team-joebama: President Obama & Israel’s PM Netanyahu yesterday day in Jerusalem
Yahoo! News: Obama was awarded Israel’s Medal of Distinction Thursday night during a lavish dinner. He is the first sitting U.S. president to receive Israel’s highest civilian honor.
The Jerusalem Post: Anyone who believes that there is no chemistry between Netanyahu and Obama should have watched them whispering to each other with big grins on their faces and laughing together when Peres said something amusing.
“I don’t know how he’ll handle the head of state job. He’s made a mess of being a tourist.” — Rahm Emanuel (via)
image: gop-circus
Hopefully never coming to the White House near you!
“It is no small thing to suggest you view one group as culturally inferior. It is no small thing to suggest that God plays favorites.”
Joshua Greenman discusses the serious mistake Mitt Romney made yesterday in Jerusalem:
Mideast gaffe could cost Mitt Romney in GOP hopeful’s run for the White House:
“Romney, speaking to a group of donors, meant to praise Israel’s success. In the process, he demeaned Palestinians — pointing to “a dramatically stark difference in economic vitality” between the Jewish state and the occupied territories. His diagnosis: “Culture makes all the difference.” Then, among other factors playing to Israel’s favor, he cited “the hand of providence.” Yikes. If Romney becomes President, he will have to work with both sides. It is no small thing to suggest you view one group as culturally inferior. It is no small thing to suggest that God plays favorites.
“Obviously culture matters. It has helped make Israel a global engine of innovation. For years, Arab nations have been soul-searching about why they’ve struggled to keep up; that’s part of what fuels the Arab Spring.
“But in the delicate context of the Mideast, it is tone-deaf to bring this up with no recognition of the legitimate gripes of Palestinians. [...] For Romney to attribute Israel’s success partially to providence is damn near dangerous. Imagine how it’ll play in translation in Muslim-majority countries: The would-be President thinks the Lord made Israel rich. Nevermind the logical fallacy. Is it also God’s will that the Arabs got most of the oil, which is why Qatar and Brunei are far richer than Israel per capita? If they’re twice as wealthy as mostly Catholic Poland, is that because Allah made them so?”
Mitt Romney – seen here talking to the media – complains that US media coverage of his overseas trip has focused on his gaffes. Photograph: Jason Reed/Reuters
THE RETROACTIVE WORLD TOUR BEGINS: For some reason, Mitt seems to want to quickly change the subject from his Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad World Tour and suddenly focus on the economy? Romney thinks it’s a shame the lamestream media won’t report what’s best for his campaign, like Fox “News” does:
Mitt Romney Blames Press For Overseas Controversies: “Romney told Fox News today that the controversies were the result of the press “trying to find anything else” to write about. “I realize that there will be some in the fourth estate or whatever estate who are far more interested in finding something to write about that is unrelated to the economy, to geopolitics, to the threat of war, to the reality of conflict in Afghanistan today, to a nuclearization of Iran,” Romney said. “They are instead trying to find anything else to divert from the fact that these last four years have been tough years for our country,” he said.”
Romney denies criticizing Palestinian culture: “Mitt Romney insisted Tuesday he was not specifically talking about Palestinian culture at a fundraiser in Israel on Monday when he was quoted suggesting culture was the reason for the economic disparity between Israel and Palestine. “That’s an interesting topic that deserves scholarly analysis, but I actually didn’t address that,” Romney told Fox News’s Carl Cameron, adding he didn’t “intend” to talk about the subject in his campaign. “Instead, I will point out… that the choices a society makes have a profound impact on the economy and vitality of that society.”“
Actual words in Jerusalem: “As I come here and I look out over this city and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognize the power of at least culture and a few other things.”
Cultural remarks aside, he also thinks that “the choices a society makes have a profound impact on the economy and vitality of that society.” And clearly, he said yesterday, Israel is winning economically. So Palestine isn’t making the right choices — but no offense? Here’s something else he said yesterday, when he totally WASN’T discussing whose culture was better:
”I am overwhelmingly impressed with the hand of providence, whenever it chooses to apply itself, and also the greatness of the human spirit, and how individuals who reach for greatness and have purpose above themselves are able to build and accomplish things that could only be done by a species created in the image of God.”
Mitt forgot to talk about “the hand of providence” today and who God loves better. It’s funny how he was all over that yesterday in Jerusalem, when there was money involved.
Xinhua News Agency: “Romney told the CNN on Sunday that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and he thought the U.S. embassy should be moved to Jerusalem from the current location in the city of Tel Aviv. The U.S. presidential hopeful’s dangerous words should be carefully watched out. Jerusalem is a holy city to the three major Abrahamic religions — Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and its future status has always been a critical issue in the current stagnant Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, as they both declared Jerusalem to be their own capital. The status of Jerusalem is highly sensitive, which involves the religious sentiments and dignity of most Arab people. Until now, all the nations that have established diplomatic relations with Israel have set up their embassies in Tel Aviv or other cities, instead of in Jerusalem, due to the later’s uncertain status. [...] Romney’s remarks totally neglect historical facts and are actually irresponsible if he just meant to appeal to voters at home.”
