Hillary Clinton aide establishes new standard of fealty to Israel

March 18, 2008

Dana Milbank, wrote a column, aptly titled "the audacity of Chutzpah," on a Jewish leadership conference where representatives of the three presidential candidates were grilled on their attitudes toward Israel. The response of Ann Lewis, Hillary Clinton's representative, is astounding  in its assertion that the proper role of the US president is to support the decisions of Israel. Lobby? What Lobby?

Next question to [Obama representative Dan] Kurtzer: Obama's assertion that he needn't have a "Likud view" — that of Israel's right-wing party — to be pro-Israel. Kurtzer explained that Obama wanted to see a "plurality of views."


Silence in the room.

Role of the US president is to support Israeli decisions

To that, [Clinton representative Ann] Lewis retorted: "The role of the president of the United States
is to support the decisions that are made by the people of Israel. It is not up to us to pick and choose from among the political parties."

 
The audience members applauded.

[McCain representative Lawrence] Eagleburger piled on. "There's a distinction between those you do talk to," he said, "and those who declare themselves as intent on the destruction of the state of Israel. And if that's their policy, I think we ought not talk to them." More applause. [more]

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