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Jake Tapper is ABC News' Senior White House Correspondent based in the network's Washington bureau. He writes about politics and popular culture and covers a range of national stories.
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Biden and AIPAC
September 05, 2008 11:47 AM
Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del, held a 20-minute conference call with members of the Jewish community press this week, notes our old friend Ami Eden of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
Biden is considered a strong supporter of Israel by the American pro-Israel lobby, the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee. AIPAC spokesman Josh Block has said that "Biden is a strong supporter of the U.S.-Israel relationship; he has been a staunch supporter of U.S. aid to Israel; he is a leader in the fight against Palestinian terrorism, and is a vocal advocate of the special relationship between the two democracies. We look forward to continuing to work with him in the Senate or in the White House.”
But the Republican Jewish Coalition has been highlighting moments when Biden's view on an issue differed from AIPAC's, and Biden was asked about this on the call.
“AIPAC does not speak for the entire American Jewish community,” Biden said. “There’s other organizations as strong and as consequential.”
This prompted the conservative editorial page of the New York Sun to say today that if Biden "really thinks there are other American Jewish organizations that are as strong or as consequential as Aipac when it comes to the America-Israel relationship it sure will be illuminating to see him name them. If he has in mind dovish groups such as the Israel Policy Forum or the J Street Project, Mr. Biden is only going to hurt the Obama ticket with that portion of the Jewish vote that is actually up for grabs in this election."
Obama campaign spox Wendy Morigi says that “Barack Obama and Joe Biden have both enjoyed close and effective cooperation with AIPAC over many years, grounded in their respect for its important mission to support Israel’s security and a strong U.S.-Israel relationship. That is a mission they share, and they look forward to continuing to work closely with AIPAC on their common goals.”
- jpt
September 5, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (41)
Why should anybody have to cowtow to a special interest group which represents a foreign nation. Newsflash: Israel is NOT the 51st state, nor is it a SECULAR democracy so I don't buy that whatever AIPAC says is good for BOTH Israel and the US and that the two would never have divergent interests. The same could be said about any foreign country. I think our closest allies have to remain the ones which fought wars with us or which DO have secular democracies: the UK, Canada, India, Australia.
Posted by: Sameet Mehta | Sep 11, 2008 2:00:28 PM
Folks,
Jeff and the article are, sad to say, correct when they articulate the shocking truth: "“AIPAC does not speak for the entire American Jewish community,” Biden said. “There’s other organizations as strong and as consequential.” This is not rhetoric; this is true. 90 percent of the Jews in my community follow the political beliefs of a severely left leaning Rabbi; and they are very attached to APN, BTvS, J Street, organizations with an increasingly strong inroad to Congress. There is no value to arguing they are wrong or that the statement is wrong. The truths which we, as more serious students of history and human failings, include: 1) AIPAC is not a political organization like either J Street or ZOA. It is a pro Israel Government Lobby which would be lobbying even with Barack at the helm. 2) it is by-partisan...I wager very few of the J Streeters know that 3) the notion that members of AIPAC tend to be right of center is true, but not overwhelmingly. 4) A far larger number of Republicans strongly support the policies of Israel and the need for security of Israel than do the Dems 5) those of us who are more in the know must learn to marhsal facts and history to teach our brethren the importance of AIPAC and concern for security and help these folks understand that the Democratic Party is not the same as that of Grandparents. "Scoop" is not among them any more in body or in spirit.
Robert
Durham
Posted by: Robert Gutman | Sep 7, 2008 2:48:10 PM
Why would a lover of Israel vote for a candidate supported by Hamas and the Iranians? My God people, if your hero FDR were alive today, he'd be endorsing McCain. Without question. And so would Scoop Jackson and Hubert Humphrey. This is so far from the Democratic Party I grew up with, it's fallen off the cliff. What next, Farrakhan in 2012? As a Jew, I find it incomprehensible for Jews to vote for a candidate who belonged to a "church" which recently gave a "lifetime achievement" award to Farrakhan, a notorious anti-semite. Remember "Judaism is a gutter religion." And Obama didn't say a word in protest. Had I belonged to a racist and intolerant synagogue for ONE WEEK, I'd have LEFT! But there are no such places, since they could not exist. So in the interest of true racial equality, Obama's membership in such a hate-filled place for 20 years should disqualify him from national leadership. Just as it would a white candidate!!! Wake up people!
