Comments on: Tough choices face Arab American voters this Fall in presidential contest http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/09/13/tough-choices-face-arab-american-voters-this-fall-in-presidential-contest/ Thinking Ahead Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:46:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Voices without Votes » Obama: Is the Arab American Vote in his Hands? http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/09/13/tough-choices-face-arab-american-voters-this-fall-in-presidential-contest/#comment-21204 Voices without Votes » Obama: Is the Arab American Vote in his Hands? Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:38:24 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/09/13/tough-choices-face-arab-american-voters-this-fall-in-presidential-contest/#comment-21204 [...] Palestinian Ray Hanania is voicing disappointment. Writing on Mideast Youth, he says: Arab American voters face the same challenges they always face in elections: candidates [...] [...] Palestinian Ray Hanania is voicing disappointment. Writing on Mideast Youth, he says: Arab American voters face the same challenges they always face in elections: candidates [...]

]]> By: Voices without Votes » A Global Review of the U.S. Election http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/09/13/tough-choices-face-arab-american-voters-this-fall-in-presidential-contest/#comment-21203 Voices without Votes » A Global Review of the U.S. Election Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:34:24 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/09/13/tough-choices-face-arab-american-voters-this-fall-in-presidential-contest/#comment-21203 [...] lengthy analysis in Mideast Youth finds few reasons for Arab Americans to cheer in the 08 Presidential Contest. We all know that [...] [...] lengthy analysis in Mideast Youth finds few reasons for Arab Americans to cheer in the 08 Presidential Contest. We all know that [...]

]]> By: Brad http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/09/13/tough-choices-face-arab-american-voters-this-fall-in-presidential-contest/#comment-21202 Brad Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:03:17 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/09/13/tough-choices-face-arab-american-voters-this-fall-in-presidential-contest/#comment-21202 This is just crazy talk. In addition to the ZILLIONS of other reasons to support Obama/Biden if we have any real hope of achieving peace, international security, and fairness in foreign policy, the rationale used in this article is just plain nonsense. "Don't vote for your friends because they're going to let you down." HUH? This article makes so many assumptions about Obama ("he won't change", he's an "elitist") that it barely warrants the time to read it. McCain/Palin are seriously dangerous. Palin is TRULY scary. I'd venture that her grasp of Middle East issues is equivalent to a third-grader. This is just crazy talk. In addition to the ZILLIONS of other reasons to support Obama/Biden if we have any real hope of achieving peace, international security, and fairness in foreign policy, the rationale used in this article is just plain nonsense. “Don’t vote for your friends because they’re going to let you down.”

HUH?

This article makes so many assumptions about Obama (“he won’t change”, he’s an “elitist”) that it barely warrants the time to read it.

McCain/Palin are seriously dangerous. Palin is TRULY scary. I’d venture that her grasp of Middle East issues is equivalent to a third-grader.

]]> By: Ray Hanania http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/09/13/tough-choices-face-arab-american-voters-this-fall-in-presidential-contest/#comment-21201 Ray Hanania Sun, 14 Sep 2008 23:23:10 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/09/13/tough-choices-face-arab-american-voters-this-fall-in-presidential-contest/#comment-21201 Palestinian activists cut of their noses to psite what's left of their faces Here's an interesting email that someone sent to everyone he knows in Chicago and then cc'd to me. I thought i would share it since it is public now ... to give you an idea of the challenges that peace activists face: # # # # I don't support the Israeli labor party. Do you support the Israeli labor party? It is the party that is led now by Ehud Barak, the Israeli defense (war) minister. It is the party of David Ben-Gurion, who gave the orders to ethnically cleanse the Land of Palestine of its Arab people. It is the party of Golda Meir who said there are no Palestinians. It is the party that is the senior member of the Israeli government with Ehud Olmert's Kadima party. It is the Israeli government that denies our Palestinian Arabs their basic human rights. It is the party that occupies the land of Palestine. It is the party that sends its armed soldiers to kill the Palestinian women and children. Why am I writing this to you now? Because Ray Hananiya supports this party and he is holding a fund raising comedy night on 10/8/2008 in Oak Park to raise funds for the re-election of one of the members of this labor party in the Israeli Knesset, who happen to be an Israeli Arab from Jaffa. I called and talked to Ray about this when I got the flyer to donate for this. Ray told me that he supports this labor party and this lady Nadia Hilou. If you support the labor party and the Israeli occupation go ahead donate for Ray's efforts. But if you are opposed to the Israeli occupation and to the labor party of the Israeli government please stay away and let Ray Hananiya know how you feel about his support to the labor party of the Israeli government. Here is Ray's email : rayhanania@comcast.net Daoud daoud0928@sbcglobal.net # # # # Ray Hanania www.TheMediaOasis.com Palestinian activists cut of their noses to psite what’s left of their faces

