This is one of those times where I’m relieved to have left the Democratic Party several years ago. Trying to justify this tawdry denouement to Clinton’s withdrawal from the anti-Ahmadinejad rally next week:
The organizers of an anti-Iran rally Monday rescinded their invitation to Alaska Governor Sarah Palin after Democrats protested that her presence would turn the event into a political rally, McCain campaign and Jewish community sources said.
The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations created a political tempest by inviting Palin to speak without clearing her invitation with another speaker, Senator Hillary Clinton. Clinton promptly dropped out of the event, saying it would be seen as unduly political. The McCain campaign then pressed Senator Barack Obama to join Palin on the stage in a show of unity against Iran.
The Obama campaign in turn offered to send Congressman Robert Wexler of Florida — who had harshly attacked Palin for slender ties[*] to Pat Buchanan– to the event.
But the appearance that the non-partisan group was aligning with the Republican ticket put the group and its president, Malcolm Hoenlein, under heavy pressure from Jewish Democrats, including members of the conference, members of Congress, and the liberal group J Street, not to give Palin a platform, sources said. Hoenlein told the McCain campaign that he would have to rescind Palin’s invitation or cancel the rally.
The organizers, I’m told, have formally disinvited all elected and political officials, but the move was about Palin.
…as anything except an utterly predictable exercise in applied pettiness from the head of their party would probably give me a nosebleed from the strain. Bonus points for Wexler: as Allahpundit would hopefully agree, picking Wexler for the replacement is a perfect example of the insecure sneer that has crept in Obama’s voice ever since McCain effectively demonstrated that the former can’t actually anticipate the latter’s behavior.
But that’s all right. This is the candidate that the Democrats wanted, this is the candidate that the Democrats deserve, and this is the candidate that the Democrats got; and I offer the pious hope that they fully experience every aspect of their choice, down to the very molecular level.
Moe Lane
PS: If you’re a Democrat who’s bothered by this, don’t bother telling us about it. We don’t care if you’re bothered by this, for a very simple reason: being bothered by it is all that you’ll be doing about it. You know it, I know it – and Barack Obama and his people are basing their campaign around knowing it. So just accept that this is simply one more principle that you’re prepared to gut-shoot in order to win an election, and save us all some valuable time.
[*]For ‘slender ties’ read ‘lie,’ by the way.
Steve Maley
KnightsofMalta
So who cares?
izoneguy (Diary) Thursday, September 18th at 7:29PM EST (link)Wasn’t the whole idea to have an anti-Iran rally?
I guess the dems paid them some money to get rid of Palin.
Now the media won’t come. You won’t hear or see it. It might show up on a blog somewhere. Sarah should have her own rally down the street at the same time. What is “The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations” anyway? So they would have had Hillary there by herself anyway. Why did they rollover when the dems objected? This is like a SNL skit.
The point cannot be made often enough: Modern liberalism, as embodied in the Obama presidency, is the defender of the status quo. And the status quo is a road to economic ruin. Political forces cannot redistribute the wealth that the economic system does not produce.
Oy Vey!
Bubba38 (Diary) Thursday, September 18th at 7:30PM EST (link)Once again, I am ashamed of my co-religionists. Only from a Jewish perspective, could inviting a Republican to join Democrat to speak at an event become partisan. Excuse me, but isn’t having a representative from each side, by definition, bi-partisan? How is Hilary speaking solo not “partisan”?
In an effort to avoid an “SNL moment”, Democrats hand Iran a victory. Live. From New York. Its NO ONE!!!!
totally predictable
lacrossemom Thursday, September 18th at 7:39PM EST (link)This was not surprising in the least. As soon as Hillary took her toys and left the room, it was totally predictable that somehow the panicking dems would find a way to keep Palin away from this rally. Interesting that when Hillary was scheduled to appear, there were no concerns about appearing partisan or political. I think most common sense observers will see this for what it is and the democrats will be viewed as manipulative and desperate.
Focus on the Economy and on Big Brobama's Corruption!
