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Surro-Gate: Hamas Ties and Lies Arise
Following Friday's resignation by Obama Middle East advisor Rob Malley over his many meetings with Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, the Obama-Hamas controversy is bubbling up once more. Over the last few weeks the controversy has been a particular point of discussion between the McCain and Obama campaigns. In an interview last week, Senator Obama said that McCain was "losing his bearings" and suggested that the Hamas issue was nothing more than a "smear" tactic. In a subsequent appearance, Senator McCain said he believed the endorsement of Senator Obama by Hamas was "a legitimate point of discussion." Conservative and liberal blogs have been abuzz, albeit to a lesser extent than the "When Will She Get Out" speculation.
Senator Obama's position with regard to rogue states and terrorist groups has been a point of contention for months, starting with his statement during a CNN Debate in July of last year that he would meet with such states without precondition. The Clinton campaign made much use of this, with Senator Clinton herself calling Obama's answer "irresponsible and frankly naive," in an interview with an Iowa newspaper that same month.
The senator has received a few unpleasant endorsements that further exacerbate the campaign's weak spot. In March, Ali Abunimah, co-founder of the Electronic Intifada website, which is a website for the radical Palestinian liberation group International Solidarity Movement (ISM), wrote an article about Senator Obama. In it, he suggested that "Obama implicitly admitted that Wright's views were rooted in opposition to Israel's deep ties to apartheid South Africa, and thus entirely reasonable," in his effort to establish a pro-Palestine tint to the Senator's speeches. The link is tenable, particularly in light of Senator Obama's friendly relationship with Palestinian activist Rashid Khalidi.
Recently, and with much more coverage than Ali Abunimah received, Ahmed Yousef, chief political advisor to the Prime Minister of Hamas, endorsed the Senator. "We like Mr. Obama, and we hope that he will win the elections," he said. The endorsement has caused a stir, particularly among conservatives and conservative bloggers. In a conference call with bloggers two weeks ago, Senator McCain was asked about the endorsement by Commentary's Jennifer Rubin. He replied that he would be "Hamas' worst nightmare," and that he thinks "it's very clear, that it's understandable why they would not want me to be President of the United States. So, if Senator Obama is favored by Hamas I think people can make judgements accordingly." As Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran is one of those leaders on Senator Obama's "no conditions" day planner, his debate remarks are again material. As Senator McCain said, "Iran is obviously an important supporter of Hamas."
Additionally, throughout the Reverend Wright controversy, Wright's anti-Israel views and those published in the Church newsletter, have haunted Senator Obama.
The New York Times ran an article on Saturday in which campaign spokesperson Dr. Susan Rice is quoted suggesting that "for political purposes, Senator Obama's opponents on the right have distorted and reframed" his views on rogue states. The article says Senator McCain and his surrogates have pressed the "unconditional" issue, though makes no mention of Senator Clinton's comments. Little Green Footballs notes that Dr. Rice is contradicted by the Obama Campaign website, which states, "Obama is the only major candidate who supports tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without preconditions." Unless his webmaster is one of the Senator's "opponents on the right," it would seem that comment is another one for "Surro-gate".
The two fronts are clear: Whether Senator Obama is soft on rogue states; Whether Senator Obama is soft on Hamas and, by extension, terrorism. His surrogates seem bent on further damaging him in these areas (and Jimmy Carter isn't exactly helping Democrats overall on this issue either.)
Senators Clinton and McCain have attacked these Obama weak points on the terrrorism and foreign policy fronts. If Senator Obama wants to address such issues, he's only getting it half right. Rob Malley's departure was correct. Susan Rice rewriting the past was not so correct.
The New York Times article has one point that is crystal clear: Senator McCain's campaign will be using this issue in the general campaign. Senator Obama will need to find a response better than Susan's "nuh-uh" or campaign spokesman David Axelrod's "it's flattering when anybody says that Barack Obama would follow in [Kennedy's] footsteps" Hamas-inspired afterglow.
Recent Comments
(Page 1 of 2)Diane6:47PMMay 12th 2008
57 States of Islam....Obama is getting thing mixed up..Does this tell us something about Obama that he is trying to hide.
http://amboytimes.typepad.com/the_amboy_times/2008/05/obamas-57-state.html
Leslie6:59PMMay 12th 2008
Rob Malley...hmmmm...wasn't he a part of Bill Clinton's administration?