Here’s an interesting email that someone sent to everyone he knows in Chicago and then cc’d to me. I thought i would share it since it is public now … to give you an idea of the challenges that peace activists face:

# # # #

I don’t support the Israeli labor party.
Do you support the Israeli labor party?

It is the party that is led now by Ehud Barak, the Israeli defense (war) minister.
It is the party of David Ben-Gurion, who gave the orders to ethnically cleanse
the Land of Palestine of its Arab people. It is the party of Golda Meir who
said there are no Palestinians. It is the party that is the senior member of the
Israeli government with Ehud Olmert’s Kadima party. It is the Israeli government
that denies our Palestinian Arabs their basic human rights. It is the party that
occupies the land of Palestine. It is the party that sends its armed soldiers to
kill the Palestinian women and children.

Why am I writing this to you now? Because Ray Hananiya supports this party
and he is holding a fund raising comedy night on 10/8/2008 in Oak Park to
raise funds for the re-election of one of the members of this labor party in
the Israeli Knesset, who happen to be an Israeli Arab from Jaffa.
I called and talked to Ray about this when I got the flyer to donate for this.
Ray told me that he supports this labor party and this lady Nadia Hilou.

If you support the labor party and the Israeli occupation go ahead donate for
Ray’s efforts. But if you are opposed to the Israeli occupation and to the labor
party of the Israeli government please stay away and let Ray Hananiya know
how you feel about his support to the labor party of the Israeli government.
Here is Ray’s email : rayhanania@comcast.net

Daoud
daoud0928@sbcglobal.net

# # # #
Ray Hanania
http://www.TheMediaOasis.com

]]> By: sarit http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/09/13/tough-choices-face-arab-american-voters-this-fall-in-presidential-contest/#comment-21200 sarit Sun, 14 Sep 2008 16:16:50 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/09/13/tough-choices-face-arab-american-voters-this-fall-in-presidential-contest/#comment-21200 They're both pretty pathetic as candidates. Why every election does it seem that the choice is the lesser of two evils instead of the best man -- or woman? I haven't made up my mind yet--I have 8 weeks. They’re both pretty pathetic as candidates. Why every election does it seem that the choice is the lesser of two evils instead of the best man — or woman? I haven’t made up my mind yet–I have 8 weeks.

]]> By: eric/canada http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/09/13/tough-choices-face-arab-american-voters-this-fall-in-presidential-contest/#comment-21199 eric/canada Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:40:34 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/09/13/tough-choices-face-arab-american-voters-this-fall-in-presidential-contest/#comment-21199 I'm pretty shocked to hear that the Obama ticket is cozying up to the pro-Israel lobby, but considering the state of the race now, it is understandable. The two are simply trying to woo the fundamentalist Christian vote away from the decidedly non-faithful McCain, who has bashed their lobby for years, and only recently became more church going for the good of his party. While Sarah Palin is born-again, the general right-wing, neo-con tone that both are now throwing around doesn't really sync with years of McCain's maverick status. Obama's team is cleverly pushing the pro-Israel, "Zionist" label to draw in voters from this group that may elect a centrist candidate regardless of party, but more of faith. That this has become a competition of religious fervour in a country that is supposed to champion secular modernism makes me shudder almost as much as watching my Prime Minister trying to smile and be "cuddly" at election time. I’m pretty shocked to hear that the Obama ticket is cozying up to the pro-Israel lobby, but considering the state of the race now, it is understandable. The two are simply trying to woo the fundamentalist Christian vote away from the decidedly non-faithful McCain, who has bashed their lobby for years, and only recently became more church going for the good of his party. While Sarah Palin is born-again, the general right-wing, neo-con tone that both are now throwing around doesn’t really sync with years of McCain’s maverick status. Obama’s team is cleverly pushing the pro-Israel, “Zionist” label to draw in voters from this group that may elect a centrist candidate regardless of party, but more of faith.
That this has become a competition of religious fervour in a country that is supposed to champion secular modernism makes me shudder almost as much as watching my Prime Minister trying to smile and be “cuddly” at election time.

