Reply #6: Politico's Ben Smith notes today the "focus on Israel and Jewish politics has been extraordinary"

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http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0608/Debating_Ir...

Debating Iran

My first job in journalism was covering Jewish politics for the Forward, and I sometimes feel in this presidential race that I'm back there: The focus on Israel and Jewish politics has been extraordinary.

And, with perfect timing, the three candidates are expected to speak at AIPAC's policy conference this week, with McCain speaking today and the Democrats speaking Wednesday.

McCain attacked Obama for, he said, giving up on Iraq, and also attacked a missed vote Obama used to draw a contrast with Clinton during the primary when he didn't support a resolution in favor of declaring the Revolutionary Guard -- an arm of the Iranian government -- a terrorist group.

McCain:

We must apply the full force of law to prevent business dealings with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. I was pleased to join Senators Lieberman and Kyl in backing an amendment calling for the designation of the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization responsible for killing American troops in Iraq. Over three quarters of the Senate supported this obvious step, but not Senator Obama. He opposed this resolution because its support for countering Iranian influence in Iraq was, he said, a "wrong message not only to the world, but also to the region." But here, too, he is mistaken. Holding Iran's influence in check, and holding a terrorist organization accountable, sends exactly the right message -- to Iran, to the region and to the world.

Obama aide Hari Sevugan responded by saying "the United States and Israel cannot afford" McCain's stance:

John McCain stubbornly insists on continuing a dangerous and failed foreign policy that has clearly made the United States and Israel less secure. Here are the results of the policies that John McCain has supported, and would continue. During the Bush Administration, Iran has dramatically expanded its nuclear program, going from zero centrifuges to more than 3000 centrifuges. During the Bush Administration, Iran has expanded its influence throughout a vitally important region, plying Hamas and Hezbollah with money and arms. During the Bush Administration, Hamas took over Gaza. Most importantly, the war in Iraq that John McCain supported and promises to continue indefinitely has done more to dramatically strengthen and embolden Iran than anything in a generation....

Instead of recognizing reality, John McCain continues to run on a platform of doubling down on George Bush's failed policies, while carrying on his divisive brand of politics. The United States and Israel cannot afford four more years of an unwillingness to change course.

Sevugan also criticized McCain for not signing on to a bill pushing divestment from Iran, which Obama supports.

By Ben Smith 10:17 AM