Posted by: Marty Modance | Sep 6, 2008 10:55:54 AM
Dave,
I feel for you. The Wright Church affiliation had me totally turned off on Obama for a while too. I am not for any place of worship that preaches divisive messages tinged with hatred.
However, you may find this latest even more alarming. One reason the GOP has been promoting Palin's "good relationship" with the small Jewish population in Alaska (btwn 3,000-4,000) is that two weeks ago, Sarah Palin was sitting in her church in Wasilla. Her pastor's sermon was called "Terrorist attacks on Israelis are God's "judgment of unbelief" of Jews who haven't embraced Christianity." Apparently Governor Palin sat through the entire service, didn't speak out against it, and hasn't said squat about it yet. The McCain camp however, said that was before she was VP nominee so it shouldn't matter to anyone. Hmmm.
Posted by: Amy T | Sep 5, 2008 9:14:11 PM
Just give it time, BHO will flip-flop on the Jews, the Muslims, America - everyone and everything - whichever gives him the most votes! Remember the good rev. says that he will be watching him....! Wonder who will be the wright pastor for the WH if BHO gets there!
Posted by: Beckie | Sep 5, 2008 7:11:58 PM
"Go ahead and drink in McCain/Palen and die of thirst when the US dries up..."
Ah so you've seen the movie, Idiocracy?
Have you seen New Orleans lately? Isn't it amazing how well it works when we quit shouting at each other and start working together.
You have 60 days to push both of the parties toward what you want. The Republicans are picking up Democratic themes. Hold them to it. The Democrats are using the ugly tactics of the Bush administration. Stop them.
Get the best Deal you can. It matters very little which of these parties wins because they are the same. This is not the people vs the rich. This is two rich classes vs each other. We get one shot at making them pay attention to us for the next 60 days. Don't waste it on distractions like the cost of a dress or the size of a man's ears.
Save that for after the election when we will all need a good laugh to get down from this endorphin anger high.
Posted by: len | Sep 5, 2008 3:39:12 PM
So. What do McCain and Palen actually want to change?
McCain's campaign is entirely run by lobbyists. Will they outsource the White House to private contracters when they win?
Posted by: Willem van Oranje | Sep 5, 2008 1:51:51 PM
uumm i watched the o'riley factor and after the interview, he said to his staff did I make myself look like a fool.well I see how envey a lot of you are when it comes to obama.
"get over it he's the best no doubt"
Posted by: sandy | Sep 5, 2008 1:24:25 PM
Obamaloves...guess that shows you what really counts in the ole US of A
You have to look good to get the nomination. That's why McCain didn't pick Olympia Snow who is much more qualified, well known and a model for all girls and women....
Posted by: formerhillary | Sep 5, 2008 1:04:41 PM
there are a lot of REALLY stupid people out there....
Go ahead and drink in McCain/Palen and die of thirst when the US dries up...
Posted by: formerhillary | Sep 5, 2008 1:01:55 PM
OK Michelle...what has Palen done?
Posted by: newvoter | Sep 5, 2008 12:59:47 PM
Surely Biden--with his intelligence connections--is aware of this?
What do you think, Jake? Is there something we need to know about 9/11?
Posted by: ordo ab chao | Sep 5, 2008 12:57:27 PM
Michele...can you tell me where and when Obama said this:
"I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction," says Obama
Or did you make it up?
Posted by: thoughtful | Sep 5, 2008 12:57:21 PM
Marcu...Obama voted Yes for breaks for oil only if they used it for alterative energy research( which of course they didn't do) get you faxc straight. Obama didn't vote 98% for reps either . You need to researcha little more.
Posted by: newvoter | Sep 5, 2008 12:56:01 PM
Yep - Mccain voted 90% of the time along party lines ..
