Posted on 12/19/2011 7:48:42 AM PST by markomalley
Reform Jews heart Obama.
In a speech Friday night interrupted by applause 62 times -- a speech, according to press reports, that felt like a campaign rally -- the U.S. president told particpants at the Union for Reform Judaism's biennial conference that his administration had done more to contribute to Israel's security than any other in history.
Specifically, Obama said his administration had spent more on keeping Israel safe than any other, including help with building Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system.
So America’s commitment -- America’s commitment and my commitment to Israel and Israel’s security is unshakeable. It is unshakeable. (Applause.)
... it is hard to remember a time when the United States has given stronger support to Israel on its security. In fact, I am proud to say that no U.S. administration has done more in support of Israel’s security than ours. None. Don’t let anybody else tell you otherwise. It is a fact. (Applause.)
I’m proud that even in these difficult times we’ve fought for and secured the most funding for Israel in history. I’m proud that we helped Israel develop a missile defense system that’s already protecting civilians from rocket attacks. (Applause.)
Obama went on to pledge that the United States would "prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons" and that "we will take no options off the table," a reference to a military strike if economic sanctions fail.
Reform Jews comprise about one-quarter of U.S. Jewry, 1.5 million people, and vote overwhelmingly Democratic. Some 78 percent of Jews voted for Obama in 2008, the largest percentage of any U.S. religious group.
The Obama team has been recycling the idea that he's been Israel's greatest friend for some months now, perhaps in reaction to withering attacks from critics that he is anything but.
On the two issues that matter the most to the State of Israel, Iran's nuclear program and peace with the Palestinians, Obama has arguably done more to harm the Jewish state than any president in recent memory.
Upon taking office, Obama pledged to "engage" the regime in Tehran, a supposed antidote to the hostility the mullahs faced under George W. Bush. Ahmadinejad and company took that engagement and ran with it, outflanking the U.S. at every opportunity and aggressively developing nuclear capability while telling the world they had no interest in a bomb.
Even today, when, according to the IAEA, Iran is close to building a bomb, the Obama administration can not bring itself to sanctioning Iran's central bank, a step some European nations have already taken and the only meaningful sanction remaining. Yes, the United States has armed Israel. No, it does not seem like the U.S. has any interest in stopping Iran or helping its Mideast ally should a military strike prove unavoidable.
As for the Palestinians, Obama gifted them early on with heavy pressure on Israel to "compromise" on borders and Jerusalem. Later in his presidency, Obama went further than any previous Palestinian regime by suggesting that any future peace deal be based on Israel's 1967 lines. Now, nearly four years later, Abbas and company won't even consider beginning negotiations with Israel if the Jewish state does not stop every building project in the West Bank first. Mind you, these are small projects in communities that will remain within Israel's borders in any future peace deal, the mythical borders that "everyone agrees to."
Reform Jews love Obama and, sadly, he will almost surely garner the majority of their votes in 2012. And people wonder why there is a growing divide between U.S. and Israel Jewry.
I can’t figure how those idiots cannot understand how much he is respongsible for turning Israel’s neighbors into an Islamist nightmare.
For all of the coming posts I as a Jew cannot for the life of me explain what it will take for the majority of Jews to wake up to the fact this guy is NOT a friend of Israel.
Obama is the opposite of what he told them. Obama would welcome the destruction of Israel. It is sad they would buy his lies.
Hmmm. I would have gone with God being the greatest thing ever to happen to Israel...
Stuck on the plantation,I mean,kibbutz!
This is satire, right?
That's probably because it was a campaign rally.
Reform Judaism has occasionally been described as the Democrat Party with prayers.
ML/NJ
This from a fellow FReeper. A Jewish FReeper. It was posted in late October or early November, 2008:
“How Jews could vote for a half-Arab anti-Semite is just beyond me, but the Democrat lever-pull among Jews is only about two neurons short of genetic.”
Attention members of the Tribe: Social Justice is NOT the same thing as Social-ism. Numb nuts.
Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God...
In some minds, Obama is.
You know what? I am expecting to see that anytime as well. Obama born in Kenya - probably. Kind of fits the mold it seems.
There have been a number of articles like this appearing lately, all extolling zer0’s greatness. I keep expecting to see John Semmens name on them.
The greatest thing ever? Hummm.
In the 1973 Arab Israeli conflict the Israelis were being pushed back on all fronts. Nixon told Golda Meir to use her expendables that he’d make them up for her. An argument arose between the services over which aircraft would be used. When Nixon heard about it he yelled, “Use them all!” The flights ran 24 hours a day non-stop until the conflict ended. After this Golda referred to Nixon as “my President.” Incidentally, it took two years to replenish the US inventory. So that was a huge “gift.”
At what point did Bibi call Obama, my President? Perhaps Bibi was so thrilled with Obama’s insistence that the starting point for negotiations would be Israel’s 1967 borders? Perhaps it was when Obama insisted (and continues to insist) on development moratoriums? One would think that these pro-Palestinian machinations by Obama would present Bibi with sufficient problems that he’d find it difficult to love Obama. But then, I’m a naïve, bitter gun-clinger with no wider view of the world than the cost of arugula at my local Fresh Market.
prayers that only the female “canter” says
I can’t imagine all reform Jews love Obama....bound to be some hawks in there.
They just fear their idea of Christianity-Conservatism-Facism more than anything else.
And I think those left leaning enough who have the power to actually do something besides vote or give money..folks like Jewish Congresscritters, media moguls, institutional leaders etc see Obama as the best chance they have ever had to permanently drive a stake in the heart of that particular aspect of western civilization they most despise and fear...finally.
But we...including around 20-30% of their own fellow tribe members who have their heads screwed on straight and refuse to be victims...are gonna stop them and their touchy feely Christian sheeples who work right alongside dismatling our culture.
I am not sure how or why all this is...we have argued it here since FR started.
But I do know that it’s a battle between Godliness and Godlessness and we are starting to push back...just look how Target, Lowes and Home Depot and others are acting this Christmas season as a small example.
It’s providential, always has been.
No matter how much they despise us we can’t abandon them.
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