A spokesman for President Bush gave an unequivocal endorsement for the broad Israeli operation against Arab terrorists in Gaza, even as the spokesman for the President’s replacement gave a lukewarm response to the question of whether or not Israel is in the right.
Gordon Johndroe, the Bush administration spokesman, said Israel must try to avoid civilian casualties, but laid the blame for deaths on the Palestinian groups for provoking the Israeli air raids that have killed and injured hundreds of people in the Gaza Strip.
“These people [Hamas] are nothing but thugs, and so Israel is going to defend its people against terrorists like Hamas,” he said on Saturday afternoon. “If Hamas stops firing rockets into Israel, then Israel would not have a need for strikes in Gaza. What we’ve got to see is Hamas stop firing rockets into Israel.”
In contrast, on Sunday mornings “Meet The Press”, Obama’s senior advisor David Axelrod was asked about Gaza by the show’s David Gregory. Reminding Axelrod that the President-Elect had visited Sderot earlier this year and said that Israel had the right to defend its people against the mortars, Gregory asked Axelrod for a response now that Israel has launched such an operation.
Axelrod responded somewhat evasively that the U.S. only has one President at a time. He added that Obama understood the “urge” to respond militarily.
Some political analysts commented that Axelrod’s choice of the word “urge” carries implications that Obama would have advocated Israeli restraint. They point out that saying Obama understood the “need” or the “right” to respond militarily would have indicated support for the Israeli operation; saying that he understood the “urge” implies that the President-Elect sympathizes with the desire – but not the implementation – of the Israeli assault on Gaza.
(Source: AP / TPM Cafe / Reuters)
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26 Responses
with jews like Axelrod who needs enemies
Do not despair.
Obama will be a different persona once he is president!
Over analyzing. I’m no Obama fan, but saying there’s one prez at a time is the right thing to say
We will miss Bush starting Jan. 21st.
Obamination will be no pleasent surprise for us. His friends told us who he is; and he is now proving his credentials.
Hashem runs the world and he orchestrated the Obama victory. We have to be Mispallel that we will merit the Geula and if it means it will happen while this country is under the leadership of President Obama then that is the Master Plan! It makes no difference what either President says.
Of course the Geula can still happen before Obama takes office – sadly though there are too many of us who don’t believe it can still happen under Mr. Bush. We need to strengthen our emuna and realize that the Rabbim Beyad meaatim and Temayim beyad Tehorim etc is taking place right now once again. The Geula is imminent.
“Axelrod responded somewhat evasively that the U.S. only has one President at a time. ”
What will the Obamanation say after 1/20/09? I hope they come up with a new line. Maybe the line will be about not being paid enough to make such a decision? Oh, it cant be that one. He tried that already with the live birth abortion murder question.
hi i’m a seminary girl in israel for the year. i just wanted to ask all yidden to daven- B”H nothing has happened in yerushalaim (bli ayin hara) but we never know. please learn an extra half hour or say a few kapittle tehillim on behalf of eretz yisroel. pls pass on this message. may we hear many bisuros tovos.
mark,
Obamination supports the murder of the unborn. What can be expected of him?
This has gotten past ridiculous! It is the well established minhag that the President-Elect not make any comments on issues such as this. Additionally, the President-Elect does not support the murder of the unborn. In fact, his position is closer to the Halachic approach espoused by our poskim throughout the doros than that of the “pro-life” camp.
At a time when we are being mispallel for those of our brothers who are in harm’s way, let us not get sidetracked with racist nonsense.
Sorry chaiRLY, Obamination supports infanticide. May he have the same fate as those children who’s killing he is in favor of.
Remind yourself of the video McCain begged th ‘LA Times’ should release…
We all belive that it was Bashert Obama should win this election, but McCain likes more the Jews than Obama, his wife and well known pastor…
“Laive meluchim vsurim byad hashem”
Joseph:
Two things – one please be careful with terminology. Obama is in favor of not over turning Roe v. Wade. This is not tantamount to infanticide. Essentially he supports the right of doctors to determine when to terminate a pregnancy. From a legal standpoint, infanticide means to kill a child that has been born. Personally, I agree with you – I am against the use of abortion as a form of birth control. However, like Chazal, I understand that there are times when a doctor may determine that the life of the mother is in danger and that the pregnancy must, R”L, be terminate. I want the government to be kept as far away from that decision making process as possible. This is a medical issue which must be kept as such. The Republican platform wants to assur all abortions without any exceptions. This is kneged the Halacha.
Last point – please check your grammar: “…who’s” killing…”? It is this type of speech that makes Bnai Torah seem foolish.