Strelnikov (Diary) Thursday, September 18th at 7:42PM EST (link)E-Mail Hacking, Snubs like this, Saturday Night Live parodies: ignore them and focus on the economy, on Big Brobama’s connections to Wall Street “greed” and incompetence, on how his tax cuts are a lie, and how America should be above class warfare and envy!
Focus on the do-nothing Democrat Congress and how Big Brobama has fit right in, by doing nothing!
(Of course in one sense: thank heavens they are doing nothing!)
Appealing to our better angels, rather than telling people to “get in your neighbor’s face” and spread lies about McCain spreading lies, is what the Republicans also need to do right now.
As of November 4, 2008, the Code Words will be: “Klaatu – Borada – Nikto!”
And while I'm at it . . .
Bubba38 (Diary) Thursday, September 18th at 7:44PM EST (link)Wexler?!?!?!?! As if that doesn’t reak of “Quick, Barry. We need to find ourselves a Jew.” GOP sent Palin to demonstrate their solidarity with this cause, and the best the Dems could do was Wexler? Puh-lease!
I guess it would be wrong
RJD (Diary) Thursday, September 18th at 7:45PM EST (link)of Palin and Lieberman to show up anyway?
…then again, the media would just twist it. it’s as close to no-win/no-win as one can get.
Win one for I'manidiotnejad -- Dems take one for Iran?
Hammer2008 (Diary) Thursday, September 18th at 8:35PM EST (link)Winner – the Islamic Republic and it’s president
Loser – The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations
Thanks to the Obama campaign and it’s supporters!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Too much noise! “Noise! You’ll have noise enough before long. The Regulars are coming out.” ~ Paul Revere (April 18th, 1775′s eve…)
Sabotage
Bubba38 (Diary) Thursday, September 18th at 9:57PM EST (link)Its as if Clinton was giving Jewish voters another reason to vote Republican. She’d never do something like that, would she . . .
malcolm how could you?
mikeleader (Diary) Thursday, September 18th at 10:01PM EST (link)there was a time Malcolm had integrity.Now he is a politically correct partisan who must resign!
my fellow Jews who forced the withdrawal of Palin are beyond contempt..how do they reward one woman who spits in their face..and insult another woman who extends a hand in friendship?
stabbing al D’amato in the back wasn’t good enough to show how little they respect loyalty..they needed to slime Palin for a damn encore. Shame!
mikeleader
I think we've just been disrespected
smagar (Diary) Thursday, September 18th at 10:04PM EST (link)It’s not just the disinviting of Gov Palin that’s irritating and insulting.
What’s worse is—the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations will come out in public (if they already haven’t) and say “Oh no, it wasn’t about politics at all. We didn’t do anything to show disrespect to Governor Palin.” They won’t even acknowledge what we all know really happened here.
The media will report that this wasn’t about politics at all…and the whole matter will be forgotten.
And…we Republicans are supposed to just sit quietly and take it. Oh joy.
Forgive me for saying this…but I get the sense that much of America’s Jewish community holds the GOP at arms’ length. They tolerate us, largely because we support Israel, and can be counted on to NOT abandon Israel to the whims of the UN. (Like the Democrats would.)
But, often I feel that the Jewish-American community does not respect we conservatives and Republicans. It’s as if they hold their noses and avert their gaze, whenever we stand beside them to show our solidarity with Israel.
If the Jewish-American community really respected Governor Palin, they wouldn’t have done this to her.
But they did do it to her. And no one is surprised that they did.
As for me, I tire of being disrespected.
“Who will stand/On either hand/And guard this bridge with me?” (Macaulay)
American Jews
Flagstaff (Diary) Thursday, September 18th at 10:11PM EST (link)have me confused.
Their logic
is trojic.
“The press is so powerful in its image-making role that it can make a criminal look like he’s the victim and make the victim look like he’s the criminal. If you aren’t careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”– Malcolm X, Audubon Ballroom, December 13, 1964
Better Israel go up in a mushroom cloud than a Republican should speak
civil truth (Diary) Thursday, September 18th at 10:29PM EST (link)I cannot find any conceivable logic to this offensively rude and utterly disrespectful behavior, just an astonishing confluence of arrogance, chutzpah, and hatred.