“Culture makes all the difference. Culture makes all the difference, And as I come here and I look out over this city and consider the accomplishments of the people of this nation, I recognize the power of at least culture and a few other things.” – Mitt Romney on Monday morning, suggesting that the Israeli economy had outpaced the economy of the Palestinian territories in part because of advantages of “culture.”
Abraham Diskin, a political science professor at the Inter-Disciplinary Center outside of Tel Aviv said it’s true that Israel has logged tremendous achievements, … but “you can understand this remark in several ways… You can say it’s anti-Semitic. ‘Jews and money.’”
Saeb Erekat, a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, responded: “All I can say is that this man needs a lot of education. He doesn’t know the region, he doesn’t know Israelis, he doesn’t know Palestinians, and to talk about the Palestinians as an inferior culture is really a racist statement… I’ve never heard this from any Israeli, to be honest.”
Palestinians are outraged since Romney didn’t mention any of the very NON-CULTURAL REASONS for the economic disparities:
But Mitt Romney doesn’t care about all of that: He left Israel for Poland Monday with over $1 million more in his campaign war chest than when he arrived, following a first-ever presidential fundraiser in the country. Some 47 people attended breakfast at a room at Jerusalem’s King David Hotel with Romney, his wife, and one of his sons, at the price of $50,000 per couple.
Mitt’s truly a national treasure.
Related: Mitt Romney suggests to Jewish donors that Israeli culture is superior to Palestinian culture
Romney left the British shaking their heads in disgust and calling him Mitt the Twit, outraged the Palestinians, acted like POTUS is a position in Netanyahu’s cabinet by promising military action in Iran if Bibi asks… What harm can he do in Poland?
Romney campaign schedule in Poland today (times ET):
10:15 a.m. Mitt Romney participates in photo spray with Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Gdansk, Poland.
11:20 a.m. Romney participates in photo spray with former President Lech Walesa in Gdansk.
11:50 a.m. Romney visits World War II Westerplatte Memorial in Gdansk.
12:55 p.m. Romney visits Solidarity Monument Site in Gdansk.
Will there be any discussion of how the Mormon Church used to (still does?) baptize Jewish people who died in the Holocaust? My guess: no.
Telegraph: “Mitt Romney continues his foreign tour in Poland where he is due to hold talks with Donald Tusk, the prime minister, and Lech Walesa, the anti-communist leader. On the final leg of a three-stop tour designed to burnish his foreign policy credentials, the Republican presidential contender has chosen to visit a country which has notably testy relations with Russia and is now a key pillar of Nato and the EU. [...] The former Gdansk shipyard electrician who won the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize for galvanising Solidarity and went on to become Poland’s first democratically-elected president in 1990 invited Romney to Poland.
“[...] Mr Walesa, 68, has both snubbed and questioned the foreign policy of fellow Nobel laureate and Democratic challenger, US President Barack Obama. He refused a meeting with Obama during his May 2011 visit to Poland, saying it would “only amount to a photo opportunity.” In July 2009, Mr Walesa and late Czech anti-communist legend Vaclav Havel penned an open letter slamming Obama’s revamp of an anti-missile shield installation in Poland and the Czech Republic planned by his Republican predecessor President George Bush. [...] Poland could serve as a platform from which Mr Romney could hit out at Russia – a country the candidate has repeatedly labelled a key geopolitical foe – in a public address in Warsaw on day-two of the visit when he will also meet President Bronislaw Komorowski.”
The Gafftastic World Tour continues with yet another racist dog-whistling moment for Mitt Romney. Instead of whistling at his usual target — President Obama — this time Mittens thought he’d compare the Israeli and Palestinian cultures and decide which one was better:
Huffington Post: “Mitt Romney told Jewish donors Monday that their culture is part of what has allowed them to be more economically successful than the Palestinians, outraging Palestinian leaders who called his comments racist and out of touch. “As you come here and you see the GDP per capita, for instance, in Israel which is about $21,000 dollars, and compare that with the GDP per capita just across the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority, which is more like $10,000 per capita, you notice such a dramatically stark difference in economic vitality,” the Republican presidential candidate told about 40 wealthy donors who breakfasted around a U-shaped table at the luxurious King David Hotel.
“The reaction of Palestinian leaders to Romney’s comments was swift and pointed. “It is a racist statement and this man doesn’t realize that the Palestinian economy cannot reach its potential because there is an Israeli occupation,” said Saeb Erekat, a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. “It seems to me this man (Romney) lacks information, knowledge, vision and understanding of this region and its people,” Erekat added. ‘He also lacks knowledge about the Israelis themselves. I have not heard any Israeli official speak about cultural superiority.’”
This is like telling the U.K. that you have a special shared Anglo-Saxon heritage, except it might be worse. Hey everyone in America who’s not a millionaire like Romney: his “culture” is better than yours, obviously.
I honestly think Romney is socially retarded.
Today in Jerusalem, Mitt’s obedience training went very well. Benjamin Netanyahu seemed so pleased at how quickly Mitt learns, that after one meeting they were seen happily scrabbling on the front lawn with a Frisbee. As a special reward, Netanyahu invited Mitt to stay at his home tonight, curled up in front of the fireplace.