Robert Malley (born 1963) is an American lawyer, political scientist and specialist in conflict resolution. He is currently Program Director for Middle East and North Africa at the International Crisis Group in Washington, D.C., and a former Special Assistant to President Bill Clinton for Arab-Israeli Affairs (1998-2001). Prior to holding that title, he was Assistant to National Security Advisor Sandy Berger (1996-1998) and the Director for Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs at the National Security Council (1994-1996). [1] Malley is considered an expert on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has written extensively on this subject.[1] As Special Assistant to President Clinton, he was a member of the U.S. peace team and participated in the 2000 Camp David Summit
vlg7:01PMMay 12th 2008
I believe the race should continue until all 57 states have voted, don't you, Obama?
lmay7:08PMMay 12th 2008
Are we as Americans willing to risk Obama implementing Sharia Law in the US...Read up on Obama, do your research..heres a start..
You may want to start with Googling “Barack Obama Odinga Kenya Sharia” and read up.
It will be a slow process, but ask yourself who will Obama be appointing the high ranking positions in our government?? Supreme court??
Lifetime democrat voting for Mccain in November. He is a true American and will take care of our country!!
lmay7:11PMMay 12th 2008
Is this possibly the "change" that Obama talks about but never really explains??
Raila Odinga has, in his own words, a ‘close personal friendship’ with Barrack Hussein Obama Junior. When Obama went to Kenya in August of 2006, he was hosted by Raila and spoke in praise of him at rallies in Nairobi: Obama’s bias for his fellow Luo was so blatant that a Kenya government spokesman denounced Obama during his visit as Raila’s ’stooge.’
Maybe this is what Obama means by being the candidate of ‘change’.
Wake up Fellow Americans and Fellow democrats.
Pete7:25PMMay 12th 2008
Hamas is a terrorist subsidiary of Iran's globale terrorist activities. Hamas is in Lebanon to destabilize the democratic government that would give Hamas/Iran a staging area to attack Israel.
It is a no brainer that terrorists would like to see a no foreign policy experience, naive, "Peace in our time" Neville Chamberlain, Barack Obama elected President. Hamas is not the first, nor I suspect, the last to say so.
Hamas knows another "lets talk" Jimmy Carter when they see one.
John McCain advocates staying and stabilizing Iraq.
Democrats advocate cut and run while Iran's terrorist subsidiary, Hamas, endorses Obama.
The fact is the adgenda of Iran/Hamas is to wipe Israel off the map and they believe that would be easier with Barack Obama as President, pure and simple.
KMD7:26PMMay 12th 2008
IS THIS THE CHANGE OBAMA SPEAKS OF?
Rashid Khalidi: a PLO activist supports Obama for president "because he is the only candidate who has expressed sympathy for the Palestinian cause."
Obama's Brother: Abongo Roy Obama - a Luo activist & militant Muslim.
Obama's Cousin: Raila Odinga (a jihadist & signed NAMLEF) burned alive & macheted 600 Kenyan Christians; Kenya 2006 Obama campaigned for cousin Raila Odgin.
TJ8:49PMMay 12th 2008
THIS IS WHAT YOU GET WITH STUPID CAUCUSES. THE NON-DEMOGRATIC CAUCUSES PROPELLED THIS OBAMA GUY TOWARDS THE PRESIDENCY OF THIS COUNTRY THAT WE KNOW IS NOT CAPABLE OF RUNNING THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE HE IS SPONSORED BY WEALTHY AGENDA-DRIVEN GROUPS. ITS LIKE THE ENEMY WITHIN.
ENEMIES OF AMERICA HAVE INFILTRATED US
IF HILLARY DOESBNT MAKE IT-PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO VOTE MCCAIN
WRITE-IN VOTES FOR HILLARY WILL COUNT FOR THE DEMO PARTY CANDIDATE-IF ITS OBAMA, IT WILL GO TO OBAMA.
OR IT WONT COUNT AT ALL
DO NOT WRITE-IN HILLARY
VOTE HILLARY OR MCCAIN
OXOXO
TJ, THE OBAMAMANIA BUSTER TILL THE END
TJ8:54PMMay 12th 2008
S C A R YYYYYYY!!!!
THIS IS WHAT INPIRES ME
STAY AWAY FROM THE ENEMY WE CANT SEE
ENEMY WITHIN
JEREMIAH WRIGHT TOLD US OBAMA THINKS JUST LIKE JEREMIAH
I BELIEVE JEREMIAH
VOTE HILLARY OR MCCAIN
OXOXO
TJ, THE OBAMAMANIA BUSTER TILL THE END
Que sera sera9:16PMMay 12th 2008
The following have or have had links embedded in Obama’s official web page.
