Juan Cole: McCain Racism, Hypocrisy on Khalidi Issue

[Emit]

~snip~

McCain's and Palin's attacks on Khalidi are frankly racist. He is a distinguished scholar, and the only objectionable thing about him from a rightwing point of view is that he is a Palestinian. There are about 9 million Palestinians in the world (a million or so are Israeli citizens; 3.7 million are stateless and without rights under Israeli control in the West Bank and Gaza; and 4 million are refugees or exiled in the diaspora; there are about 200,000 Palestinian-Americans, and several million Arab-Americans, many living in swing vote states). Khalidi was not, as the schlock rightwing press charges, a spokesman for the Palestine Liberation Organization. He was an adviser at the Madrid peace talks, but would that not have been, like, a good thing?

~snip~

That McCain should take his cues from people to the right of the Neoconservatives shows fatal lack of judgment and signals that if he is elected, he will likely pursue policies that are very bad for Israel, forestalling a genuine peace process (which would involve close relations with Palestinians!)

McCain even compared the gathering for Khalidi that Obama attended to a "neo-Nazi" meeting! I mean, really. this is the lowest McCain has sunk yet.

~snip~

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21119.htm

[judy]

1. This Khalidi thing is outrageous

And I have also read and heard a lot of commentators, defending Obama by saying that McCain also donated $$ to Khalidi, which shows that he is a hypocrit. But very few commentators have actually mentioned that donating money to Khalidi and wishing him well in his efforts to bring peace to the Middle East is a plus for any presidential candidate!

Juan Cole is right, and if McCain is elected it will be a disaster for Israel, as recognition of the Palestinian cause is the only way to lasting peace and security for Israel.

[leftist.]

2. Last minute attacks like this.

This has been going around hate radio like gangbusters lately, and the article you provide is good reading. My question is - am I wrong in thinking that last-minute attacks like this only drive a wedge between the attacker and the public he or she is trying to reach? Each day McCain seems to have a new accusation to level at Obama - last week's was Socialist/Marxist, this week its this LA Times tape nonsense - and when you contrast Obama being able to stay on message and weather the barrage, it appears to marginalize McCain. Another great example of this is what's going on in NC with Dole and the atheist claims. I've heard all my life that negative attacks such as these work but I just don't see it with this election. Maybe that's a testament to Barack?

[bullwinkle428]

3. I couldn't believe the way the vile witch used this subject for attack

the other day - I was rather disappointed in DU that it seemed to be barely addressed at all when it occurred.

She of course introduced him as one of many of Obama's "unsavory associations", and took a pregnant (heh-heh) pause after announcing his name. As if that tactic couldn't be any more transparent...slowly enunciating this Arabic-sounding name, then giving the audience several moments to let the gears start crunching and grinding in their heads...

"HEY!!! HE SOUNDS LIKE ONE OF THEM MOOSE-LEMS! KILL HIM! OFF WITH HIS HEAD!"

And people wonder why her rallies attract the worst of American society...