Posted on 07/20/2009 5:09:13 AM PDT by reaganaut1
President Barack Obama last Monday met for the first time with leaders of selected Jewish organizations and leaks from the meeting now make one thing very clear. The only free country in the Middle East no longer has a friend in the leader of the free world. Obama is the most hostile sitting American president in the history of the state of Israel.
This was the very first meeting with Jewish community's leaders. Earlier requests for an audience with major Jewish organizations had reportedly been ignored. Six months after taking office the president finally got around to issuing an invitation to stop the bleeding. Increasing numbers of Jews even among the overwhelming number who voted for Obama have been voicing serious concern about his real agenda.
...
The growing alarm in the Jewish community was also something the White House was bent on covering up. They refused to put the meeting on the President's public schedule until it was outed. The White House demanded strict confidentiality and issued a terse couple of lines that it occurred when it was all over.
WAKE UP! But there is no papering over the distressing reality that emerged. The president told his listeners that he preferred putting daylight between the United States and Israel. His reported justification: "there was no light between the US and Israeli positions for the last eight years, and no progress was made."
Evidently, unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip, 21 settlements and 9,000 residents counts for nothing. The Palestinian terrorist leadership and street have refused to accept a Jewish state for the past eight years (and the previous 53) because the United States did not add sufficiently to Israel's isolation.
(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...
Why is that? Because of heated conversations with Jews. So yes it’s surprising to me that somewhere there were writings showing statistics that were actually favorable towards McCain.
“Really? I am?”
Not all obviously, but socialist Jews out number non socialist Jews, especially in the US, and especially in media. Any idea why?
You're only on my side if you don't post misleading or inaccurate stuff here when responding to things that I write about. People who do this are dangerous because I am not always around to correct the misstatements of the ignorant to the ignorant.
But make no mistakes Hoenlein has been replaced in title and in influence.
And you just repeat yourself. Hoenlein has not been replaced in title. As for influence, I have to say I don't even know who your Alan Solow is. Maybe he just speaks to an audience that I am not part of. I usually hear Hoenlein every week on Nachum Segal's show. (Nachum who? If you have to ask, that's not good.) Hoenlein didn't need to invite Palin to that demonstration to pi$$ off the left. He took Rush Limbaugh to Israel back when Vince Foster was murdered, and Rush still talks about Malcolm from time to time. I've never heard Rush mention the supposedly influential Alan Solow.
ML/NJ
Toldja!
Liberal Jews simply follow an ideology instead of their OT wisdom and the fact that the biggest enemies of Israel are always liberal Democrats. BHO is no exception. Jews must get over their fear of Christians, or the Judeo-Christian worldview. They must rid themselves of the fear that white Christians in America are really closet Nazis. The facts are that liberal Dems are socialist pacifists which would not only get Israel killed but the USA too.
“As for influence, I have to say I don’t even know who your Alan Solow is.”
At this poinrt you are engaging in willful ignorance much like Democrat voting Jews. The change in President’s Conference is all over J Post, Atlas wrote on it (”Atlas who? If you have to ask, that’s not good”)http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2009/07/so-low.html,
JTA, JWR, pro Israel Blogs like Israel Matzav, Daled Amos, Yid with a Lid
educate yourself and stop the childish namecalling.
As for knowing about J-street, and being educated about these things, let me know how many of the White House conference attendees you have had (not always pleasant) face-to-face political discussions with or have received personal letters from. My guess is that these numbers will be small than the numbers I have.
ML/NJ
“let me know how many of the White House conference attendees you have had (not always pleasant) face-to-face political discussions with or have received personal letters from. My guess is that these numbers will be small than the numbers I have”
many. I can detail them to you in a pm. But is this really about who has bigger cajones? I am trying to convey some very important info here that affects both our interests - some of the organizations that we have considered Israel supporters in our communitry have been taken over. Take the info or leave it. I think it important to face reality.
Lee Rosenberg, who campaigned on behalf of Obama, was confirmed as president-elect of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee at its recent national conference. And Alan Solow, an early Obama supporter, was recently elected chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
For both groups the Jewish communitys largest pro-Israel advocacy organizations showcasing close friends of Obama in their leadership brings the all-important benefit of opening doors at the White House. The two supporters roles take even greater significance as the Jewish community braces for what many predict could be a rocky relationship between Washington and Jerusalem.
And just how big a supporter of Obama is Rosenberg? Pretty big:
I found that it was not only that he [Obama] has concern for Israels safety and well-being, but that he is also really fundamentally interested in the relationship between the U.S. and Israel, Rosenberg said.
