Who Is Samantha Power?
Don't Worry, Though. Obama's Just As Bad As His Advisers.
By Dan McLaughlin Posted in 2008 | Obamafiles | When in Doubt Blame the Jews — Comments (24) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
For those of you whose first exposure to Obama senior foreign policy adviser Samantha Power is her foolish insults to Ohio and Hillary Clinton discussed by Moe below, you have some catching up to do - but fortunately, Paul Mirengoff at Powerline has been on the case for months. Mirengoff has laid out his case that Power - to an even greater extent than some of Obama's other key advisers - is anti-Israel and buys into the Walt-Mearsheimer line that U.S. policy in general, and Iraq policy in particular, is under the nefarious influence of "special interests," mainly the Israel lobby, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. Key quote from Power:
Another longstanding foreign policy flaw is the degree to which special interests dictate the way in which the "national interest" as a whole is defined and pursued. Look at the degree to which Halliburton and several of the private security and contracting firms invested in the 2004 political campaigns and received very lucrative contracts in the aftermath of the U.S. takeover of Iraq. Also, America's important historic relationship with Israel has often led foreign policy decision-makers to defer reflexively to Israeli security assessments, and to replicate Israeli tactics, which, as the war in Lebanon last summer demonstrated, can turn out to be counter-productive.
So greater regard for international institutions along with less automatic deference to special interests – especially when it comes to matters of life and death and war and peace – seem to be two take-aways from the war in Iraq.
Of course, this sort of paranoia should not surprise observers of Obama, given where Obama himself, in his celebrated 2002 war speech, placed the blame for the decision to go to war:
(Read On...)
What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war. What I am opposed to is the cynical attempt by Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz and other arm-chair, weekend warriors in this Administration to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats, irrespective of the costs in lives lost and in hardships borne.
What I am opposed to is the attempt by political hacks like Karl Rove to distract us from a rise in the uninsured, a rise in the poverty rate, a drop in the median income – to distract us from corporate scandals and a stock market that has just gone through the worst month since the Great Depression.
That's what I'm opposed to. A dumb war. A rash war. A war based not on reason but on passion, not on principle but on politics.
Gee, why specifically Perle and Wolfowitz, and not, say, Cheney and Rumsfeld? I think I know, and I think you do too. Obama knew his audience that day. But in fairness to Obama, he did argue that the Iraq War wasn't just a conspiracy of Jews, but also a political plot by Karl Rove to distract us from the Great Depression of 2002. That's a theme Obama has echoed elsewhere, albeit cannily shifting the blame for this sort of rhetoric to his constituents:
"Blacks are not willing to feel obliged to support the president's agenda," explains Illinois state Sen. Barack Obama. "They are much more likely to feel that (Bush) is engaging in disruptive policies at home and using the war as a means of shielding himself from criticism on his domestic agenda."
But never fear. Barack Obama isn't divisive; just ask him. Barack Obama doesn't demonize his opponents; just ask him. Barack Obama doesn't feed resentment and paranoia; just ask him. But don't listen too closely to him or his advisers.
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Who Is Samantha Power? 24 Comments (0 topical, 24 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
...to spam us for a while during the primary, Barack and his advisors "smell Hebrew!" in their analysis of the world's (and the country's) problems.
It's nice to know that, in the midst of all that not-being-divisive and being inclusive by meeting with Ahmadinejad and Chavez, Obama can focus on a pair of common enemies they can all focus their hate on together: America and Israel.
After all, besides despising his home country (the one he hopes to lead), Obama always has the convenient target of the Joooooooooos to blame for everything.
It's worked pretty well for the last 3,000 years or so. Why stop now?
Combined with his proposal for the government to keep lists of which companies are patriotic enough to receive special favours and your would wonder what sort of socialism we're getting into here ;)
I apologize if this essay has already been covered, but Michael Gerson actually wrote an enlightening piece on why Obama won't actually follow through on many of his claims:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/03/obamas_100_days.html
The last line is the kicker:
"It is a bad sign for a candidate when the best we can hope is for him to violate his commitments. And that's a good sign for John McCain."
“One element in the strength of any government is the patriotism of the people, their love for its institutions, their pride for its name and achievements.” ~ William McKinley
The political party that's most desirous of the "world community's" approval. A "world community" that, through the UN and its Human Rights Commission, spends most of its time condemning Israel and apologizing for the Palestinian terrorists.
I sometime wonder whether Jewish-Americans think of themselves more as liberals, than as supporters of Israel.
At some point, if America's Jewish community refuses to help itself, then there's not much we on the conservative side can do for them.
It's clear there's lots of antipathy---and even a fair amount of muted disdain---for Israel's cause among the Democratic elite and their supporters in academia. Yet, the Jewish-American community keeps flocking to the Dems. As if they hope that, eventually, the Dems will change their mind and start being more supportive of Israel.
(It's almost as if Jewish-Americans hope for the day when they can have their own Sally-Field-At-The-Oscars moment. "You Democrats like us!!! You REALLY REALLY like us!!!! HOORAY!!!!!!!)
Conservatives, on the other hand, seem to be kept at arms length by Jewish-Americans. Its as if they tolerate our help because they have to....while they REALLY wish the liberals would be more supportive of them, so they can ditch those irritating evangelicals as "allies" (ugh!) once and for all.
I've noticed that---haven't you?
Hey, I say---you picked the Dems as your dance partner, and you chose to let them lead and pick the dance tune. I guess that means you have to follow them around the dance floor.
Good luck.
"Who will stand/On either hand/And guard this bridge with me?" (Macaulay)
What makes you think that "Jewish-Americans" aren't trying to help themselves with their own votes?
HTML Help for Red Staters
"If we want to take this party back, and I think we can someday, let’s get to work." – Barry Goldwater
for example.