The first three are listed by the Department of Justice as indicted co-conspirators last May in the Holy Land Foundation terror financing trial. http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/case_docs/423.pdf
Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT)
The fourth Islamic group in the AMCE strategic partnership — the Muslim American Society (MAS) — was recently identified by federal prosecutors in a DOJ appeals court brief for another terrorism-related case as “the overt arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in America,” a brief which also states that “CAIR conspired with other affiliates of the Muslim Brotherhood to support terrorists
If you follow Mr. Obama's friend Tony Rezko's trial you may find this interesting in an awful way.
In June 2006 one of Tony Rezko associates Donald Fawley was offered a former military base at Savanna, Illinois for a training center. Mr. Fawley proposed to train 150 Iraqis to be a security force at a plant in Iraq. This included the novel concept to fly these 150 Iraqis to Illinois for this training.
A group of young men in Gaza gather before each primary in support of Senator Barack Obama. These well-dressed young men, looking vastly different from the street photos of the poor and depressed we usually see, meet in an internet cafe and make random phone calls to American voters, urging a vote for Obama. Video http://maggiesnotebook.blogspot.com/2008/04/obamas-campaign-manifesto-how-gaza.html
Throw in a little Nadhmi Auchi, AAAN; PNA; PLO two laptops seized from FARC, which suggested a connection of sorts.
What about Mr. Obama's slip of the tongue or code speak of 57 states?
CAROLINAGIRL9:46PMMay 12th 2008
MAY 8, 2008 - Obama Supporters Face Indictment, Charges --- MORE OBAMA SCANDAL!
With Puerto Rico's Democratic primary approaching, Sen. Barack Obama may begin to face questions about two of his biggest supporters on the island. Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila, a co-chair of Obama's campaign in Puerto Rico was indicted by Federal prosecutors along with 12 others on March 27th in what prosecutors called the largest government corruption scandal in Puerto Rico's history. Vila was charged with receiving cash and gifts in the form of expensive suits, vacations for his family and children, and personal contributions to enhance his salary. Vila also is alleged to have had his credit card bills paid by private companies and his campaign debts paid by Puerto Rican business interests. Vila also stands accused of steering contracts to his fundraisers, based in Philadelphia. In all, the so-called "Philadelphia connection" netted $180,000 for Vila's 2004 gubernatorial campaign.
Gov. Vila denied the charges, calling them, "totally false," and saying that, "I have never asked for or accepted a donation in exchange for a government contract." THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN REPLACED VILA AS A CO-CHAIR OF ITS PUERTO RICO EFFORT WHEN THE CHARGES WERE ANNOUNCED.
BUT NOW, THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT A “SECOND” OBAMA CO-CHAIR IN PUERTO RICO IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE ISLAND'S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. EDUARDO BHATIA, A FORMER CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR OF SAN JUAN AND A CURRENT POPULAR DEMOCRATIC PARTY CANDIDATE FOR PUERTO RICO'S SENATE WAS ALLEGEDLY NAMED BY THE FBI AS A PERSON OF INTEREST IN A REFERRAL TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ACCORDING TO AN APRIL 22ND ARTICLE IN THE SAN JUAN STAR (subscription required). Bhatia also denies the charges.
The revelations may be troublesome for Obama, whose prominent Chicago fundraiser and booster Tony Rezko's public corruption trial just came to an end.
HOPEFULLY, WE’LL LEARN MORE OF OBAMA’S "TRUTHS" BEFORE NOVEMBER! OTHERWISE, IT MAY BE TOO LATE FOR AMERICA! HE HAS RUN HIS ENTIRE CAMPAIGN ON LIES.
THINKABOUTIT10:00PMMay 12th 2008
I do not believe for one second that Wright and Obama are enemies. Michelle Obama cannot even publically denounce Wright. Wright knew that if he started a public spectacle with Obama that Obama would than have a reason to come out publically and denounce him once and for all. This was intentionally done to put Obama and Wright on the opposite side of the fence in the public arena so that Obama could get the Wright monkey off of his back. It drew some immediate negative attention, but in the big picture their scam is working. This knocked the wind out of the sails of the Wright controversy and it put this whole ordeal in the “you can’t keep beating a dead horse” category. Wright told Obama a long time ago that they would eventually have to separate themselves from one another and he did just that. We will not hear from Wright again until the Fall. He did what he had to do and now he will hibernate. This was a BIG-TIME SET-UP by Obama and Wright! Sadly, it appears to have worked.
