Hey Obama- Words matter! See Obama and the “Constant Sore”

[2rth2pwr]

Jeffrey Goldberg: Do you think that Israel is a drag on America’s reputation overseas?

Barack Obama: No, no, no. But what I think is that this constant wound, that this constant sore, does infect all of our foreign policy. The lack of a resolution to this problem provides an excuse for anti-American militant jihadists to engage in inexcusable actions, and so we have a national-security interest in solving this, and I also believe that Israel has a security interest in solving this because I believe that the status quo is unsustainable. I am absolutely convinced of that, and some of the tensions that might arise between me and some of the more hawkish elements in the Jewish community in the United States might stem from the fact that I’m not going to blindly adhere to whatever the most hawkish position is just because that’s the safest ground politically. http://jeffreygoldberg.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/05/obama_on_zionism_and_hamas.php

Now they are attacking him for calling Israel a sore, that's not what he meant, but words matter.


NOTE: In an interview with The Atlantic, Obama reaffirmed his commitment to “opening up dialogue” with those who wish to see Israel destroyed. He referred to the plight of the Israeli people as a “constant wound” and a “constant sore” that “does infect all of our foreign policy.”
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/05/gop_hits_obama_over_israel.html

“It is truly disappointing that Senator Obama called Israel a ‘constant wound,’ ‘constant sore,’ and that it ‘infects all of our foreign policy.’ These sorts of words and characterizations are the words of a politician with a deep misunderstanding of the Middle East and an innate distrust of Israel,” said Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA-07)

[Egnever]

1. wow a republican bashed obama , alert the press!

[judasdisney]

18. So let's attack Obama instead of attacking Republicans' one-sidedness?

[anonymous171]

2. He's right though. The dialogue is not one-sided.

Too long has the "Israel can do no wrong" BS distorted our foreign policy.

[mcctatas]

3. Hey you...

context matters! If you happen to be a Palestinian, I would guess that Israel is a constant wound/sore. Obama hatred has made you lose capacity for critical analysis...

:banghead:

[cliffordu]

4. Going, going.........

won't be long now.....

:patriot:

[zabet]

11. Going where?

barneypooper

[YOY]

22. I wonder if a few posters will stick around afterwards.

The OP and an "independant amusement" come to mind...

[cliffordu]

24. Yep - that'd be nice...

[GarbagemanLB]

5. Is your liberal/progressive self upset he didn't scream about obliterating Iran?

[bhikkhu]

6. Thanks 2rth2pwr, this needs some press and dialog

Obama has excellent points and understanding on the Middle East and Israel issues...personally, I thing 60 years of on and off war may be nearing a conclusion to the benefit of all parties. There is hope for peace, if the parties involved desire it.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

7. there seems to be a plague at DU tonight

Did someone blow the whistle and send all of Hillary Is 44 over here?

Is that site still running all of those advertising/hijacking scripts on it?

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

8. it IS a constant wound, always has been, if you can read you know that

its common sense.

[Dhalgren]

26. You are exactly right, and so was Obama.

I am no Obama supporter (don't support Clinton, either), but he was spot-on in his assessment - in fact he did not go far enough, IMO. Israel is, in many instances, the cause of its own problems; it's right-wing government is a horrible human rights violator. Obama should be encouraged to seek a new way in Palestine...

[anonymous171]

9. The next part:

"The lack of a resolution to this problem provides an excuse for anti-American militant jihadists to engage in inexcusable actions, and so we have a national-security interest in solving this"

[PretzelWarrior]

10. it IS a constant sore. words or lack thereof DO matter.

too bad you don't realize you are part of the problem and in no way part of the solution.

If Obama makes it to the White HOuse it will be a miracle. The gravitational pull of the status quo is just so great.

[charlie]

12. Bwaah

Why do you hate America Israel, Barack?

Nothing like a bit of O'Reilly-ian discourse to inject clarity into a complicated situation, eh?

Words matter. What's your take on "obliterate"? Makes me think of a lot of things, but sober and steady-handed aren't among them.

[NeedleCast]

13. Once Again Obama Gives a Real Opinion

while most politicians just pander.

[NYCGirl]

14. House Republican Leaders Twist Obama Statement on Israel

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/05/house-republica.html

When the topic turned to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Obama said, "Israel and the Palestinians have tough issues to work out to get to the goal of two states living side by side in peace and security." When asked if Israel besmirches the United States' reputation, Obama said "No, no, no."

Then he said: "But what I think is that this constant wound, that this constant sore, does infect all of our foreign policy. The lack of a resolution to this problem provides an excuse for anti-American militant jihadists to engage in inexcusable actions, and so we have a national-security interest in solving this, and I also believe that Israel has a security interest in solving this because I believe that the status quo is unsustainable. I am absolutely convinced of that ... I want to solve the problem..."

It seemed pretty clear to me that by "constant sore" Obama was referring to the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As he says in the next sentence: the "lack of a resolution to this problem."

Nonetheless, House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, who knows better, accused Obama of calling Israel a "constant sore."

"Israel is a critical American ally and a beacon of democracy in the Middle East, not a ‘constant sore’ as Barack Obama claims," Boehner said. "Obama’s latest remark, and his commitment to ‘opening a dialogue’ with sponsors of terrorism, echoes past statements by Jimmy Carter who once called Israel an ‘apartheid state.’"

(That's interesting because in that very same interview, Obama rejected Carter's use of the term "apartheid" as applied to Israel. Said Obama: "I strongly reject the characterization. Israel is a vibrant democracy, the only one in the Middle East, and there’s no doubt that Israel and the Palestinians have tough issues to work out to get to the goal of two states living side by side in peace and security, but injecting a term like apartheid into the discussion doesn’t advance that goal. It’s emotionally loaded, historically inaccurate, and it’s not what I believe.")

Another member of the GOP House leadership, Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Virginia, also misrepresented what Obama said.

[MrSlayer]

15. That particular conflict IS a constant sore.

Are you saying that Middle East relations have been all lollipops and rainbows? What the fuck is wrong with you?

[bowens43]

16. Once again Obama shows why he is the only possible choice in November.

Thank the gods that America has rejected that cackling panderer and nominated Obama instead,

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[EmilyAnne]

19. Nowhere did Obama call Israel a wound or constant sore. Good grief. He makes complete sense here.

Is that what is so offensive to some people? Is it that bizarre for a politician to speak honestly about such a touchy subject? It should be the norm.

[Faygo Kid]

23. I echo that. This is a complete mischaracterization of his comments.

The desperation, ferocity and contempt for the truth behind these posts tell me we are in the closing stages of this primary campaign. Given the nature of Hillary's campaign, I guess we could not expect her supporters to unleash anything else but this kind of drivel.

[democracy1st]

20. they're attacking him for waking up get a clue

[eallen]

21. No words are safe from those who would purposely misquote.

Someone says, "FDR fought Hitler, who was a vicious tyrant."

Now comes the Limbaugh style spin: he said, "FDR ... was a vicious tyrant."

Any Democratic candidate's words will get twisted and misquoted by the opposition. That's not the fault of any candidate. That's just politics.

:hippie:

[Dhalgren]

25. I agree with Obama 100% - he didn't go far enough!

Anyone who bashes Obama for telling the truth about Israel aught to go ahead and immigrate...