The Khalidi Gambit, Part II: The IRI Confirms, Tries to Distance Self, from Khalidi

If you were at a farewell dinner for a co-worker...and the "theme" of many of the speeches were talking trash about abortion doctors and abortion clinics...would you stay for the entire dinner? Or pick any other topic that you find fundamentally disagreeable.

The LA Times article clearly states that there was strong anti-Israeli sentiment expressed. There was another similar dinner in 2005.

The conflict in the Middle East is one of the most pressing foreign affairs issues we face at present--it affects not only national security, but our current energy crisis as well. It is important to know that Obama can maintain some sense of impartiality on these matters.

This tape is out there. If it has negative information on it--get it out now--before the election. Don't let it become something that weakens his hand at the negotiating table later. The stakes are too high.

Besides, all of you Obama supporters think this thing is already in the bag. What's the big deal? :)

Obama is all big money donations. It's not the $20-$50 dollar donations that funded him. 85% of his campaign was funded by very large donations. Much higher individual amounts than the average in previous campaigns. Don't think he doesn't owe these fat cats some big favors.

McCain is a fraud. He gave $450,000 an organization that was co-founded by this same Khalidi.

Hyprocrisy!

More race-baiting from the McCain campaign. It's ok for the republicans to associate with a guy they are *now repulsed by, but not the black guy. Strange values held by those "conservative Christian" right-wing folk. You betcha!

Iran Contra = John McCain
AIP = Sarah Palin

Obama/Biden 08!

michelle wrote,
Why doesn't Obama ask for the tape or a transcript to be released? Then people can see that he did nothing to offend those on either side of the Middle East issues--or at least judge for themselves. All this speculation about who is hiding what--now even the media people are starting to eat their own.

Here Here..Release the tape!!

McCain donated $450,000 in grant to Khalid when he was chairman of this same organization. McCain is a hypocrite and has no self respect.

To the ABC All Barrack Company, the spin you put on everything to favor Barrack is disgusting. He, who allows his own brother to live in poverty without helping him at all, promises handouts and prosperity to 'millions of Americans'. He who relies only on pointing the finger at Bush, will make our world safe and secure: He, who couldn't even see that Rev. Jeremiah Wright, preached a hate doctrine, will himself bring peace to the world. Well, I for one am able to see through the smokescreen. As a Michigander, I know how the Democrats operate, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is guilty of felony and in prison: Governor Jennifer Granholm has been ineffectual and our state suffers one of highest unemployment rates, GM may go under, and folks blame all this on Bush and the Republicans. Wake up, America, we need a leader we can trust and whose word matches his actions. Not Barrack Obama./

sickened,

I honestly didnt know the driving event from 50 years ago. I'm all for finding the truth on that as well. We need to know who will be running the country, on both sides.

The Republican party has always had a weakness for the sweet seduction of McCarthyism.

Why is it that the Republicans choose to tar Obama with associations that are shared by members of their own party? In 2006, Condoleezza Rice was keynote speaker for Khalidi's organization, the American Task Force on Palestine. She compared Palestinians to our founding fathers and likened their movement to that of the civil rights movement. Joseph Farah of World Net Daily wrote of Rice, "She has deliberately chosen to side with evil – the kind of people with whom we are supposed to be at war. It means that her boss, President Bush, is committed to this evil path as well."

I condemn neither Obama nor Rice for their associations with Khalidi. I don't condemn McCain for chairing an organization that provided money to one of Khalidi's organizations. Khalidi advocates a peaceful, two state (Palestinian and Israeli) solution to the conflict in the Middle East. I do, however, condemn the simplistic thinking of people like Joseph Farah who reject nuance and divide the world into good and evil. Bush isn't evil; neither is Obama. We all have people with whom we associate that would cause others to object. If McCain's criticism of Obama's associates is typical Washington DC behavior, no wonder Congress can't get anything done. They're too busy playing gotcha. To all the politicans out there, I don't care who you know. I care what you know and what you're going to do.

McCain is a hypocrite. He gave $450,000 to this same Khalid when he was the chairman of an organization. McCain has no honour.

I'd like to ask the Obama supporters: Do you know now what the issues are and what Obama's going to do for you? If so, you should have your minds made up, right? Then why the problem of any negative information,that by the way could be of grave importance to all of us? What are you afraid of? No matter if it's about Obama or McCain. What makes you not want to know?

Dee,

Let's see the unedited tape. Obama's own words will tell the story. How can you defend what you haven't seen?

No Zeke you are not trying to determine if he carries an opposing view, you are merely making an assumption that because he attended a dinner that he carries his views. That my friend is what guilt by association is all about.
Sen. Obama has made his stand on Israel very clear. I suggest you try to focus your energy on arguing policy differences between the candidates...or do you not have any favourable arguments to make on behalf of your candidate??
Both canddaites love their country and are patriotic...they just have differing views on the issues. So stick to the issues Zeke...not these mindless attacks!

Zeke:

See don't say I didn't warn you. Open a can of worms and they all get out.

See the "Whole Truth" Post. Same as mine.

Michelle,

It is time for John McCain and the Republicans to say NO MORE CHARACTER ASSASSINATION.

McCain's character is on trial. Maybe he can get Sen. Stevens' attorney.

"John McCain has more explanation to give. Why did his organization donate more than $450,000 to Khalidi.'

That certainly is troubling. What's even more troubling is that the LA Times refuses to release this tape.

The issue is why did McCain donate $450,000 to this terrorist.

Yes Obama has normal friends. Havn't you ever met Sweet AlmondVerdena one of his best friends?

This is THE issue:

"When they came for the gypsies, I did not speak, for I am not a gypsy. When they came for the Jews, I did not speak, because I wasn't a Jew. When they came for the Catholics, I did not speak, for I am not a Catholic. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak." -On the Wall at the Holocaust Museum in Washington

IT IS TIME for all people of good character to resist the character assassins.

THAT IS THE ISSUE.