Hillary had no problem accepting the invitation before she heard that Sarah would be there. Obviously, she had no scruples about her presence putting a partisan veneer on this event.
The organizers, though, evidently wanted representatives from both parties, so they asked Sarah Palin also speak.
Suddenly Hillary sees having a Republican present as turning the event into a partisan event. She then publically and angrily withdraws, accusing the organization of having partisan motives.
Other Jewish Democratic groups then go further to employ the big lie tactic by accusing the McCain/Palin campaign of being the instigators of turning the event into a political event by accepting this outside invitation.
This is a classic no-win situation.
Accepting the invitation opened the door to a treacherous political attack and humiliation against Sarah by Democratic supporters of these organization.
On the other hand, if Sarah had turned down the invitation, then these same groups would have maligned her as hating Jews and Israel.
So basically, the Democrats prostituted these Jewish organizations, using their position of influence and power (and probably financial arm-twisting as well) to force them to come up with a pretext for disinviting her, making these groups a tool for their finding something else to attack Sarah Palin for, even at the cost of undermining this rally against Iran.
Not to mention, what personal pain this must give to Sarah, who loves Israel, to be treated in such a fashion.
That is putting party before Israel.
Evidently these folks must believe that Jews are either Democrats or
Republicansmeschumed. And the latter must be driven away and silenced at all costs, even the cost jeopardizing the survival of Israel.This is an evil season.
The greatest evil…is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice. Hence, naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state or the offices of a thoroughly nasty business concern. -C.S. Lewis
http://www.gmsplace.com/
Amen. I suspect I'm not the only Republican...
smagar (Diary) Thursday, September 18th at 10:41PM EST (link)who’s getting tired of the lack of appreciation and consideration that many Jewish-Americans show to conservatives, evangelicals and Republicans.
Of course, we will continue to support Israel, because it’s the right thing to do.
Neverthless, I feel fully justified in feeling offended and insulted.
“Who will stand/On either hand/And guard this bridge with me?” (Macaulay)
Break out the Iranian flags...
Hammer2008 (Diary) Thursday, September 18th at 11:09PM EST (link)the ones that irritate the hell out of the Islamic Republic (the pre-revolutionary one):
Just like it was by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) during last year’s protest of Ahmadinejad’s speech to the United Nations General Assembly.
Personally, considering Iran’s “nuke front”, I like this one too!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Too much noise! “Noise! You’ll have noise enough before long. The Regulars are coming out.” ~ Paul Revere (April 18th, 1775′s eve…)
{Still bored - ML}
Christianwoman Thursday, September 18th at 11:09PM EST (link){Bored Now. - ML}
Christianwoman Thursday, September 18th at 11:10PM EST (link)Attack of the feeble-minded over here. (nt)
virgil Thursday, September 18th at 11:13PM EST (link)Troll Get A Life
dld1717 (Diary) Thursday, September 18th at 11:14PM EST (link)Go back to your nasty dirty whole u came out from under. Have fun at Daily Kos, Move On Hate America and your other fanatics.
Your kind is not welcomed here so go run away troll and say a prayer just heaven knows you need some light in your mind and head
How to put this gently... Oh yeah.
mbecker908 (Diary) Thursday, September 18th at 11:14PM EST (link)![Flaming Finger] http://www.clig.net/images/middlefingerflame.jpg
{Come on, man. You know I gotta shut something like that down. – ML}
Sad, uninformed, and inappropriate.
dhannon_pdx (Diary) Thursday, September 18th at 11:15PM EST (link)Wow three words to describe liberals and your post.
that my friend ...is FRESH!!!...lol
speciallist (Diary) Thursday, September 18th at 11:20PM EST (link)n/p
Fresh idiot over here Moe.
Achance (Diary) Thursday, September 18th at 11:31PM EST (link)Hopefully now a ghost, but I’m sure you’ll take care of it if not.