]]> By: levylevthuglife http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/09/13/tough-choices-face-arab-american-voters-this-fall-in-presidential-contest/#comment-21198 levylevthuglife Sun, 14 Sep 2008 05:43:27 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/09/13/tough-choices-face-arab-american-voters-this-fall-in-presidential-contest/#comment-21198 Ray, After reading your response and re-reading your article, I think you should reconsider your position about Obama. You essentially say that Obama is bad for Arabs because he brown noses the Israeli lobby more than you want him to. Well, I find this way of thinking to be problematic and not constructive. Can you please define for me what a pro-Arab candidate is? To me, a pro-Arab candidate is one who from the very begining was against the Iraq war, and someone who wants to speedily but intelligintly withdraw US forces from Iraq. A pro-Arab candidate is one who wants to talk to Iran instead of starting a war that will affect the entire region. A pro-Arab candidate would support the Syrian-Israeli peace talks, instead of castigating Syria as this administration has done. A pro-Arab candidate will start concilatory conversations between the people of war-torn Lebanon, stand up for the rights of women in conservative Arab societies, and help foster a slow but stable transition to democracy across the Arab world. Obama is much more qualified to tackle each of these issues, and he holds positions that are much more reasonable than McCain and Palin with their itchy trigger fingers. Let us for a moment assume that Obama does not support the Palestinian cause (though I sincerely believe that he does based on my readings in Haaretz, in Hebrew unfortunately). Would he not be a great president for Arabs if he made significant advances on each issue on the above agenda, but still hold pro-Israeli position that is not too kind to the Palestinians? Honestly, can one be pro-Arab and anti-Palestinian? What about pro-Arab and pro-Israeli? I know it must be frustrating hearing candidate after candidate kiss AIPAC's ass over the years. But believe me, hearing Olmert brown nose Bush isn't much better. Israeli leaders are not allowed to question how much of our independence we surrender to Washington, sort of like how US leaders aren't allowed to question Israel's role in shaping US policy. No Israeli leader can advance a policy that goes "against" US interest, be it making peace with Syria or securing a military contract that the US wants given to an American company. You see, the taboo is 2-sided. It would be nice if both societies paused for a moment and assessed where their relationship is taking them. In the end though, I honestly believe that Israel will have to pay for stupid US policy more than AMerica will have to pay for stupid Israeli policy. Ray,
After reading your response and re-reading your article, I think you should reconsider your position about Obama. You essentially say that Obama is bad for Arabs because he brown noses the Israeli lobby more than you want him to. Well, I find this way of thinking to be problematic and not constructive.

Can you please define for me what a pro-Arab candidate is? To me, a pro-Arab candidate is one who from the very begining was against the Iraq war, and someone who wants to speedily but intelligintly withdraw US forces from Iraq. A pro-Arab candidate is one who wants to talk to Iran instead of starting a war that will affect the entire region. A pro-Arab candidate would support the Syrian-Israeli peace talks, instead of castigating Syria as this administration has done. A pro-Arab candidate will start concilatory conversations between the people of war-torn Lebanon, stand up for the rights of women in conservative Arab societies, and help foster a slow but stable transition to democracy across the Arab world. Obama is much more qualified to tackle each of these issues, and he holds positions that are much more reasonable than McCain and Palin with their itchy trigger fingers.

Let us for a moment assume that Obama does not support the Palestinian cause (though I sincerely believe that he does based on my readings in Haaretz, in Hebrew unfortunately). Would he not be a great president for Arabs if he made significant advances on each issue on the above agenda, but still hold pro-Israeli position that is not too kind to the Palestinians? Honestly, can one be pro-Arab and anti-Palestinian? What about pro-Arab and pro-Israeli?

I know it must be frustrating hearing candidate after candidate kiss AIPAC’s ass over the years. But believe me, hearing Olmert brown nose Bush isn’t much better. Israeli leaders are not allowed to question how much of our independence we surrender to Washington, sort of like how US leaders aren’t allowed to question Israel’s role in shaping US policy. No Israeli leader can advance a policy that goes “against” US interest, be it making peace with Syria or securing a military contract that the US wants given to an American company. You see, the taboo is 2-sided. It would be nice if both societies paused for a moment and assessed where their relationship is taking them. In the end though, I honestly believe that Israel will have to pay for stupid US policy more than AMerica will have to pay for stupid Israeli policy.

