By Andrew Malcolm
Today, Illinois' freshman Sen. Barack Obama and Democratic candidate for president expresses a strongly pro-Israel point of view of Mideast policies, a stance which pleases the many influential Jewish leaders and supporters of Israel that are so crucial politically and financially to any realistic bid for the White House.
But as The Los Angeles Times' Peter Wallsten points out in a revealing story in today's print editions, there was a time not so long ago when a young state senator named Obama spent considerable time with the local crowd of Arab-Americans in Chicago. He shared many meals and long conversations with them.
So much so, that some Palestinian-American leaders currently believe that Obama shares a much more sympathetic point of view with them than he is willing to state publicly now.
As Wallsten points out, this belief comes not from any official Obama campaign literature or speaking remarks but from his long association with them in previous years, comments he made in private then and his presence at past events where anger at Israel and American Middle Eastern policy was strongly expressed.
At one farewell party for a friend, where Obama also spoke, another speaker compared "Zionist settlers on the West Bank" to Osama bin Laden, claiming that both had been "blinded by ideology."
One friend said Obama had apologized for not addressing the Palestinian cause more but that his continuing primary campaign constrained what he could say publicly.
Andrew Malcolm writes for Top of the Ticket, the L.A. Times political blog./em>
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Comments
Wha-WHAT?! Obama tailors his message to whomever he's talking to at the moment, and contradicts himself? But it just can't be!
Next thing you're going to tell me is that he's been switching his position on NAFTA.
Posted by: MJ | April 10, 2008 7:45 AM
Watch out America......DIG DEEP MEDIA...Stop all your pro Obama reporting and get answers that the public needs to be able to make the correct decision for America....WHO REALLY IS OBAMA???
Posted by: kcm | April 10, 2008 7:52 AM
To bridge the divide between different groups of people, you need to sit down and talk to all of them. If Obama talks to republicans, the far left will be suspicious. If he talks to the far left, the far right will be suspicious. If he talks to Arabs, Jews will be suspicious. Et cetera. At least he's talking to people. For seven years, we've had a President who talks to about 3 people close to him (maybe fewer) and no one else.
Posted by: Grandblvd03 | April 10, 2008 9:02 AM
Obama is a duplicitous character, who has ONLY his own self interet, ego, etc. in play.
Only Clinton and McCain will work for the country.
WE WILL NOT VOTE FOR THE LIAR OBAMA.
Posted by: Sean McM | April 10, 2008 9:46 AM
So what is surprising about this ? This is part and parcel of the mans' makeup, he's anti-white and anti-Jewish, and his his wife believes America is a mean place , and she's not too proud of it.
It's only the left, who will run anybody to get the White House back, who disregards this mans attitudes. This man is a wolf in sheeps clothing.
The 527s' are gassed up and ready for take off to expose this fraud, they will do the work that the media is so timid to do .
Posted by: Don B | April 10, 2008 9:48 AM
My goodness, we wouldn't want to have a leader who is able to listen to and evaluate all points of view, would we? Put the blinders on! Dig your heels in! Choose sides and don't waiver! Either you're with me or against me!
Posted by: DD | April 10, 2008 9:59 AM
THE EVIL AXIS - CLINTON/FOX STRIKES AGAIN!!! OBAMA GAINING GROUND AND THIS COMES OUT!!!!
Now Obama is a terrorist right? This is some straight up dung! Everyone should know that the middle-east has been in constant conflict since 1942!!!!!! Jews and Palestinians have both been wrong, and it is vital that any candidate for President, speak to both sides to try and find out what HE/SHE can do to help garner peace. Instead of working on peace, the Clintons and their campaign are working on a PIECE of the ACTION in the middle east! They are ALL getting paid, just like the Republicans.
THIS IS WHY Hillary is going to lose. Young Americans are tired of this manipulative stuff!!
Posted by: Keith Lifetime Southsider | April 10, 2008 10:16 AM
Boy, it sure looks like the Republicans beat me to this column!!! Anyone that has an issue with talking to apposing sides is an idiot. Period.
Posted by: Xcellentform | April 10, 2008 12:31 PM