In Vino Veritas
It was awesome though...
virgil Thursday, September 18th at 11:34PM EST (link)and I got to save it for other use, if that’s ok mbecker
Awe Moe...
mbecker908 (Diary) Thursday, September 18th at 11:36PM EST (link)I’m very selective with it…
But OK.
Party pooper.
Somebody slipped and cut their nutsack
itrytobenice (Diary) Thursday, September 18th at 11:41PM EST (link)This is a sign of a circumcision gone wrong. If the Jewish leaders of this little confab had anything filling their boxers, they would have told Hill/Bama to either show up or shut up.
They would have had better press coverage, plus actual bipartisan agreement if members of both parties had shown up.
Now it’s a nothing rally by a bunch of pansy nobodies.
Proper grammar saves lives.
Let’s eat Grandma.
Let’s eat, Grandma.
James Hagee
bgo813 Friday, September 19th at 12:51AM EST (link)You really want to know why Jews may not care for conservative evangelicals? It’s because they say things like “the Holocaust was G-d’s will.” People like Hagee may love Israel, but it surely doesn’t seem as if they like Jews.
So bgo813, Let me get this straight. Hagee speaks for all evangelical Christians and therefore all evangelical Christians are antisemites?
stang (Diary) Friday, September 19th at 1:24AM EST (link)Inciting religious bigotry with your innuendo is so little league.
Can’t you morons come up with something even remotely resembling reality?
“Whenever the legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any farther obedience, and are left to the common refuge which God hath provided for all men against force and violence.”
John Locke
Censorship rears it's ugly head...
AceInTX (Diary) Friday, September 19th at 8:12AM EST (link)as a tool of the Democrat Party once again.
I wonder how long it will be before they are burning books and breaking shop windows….oh wait…they’re already breaking shop windows as evidenced by their behavior at the Republican Convention!
That's exactly what I was thinking
bk (Diary) Friday, September 19th at 8:19AM EST (link)Can you imagine Palin in the crowd saying, “I don’t care whether I’m up on the podium or not – this issue is so important that I wanted to participate in whatever way I could.”
First off it's John Haggee...
AceInTX (Diary) Friday, September 19th at 8:27AM EST (link)Secondly…that’s a quote taken out of context…if you knew anything about Christianity and evangelical belief…Christians believe that anything and everything that happens is GOD’s will…or he wouldn’t allow it to happen…Every event in history and in the future are all part of his divine plan and building toward the return of Jesus Christ in the last days.
As for Haggee’s supposed hatred for Israel, If you took an objective look at the totality of Haggee’s positions and statements you would know your statement is an ignorant repetition of a leftist smear at best…and at worse it’s a damnable lie told by you.
But of course, we wouldn’t want anything approaching facts to get in the way of your obvious bigotry and Christian bashing would we?
under heavy pressure from Jewish Democrats
Tempered_Steel (Diary) Friday, September 19th at 8:31AM EST (link)That one line….
Pissed me off
Just a typical gun toating, God clinging, bitter white person.
I'm not the only R who feels disrespected by the US Jewish community
smagar (Diary) Friday, September 19th at 8:36AM EST (link)I give you Seth Leibson, in today’s Corner
I am a proud, unabashed supporter of Israel. I encourage every American to fight vigorously against any type of anti-Semitism, anywhere, anytime.
But, I can’t help but get frustrated when I get the perception that the people I want to help—the people and nation who I’m willing to come out of retirement and fight for—appear so dang ingrateful.
Excuse me, but does Israel and the worldwide Jewish community have enough other allies worldwide, that they can afford to tell Republcans to shoo, shoo, go away?
If my ethnic and spiritual homeland was small enough and so completely surrounded by hostile peoples that it had earned the nickname “the one-bomb state,” I’d be a little more circumspect about disrespecting the few friends in the world I did have.
“Who will stand/On either hand/And guard this bridge with me?” (Macaulay)
Dems threatened their tax status
Hammer2008 (Diary) Sunday, September 21st at 9:36PM EST (link)those classy lib’s.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Too much noise! “Noise! You’ll have noise enough before long. The Regulars are coming out.” ~ Paul Revere (April 18th, 1775′s eve…)