]]> By: patb http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/09/13/tough-choices-face-arab-american-voters-this-fall-in-presidential-contest/#comment-21197 patb Sun, 14 Sep 2008 04:21:36 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/09/13/tough-choices-face-arab-american-voters-this-fall-in-presidential-contest/#comment-21197 Eric, OB needed street cred to move his political efforts fwd. He needed a base of power, voters, constituants and he had to prove his blackness (enter Rev. W). Look at OB's tax returns and see how generous he's been with 'giving'. Google his half brother, the one that lives in a hut. The south side of Chi was a stepping stone although I'm sure he did some worthwhile stuff I don't believe it was altruistic. He's had a plan for awhile. That's why he hooked up with Ayers, Ayers father was a 'guy' in the Chicago political machine. Eric,
OB needed street cred to move his political efforts fwd. He needed a base of power, voters, constituants and he had to prove his blackness (enter Rev. W).
Look at OB’s tax returns and see how generous he’s been with ‘giving’.
Google his half brother, the one that lives in a hut.
The south side of Chi was a stepping stone although I’m sure he did some worthwhile stuff I don’t believe it was altruistic. He’s had a plan for awhile.
That’s why he hooked up with Ayers, Ayers father was a ‘guy’ in the Chicago political machine.

]]> By: Eric http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/09/13/tough-choices-face-arab-american-voters-this-fall-in-presidential-contest/#comment-21196 Eric Sun, 14 Sep 2008 03:25:47 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/09/13/tough-choices-face-arab-american-voters-this-fall-in-presidential-contest/#comment-21196 Ray, I think it's both unfair and untrue to say that Obama "has always been above the suffering of African Americans." If this were so, then why did he sacrifice three lucrative years as an attorney to work with impoverished communities on the south side of Chicago? Ray, I think it’s both unfair and untrue to say that Obama “has always been above the suffering of African Americans.” If this were so, then why did he sacrifice three lucrative years as an attorney to work with impoverished communities on the south side of Chicago?

]]> By: Esra'a (Bahrain) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/09/13/tough-choices-face-arab-american-voters-this-fall-in-presidential-contest/#comment-21195 Esra'a (Bahrain) Sat, 13 Sep 2008 23:01:53 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/09/13/tough-choices-face-arab-american-voters-this-fall-in-presidential-contest/#comment-21195 <blockquote>McCain is the lesser of two evils. </blockquote> Are you sure about that? McCain and Palin seem to be totally out of control and will pose a great danger to every single country in the Middle East, with the obvious exception of Israel which Palin addresses <a href="http://jewschool.com/2008/09/12/14630/palin-we-cannot-second-guess-israel-x-3/" rel="nofollow">here.</a> <blockquote>PALIN: Well, first, we are friends of Israel, and I don’t think that we should second guess the measures that Israel has to take to defend themselves, and for their security. GIBSON: So if we didn’t second guess it and if they decided they needed to do it, because Iran was an existential threat, we would be cooperative or agree with that? PALIN: I don’t think we can second guess what Israel has to do to secure its nation. GIBSON: So if it felt necessary, if it felt the need to defend itself by taking out Iranian nuclear facilities, that would be all right? PALIN: We cannot second guess the steps that Israel has to take to defend itself.</blockquote> Very disturbing. Palin sucks.

McCain is the lesser of two evils.

Are you sure about that? McCain and Palin seem to be totally out of control and will pose a great danger to every single country in the Middle East, with the obvious exception of Israel which Palin addresses here.

PALIN: Well, first, we are friends of Israel, and I don’t think that we should second guess the measures that Israel has to take to defend themselves, and for their security.

GIBSON: So if we didn’t second guess it and if they decided they needed to do it, because Iran was an existential threat, we would be cooperative or agree with that?

PALIN: I don’t think we can second guess what Israel has to do to secure its nation.

GIBSON: So if it felt necessary, if it felt the need to defend itself by taking out Iranian nuclear facilities, that would be all right?

PALIN: We cannot second guess the steps that Israel has to take to defend itself.

Very disturbing. Palin sucks.

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