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Hamas Un-'Endorses' Obama

June 04, 2008 9:37 PM

Sen. Barack Obama's speech to AIPAC has convinced Hamas that he and Sen. John McCain are interchangeable. If the group had its druthers, neither one would win.

"Obama’s comments have confirmed that there will be no change in the U.S. administration’s foreign policy on the Arab-Israeli conflict," Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters in Gaza.

"The Democratic and Republican parties support totally the Israeli occupation at the expense of the interests and rights of Arabs and Palestinians," he said. "Hamas does not differentiate between the two presidential candidates, Obama and McCain, because their policies regarding the Arab-Israel conflict are the same and are hostile to us, therefore we do have no preference and are not wishing for either of them to win."

Hamas had never actually endorsed Obama. In April, Hamas political adviser Ahmed Yousef told WABC radio that "we like Mr. Obama. We hope he will [win] the election and I do believe he is like John Kennedy, great man with great principle, and he has a vision to change America to make it in a position to lead the world community but not with domination and arrogance."

The campaign of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., at the time characterized this as an endorsement, and made hay out of the kind words.

But today it wasn't just the terrorists of Hamas expressing chagrin at Obama's speech.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas took issue with Obama's assertion that Jerusalem would remain the "undivided" capital of Israel.

"We reject these words," Abbas said. "Jerusalem is one of the files under negotiation. The entire world knows perfectly well that we will never accept a state without Jerusalem. That should be clear."

And Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said that Obama's "remarks on Jerusalem cast doubt over the chances of peace...We reject the positions of Barack Obama because they are in contradiction with the traditional positions of the United States which considers that east Jerusalem is under occupation."

- jpt

June 4, 2008 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | Share | User Comments (169)

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Again, we limit ourselves to choosing between two candidates, republican or democrat. Both will support the party agenda which is well entrenched with their own selection of lobbyists (some of whom have served in the congress or the senate). When will the media give us a view of some of the other candidates who will be on the ballot? Chuck Baldwin (endorsed by Ron Paul) is running as well as several others. i would like to have the media really shake up this election. Can we please hear what the other candidates are for?

Posted by: George Van Hoosier | Oct 13, 2008 10:07:30 PM

Obama has been strategically vague and it is his charismatic ability to manipulate which has brought him so quickly to where he is. Looking past the emotional fodder about change reveals a firm, persuasive and dictatorial individual who, according to his connections which he tries so valiantly to distance himself from, is clearly not one to be trusted with governing the world's superpower. He seeks to appease and not clarify; a vote for him is a very dangerous step indeed.

Before anyone may mindlessly ask, I am not a Republican, nor am I a Democrat.

Posted by: AnonymousX | Jun 9, 2008 8:03:40 AM

When Obama was in Chicago Senate, he was very closely connected to the Palisitne groups there; groups that support the violence agianst Israel.

Posted by: Heather | Jun 7, 2008 9:51:20 AM

Hamas considers Obama a man of principles? Hamas?

I do not even know what to say about that! I think it says it all!

Posted by: Heather | Jun 7, 2008 9:46:39 AM

Obama's speeches remind me very much of Fidel Castro and Hitler. Very dangerous people!!!

Posted by: Anavictoria Ruiz | Jun 6, 2008 5:57:32 PM

And the US is still like before, a country eager to invade (Panama, Afghanistan, nuke Japan, etc) and occupy another country/nation (Iraq, Syria, Cuba, etc) by itself or through their ally...

by peace loving world's citizen

Posted by: Koizumi | Jun 5, 2008 11:00:03 PM

"Hamas UN-Endorses Obama" Whew!All's CLEAR everybody.After all those Un-endorsements(Wright,Pfleger,Farrakhan,Mugabe)a Messiah gits kind'a hongry.How STUPID do they think we are?

Posted by: landshark | Jun 5, 2008 10:34:02 PM

The Hamas tripe is old. Where were you hacks when Iran endorsed Bush?

Posted by: Ron | Jun 5, 2008 5:19:10 PM

Obama would tell anything to get elected.Even Abbas is saying that he is wrong on the issue :
"traditional positions of the United States which considers that east Jerusalem is under occupation"

Again another gaff from him because of his inexperience.

Good job DNC for for selecting him.
He will lose in November.

Posted by: antoine1118 | Jun 5, 2008 5:12:42 PM

yea right and they give up their terrorist attracks too, It is call political posturing, remember one of OPbama's aids was meeting with Hamas just recently. and they know during the liberal primary their endorsement works, but were told that after primary to un-endorse Obama!!

Candace - so you never misspoke. Well Obama wants to bomb our allies, and does not want to list the Iranian guard as terrorist, oh thats right he does,, but then why did he vote against it!! oh maybe his puppet master did the voting!!

Posted by: spock | Jun 5, 2008 3:58:10 PM

And the US is still like before, a country eager to invade (Panama, Afghanistan, nuke Japan, etc) and occupy another country/nation (Iraq, Syria, Cuba, etc) by itself or through their ally...

by peace loving world's citizen

Posted by: Koizumi | Jun 5, 2008 2:37:07 PM

Except ABC news and the rest of the MSM forget that it was only TWO months ago that Obama voted NO on making the Iranian Revolutionary Guards be considered a terrorist organizations.

What NERVE of this candidate (Obama) to spead before AIPAC and say he WOULD make the Iranian Revolutionary Guards be considered a terrorist organizations, after he voted NO!

And the beat goes on and NOBODY is noting this double standard.

Posted by: Tina | Jun 5, 2008 2:30:54 PM

Good! Glad to hear it, 'cause that endorsement was just too freaky.

Posted by: irma | Jun 5, 2008 2:08:40 PM

I thought that Obama might have what it takes to be president. Until his friends and supporters started in.People judge up by the company you keep. why? Maybe they know the saying birds of a feather flock together. You become like those you surround your self with. Fact.

Posted by: Quartz5 | Jun 5, 2008 12:59:41 PM

I posted comments on abc about Obama and his friends. Which of his friends would you not want running loose in the white house and pentagon? Obama may place people on his staff that will pass congress's approval. But who will be his guests long term .Why it might be those he hangs with of course. What kind of people are they that he will be advising him about muslims? I would be worried that Hamas might make a new home here.

Posted by: Quarts5 | Jun 5, 2008 12:05:29 PM

Where else on this big planet do Jews have a homeland besides Israel. If people would just take some time and look at Israel on a world map, they will have a better perspective of this. This is the land that Elohim gave to the Jewish people.

THEY SHOULD NEVER GIVE JERUSALEM.....Let us pray for the shalom of Jerusalem.......

Posted by: shalom | Jun 5, 2008 12:04:25 PM

Mary, MI:

Why is your question hard to believe?

Who's McCain? A prophet or something?

People distort the truth.....and he's human...Did you forget that?

Posted by: shalom | Jun 5, 2008 12:01:06 PM

Pssssssst...we're hurting the candidate we want to win the Presidency. Maybe we should change our rhetoric until he actually wins the thing.

Posted by: JDW | Jun 5, 2008 11:22:22 AM

Oh, so Hamas never actually endorsed Obama.

So, I guess that means that McCain lied when he said they did endorse him.

Posted by: Mary, MI | Jun 5, 2008 10:56:34 AM

CJ brings up an excellent point that perhaps the Hamas endorsement withdrawal is simply so McCain can't use their support for Obama against the tender candidate.

Is this "withdrawal" a show, just as the denouncement of Rev. Wright was? I'm sure they'll all be one big happy family should Obama take the White House.

Posted by: HoosierSue | Jun 5, 2008 10:25:35 AM

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