Being Italian, I am increasingly attracted to the proposition that Anglos (especially northeastern WASPS- our hereditary elite), Lace Curtain Irish (although this is an outdated term) and Jews (the latter two having acceded to elite status via the post WWII meritocracy) have kind of lost it, especially seduced by the yuppy bubble in which the affluent of today's America live.
Mike DeVine’s Charlotte Observer columns
http://thehinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
www.race42008.com
"One man with courage makes a majority." - Andrew Jackson
In this case the whole meme complex of liberalism is being passed on. The FDR dems had such a love they managed to pass it on for multiple generations.
The ability to be a government entrepreneur hasn't hurt the march either.
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
the leftist tripe that we can all sing kumbaya if we, ie, the west, us, whites, just treat everyone better.
Mike DeVine’s Charlotte Observer columns
http://thehinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
www.race42008.com
"One man with courage makes a majority." - Andrew Jackson
America's Jews are a diverse lot. I find your use of blanket statements to describe their views and your claim to know what is best for them to be condescending and deeply offensive.
Likewise, Israelis themselves have diverse opinions about the best way for Israel to maintain its national security. Why should "support for Israel" be construed as agreement with the policies favored by only a fraction of Israelis themselves?
I think we must question the equation of support for Israel with support for the Bush administration's maximalist policy toward the Middle East. For instance, has the Iraq War improved Israel's national security?
period....no matter what "some" feel or what "some" think....in that region of the world they are the only ally...support from the US is to keep the country of Israel whole and alive...nothing more nothing less.....as we have done for all of our allies over the years.
Freedom of Religion not Freedom from Religion
we call them liberals
Mike DeVine’s Charlotte Observer columns
http://thehinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
www.race42008.com
"One man with courage makes a majority." - Andrew Jackson
Samantha Power, an unpaid foreign policy adviser and Harvard professor, announced her resignation in a statement provided by the Obama campaign in which she expressed "deep regret."
"Last Monday, I made inexcusable remarks that are at marked variance from my oft-stated admiration for Senator Clinton and from the spirit, tenor, and purpose of the Obama campaign," she said. "And I extend my deepest apologies to Senator Clinton, Senator Obama and the remarkable team I have worked with over these long 14 months." from Obama adviser resigns after comment
"Another one bites the dust", but probably is still in line for a high level position.
"No compromise with the main purpose, no peace till victory, no pact with unrepentant wrong." - Winston Churchill
I really despised that woman. Everything wrong with the liberal view of the world was encapsulated in every utterance she made. Nice to see how these "brilliant" advisors keep shooting their own heads off in the Obama campaign (Goulsbee, Rice and now Power)
Obama is Jimmy Carter- only without the sweater.
was never a stalked and intimidated bimbo eruption.
Mike DeVine’s Charlotte Observer columns
http://thehinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
www.race42008.com
"One man with courage makes a majority." - Andrew Jackson
He gets exposed mroe and more every day as the far leftist he and his team are-Mac would destroy himin the general. Bury the Clintons once and for all-go Barack go!
"Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.Let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue."-Barry Goldwater
McCain/Rudy 08-kill the terrorists and punch the hippies.
When I read the news about Samantha Power I did a search and found out a little about her. It was no surprise to find out her politics, her leftist views on the US and our support of Israel. It made me ask the question: who else surrounds Obama and what exactly are their views. The first that leaps to mind, of course, is his Minister; but beyond that I have a feeling we will find many more extremists on Obama's staff in the days to come...if we look, that is.
I am still astounded at the views of many 'academics' in colleges across this nation when it comes to Israel. I am hearing more and more about the Jewish conspiracy to take over the world and how they control our country. It astounds me that this kind of nonsense is resurfacing and especially in our universities. For God's sake, Samantha Power works at Harvard, at the Kennedy School!! What are we teaching our own young people these days?
Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East....they've taken a desert and made it productive....the Arabs want to work there because there's work, medical care and 'civilization'.
I see this attitude more and more, even in the small college in the town whereI live and don't understand where it comes from. Attacks on Israel and even our own country seem to flourish in acadmia these days, and it frankly frightens me.
skills and for being a babe.
Mike DeVine’s Charlotte Observer columns
http://thehinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
www.race42008.com
"One man with courage makes a majority." - Andrew Jackson
The senior professors, department heads, administrators were all college aged in the Vietnam Era. If you didn't want to go to Vietnam and didn't have the conviction or courage to openly evade or go to Canada, you had to keep that 2-S deferment, so you stayed in school all the way to a Ph.D, multiple Ph.Ds if you could. And, you didn't have to be all that smart; the profs wouldn't fail a guy who put in even the most minimal effort - like showing up sometimes - because they knew that if he flunked out, he became 1-A. The big upturn in active opposition to the War had almost nothing to do with the War or the media propaganda about Tet being a big defeat; it was about the move to end deferment for grad students. That's what brought the parents into the opposition side as well. There darling baby boy, the object of all their hopes and dreams, that they'd spent all that money on keeping in school was going to get drafted anyway.
Those people formed all their political beliefs in those days and nothing in the ethereal atmosphere of the Halls of Ivy has ever challenged or even tested those beliefs. If a younger person wants a job and to get on tenure track, they have to have the same beliefs. Blame it all on JFK; he started the War.
In Vino Veritas
Mike DeVine’s Charlotte Observer columns
http://thehinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
www.race42008.com
"One man with courage makes a majority." - Andrew Jackson
Mike DeVine’s Charlotte Observer columns
http://thehinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
www.race42008.com
"One man with courage makes a majority." - Andrew Jackson
Because it works for those without real ideas or a positive vision.
Hope they don't notice he spouts BS
Change the subject if they do.
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777