The Israel Lobby and Sarah Palin

Strict application of the Israel lobby theory would not have predicted Sarah Palin. Romney, Lieberman, anybody but. Palin's an unknown quantity and she likes to buck lobbyists. Culturally she's not tight with Jews; I wonder how many she's even met. I don't think Lieberman's well-heeled friends will be fond of her. So why not throw out the theory? For a few reasons. McCain is long since answered for. He went to Sderot and Jerusalem with Lieberman at his side. He's got neocons on his staff and, I venture, Sheldon Adelson behind him. I would liken McCain to Dick Cheney, who got on board with the ultra-Israel crowd years ago. Bernard Lewis dandled him in his lap and he and his wife lapped up the bottled waters of the American Enterprise Institute. Palin's more like GW Bush, who had barely been out of the country before 1998 when he went to Israel and took his famous helicopter ride with Ariel Sharon at the behest of Matthew Brooks, late of Adelson's Freedom's Watch, and Republican Jewish Coalition megabux Mel Sembler. Make that: Ambassador Mel Sembler. Bush was regarded skeptically because his father opposed the settlements policy. I bet Palin will get religion on the issue soon enough. Bet she mentions Israel in her speech next week.

Rob Eshman of Huffpo is on the same issue. Though I'd note he goes in for the standard misrepresentation, that it's all about Jewish votes. 

Comments

[MRW.]

Republican Jewish Coalition Executive Director Matt Brooks issued the following statement today (8/29/08):

“By choosing Governor Sarah Palin as the vice-presidential candidate, John McCain once again demonstrates good judgment and a commitment to challenging politics-as-usual. As governor of Alaska, Palin has enjoyed a strong working relationship with Alaska’s Jewish community. She has demonstrated sensitivity to the concerns of the community and has been accessible and responsive.

“Palin has a proven track record of experienced and principled leadership. Palin has been a leader on the critical issue of energy independence and lessening our need to buy oil from nations not sharing America and Israel’s foreign policy interests.

“Palin is anything but the typical Washington pick. A former commercial fisherman and mother of five children, Palin is an exciting and vibrant leader. She will bring a unique perspective to the presidential campaign. Her frontier spirit and triumph over adversity will benefit John McCain and the entire Republican ticket. Together, they are a dynamic team. They will show the American people that on the critical issues facing this country the Republicans have the right solutions. John McCain and Sarah Palin are ready to face the tough challenges ahead.”

Is this the Christian Zionist love they're hoping for?

versus

"Jewish Democrats: Palin is out of step with Jewish public opinion"
By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press -- Ha'aretz (08/30/08)

Following U.S. Presidential candidate John McCain's announcement that he had selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate on Friday, the National Jewish Democratic Council issued a statement saying that McCain's judgment appears "lacking."

"Today, Senator John McCain made his first critical decision with his selection of his vice Presidential running mate. In Governor Sarah Palin McCain chooses a running mate with zero foreign policy experience and a brewing scandal which is being investigated by the Alaska state legislature," said the group's Executive Director Ira N. Forman in a statement on Saturday.

Comparing the newly named vice presidential nominee to her Democratic counterpart Senator Joe Biden, the statement went on to say "the contrast with Joe Biden could not be starker and more unfavorable for the soon to be Republican nominee."

"For a party which claims it is trying to reach out to the Jewish community, McCain's pick is particularly strange," Forman continued. "Prior to today's selection, Palin apparently has never spoken publicly about Israel. Moreover, on a broad range of issues ? most strikingly on the issue of women's reproductive freedom ? she is totally out of step with Jewish public opinion. The gulf between Palin's public policy positions and the American Jewish community is best illustrated by the fact that the Christian Coalition of America was one of the strongest advocates of her selection."

[NOMOREWAR_FORISRAEL]

Phil,

I heard that she is an evangelical Christian but that she also supported Pat Buchanan at one time as well...

Scroll down to the Dutch AIPAC documentary at the following URL:

http://www.warwithoutend.co.uk/zone0/viewtopic.php?t=49800

The Transparent Cabal by Dr. Stephen Sniegoski:

http://www.warwithoutend.co.uk/zone0/viewtopic.php?t=94794

http://NEOCONZIONISTTHREAT.COM

[D.]

Remember when Jack Abramoff got religion during his trial, and all of a sudden his clothing went from Hollywood to frum? Well it seems to have paid off for him.