Obama - 97% .. so there is no comparison here! He also voted FOR tax breaks for big oil and McCain voted NO!! How can you argue FACTS?? You can't .. CHANGE? LOL! Good stuff!
Posted by: Marcus | Sep 5, 2008 12:42:38 PM
Answer!! That doesn't tell me ANYTHING about his prior accomplishments .. people have fallen for the "gift of gab" just like with Willie Clinton!! He got lucky too - made him look great because of the DOT.COM boom! What did he do before besides promising CHANGE and YES WE CAN?? What did he do?
Posted by: Michelle | Sep 5, 2008 12:39:07 PM
"I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction," says Obama."
So it's been explained that what he really meant was something about Muslims being put in internment camps IF something were to break out?? HUH? Did I miss something? I don't recall seeing any "rounded up" recently .. what a loon!
Posted by: Michelle | Sep 5, 2008 12:36:03 PM
How are the republicans going to spin Mr. palin belonging to the AIP, a separatist organization. I remember when they spun the Michelle Obama "proud of her country" statement to mean the opposite. How will they explain Mr. palin not wanting to be part of the USA???
Posted by: pt | Sep 5, 2008 12:33:20 PM
michelle,
One small thing obama accomplished.
Putting together a 2 year national campaign and dragged through the public vetting process to win the democratic nomination-no small feat.(no matter of what u think of the process) we can go backwards from there.
Unlike Palen appointed by one McCain to be a heartsbeat away from leader of the free world
Posted by: answer | Sep 5, 2008 12:30:36 PM
Are we really trying to punish a politican who isn't already pro Israel enough. Jeez, just last week Biden was quoted saying I kid you not:" I am a Zionist!" You can look it up. Why does Israel's interest supercede those of America in THIS country? God knows the alternative isn't true. And if they aren't percived as enough pro Israeli they are slandered and defamed as bigots. Does this happen to Catholics, Christians, Muslims or those of any other religion. NO. Why??? I find these tacticts to be highly disturbing, especially in light of the foreknowedge of some citizens overseas about 911 and the fact that the ADL already conducts illegal surveilance for themselves and the US on US citizens and foreign nationals HERE in the US. Let alone the fact that the majority of Neocons who are pushing these wars happen to be dual US-Israeli citizenship (Feith Wolfowitz, Fleischer, Zakheim, Kagan, Perle, etc., etc.) Don't believe me, look for yourself. It's all out there for you to see.
Posted by: argh! | Sep 5, 2008 12:28:59 PM
That's what I thought .. thanks for the replies! LOL!!
Posted by: Michelle | Sep 5, 2008 12:24:39 PM
I wonder how community organizers would handle this. What would Community Organizers do? WWCOD?
Posted by: Foodforthought | Sep 5, 2008 12:23:34 PM
911 HAPPENED ON REPUBLICON-Bush-McCaint watch!
It was bush-McCaint-republicon INCOMPETENCE that allowed 911; because they refused to heed the outgoing Clinton Administration.
And it is bush-McCaint-republicon incompetence that has caused the insane islamists to come into being IN IRAQ, and increased their numbers in Afghanistan-Pakistan!
Posted by: Patriot | Sep 5, 2008 12:21:04 PM
7 days and counting
Palen refuses to talk to the big bad "press"
Posted by: watching | Sep 5, 2008 12:19:17 PM
Cmon kool-aid consumers .. let's hear it! What has Obama done? Cmon - I'm waiting! What qualifies him to be President? Seriously .. what has he accomplished so far? We're waiting ..
Posted by: Michelle | Sep 5, 2008 12:15:25 PM
and what is Palens view?
Posted by: speak | Sep 5, 2008 12:14:55 PM
Do the Republicans truly want to highlight where Biden's views differed from AIPAC's when Palin sat in the pews of her church listening to a Jews For Jesus sermon that violence against Israeli Jews is God's punishment for their failure to accept Jesus? Just askin'
Posted by: NMP | Sep 5, 2008 12:14:49 PM
Joe "I'm from Scranton" Biden gaffes again....Nice VP pick, obummer.