During the campaign, Rosenberg, an AIPAC board member for more than 10 years, repeated the story of his relationship with Obama to Jewish voters across the country time and again.
On a Friday morning just days before the November presidential election, Rosenberg made his pitch at a Miami Chabad synagogue to a dozen skeptical Jewish voters. Undeterred, he patiently vouched for Obamas pro-Israel credentials, assuring the small crowd that the little-known senator from Illinois was sincere in his support for Israel.
Rosenberg also appeared in a video clip that was produced by Chicago Jewish supporters of Obama and aimed to debunk the widespread smear campaign against the presidential candidate. Listen to what he says. He means what he says. Dont listen to others trying to interpret what he said, Rosenberg urged Jewish voters in the clip.
And apparently, being a good friend of Obama didn’t hurt Rosenberg either:
Rosenberg will take over the AIPAC presidency next March, after current president David Victor ends his two-year term. He was in line for being a big leader someday, but because of his ties with Obama, he got catapulted, said a Jewish organizational official who closely follows the communitys intramural politics but would speak only if granted anonymity.
In a telephone interview with the Forward, Rosenberg, who rarely speaks to the press, said he believed that his friendship with Obama is only part of the story of his ascent. I am confident that my leadership position at AIPAC is due to my close relationship with the president, but also thanks to many relationships I have been fortunate to build with other people in leadership, including many members of Congress, he said.
All of this of course leads to the obvious question—when all is said and done, is this close relationship to Obama really a good thing?
Not all in the community see the friendship between community leaders and the president as advantageous. Morton Klein, national president of the Zionist Organization of America, expressed concern over the ability of Rosenberg and Solow to speak out against the president, who, in Kleins view, is demonstrating a hostile approach toward Israel. They will be reluctant to criticize Obama, Klein said. Im concerned whether it is best at these times to have people close to the president in these positions.
Such concerns, however, were not widespread among communal leaders. Most appear to see the elevation of Obama friends as a positive move.
It’s only natural to place a premium on ‘having connections,’ but this kind of closeness and lack of objectivity is worrisome.
These 2 men—Rosenberg and Solow—seem to be representative of a key group of influential Jews with ties to Obama:
Rosenberg and Solow are among a small group of leading Chicago Jews who supported Obama throughout the campaign. Others include billionaire defense contractor Lester Crown and hotel heir Penny Pritzker, who served as Obamas national finance chair during the campaign.
Solow, speaking at an April 29 reception for Israel Independence Day, referred to the prominent role Chicago is now playing in national politics, calling his hometown the most important city in the world.
Rabbi Sam Gordon, who co-founded Rabbis for Obama, said the Windy City has always played a leading role on the national Jewish scene, but people may be noticing us more now because of the local communitys ties with the president.
Solow, an attorney and philanthropist, has supported Obama ever since his first race for the Illinois Senate. During the presidential campaign, he spoke glowingly of Obama as the first Jewish president.
Did I say ‘worrisome’?
And while Rosenberg does not state publicly where he stands on the two state solution, he does not appear to be opposed to the idea.
Although Rosenberg frequently speaks to Jewish audiences about Obamas support for Israel (he was the AIPAC board member chosen to introduce then-candidate Obama at the lobbys policy conference last year), as AIPAC president-elect he refrains from stating his own views on issues in contention. Such is the case on the debate over the question of an independent Palestinian state. Rosenberg recently lobbied forcefully on Capitol Hill for an AIPAC-backed congressional letter supporting a two-state solution.
This issue is expected to take center stage in U.S.-Israel relations, since the new government led by Netanyahu will not endorse a two-state solution as a solution to Israels conflict with the Palestinians, nor will it use the term Palestinian state. Netanyahu has, instead, stressed other forms of Palestinian self-governance. The Obama administration, meanwhile, has insisted repeatedly that an independent Palestinian state and security guarantees for Israel remain the keys to a resolution.
With people like this, who needs J Street?
http://daledamos.blogspot.com/2009/06/does-aipac-now-represent-obamas.html
[my comment - the only Jewish org that spoke out against the AIPAC letter endorsing a two state solution in contravention to then PM Netanyahu’s policy was Morton Klein of ZOA. And he was excluded from the recent Obama meeting]
.....................
Obamas Jewish Backers May Be in the Middle as U.S.-Israel Tensions Rise
By Nathan Guttman
Published May 13, 2009, issue of May 22, 2009.
As tension builds between the new Obama administration in Washington and the new Netanyahu government in Jerusalem, two of President Obamas closest Jewish allies may find themselves increasingly in the middle.
