McCain camp is hitting hard on taxes, the economy, and, yes, they are highlighting the nefarious associations Obama seems to have exclusively had over the last 30 years. This is just one more character thrown into the gumbo of Obama's deceit.

42 posted on 10/29/2008 3:21:28 PM PDT by torchthemummy (Why Is The Educational Establishment Comfortable With Ayers' Unrepentent Radicalism (Terrorism)?)
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To: nhwingut

freedom of speech is enshrined in the constitution. i may not know how you speak or which words best to use but please respect my freedom like i respect yours.

after all, we are all fighting for the same political side.

we are in good shape. we will be even by staurday.


43 posted on 10/29/2008 3:22:19 PM PDT by JoseScales
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To: JoseScales
shyte

just found out a link stating that joe scarborough of NBC already had this story today in the morning?

http://boards.msn.com/MSNBCboards/thread.aspx?threadid=830186

Why would anybody be surfing the MSNBC message boards...unless they were a troll who signed up to FR on 10-28-2008?

44 posted on 10/29/2008 3:22:51 PM PDT by Azzurri
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To: txzman
Excuse de jour: I was only 7 years old when Khalidi’s PLO, led by Yasser “Nobel” Arafat began his reign of terror.
45 posted on 10/29/2008 3:23:35 PM PDT by Chairman of the Bard
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To: All
Yea, International Republican Institute (IRI), it's companion Democratic International operation (National Democratic Institute for International Affair), and the overarching body, National Endowment for Democracy, all have their fingers in the politics of foreign countries. The US actively exports its two party system elsewhere, under the label of "promoting democracy." Taxpayer funding is a couple hundred million a year, the operation is coordinated by the State Department.

I have a visceral aversion to democracy, and think the US meddling in this way is one cobblestone on the pathway to a one-world-government. As countries standardize a form of government that permits individuals to vent by voting, it becomes easier and easier to centralize certain government functions.

But as for the IRI encouraging "democracy" by the palestinians, you can bet that the NDIIA and NED are also involved in exactly the same way. That's how "the exporting of democracy" works, both parties aid a certain "government" so as to promote debate and all the other actions that comprise the form of "democracy."

Obabma's claim in this case is a distraction and bullshit.

IRI Statement Regarding Work with Palestinians
October 29, 2008

In the 1990s, IRI gave grants to the Center for Palestinian Research and Studies (CPRS) for polling in the West Bank/Gaza. The polls measured support for the peace process, for various Palestinian political groups, and for efforts to enhance governance in the West Bank/Gaza. At that time no other organization could credibly conduct polling in the West Bank/Gaza.

We understand that Rashid Khalidi was one of the many founders of CPRS, and we understand that he was for some (unclear) amount of time a board member. IRI did not in the 1990s conduct background checks of grantees founders or board members. IRI did on a number of occasions vet CPRS as an organization, including, as was our custom, with the Israeli government, and we were given no cause for concern.

We do not recall any contact between Mr. Khalidi and IRI, and there is no evidence that Mr. Khalidi benefitted in any way from IRI's grants.

Other organizations that reportedly gave funding to CPRS include the National Endowment for Democracy, the U.S. Chamber of Commerces Center for International Private Enterprise, the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations, the Japanese Embassy, and Germanys Friedrich Naumann Stiftung.

IRIs relationship with CPRS ended in 2000, and we understand that it no longer exists.

I urge clicking on the below links and educating yourself. Have fun!

National Endowment for Democracy
International Republican Institute
National Democratic Institute for International Affairs

46 posted on 10/29/2008 3:23:38 PM PDT by Cboldt
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To: JoseScales

You are a scumbag troll. Please go back to DU asshole.


47 posted on 10/29/2008 3:23:44 PM PDT by petercooper (I am a bitter clinger!)
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To: txzman

Link?


48 posted on 10/29/2008 3:24:49 PM PDT by BARLF
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To: Azzurri

just google the document that was posted above and see the links that come out.

http://www.google.com/search?site=blank&hl=en&q=McCain+filing+grant+5180

its simple really. stop wasting time. im not the problem.

we got work to do. and we have 6 days left to win. ok!!!


49 posted on 10/29/2008 3:24:52 PM PDT by JoseScales
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To: Moorka

From IRI’s site:

Washington, DC – “Questions have arisen regarding the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) work with Palestinians in the 1990s.

“In the 1990s, IRI gave grants to the Center for Palestinian Research and Studies (CPRS) for polling in the West Bank/Gaza. The polls measured support for the peace process, for various Palestinian political groups, and for efforts to enhance governance in the West Bank/Gaza. At that time no other organization could credibly conduct polling in the West Bank/Gaza.

“We understand that Rashid Khalidi was one of the many founders of CPRS, and we understand that he was for some (unclear) amount of time a board member. IRI did not in the 1990s conduct background checks of grantees’ founders or board members. IRI did on a number of occasions vet CPRS as an organization, including, as was our custom, with the Israeli government, and we were given no cause for concern.

“We do not recall any contact between Mr. Khalidi and IRI, and there is no evidence that Mr. Khalidi benefitted in any way from IRI’s grants.

“Other organizations that reportedly gave funding to CPRS include the National Endowment for Democracy, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Center for International Private Enterprise, the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations, the Japanese Embassy, and Germany’s Friedrich Naumann Stiftung.

“IRI’s relationship with CPRS ended in 2000, and we understand that it no longer exists.”


50 posted on 10/29/2008 3:24:57 PM PDT by torchthemummy (Why Is The Educational Establishment Comfortable With Ayers' Unrepentent Radicalism (Terrorism)?)
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To: Chairman of the Bard

that was nice.

he cant use that excuse on this one. after all he was a professor and accountable.


