Obama Media

“Serious” Iowans Push and Praise Obama on Middle East

Jim Zogby reflects on the tendency of Iowa voters to

Iowans take their politics seriously. While some complain that Iowa or New Hampshire, (the first primary state) are not representative of the rest of the nation, in fact, they are. Though most of Iowa’s ethnic, racial and interest groups are small, they take their responsibilities seriously, knowing that they will get the chance to raise the issues and ask the questions that the rest of America needs to have answered.

And on most topics, Iowans have done their homework and can be quite sophisticated, including matters involving the Middle East.

He goes on to quote from an open letter to Obama composed “by activists across the state.”

Your campaign has been built around a new brand of politics that offers hope to Americans eager for courageous, moral leadership. We thank you for extending this approach to a conflict which has historically suffered from a lack of American vision, engagement, and leadership. As Iowans, we have long advocated a foreign policy that reflects America’s values and commitment to justice and peace. Your compassion and support for the establishment of a Palestinian state and the security of Israel are consistent with the positions taken by Iowa citizens for many years.

He concludes by citing Zogby polls that show

that despite the hardline and one-sided positions taken by some, most Americans, including most American Jews and Arab Americans, support a US policy that recognises the needs of both Israelis and Palestinians and works for a balanced resolution to their conflict.

Obama’s “about-face” on Israel-Palestine

Ali Abunimah critiques Obama’s much-covered speech to AIPAC. He argues that Obama’s changed Middle East approach is an act of political expediency:

In 2000, when Obama unsuccessfully ran for Congress I heard him speak at a campaign fundraiser hosted by a University of Chicago professor. On that occasion and others Obama was forthright in his criticism of US policy and his call for an even-handed approach to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict…Obama’s about-face is not surprising. He is merely doing what he thinks is necessary to get elected and he will continue doing it as long as it keeps him in power…

Throughout his speech he showed a worrying propensity to present discredited propaganda as fact... There was absolutely nothing in Obama’s speech that deviated from the hardline consensus underpinning US policy in the region…Reviewing the speech, Ha’aretz Washington correspondent Shmuel Rosner concluded that Obama “sounded as strong as Clinton, as supportive as Bush, as friendly as Giuliani. At least rhetorically, Obama passed any test anyone might have wanted him to pass. So, he is pro-Israel. Period.”…