Posted By James Besser
Political Insider: Obama Gets it from All Sides
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Doesn't it sometimes seem like Sen. Barack Obama can't win with the Jews?
As the Jewish Week reports this week (read the story here) , rumors about his alleged Muslim past continue to swirl through segments of the community, despite repeated debunkings; simmering in the background are lingering questions about his South Side Chicago church and its controversial pastor.
Also this week, some prominent Israelis - including former ambassador Danny Ayalon - have weighed in with concerns the Democratic presidential contender may be too soft when it comes to Middle East issues, or at least too unclear about the details of his oft-stated support for Israel.
In a Jerusalem Post op-ed, Ayalon argues that "from our perspective, as international spectators for whom Israeli and global security must be of foremost interest, while observing the American elections we should look at the Obama candidacy with some degree of concern as we hope to answer that all-important question, 'Who really is this man, and what policies will he impose?'"
Ayalon expressed unease about Obama's statement that he would meet with the president of Iran and that he has "yet to suggest specific measures he would enact regarding the Jewish State's Qualitative Military Edge."
But the Democratic contender is also getting it from the Jewish left, which is not happy with what some see as his pandering to the pro-Israel lobby.
In a new entry Richard Silverstein, a influential blogger, chastised the Democrat for yesterday's letter to Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, defending Israel on the question of its response to rocket attacks from Gaza.
"I understand that today the UN Security Council met regarding the situation in Gaza, and that a resolution or statement could be forthcoming from the Council in short order," Obama wrote. "I urge you to ensure that the Security Council issue no statement and pass no resolution on this matter that does not fully condemn the rocket assault Hamas has been conducting on civilians in southern Israel."
Silverstein wrote that Obama's letter is a "perfect example of how election campaigns prostitute legitimate policy objectives. Of course, Israel was NOT forced to put Gaza under siege. To say otherwise is first of all to pander to the right-wing portion of the Jewish electorate and second to distort reality."