Clinton campaign distributes an article in the American Spectator (!) about Merrill McPeak

[Elidor]

The Clinton campaign is distributing an article in the American Spectator (!) about Obama foreign policy adviser Merrill McPeak and his penchant for.. well, the article accuses him of being an anti-Semite and a drunk. Principally, the author takes McPeak to task for supporting a Middle East map that would require Israel to withdraw to its pre-1967 border. It also makes the case that McPeak supports the Walt-Mearsheimer view of the influence of the Israeli lobby on foreign policy.

The author's sudden conclusion: "Obama has a Jewish problem and McPeak's bigoted views are emblematic of what they are. Obama can issue all the boilerplate statements supporting Israel's right to defend itself he wants. But until he accepts responsibility for allowing people like McPeak so close to his quest for the presidency, Obama's sincerity and judgment will remain open questions."

As one keen observer pointed out to me, if advocating the pre '67 border map makes one an anti-Semite, just about every iteration of the U.S. government since 1967 would qualify. Tony McPeak's verbal gymnastics do not make a "Jewish problem" for Obama.

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/03/obama_and_the_jews.php

Oh, btw: look who Hillary had a chat with today!



Richard Mellon Scaife. Isn't nice we can all be friends now?

[PM7nj]

1. I saw this earlier, how is the Clinton campaign involved though?

I saw this earlier but didn't really understand how the Clinton campaign is"distributing" this. Is the author one of her people?

[Elidor]

4. He doesn't make that clear

I'd have to assume it was sent to him or someone he knows by a staffer, but I'm not aware, really.

[PM7nj]

6. Oh, that makes sense

I thought he meant the Clinton people wrote this. I misread the first line. Thanks.

[anamandujano]

2. How does he know the Clinton campaign is distributing the article?

[Drachasor]

7. Probably the elusive beast known as "reporting" or "journalism"

We'll probably hear more about it tomorrow if true.

Supposing it is true though, what's your opinion on this?

[anamandujano]

10. I don't care one way or another. All information should come out on

everyone. The important part is that it be true.

There's a little make believe going on around here that Hillary does bad things and Obama is a clean campaigner. It's a crock. The Obama supporters refuse to look at what is before their eyes so they can hold to this delusion.

If this information on McPeak has been published, what is the big deal? Hillary didn't commission the writing, did she? It sounds like another Drudge deal where someone sent him a photo and it was an attempt to make him scary. Why is a man in a dress scary? The whole thing is to keep pushing the lie that Hillary is attacking Obama.

Obama's campaign went out of its way to find an obscure interview that Ferraro gave and distributed it to foment the big scandal. Why is that okay?

[Drachasor]

11. "The whole thing is to keep pushing the lie that Hillary is attacking Obama."

You really don't believe Hillary is attacking Obama?

[ShortnFiery]

3. But wait, there's more!

Hillary Clinton is going on her favorite fundraisers station (Rupert Murdoch) tonight to have softballs thrown at her by Greta Van Sustren. We all viewed in dismay how HRC not only smeared Obama by association with Rev. Wright, but essentially trashed his Church.

I don't think it's a big stretch for her to "scratch down to another rock layer of filth" in order to imply that McPeak is INDEED less than a full supporter of Israel. :eyes:

[anamandujano]

5. The author might have had a dream about it. That passes for proof

with the Obama crowd.

[housewolf]

8. It's spreading already - from The Hill this afternoon "Rep Jewish group wants Obama adviser canned"

Republican Jewish group wants Obama adviser canned
By Sam Youngman
Posted: 03/25/08 03:41 PM

The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) called on Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) Tuesday to remove military adviser and national campaign co-chairman Gen. Tony McPeak from his team, citing past statements McPeak has made about the Middle East that the RJC finds troubling.

Matt Brooks, executive director of the RJC, said in a statement that in keeping McPeak as a surrogate and campaign spokesman, “serious questions and doubts are once again being raised about Sen. Obama’s positions and judgment on Middle East issues.”

In its statement, the RJC cited a 2003 interview McPeak did with the Portland Oregonian in which “Gen. McPeak resorted to old stereotypes and unfortunate language by blaming the lack of progress with the Israeli-Palestinian peace process on the undue political influence of American Jewry. The problem, said McPeak, is ‘New York City. Miami. We have a large vote ... here in favor of Israel. And no politician wants to run against it.’ ”

Brooks said McPeak is more wont to blame American Jews than Palestinian leadership.

"Sen. Obama continues to surround himself with advisers holding troubling and disturbing anti-Israel bias,” Brooks said. “Gen. McPeak's views are alarming. We call on Sen. Obama to immediately remove Gen. McPeak from his campaign leadership role and as a key adviser.”

The Obama campaign said it disagrees with McPeak’s statement, adding that Obama's “longstanding commitment to Israel is clear to anyone who has reviewed his voting record, read his speeches or looked at his policy papers.”

“As he has said, his support for our democratic ally Israel is based on America's national interests and our shared values,” Tommy Vietor, an Obama spokesman, said in an e-mail. “Neither Sen. Clinton nor Sen. Obama agrees with every position their advisers take, and in this case Sen. Obama disagrees with Gen. McPeak's comments.”

McPeak has served as a lightning rod of sorts as the Clinton campaign has also been highly critical of comments made by the retired general.


http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/republican-jewish-group-wants-obama-adviser-removed-2008-03-25.html

[leftofcool]

9. Thay have called on this before since 2003