Romney and the GOP have not charted a bold new path on the peace process other than to say that he will demand concessions from the Palestinians. Obama would never do that. Romney has not promised to move the embassy. He has not been critical of Obama’s embrace of the MB at home and abroad. He has been very circumspect with his promises. I believe that because of Adelson we can expect more from Romney than his present words allow. Adelson is financing his campaign to the tune of $100 million and Adelson is the owner of Israel Hayom which is right wing and pro Netanyahu. Also Romney and Netanyahu go back many decades to when they both worked for Boston Consulting. So I expect more than he has promised. Ted Belman
“President [Barack] Obama has thrown allies like Israel under the bus,” Mitt Romney, the Republican candidate for president, said in his high-profile speech accepting his party’s nomination last week, repeating a slang phrase for sacrificing a friend for selfish reasons that he has used before, notably in May 2011 and January this year.
This criticism of Obama fits a persistent Republican critique. Several other recent presidential candidates have also used or endorsed the same “bus” formulation to describe Obama’s attitude to Israel: Herman Cain in May 2011, Rick Perry in September 2011, Newt Gingrich in January 2012, and Rick Santorum in February 2012.
These Republican attacks on Obama’s relations with Israel have several important implications for U.S. foreign policy. First, out of the many Middle East-related issues, Israel, and Israel alone, retains a permanent role in U.S. electoral politics, influencing how a significant numbers of voters — not just Jews but also Arabs, Muslims, Evangelical Christians, conservatives and liberals — vote for president.
Second, attitudes toward Israel serve as a proxy for views toward other Middle Eastern issues: If I know your views on Israel, I have a good idea about your thinking on such topics as energy policy, Islamism, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, AKP-led Turkey, the Iranian nuclear build-up, intervention in Libya, the Mohammed Morsi presidency in Egypt and the Syrian civil war.
Third, the Republican criticism of Obama points to a sea change in what determines attitudes toward Israel. Religion was once the key, with Jews as ardent Zionists and Christians less engaged. Today, in contrast, the determining factor is political outlook. To discern someone’s views on Israel, the best question to ask is not, “What is your religion?” but “Whom do you want for president?”
As a rule, conservatives feel more warmly toward Israel and liberals more coolly. Polls show conservative Republicans to be the most ardent Zionists, followed by Republicans in general, followed by independents, Democrats, and lastly liberal Democrats. Yes, Ed Koch, the former mayor of New York City, also said, in September 2011, that Obama “threw Israel under the bus,” but Koch, 87, represents the fading old guard of the Democratic party. The difference between the parties in the Arab-Israeli conflict is becoming as deep as their differences on the economy or on cultural issues.
Fourth, as Israel increasingly becomes an issue dividing Democrats from Republicans, I predict a reduction of the bipartisan support for Israel that has provided Israel a unique status in U.S. politics and sustained organizations like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. I also predict that Romney and Paul Ryan, as mainstream conservatives, will head an administration that will be the warmest ever to Israel, far surpassing the administrations of both Bill Clinton or George W. Bush. Contrarily, should Obama be re-elected, the coldest treatment of Israel ever by a U.S. president will follow.
Obama’s constipated record of the past three and a half years on such topics as the Palestinians and Iran leads to this conclusion; but so does what we know about his record before he entered high electoral politics in 2004, especially his associations with radical anti-Zionists. Obama worshipfully listened to Edward Said in May 1998 and sat quietly by at a going-away party in 2003 for former PLO flunky Rashid Khalidi as Israel was accused of terrorism against Palestinians. (In contrast, Romney has been friends with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since 1976.)
Also revealing is what Ali Abunimah, a Chicago-based anti-Israel extremist, wrote about his last conversation with Obama in early 2004, as the latter was in the midst of a primary campaign for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate. Abunimah wrote that Obama warmly greeted him, and then added: “Hey, I’m sorry I haven’t said more about Palestine right now, but we are in a tough primary race. I’m hoping when things calm down I can be more upfront.” Furthermore, referring to Abunimah’s attacks on Israel in the Chicago Tribune and elsewhere, Obama encouraged him with: “Keep up the good work.”
When one puts this in the context of what Obama said off-mic to then-Russian president Dmitry Medvedev in March (“This is my last election. And after my election, I have more flexibility”), it would be wise to assume that, if Obama wins on Nov. 6, things will “calm down” for him and he finally can “be more upfront” about so-called “Palestine.” Then Israel’s troubles will really begin.
Daniel Pipes (http://www.danielpipes.org/) is president of the Middle East Forum. © 2012 by Daniel Pipes. All rights reserved.
@ dweller:
Still in the Land of the Nabataeans near Makhtesh Ramon
@ steven l:
Pretty much; yes, ultimately.
Unless the US starts doing its own drilling, fracking, etc — under the influence of a new administration. . . .
There’s no lack of the stuff across the fruited plain, as well as offshore — perhaps a good hundred years’ supply (and that could well be a rather STINGY estimate).
@ Arnold Harris:
Jerusalem?
Not Dimona?
Doesn’t the State Dept control foreign policy?
Until today it has been anti Jew and anti Israel.
As long as oil and gas are vital to the West, Israel should expect no change from the West visceral (genetic) antisemitism (anti Zionism is implied).
(on February 4, 2011 Pipes predicted that Egypt “won’t look lke a democarcy one year from now.” Meanwhile Suzanne Malveaux of CNN was comparing Egypt’s Arab “spring” to popular movements in the West — from the American civil rights movement (as I laugh) to hippie anti-war protests. Then, on Fareed Zacharia’s program on February 18, 2011, George Soros predicted that “in one year’s time, the Iranian regime will be no more.” (that claim was again repeated on the now de-funct John King show on Feb 18 2011.)