IF OBAMA WINS, RADICAL WRIGHT, BOMBER AYERS, HAMAS, REZKO, MALCOLM X, LOUIS FARRAKHAN AND ANTI-AMERICAN MICHELLE OBAMA WILL DESTROY AMERICA FROM OUR WHITE HOUSE.
AB11:29PMMay 12th 2008
WoW!!
So many idiots here!!
I guess it's a good thing that we have an impeachment process or else we'll have all those muslims running the government.
You people are really stupid to think that Sen. Obama is some "Manchurian Candidate" or something.
"Senator Obama!! Senator Barack Hussein Obamab!!"
That's rich!! You people really need to get real and stop trying to belittle the accomplishments of Sen. Obama. It should be obvious to anyone who has any bit of sense that he is just like any American citizen. But its the big corporations and wealthy who don't want to see him make it into the White HOuse because they know that they will be sharing more of their wealth. They don't want that.
Eakarach1:39AMMay 13th 2008
WA,Please vote for Hillary on tuesday and send Hussein Obama home for good
Hillary or McCain only folk.
Eakarach5:26AMMay 13th 2008
PEOPLE,A VOTE FOR HUSSEIN OBAMA IS LIKE A VOTE FOR HAMAS GROUP.
HILLARY OR McCAIN ONLY FOLK.
tfitz101711:09AMMay 13th 2008
Caleb, my friend; you speak of the implications of suppositions. This piece could use a thorough dissection, but in the interest of brevity I'll cut right to that point: You deal in innuendo, somehow expecting that the more accusations you make, the more convincing you are. As if quantity will some how make up for the lack of quality in your arguments, if they could rightly be called even that. Moreover, I think you are perfectly conscious of what you are doing. That somehow compounds things.
This is not even worth repudiation. Plainly stated, Caleb, this is the most insidious form of propaganda. Goebbels would be proud of you. Check my postings, I don't get this upset over nothing and I am not overreacting here.
You've crossed a line here. All you really have in this business Caleb, is your reputation. Think about it.
EyesWideOpen2:45PMMay 13th 2008
WHEN A TERRORIST GROUP LIKE HAMAS IS IN FAVOR WITH OBAMA'S IDEAS AND POLICIES, THAT ALONE SHOULD BE A BIG RED FLAG TO AMERICANS. ALSO, LET'S NOT FORGET OBAMA'S CONNECTION WITH THE AMERICA HATING TERRORIST,BILL AYERS AND HIS WIFE.
HOW DO ALL OF OBAMA'S SO-CALLED EDUCATED SUPPORTERS IGNORE THESE IN YOUR FACE FACTS AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HIM, UNLESS THEY TOO ARE EXTREME LEFTY MARXISTS.
OBAMA'S HAS NEVER SAID WHAT HIS BIG CHANGE IS GOING TO BE IF HE'S ELECTED PRESIDENT. HE'S NOT FOR AMERICA FOLKS! WAKE UP!
Lord Baltimore5:52PMMay 13th 2008
This piece is littered with ignorance, arrogance, and absurd falsehoods and should therefore be completely ignored.
The author's understanding of "terrorism" and "rogue statehood" is laughable, and should be seen only the context of an American and Israeli obsession with illegal occupation and desire for regional hegemony.
Hamas won legitimate, internationally monitored and approved democratic elections. Elections that were endorsed and promoted by the US government. The problem for narrow-minded, racist, imperialist, Israel-apologists like you, Caleb, is that the people you didn't want to win actually won! Uh oh...
...Let's call them "terrorists" and then we can pretend they aren't a political resistance movement...
If you recall, Reagan met with Gorbachev. Nixon went to China.
But for dullards like you, this is a world of "good guys" and "bad guys." You think, "Oh no! How dare a prospective American president say he is willing to meet with an enemy? How will we ever be able to bomb them if we meet with them?" Remember Rumsfeld glad-handing in Saddam's Iraq? I guess we can meet with our "enemy" and then still obliterate them. You must be so relieved.
Since you so clearly support illegal military occupations of people that don't look white, you must be thrilled about the state of the Middle East today. Keep up the good work, douchebag.
Peni12:24PMMay 14th 2008
So where is the story about McCains people having to resign because of their ties to lobbyist regarding Burma? You are endorsed by who?
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vlg6:40PMMay 12th 2008
WEST VIRGINIANS THINK FOR THEMSELVES!
Come on, West Virginia! Please don't let the pundits convince you the race is over. You've been strong for Hillary for months. Stay strong, and show the nation that West Virginians think for themselves.
We need strong leadership in Washington.
We need Hillary!