Courtesy of Israeli Embassy, Washington DCAlan Solow: Conference chair.Lee Rosenberg, who campaigned on behalf of Obama, was confirmed as president-elect of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee at its recent national conference. And Alan Solow, an early Obama supporter, was recently elected chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
For both groups the Jewish communitys largest pro-Israel advocacy organizations showcasing close friends of Obama in their leadership brings the all-important benefit of opening doors at the White House. The two supporters roles take even greater significance as the Jewish community braces for what many predict could be a rocky relationship between Washington and Jerusalem.
The ability to have good chemistry with the administration and the president is a significant asset at a time when we will undoubtedly face challenging moments and are in need for frank discussions, said Steve Grossman, a Boston businessman who served as AIPACs president early in the presidency of his close friend Bill Clinton.
Rosenberg ascended to AIPACs top lay post this month under circumstances similar to Grossmans: He, too, is a close friend of a new president and is viewed, at a time of political realignment, as a bridge to a largely unknown new administration.
Was the Right Right About Obama?
In Washington, a Clash of the Agendas
AIPAC Confronts A New Reality as Obamas Agenda Becomes Clear
Rosenberg is a venture capitalist and media and entertainment entrepreneur who co-founded GRP Records, one of the countrys largest jazz labels. He numbers Chicago jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis among his business partners through LRSmedia, his primary entertainment business vehicle.
Rosenberg, known as Rosy to his friends, got to know Obama through his pro-Israel activism. Obama, then a congressional candidate, reached out to Rosenberg, and with time, their dialogue on Israel-related issues deepened into what people close to the men describe as a personal friendship.
I found that it was not only that he has concern for Israels safety and well-being, but that he is also really fundamentally interested in the relationship between the U.S. and Israel, Rosenberg said.
During the campaign, Rosenberg, an AIPAC board member for more than 10 years, repeated the story of his relationship with Obama to Jewish voters across the country time and again.
On a Friday morning just days before the November presidential election, Rosenberg made his pitch at a Miami Chabad synagogue to a dozen skeptical Jewish voters. Undeterred, he patiently vouched for Obamas pro-Israel credentials, assuring the small crowd that the little-known senator from Illinois was sincere in his support for Israel.
Rosenberg also appeared in a video clip that was produced by Chicago Jewish supporters of Obama and aimed to debunk the widespread smear campaign against the presidential candidate. Listen to what he says. He means what he says. Dont listen to others trying to interpret what he said, Rosenberg urged Jewish voters in the clip.
Rosenberg will take over the AIPAC presidency next March, after current president David Victor ends his two-year term. He was in line for being a big leader someday, but because of his ties with Obama, he got catapulted, said a Jewish organizational official who closely follows the communitys intramural politics but would speak only if granted anonymity.
In a telephone interview with the Forward, Rosenberg, who rarely speaks to the press, said he believed that his friendship with Obama is only part of the story of his ascent. I am confident that my leadership position at AIPAC is due to my close relationship with the president, but also thanks to many relationships I have been fortunate to build with other people in leadership, including many members of Congress, he said.
Records show that Rosenberg has contributed substantial sums to the campaigns of numerous Democrats and a few powerful Republicans, such as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
Although Rosenberg frequently speaks to Jewish audiences about Obamas support for Israel (he was the AIPAC board member chosen to introduce then-candidate Obama at the lobbys policy conference last year), as AIPAC president-elect he refrains from stating his own views on issues in contention. Such is the case on the debate over the question of an independent Palestinian state. Rosenberg recently lobbied forcefully on Capitol Hill for an AIPAC-backed congressional letter supporting a two-state solution.
This issue is expected to take center stage in U.S.-Israel relations, since the new government led by Netanyahu will not endorse a two-state solution as a solution to Israels conflict with the Palestinians, nor will it use the term Palestinian state. Netanyahu has, instead, stressed other forms of Palestinian self-governance. The Obama administration, meanwhile, has insisted repeatedly that an independent Palestinian state and security guarantees for Israel remain the keys to a resolution.
Grossman, who led AIPAC from 1992 to 1997, said that Rosenbergs role could be crucial in such a situation.
An AIPAC president with an outstanding relationship with the president could definitely help relations, Grossman said. I think Lee Rosenberg is uniquely positioned at this moment to play this role.
Not all in the community see the friendship between community leaders and the president as advantageous. Morton Klein, national president of the Zionist Organization of America, expressed concern over the ability of Rosenberg and Solow to speak out against the president, who, in Kleins view, is demonstrating a hostile approach toward Israel. They will be reluctant to criticize Obama, Klein said. Im concerned whether it is best at these times to have people close to the president in these positions.
