Schumer Says Obama Must Address Israel in Convention

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: Bloomberg News

President Barack Obama is sure to talk about Israel tonight in his nomination acceptance speech, especially in the wake of a dispute over excluding any mention of Jerusalem from the party’s platform, Senator Chuck Schumer said.

“I know he will,” Schumer, a New York Democrat, told reporters at a breakfast meeting of the New York delegation to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.

His comments today follow an amendment of the Democratic Party’s platform yesterday to declare Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a provision that had appeared in previous policy statements and was initially left out of this one.

“It was a mistake,” Schumer said. “It was an act of omission, not commission.”

Representative Eliot Engel, a New York Democrat, said he has urged White House aides to make sure Israel is part of Obama’s speech.

Read more: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-09-06/schumer-says-obama-must-address-israel-in-conventio

[Blue_Tires]

1. /facepalm...

Maybe in the future we can just let the Knesset personally select our presidential candidates...

[Spitfire of ATJ]

2. I guess if he doesn't Israel will bomb Iran.

[Hugabear]

3. I'm sorry...but I missed the part where Obama is running for President of Israel.

I know Israeli plays a role in our foreign policy.

But so does Great Britain.

So does Russia.

So does Japan.

So does Brazil.

So do Pakistan, Canada, Cuba, and many other countries.

Why is it so damned important that we give such high priority to Israel.

PS: The far Christian-right doesn't give a shit about Israel...they only care about fulfilling what they see as Biblical prophecy. If the Bible had proclaimed Bulgaria to be the "chosen nation", you can be sure the fundies would be all over themselves to support Bulgaria.

[Shadowflash]

6. This.

I don't get the hard on some people have for Israel.

[HERVEPA]

12. Google Hitler. It will give you an idea.

Whether you agree or disagree with Israeli policy (I disagree with a lot) or U.S. policy toward Israel, the attempted wiping out of a people might give you an idea of why there is a strong feeling about the country which is a safe (relatively) haven for the descendants and fellow religionists of those who were attempted to be annihilated.

Use of the term "hard-on" in this context is kind of immature in my opinion, by the way.

[Shadowflash]

16. I understand the all that.

And it's great that it's a safe haven. What does that have to do with the United States? If it means THAT much to them, why are they living here and not there?



And your concern about my level of maturity is noted.

[Hugabear]

18. Most right-wing fundamentalist types really couldn't give a crap about that

Sure they may pay lip-service to the Holocaust to support their stance towards Israel.

But much of their support for Israel is rooted in their belief that Israel is God's "chosen nation", and they want to be on that country's good side.

The majority of fundamentalist "End Times" prophecy - ie the Rapture, Anti-Christ, Tribulation, Armageddon, Christ's 1000-yr rule on earth, etc - is centered around Israel.

THAT is why so many of them are so concerned with Israel's well being.

[Carolina]

8. Bravo

so true.

[defacto7]

13. Ha... you got that right.

"PS: The far Christian-right doesn't give a shit about Israel...they only care about fulfilling what they see as Biblical prophecy. If the Bible had proclaimed Bulgaria to be the "chosen nation", you can be sure the fundies would be all over themselves to support Bulgaria."

But it also shows you how dangerous the fundies are. They don't bargain the "word of gawd".

[cali]

23. That's not what this is about

Jewish voters in this country may be a small slice of the electorate but they are of vital importance to the dem coalition.

Think Florida.

[azurnoir]

4. says the great liberal Schumer but lets have a look at what else this reputed liberal has said

this is from the run-up to the elections

This past Wednesday, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) delivered a wide-ranging speech at an Orthodox Union event in Washington, D.C. The senator’s lecture touched on areas such as Iran’s nuclear program, the Israel-Palestinian conflict, and several domestic policy issues.

During one point of his speech, Schumer turned his attention to the situation in Gaza. He told the audience that the “Palestinian people still don’t believe in the Jewish state, in a two-state solution,” and also that “they don’t believe in the Torah, in David.”

http://thinkprogress.org/security/2010/06/11/102026/schumer-strangle-gaza-economically/

Obama has to pay homage to a foreign country to get elected in this one? Why? perhaps it should be asked what country Schumer and Engel represent?

[JRLeft]

11. Well, Chuck the Palestinians aren't Jewish. Of course they do not believe in the Torah.

And there it is religion rearing its ugly head again.

[tokenlib]

5. Hey Schumer..We don't want a laundry list.. we want a speech!!

The President needs to show the choice in values and some policy in his speech. But if it becomes a laundry list of checkoffs...it will be a mistake. Of course a line in the sand on Social Security would be welcomed !!

[marlakay]

7. I have no problem with Isreal

But kissing up to one country over others isn't right.

We need to focus on our country..our problems...

[sendero]

9. I think Obama should offer Israel the respect it deserves..

... which would be close to none.

[JRLeft]

10. When did Israel gain control of our foreign policy? We give them money, and they tell us what to do.

This is madness.

[cali]

24. that's fucking ridiculous and borderline ugly

Israel no more controls our foreign policy than Great Britain does, genius.

[Arkana]

14. Chuck Schumer really needs to shut up.

This breathless fellating of everything Israel says and does needs to stop and stop now.

[defacto7]

15. I'm really hoping the best for tonight...

This could be a mountain or a hole in the speech. Let's hope he doesn't step into a trap.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

17. Fuck Israel. nt

[cali]

25. why?

[awoke_in_2003]

19. shouldn't countries get to decide...

what their capital will be? This is like saying I think Liverpool is the capital city of England.

[fascisthunter]

20. no ah... he really doesn't and shouldn't

let the right wingers in Israel do their own bullying, let them commit their own genocide and them create their own apartheid.

[Freddie Stubbs]

21. And he did:

"Our commitment to Israel's security must not waver, and neither must our pursuit of peace. The Iranian government must face a world that stays united against its nuclear ambitions."

http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/apexchange/2012/09/07/us--obama-speech-text.html

[byeya]

22. Having Israeli as an ally is a net negative for the USA.