I don’t think the question is “How many Americans view the security of Israel as a top priority?”, but, rather, “if one holds the security of Israel as a vital interest, which candidate is better?” Currently (both in U.S. media and Canadian press) we’re being bombarded by editorials and commentary that whether Obama is re-elected or Romney is elected — as far as Israel is concerned — it’s makes zero difference. (Dershowitz has stated that he has no “buyer’s remorse” for having voted for Obama in the past, and he believes every promise Obama makes — ditto for countless other media pundits who have made similar claims.) I do not believe the claim that a Romney presidency (with respect to Israel) would be no different from an Obama term.
I agree with Dr. Pipes’ prediction — that if Romney is elected, it’ll prove to be “the warmest ever” administration toward Israel, but if Obama is re-elected, the administration will prove to be the coldest ever by a U.S. president. (Oh, and in terms of getting predictions correct — Pipes predicted, during the midst of the media hoop-la about the “Arab spring” that one year’s time hence, Egypt would definitely not look like a “democracy” — at around the same time George Soros predicted that the Iranian mullahs would fall and Iran would now be a democracy. Score one for Pipes, zero for the leftist moonbats.
Do not paint all Ashkenazi Jews with a broad brush.
Ed Koch – an example of an American devil.
If I were Romney and I win in Nov. 2012, I would nominate Koch as Ambassador to Egypt so he can get a good look at wonderful Egypt his Dem hero Carter and Obama have achieved there.
Is it no reason why Koch is a metaphor for the loathing the world has for Americans and Jews. Very adept at causing anti- ( fill in the blanks ).
Ed Koch – another Jew with a German name; ” ash can nazi”.
Israel should give the finger to the West including the North American Jews with German names. Problem is that there are so many of these “ash can nazis” over there too.
Wish this was a bad dream. The West: bankrupt, no gold, no silver ( well not true but mainly underground and the Chinese want it all; the Latinos are more than happy to sell to them; gringos cannot even spell the word gold).
Laura, I don’t always agree with Yamit about some of the aspects of Jewish observance, but I must admit that because he lives in Jerusalem, while I, in comparison, live in rural Dane County, Wisconsin, that makes him one hell of a lot better Zionist than I can ever be.
As for American attitudes toward the various issues facing the US electorate in this presidential election year, Yamit is utterly correct in the way he lists the priorities of most Americans. National security, the war on terror and Afghanistan is at the bottom of the barrel. And there is not one word in that list about Israel vs Iran. Americans certainly distrust Moslems and resent what they see as growing Islamic influence in this country. But there’s no indication that Americans want to get involved in a war to save Israel from Iran’s growing nuclear weapons threat. The implication is that Iran is an issue that Israel will be compelled to handle on its own.
Don’t be too disappointed by all this. It is better to know the truth than to try depending on unsubstantiated illusions. Israel must develop its own independent power base, because the Jewish nation will get no outside help from the goyim, whether they are more or less friendly Americans, hostile Europeans, or anyone else.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
A 2 state solution was entered into the platform of the Republican party. Romney supports a 2 state policy. His statements Re: Iran mirror both Bush and Obama. Adelson may be his largest single donor but what is the quid pro-quo he is demanding in return? We know he is under investigation for money laundering and ties to the Chinese mafia, could it be he is paying for immunity? That he is a backer of BB does not add to his credibility as a strong supporter of Israel without asking the question what kind of Israel does he support?
Anyone reading his newspaper here cannot attribute his being right wing. Looks pretty centrist to me.
BB worked for a very short time in the same firm “Boston Consulting” as Romney and we really don’t know the relationship if any and even were it to be a good respectful one in the end except for more cordial atmospherics.. So What?
You wish? and You Hope? To be screwed by one with a scowl or a smile is still being screwed.
@ Laura:
Forget Kapo Koch. Does anyone who matters care what Koch says or who he votes for? His value to the Democrats if any is fundraising and I’m not so sure even in that he is effective.
Meanwhile the schmuck is endorsing Obama and is going to campaign for him in Jewish areas.
This is why I absolutely have nothing but utter contempt for the media. I noticed this story featured on nbc website. Now is graffiti about Jesus on a monastery in Jerusalem worthy of a major headline? Of course not, but the story is featured purely to incite Christians against Jews. For all we know a muslim wrote it or its yet another staged incident, placed there by provocateurs for the very purpose of being used against Israel. As to Christians being massacred by muslims in the Middle East and Africa, crickets are chirping in newsrooms.
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/04/13651687-jesus-is-a-monkey-daubed-on-jerusalem-monastery-wall?lite
Two National Surveys of 1,000 Likely Voters
June 27-28 and July 1-2, 2012
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/importance_of_issues
Issue…. Very Important
Economy 74%
Health Care 67%
Gov’t Ethics and Corruption 64%
Taxes 55%
Energy Policy 44%
Education 55%
Social Security 60%
Immigration 47%
National Security/War on Terror 46%
Afghanistan 30%
Time to stop with the debates pro and con over American concern and support to Israel of the American people. They may like us more than the Arabs but that’s all there is. The American political structure knows also what is important to Americans. They too buy and read polls.
Pew Research Center
Public Priorities of All Americans in 2012:
List of most important priorities for Americans.
Guess what Israel doesn’t make an even honorable mention.
Israel is not even in the public’s consciousnesses unless what happens here can be made to be related to Americans general concerns like the price of gas or war which for most is the same thing.
Whether a president is or would be more favorable towards Israel is of little or no consequence to the Average American which includes most American Jews. Israel is not even on their radar when it comes to choosing Political leadership; objectively I don’t see why it should be.