He's about to be sentenced, and by all accounts has been such a model prisoner that even the prosecutors (our employees) are recommending leniency. One example they cite: classes to his fellow inmates on "The Holocaust in Films."

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/08/professor_abramoff.php

[David F.]

The Zionist lock on politics and media is definitely crumbling. A few years ago it was "anti-Semitic" in the MSM to write about neo-cons. Now everyone associates them with the Iraq disaster and warmongering with Iran.

This year the whole US (as opposed to just the rest of the world) received media coverage of both their candidates genuflecting to Likudniks at the AIPAC conference. There are a whole pile of books in print about the Israel Lobby, which would have been unimaginable only a few years ago.

I'm sure Sarah Palin will have some soothing cliches for the Israel-obsessed, but it seems pretty clear that the neocons have been recognized by the Republicans as a serious liability, and their hold on the party is weakening.

[Alex Chaihorsky]

Being a staunch Conservative Republican (paleocon) for years (now an alternate delegate for Ron Paul from breakaway part of Nevada Republican Party) I have my own theory. McCain is an aging American aristocratic son (good old boy network) who never got a good education, never really done anything and mostly made his life as a prince-consort to huge inheritance of his wife. People like that (if you met Liz Windsor hubby) are a special kind - slow, noble-looking, society lions always with a joke up their sleeve, always ready to join, represent, smile, i.e. be a decorative piece for any occasion. Most of them have no clue because they do not need any. McCain is a maverick in the sense that he wants more, he wants to be a prince-consort that became a President.
He has no idea what is going on in the world, its all new and hostile for him. He needed a "tiger", someone who is quick and knows where Afghanistan is, but he was also afraid to select a VP who would overshadow him.
Palin is a great choice. She was fast and articulate during that meeting with him, she seem to know the new young world which scared the doodies out of him and if push comes to shove Cyndy can probably manage that backwoodswoman with her glare and all.
Also there is that childish "I got you'all didn't I?" message.
And a hope that Biden would slip and make fun of her at least once, which McCain camp will make a big fuzz about Dems denigrating her because she is a woman.
Obama and Biden have to be very, very careful not to give that bone to McCain's camp. She is plenty careless to make all the mistakes on her own and then some.

Alex Chaihorsky
Reno, Nevada.

[Leila Abu-Saba]

Colonel Patrick Lang (actually his sister) puts forth another theory/question - is it all a bright shiny object intended to distract us from Bush's new push for endless war? See the NY Times on 8/29, Eric Lichtblau:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/washington/30terror.html?ex=1377835200&en=758fb527edd4bdb0&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Lang's post here:
http://turcopolier.typepad.com/sic_semper_tyrannis/2008/08/was-august-29-b.html

He draws no connection to Israel or the lobby here. I still think it's relevant to your discussion. We all need to focus on what really matters.

[samuelburke]

Bill Christols top pick several months ago.

http://www.rlc.org/2008/08/30/bill-kristol/

these guys are so intuned with the christian coalition and what it takes to bring them to the table that they are peas in a pod.
http://www.rlc.org/2008/08/30/bill-kristol/

[charlottemom]

Palin is described as a Christian, though little else mentioned about her religion. After checking a bit, I've learned her church is Assemblies of God -- pentacostal, end-times, very fundamental Christian group. Yes, i think it fits with whole Christian-zionism of neocons. She's got conservative creds for Republican base, tacitly neocon with McCain on Mideast. No worries, she'll learn foreign policy at the feet of the master (McCain) -- some Republican said recently. God help us.

The less by the press of her Hagee-like procivities, the more i think this a huge factor in her selection -- or really, compromise, over Lieberman.

[NOMOREWAR_FORISRAEL]

Additional at the following URL:

The Israel Lobby and Sarah Palin:

http://www.itszone.co.uk/zone0/viewtopic.php?t=94958

[NOMOREWAR_FORISRAEL]

Palin's evangelical faith drives pro-Israel view

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/04/palins-evangelical-faith-drives-pro-israel-view/

[Dave]

The fact that candidates are vetted for pro-Israel leanings attests to the power American Jews wield over our political process. Although Palin hasn't mentioned the subject yet, it won't be long before she's on her hands and knees before AIPAC pleading for approval and acceptance.

It also won't be long before Palin is taking trips to Israel and mouthing pro-Jewish tripe as every other system politician. Perhaps she needs to be reminded that she's of European descent and should work to further the interests of her own people.

It's time to kick in the door of the rotten structure that is the American political system and restructure it such that it serves the interests of common Americans and NOT foreign nations or peoples.