Such concerns, however, were not widespread among communal leaders. Most appear to see the elevation of Obama friends as a positive move.
Since the White House is the center of gravity, it is only reasonable that these two outstanding leaders will rise to take leadership roles, said onetime Republican activist William Daroff, vice president for public policy and Washington director of United Jewish Communities.
Rosenberg and Solow are among a small group of leading Chicago Jews who supported Obama throughout the campaign. Others include billionaire defense contractor Lester Crown and hotel heir Penny Pritzker, who served as Obamas national finance chair during the campaign.
Solow, speaking at an April 29 reception for Israel Independence Day, referred to the prominent role Chicago is now playing in national politics, calling his hometown the most important city in the world.
Rabbi Sam Gordon, who co-founded Rabbis for Obama, said the Windy City has always played a leading role on the national Jewish scene, but people may be noticing us more now because of the local communitys ties with the president.
Solow, an attorney and philanthropist, has supported Obama ever since his first race for the Illinois Senate. During the presidential campaign, he spoke glowingly of Obama as the first Jewish president.
Solow said in an interview that his friendship with Obama played no role in his selection to chair the Presidents Conference, but he added that he believes it isnt a bad thing to have a relationship with the president.
The Presidents Conference, an umbrella group representing 50 national organizations on foreign policy issues, came under fire during the campaign, when Democrats accused the groups executive vice chairman, Malcolm Hoenlein, of siding with Republican candidate John McCain. Hoenlein dismissed the claim. Solow, who describes himself as left of center, said he was never uncomfortable with the views and actions of the group.
The conference works closely with any administration that is in power, Solow said, adding that the groups basic views did not change throughout the years. Solow also believes that the Jewish communitys consensus shifts naturally in a way that reflects changes in the political landscape. The Jewish community is in sync with Obama on issues relating to Israel and the Iranian threat, he said. On the Palestinian issue, Solow believes it is necessary to wait until all sides make their policy clear.
http://www.forward.com/articles/105954/
ML/NJ
ML/NJ
Sounds like a good premise, but how is it implemented?
What question - how many attendees have I met?
How is that in any way relevant to my point that two big Obama supporters are now head of the two biggest US orgs which used to give unequivocal support to the standing government of Israel? I linked incontrovertible confirmation of that fact not dependent on any ridiculous, irelevant, and unprovable claims of who I met or had letters from.
Or do you just want to show off? I decline to show off. As you well know, in a pm I offered to detail that list to you. You never responded.
If you attend an event with a speaker you meet the speaker.
If you give money to an organization they send you a letter, enough money and it is a personal letter. If you fund raise for an organization you meet even more people. Again what is the point.
President Barack Obama last Monday met for the first time with leaders of selected Jewish organizations and leaks from the meeting now make one thing very clear. The only free country in the Middle East no longer has a friend in the leader of the free world. Obama is the most hostile sitting American president in the history of the state of Israel... Earlier requests for an audience with major Jewish organizations had reportedly been ignored. Six months after taking office the president finally got around to issuing an invitation to stop the bleeding. Increasing numbers of Jews even among the overwhelming number who voted for Obama have been voicing serious concern about his real agenda... the White House... refused to put the meeting on the President's public schedule until it was outed... demanded strict confidentiality and issued a terse couple of lines that it occurred when it was all over... The president told his listeners that he preferred putting daylight between the United States and Israel... The Palestinian terrorist leadership and street have refused to accept a Jewish state for the past eight years (and the previous 53) because the United States did not add sufficiently to Israel's isolation.
I had no idea that I'm responsible for explaining them. What's next? A loyalty oath for the Jooos?
This whole thread of conversation is starting to remind me of two chunkhead sports radio a-holes here in NY who, after 9/11, somehow came to the brilliant decision that American Jews should have to take a loyalty oath and explicitly state on which side (Israel or U.S.) we stand.
lol, you are waaaay too defensive. I didn't say you were responsible for anything. I just asked for your opinion. Excuse me. I won't make that mistake again. sheesh
Given the context - the guy who basically called out all Joooos as leftists, you’ll have to excuse me. Or not. I really don’t care.
Having heard this kind of garbage quite a bit over the past few years, I’ll be defensive when I feel like it.
One way might be to recruit middle class Jewish candidates who could tell their own communities ala Cantor in Ohio, what Pub principles really stand for not what the MSM brainwashes the unwashed with each day. Another thing is to try to convince conserv students to become teachers. That is where the brainwashing first begins.
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