Posted by: Foodforthought | Sep 5, 2008 12:13:19 PM
"Well Bhrandon .. umm .. Michelle and I .. we're gonna .. the kids are .. well Iran is a concern .. umm .. Biden and I .. umm"
Thanks Senator
Posted by: Dumbos | Sep 5, 2008 12:12:42 PM
I'm Jewish.
AIPAC's comments are dumb. Biden is right. And,by the way, Lieberman is a very, very, very unpopular man among Jewish voters.
Posted by: JeffT | Sep 5, 2008 12:12:22 PM
Samantha
the republicans have been ruining our lives for 8 years... why give them 4 more
talk about lies
Posted by: Bhrandon | Sep 5, 2008 12:10:54 PM
Dems - "we won't tax the middle class .. we're going to tax businesses instead!"
LOL! OH - you mean the one's that creat jobs and hire people?? Good job! NOW .. thats' insightful and using your head!
Posted by: Jonathan | Sep 5, 2008 12:10:37 PM
Dumbos
if trying to answer a question to the best of ones ability is something we are against, then what do you make of mccain horrid acceptance speech last night?
Posted by: Bhrandon | Sep 5, 2008 12:09:28 PM
i doubt that they really love lieberman
Posted by: Bhrandon | Sep 5, 2008 12:08:24 PM
They can spend the next 60 days "investigating" Palin and it won't compare to whats out there on Obama Huessin! Let em talk! Let em "investigate"! In the meantime, ole Reverend Wright still has Obama's ear and he isn't fooling anyone! Just watch the FOOL stumble around when he is asked direct questions (i.e. O'Reilly last night) .. he's a goon!
Posted by: Dumbos | Sep 5, 2008 12:06:07 PM
Jewish voters see how the DNC is attacking Joe Lieberman. More former Democrat base flockinge to MCCain-Palin.
Posted by: geevill | Sep 5, 2008 12:04:01 PM
I'm a very proud American Jew: proud to be an American, proud to proclaim that I am Jewish and proud to be voting for Obama/Biden on November 4th!
Posted by: Howard Gallas | Sep 5, 2008 12:03:46 PM
You can't do to much until you have the power to do so/.You may suggest and purpose but bottom line we all have to wait for Bush sent Congress home saying nothing was important his summer .You want more of this same ole crap you will have it voting Rep.....
Posted by: indp voter | Sep 5, 2008 11:57:44 AM
Obama's past views on Israel don't align with his current purported views. Jewish voters need to use the internet to review his past and make an informed decision in November.
Posted by: marylou | Sep 5, 2008 11:56:43 AM
Republican’s can’t be trusted with our country again if they are this stupid! Hillarious RNC gaffe during McCain’s speech last night
Posted by: Common Sense | Sep 5, 2008 11:50:15 AM
"Obama is offering a very different presidency"
Yes one of lies.
Obama is a liar. I will post information that hopfully will lead others to seek the truth. whether these stories are biased or not at least you can seek the answers for yourself.
My cousin worked for Maytag. Obama did nothing for them. What followed was a story that was ignored by the media after Obama claimed to have helped the Maytag workers in a stump speech.
Despite Obama's claims of deep concern for Galesburg's proletarian victims, however, Maytag union members told Secter that Obama had done remarkably little to save the Galesburg workers' jobs. Those workers belonged to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, whose president noted that "Obama's support for Maytag workers was more show than substance."
"Maytag union members said Obama had done remarkably little to save the Galesburg workers' jobs."
Maytag employees and former employees were particularly rankled by Obama's inaction because he possessed a special relationship with a leading Maytag decision-maker. Between 2003 and 2008, Obama received tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the family of Lester Crown, one of Maytag's directors and largest investors. The Crowns and employees of their family-managed holding company (Henry Crown Investments) gave at least $195,000 to Obama's senate and presidential campaigns between 2003 and 2008. According to Crown, however, Obama never once raised the fate of Maytag's Galesburg workers with him.
Posted by: Samantha | Sep 5, 2008 11:49:32 AM
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