Turns out that Mitt thinks POTUS is a position in Netanyahu’s Cabinet… “Romney promised to serve Netanyahu during one of the Republican debates. There was a discussion back and forth between Mitt and Newt about the ME and Iran. Mittens made clear that the policy goals of the Netanyahu government would trump any other policy concern and that he would get Bibi’s approval before he made any statement or took any action: ’I’d get on the phone to my friend Bibi Netanyahu and say, ‘Would it help if I said this? What would you like me to do?’ It seems that Mitt thinks that POTUS a just a sub-Cabinet position in Netanyahu’s government.”
And this: “Today Mittens met with Benjamin Netanyahu. He also had a meeting scheduled with the Leader of Israel’s Labor party. Turns out that Netanyahu didn’t think Mitt should meet with his political opposition. Guess what happened: The meeting was due to take place today, at 1:30 P.M., at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. [snip] And then Romney went into a meeting with Netanyahu at the Prime Minister’s Bureau in Jerusalem. During the course of the meeting the candidate’s staff contacted Herzog to inform him that the meeting had regrettably been cancelled, “for reasons of protocol.” [...] not a surprise that Romney rolled over when Bibi told him to cancel a meeting with opposition Party Leaders. Romney is a coward who is easily intimidated. He will say and do whatever his handlers tell him to do.”
There’s more:
Romney breaks with every GOP president, promises to never criticize Israel: “Romney unsubtly jabbed President Obama in Jerusalem this Sunday for criticizing Israeli policy. Romney suggested that any public criticism of Israel in public would be off-limits in a Romney Presidency. While Romney is right to say that Israel is a close American ally that deserves our support, that doesn’t mean we can’t or shouldn’t ever publicly criticize Israel when we believe it to be in American (or Israeli) interests. Indeed, though Romney said the United States and Israel have “been the most natural of allies” since 1948, every Republican President since then has publicly criticized Israeli policies: [see quotes from six Republican presidents, including Eisenhower, Nixon and Reagan...] …it’s clear that past Republican presidents didn’t shirk from publicly finding fault with Israel when they felt it was necessary. Romney, then, is repudiating his party’s traditional approach to handling the US-Israeli relationship. This suggests either that previous Republican Presidents have “emboldened Israel’s enemies” or that Israel’s ties with America are strong enough to weather occasional public disagreement.”
Good dog!
Mitt’s feeling a bit insecure so hang on, everybody — we’re going to war again! Wheeee!!
Think Progress reports that Dan Senor, a top right-wing foreign policy adviser to Mitt Romney, told reporters in Jerusalem that “Iran should not be able to attain a nuclear “capability” — a significant break in language from state U.S. policy.” Senor stated: ”If Israel has to take action on its own, in order to stop Iran from developing the capability, the governor would respect that decision.”
“During an appearance with Romney in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he agreed with Romney’s approach, falsely claiming that “all the sanctions and diplomacy so far have not set back the Iranian program by one iota.” U.N. sanctions have delayed Iran’s nuclear progress. A U.N. ban on selling Iran weapons technologies appears to have set back their ballistic missile programs as well.
“President Obama considers a potential Iranian nuclear weapon a threat to both the security of the U.S. and its allies in the region, as well as the nuclear non-proliferation regime. And he’s vowed again and again to keep all options on the table to deal wtih it. U.S., U.N. and Israeli intelligence estimates give the West time to pursue a dual-track approach of building international pressure and using diplomacy to resolve the crisis. Questions about the efficacy and potential consequences of a strike have led U.S. officials to declare that diplomacy is the “best and most permanent way” to resolve the crisis. Obama has also reaffirmed Israel’s “sovereign right to make its own decisions about what is required to meet its security needs.”
“Romney has long supported military involvement in the Middle East and still defends President Bush’s preventative invasion in Iraq...”
Not only is Mitt trying to take some of the American Jewish support away from Obama, but Romney must feel he needs to commit himself to a penis-measuring contest with the President, maybe because of London. Romney’s going to prove he’s manlier than Obama and more willing to order our troops into Iran – at Israel’s request!– so it’s good to know who’d actually be calling the shots if Romney won the election.
Another major factor in Mitt’s new wide stance on Israel / Iran is that apparently Sheldon Adelson’s gambling money can buy just about anything, including what the U.S. military will be used for if Romney wins. Adelson is in Jerusalem and will be meeting with Romney this week for Mitt’s debriefing and further marching orders.
image: romney2012
The empty seats during Glenn Beck’s speech. Just over a thousand people (according to Beck) were in attendance (photo: Ami Kaufman)
turnofffox: After months of preparations, hours of television and radio talk all geared up for the big day, tons of merchandise manufactured, Glenn Beck could just about muster over a thousand people at his “Restoring Courage” last night in Jerusalem. read more
paxamericana: Also, most of those that bothered to show up were Americans, not Israelis. I read about one woman who gutted her daughter’s college fund to afford the trip.
Heh. Glenn Beck… who?