51 posted on 10/29/2008 3:25:56 PM PDT by JoseScales
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To: txzman
The IRI gave money to CPRS because it is, surprisingly enough, a non-partisan think tank based in Nablus that has never been accused of radical activities:

“West Bank & Gaza
Local Think Tank Promotes Economic Development

Palestinians are in the midst of building governing institutions and an infrastructure - literally from the ground up. This process receives a boost through the delivery of objective information and views provided by the Center for Palestine Research & Studies (CPRS), a CIPE partner organization based in the West Bank city of Nablus. Despite the ebb and flow of the Middle East peace process, CPRS has been producing consistently reliable analyses and policy recommendations that have helped to give direction to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), the Legislative Council, and business institutions.

Founded in 1993, CPRS is an independent, non-partisan think tank that monitors developments in the West Bank & Gaza and assesses the impact of these developments on the Palestinian people. On its Web site (www.cprs-palestine.org), CPRS states that it “does not adopt political positions other than advocating free, democratic exchange and expression.”

The most important contribution of CPRS, a CIPE grantee since 1996, has been to influence government and business institutions at the highest levels in support of market-opening reforms and economic openness. Given the extraordinary political and social environment in the region, achieving this objective proves to be much more difficult in the West Bank & Gaza than elsewhere, but the CPRS “crusade” is not faltering.

CPRS has gained international recognition through its efforts to accurately poll the sentiments of the Palestinian people in regard to policy development and politics. In mid-January, The New York Times cited a recent CPRS survey on the question of whether Palestinians support a unilateral declaration of statehood in May, 1999. Fifty-seven percent of Palestinians surveyed said they support this move, up from 46 percent in November, 1998.

The centerpiece of the CPRS/ CIPE relationship is the Private Sector Support Program (PSSP), a multi-year project to conduct research and raise economic awareness through conferences, seminars, reports, and other outreach vehicles. The PSSP recently initiated Stage III, which concentrates on:

Improving the legal framework for private sector activity;
increasing private sector participation in the policymaking process;
Identifying opportunities, particularly in the Palestinian side of the Jordan Valley, that encourage regional and international trade and investment.

Last year, CPRS conducted a highly successful conference for the PNA. “The Palestinian Side of the Jordan Valley: Current Status and Development Needs” explored the toll that five decades of strife have taken on the Jordan Valley.

While leading political figures in Israel and the West Bank & Gaza are transfixed by upcoming elections and the prospects of Palestinian statehood, CPRS, much to its credit, will continue to focus on long-term prospects: looking for ways to support the creation of viable government institutions, stimulate the incipient Palestinian economy, and bring about “quality of life” reforms that will encourage Palestinians to build a civil and prosperous society.”

http://www.cipe.org/publications/overseas/overseas9805/features/gaza.html

In 1993, there were many Palestinians who only wanted to try to build a decent society for themselves and their children.

By 2005, those people were far fewer in number.

52 posted on 10/29/2008 3:26:10 PM PDT by mojito
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To: txzman

It’s from huffpo.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/28/mccain-funded-work-of-pal_n_138606.html


53 posted on 10/29/2008 3:26:54 PM PDT by sam_paine (X .................................)
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To: txzman

Nice try by obama campaign—not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison—a personal face-to-face association trumps a business group association to business group association.

They are trying to take the sting out of the tape news—this is what like step 3 or 4-—first they ignore the firestorm, then they deny any association, then vaguely concede that they have an association but they mitigate/minimize the association, then they diminish the news of the association by claiming McCain has similar association, did it too, etc....they must be pretty worried.


54 posted on 10/29/2008 3:27:05 PM PDT by Freedom56v2
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To: txzman
Anyone got any background on this?

It's out there. Here it is in Forbes via AP forgive the damn welcome screen.

McCain faults paper for not releasing Khalidi tape

He also addressed ACORN in FL about immigration but don't think he was active in the group.

As to this one, it's some kind of lobby group, and remember 10 years ago the government was giving Palestinians aid as well as other Israel enemies. That has been our policy for a long time but was before Hamas was elected.

That's the problem with mud slinging, throw some out there, and it will come back in one form or another. We don't know how many others in Congress studied the Palestinians all along. It doesn't appear that McCain was that cozy with them, just accepted lobby money and reported it. McCain was in the Senate then, where was Obama?

I doubt McCain had a personal relationship with Khalidi.

55 posted on 10/29/2008 3:27:29 PM PDT by Aliska
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To: Cboldt

thanks

good work there.


56 posted on 10/29/2008 3:27:52 PM PDT by JoseScales
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To: JoseScales

I got some info from here
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Center_for_Palestine_Research_and_Studies

not sure they exist any more

regardless, givng a grant to an org that Khaledi at one point touched, that essentially gages public opinion is a bit different from praising the guy & having his wife watch your kids


57 posted on 10/29/2008 3:28:14 PM PDT by Blogger
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To: petercooper

ok. after your rant and threats and abuse, then what? do you feel better now?

we got work to do. we need your vote and your friends.

six days to go. we will be even by saturday and shall win election.


58 posted on 10/29/2008 3:29:12 PM PDT by JoseScales
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To: nobama08

he was probably thinking it would be a good idea to see how the man on the street in Gaza etc feels about the ‘peace’ process


59 posted on 10/29/2008 3:30:03 PM PDT by Blogger
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To: Blogger

good one too

but i stated my preference earlier. we would be better served sticking on message.

let this float around but its taxes, seurity and joe plumber that will make the indies swing to us.

this will help to continue tying the character thing too.


60 posted on 10/29/2008 3:32:37 PM PDT by JoseScales
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