Obama Pledges Support for Israel, Blasts McCain Hamas Comments

May 9 (Bloomberg) -- Barack Obama said as president he would work to ensure Israel's security and protect its relationship with the U.S.

``I pledge to you that I will do whatever I can in whatever capacity to not only ensure Israel's security but also to ensure that the people of Israel may thrive and prosper and build on the enormous promise that was made 60 years ago,'' the Democratic presidential contender said at an event last night sponsored by the Israeli Embassy in Washington honoring the 60th anniversary of Israel's statehood.

Illinois Senator Obama also said John McCain's suggestion last month that the militant Islamic group Hamas favors Obama is ``offensive'' and a ``smear'' that goes counter to McCain's promise to run a positive campaign. Senator McCain of Arizona is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

``My policy toward Hamas has been no different than his,'' Obama said yesterday in an interview on CNN. ``I've said that they are a terrorist organization, that we should not negotiate with them unless they recognize Israel, renounce violence, and unless they are willing to abide by previous accords between the Palestinians and the Israelis.''

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aulG812E0id0&refer=us

Not sure what he said that was objectionable to you (if anything was).

If he wants to win an election in America, he isn't going to back Hamas, a terrorist organization that has sworn to obliterate a sovereign nation.

Good for Obama.

. . or expand on that a bit. Maybe a quote? Thanks :thumbsup:

A right wing friend sent me an e-mail quoting passages of Audacity of Hope saying something about the fact that he would defend Muslims over America. I'm not sure exactly what it said - its been too long. I read that book and do not remember anything like that. Also the e-mail stated comments he made in his other book "Dreams of my Father" about black power and the like. I don't know if its true or just a smear going around. Anyone know anything about this?

He mentions meeting with officials and others from both sides. "I talked to Jews who had lost parents in the Holocaust and brothers in suicide bombings. I heard Palestinians talk of the indignities of checkpoints and reminisce about the land they had lost...As difficult as the work may seem, I believe we have an obligation to engage in efforts to bring about peace in the Middle East."

(p. 322)

So he recognizes that both sides are suffering and supports peace efforts; but does not mention Hamas.

next

We'll see how he plays this.

make him a right wing hawk"?

So are you claiming that all those who support Israel are "right wing hawks"?

``My policy toward Hamas has been no different than his,'' Obama said yesterday in an interview on CNN. ``I've said that they are a terrorist organization, that we should not negotiate with them unless they recognize Israel, renounce violence, and unless they are willing to abide by previous accords between the Palestinians and the Israelis.''

Veeeery right wing. :sarcasm:

I don't know where you live, but in most of America anti-terrorism policies are considered to be pretty much universally approved of. Obama's plan to "not negotiate with them" isn't exactly what I would call "hawkish" anyway. I'd call it pretty neutral. The only way this statement could appear right wing is if you're so far to the left, even Alan Alda looks like a war-monger.

Americans don't like terrorism.

Even those opposed to the War on Iraq are opposed to the idea of terrorists, suicide bombers, Hamas and Hezbollah, and al Qaida.

Obama is only speaking the language that the majority of americans want to hear.

A pro-terrorist presidential nominee would have been out before the New Hampshire primary.