A Poshiter Yid –
I, too, share your frustration over that episode. Personally, though, it has been my experience that Eisav soneh es Yaackov is a worldwide Klal. Senator McCain, while an honorable man and dedicated public servant, did not want the video shown because he wanted to warn Klal Yisroel out of Ahavas Yisroel. There are many associated with the Republican Party who would like nothing better than to see us all wiped from the face of the Earth. I have yet to meet a pastor, priest etc. who did not truly believe that we are all doomed etc.
What we really need is the Geulah and Moshiach!
They said that 77% of the Jews voted for Obama?! Men darf zein meshuga oyf toyt!!!!!
Flatbush Bubby –
77% means all Jews not the frum community. The frum community actually probably voted the opposite.
I am curious (I am trying to conduct a somewhat informal study)- Historically, all Jews were Democrats. Did you switch from Democrat to Republican at some point? If so, when and what was the basis of that switch?
Sorry chaiRLY, Obamination supports Abortion-On-Demand. Its most unfortunate his parents didn’t “choose” that option. Roe v. Wade on its own is the direct cause for much of the moral deterioration in this nation.
#14:
Our Gedolim have repeatedly instructed Yidden to vote Republican for the specific reason that the Democrats support Abortion, while the Republicans are opposed to it. Maran Hagoen HaRav Avigdor Miller ZTV’L is one that comes to mind in this regard.
While Pro-Lifers by and large would allow an exception where the mothers life is in danger, the pro-abortionists want absolute availability of abortion to all comers. While the Pro-Lifers who be escatic if the law of the land would change so that abortion is prohibited with the only exception being mothers health issues, the pro-abortionists would riot in every American city if the law was changed to that effect.
Flatbush/16, That is the secular Jews. The frum Yidden voted for McCain at a rate of about 90%.
#21,
You ought to direct your vitriol and deep hatred towards the enemies of Yidden, rather than at Jews — as you currently do.
Frankly, I doubt your authenticity as a member of Bnei Yisroel, and its just too bad for society that your parents didn’t ”choose” the option you support.
Wow – this thread quickly deteriorated into a hatefest of fellow Jews. I count 4 instances above of people saying that someone else here should have been aborted as a child. Have you all no respect for fellow your fellow ben-Adam??
As a quick comment to #18/Joseph – your comment about Roe vs Wade being the cause for “much of the moral deterioration in this nation” is baseless. Abortions took place for a very long time before Roe vs Wade, and would still take place if it was overturned.
An interesting study cited in Freakonomics is that Roe vs Wade contributed to a significant decline in crime rates 15-20 years later; the view is that would-be criminals simply did not exist because their mother got an abortion that otherwise wouldn’t be possible.
In any case, despite your views, as an Orthodox Jew you cannot possibly want the government to outlaw abortion across the board. As stated above by benishchai, there are times when halacha allows or even demands an abortion to save the life of the mother – what would you do in a country where abortion was flat-out prohibited? Run to Mexico?
Please try to keep civilized – there is a fine line between discussion and offensive insults that serve only to inflame others.
justajew,
Maran Hagoen HaRav Avigdor Miller ZTV’L, amongst many Gedolei Yisroel, stated that Yidden should vote Republican, and one of his MAIN reasons always was since the Democrats support abortion.
The Pro-Life supporters would be very happy of the law was changed in this country to prohibit abortion in all cases EXCEPT where the mothers health was in danger. The Pro-Abortionists (i.e. Pro-Death), like was pointed out above, would riot if such a law was passed.
#24 – Joseph
If you are voting consistently because of the political party, and not voting for the person, for the issues at stake, and for the candidate’s goals for the future of the country, then that is by all means your choice.
I am confident that many other Republicans would be happy to hear that you are a lifetime guaranteed vote, no matter what.
I am curious though – will you vote for Sarah Palin if she runs for president in 2012? Even though she is against abortion, even in cases of sakana nefashos to the mother? What happens if she wins, successfully gets all abortion outlawed (would never happen, but just run with this), and a Jewish mother is now forbidden from a necessary (and halachically required) abortion? Are you willing to accept those consequences? What is the da’as Torah answer to such a situation?
justajew,
The Gedolim advised us to vote Republican on a case by case basis. It could change, although it hasn’t thus far — as the individual Republicans have views closer to our mesorah than the immorality supporters by the Democrats.
I wouldn’t vote for Palin, since it isn’t a woman’s place in public office. The pro-life community would be elated to have a law prohibiting abortion with the EXCEPTION of when the mothers health is at risk. The pro-death crowd would riot if that were to become law.
“it isn’t a woman’s place in public office”
Wow. I’m at a loss for words. That doesn’t happen often.
justajew,
I’m glad to have stolen your thunder. 🙂
Yes Virginia, there still are traditional Jews out there.
CLAP CLAP CLAP