Washington – Obama Says Offended By Attacks Being Labeled An Anti-Semite Over Iran Deal

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    President Barack Obama returns a salute as he walks off of Marine One to head to Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Md., Monday, Aug. 31, 2015. Obama is traveling on a three-day trip to Alaska aimed at showing solidarity with a state often overlooked by Washington, while using its glorious but changing landscape as an urgent call to action on climate change. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)Washington – President Barack Obama said people who attack Jews who support the Iran nuclear deal are like African-Americans who differ with him on policy and then conclude he’s “not black enough.”

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    Obama, in an interview with the Jewish newspaper “Forward,” was asked whether it hurt him personally when people say he’s anti-Semitic.

    “Oh, of course,” Obama said. “And there’s not a smidgeon of evidence for it, other than the fact that there have been times when I’ve disagreed with a particular Israeli government’s position on a particular issue.”

    The president added, though, that he’s “probably more offended when I hear members of my administration who themselves are Jewish being attacked. You saw this historically sometimes in the African-American community, where there’s a difference on policy and somebody starts talking about, ‘Well, you’re not black enough,’ or ‘You’re selling out.’ And that, I think, is always a dangerous place to go.”

    Obama didn’t mention any specific critics or targets by name.

    Asked to whom the president was referring, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest on Monday mentioned former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s charge that the nuclear deal was like “marching the Israelis to the door of the oven,” a reference to the Holocaust. Earnest added: “It’s certainly not the only example of the kind of political rhetoric that certainly the president and others find objectionable.”

    Obama’s Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, who is Jewish, was heckled this summer at a Jewish-themed conference in New York when he defended the nuclear deal and spoke of the administration’s support for Israel. Dan Shapiro, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, has received “threatening letters related to the Iran deal,” according to a U.S. official, who was not authorized to discuss the issue and spoke only on condition of anonymity.

    Obama, in the “Forward” interview, said that while those who care about Israel have an obligation to be honest about what they think, “you don’t win the debate by suggesting that the other person has bad motives. That’s, I think, not just consistent with fair play; I think it’s consistent with the best of the Jewish tradition.”

    On a lighter note, Obama was asked about his bagel of choice.

    He described himself as “always a big poppy seed guy.” As for toppings, he added: “lox and capers OK, but generally just your basic schmear,” referring to a smear of cream cheese.

    The interview was conducted Friday, and released Monday.


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    25 Comments
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    54321
    54321
    8 years ago

    Strange. Amalek had no shame. He’s lying as always. Funny how all those who were claiming that Bibi ruined US-Israel relations have been rather quiet, now that Obama’said true colors keep on being exposed.

    thegreatone
    thegreatone
    8 years ago

    Is an obligation for Torah observant Jews to set up a meeting with president Obama to let him know that as Jews we are concerned about the safety of Jews worldwide including in Israel.
    At the same time he should also know that we Jews who live in America respect him all the way in all decisions he makes.We want nothing to do with Israel and the Chutzpa’niak Netanyahu.

    Its a Shanda for Jews in America to show disrespect for a sitting us president. We are being accused of being dual citizens.

    Netanyahu,Israel and almost all religious organizations with its local Jewish politicians are fueling and igniting antisemitism here in America like never before.

    Theodor Herzl’s wishes in his diary was for the maximum antisemitism becuase that will force Jews to move to Israel.

    8 years ago

    He is right. Too many of those who disagree with him on the wisdom of the Iran Nuclear Agreement have used abusive and hateful personal attacks. Those individuals, including many prominent rabbonim and askanim, should be ashamed of themselves and will hopefully suffer the consequences of their ad hominem attacks against our President and Commander in Chief.

    golani
    golani
    8 years ago

    WE CALL IT AS WE SEE IT

    54321
    54321
    8 years ago

    Comments 2 and 3 you guys are off the wall. Stop having Jewish apologetics and weakness.

    albroker
    albroker
    8 years ago

    truth hurts, if hurts so much maybe Hikind can send him a teddy bear like he did to Nadler.

    golani
    golani
    8 years ago

    8 and 9 it’s worldwide terror funding it will affect us all

    Nycnyc
    Nycnyc
    8 years ago

    At this point it’s too late to tone down protests as mishpacha magazine wrote this week quoting Howard Jonas that a nuke attack could destroy israel in nine minutes. We have to ask ourselves why did Ha-shem cause all of Europe and America to support our enemy iran with over 150 billion dollars. Maybe it’s the rebellion in israel against the Torah. Chillul Shabbos,tattoo shops,pork stores,gay parades and whole communities of jewish children being raised with no Torah education. Perhaps. Let’s do massive kiruv. Let’s stand out on the streets and give kugel to all the secular jews driving by before shabbos. Let’s buy tehillim key chains and give it out to el al stewards and give them material about the beauty of Torah. Instead of buying cigarettes on planes duty free,buy a religious item to give to a fellow secular Jew. I do it everytime I fly to israel. You will be shocked how young Israelis and even older ones want to know about their roots. We need massive extreme kiruv. Every frum traveler should put a sticker on their luggage proclaiming the Torah ideals. We can accomplish so much and it’s so easy. I can tell you incredible stories that I experienced with little tiny actions. Let’s get to work being real jews. We are the nation that stood on mount Sinai and the world wishes to have been that nation. Let’s not have a spiritual low self esteem.

    8 years ago

    Obama is the most egotisticAl, arrogant, and anti Semitic president this country has ever seen, not to mention his complete failure as president in so many areas, both domestically and in fOreign relations. He has proven himself anti Semitic from day one.

    rjn707
    rjn707
    8 years ago

    He is NOT African American. He is the seed of an Asian father & white mother who is not American born elected to be the president because of AFERMATIVE ACTION.
    He hates Jews.
    He loves Islamist terrorists.
    Why then he REPEATEDLY said the terrorist MURDR of Jews in france WAS A RANDOM ACT OF VIOLENCE?
    He should be called for what he is.
    He has put our national security in jeopardy for his freaking legacy.
    He literally lies all the times even when there are documented evidence that he is lying. He is no friend of Jews. And his name will be written in the books AS AN ANTI SEMITE LIKES OF WHICH ARE COMPEARED TO HAMAN.

    BarryLS1
    BarryLS1
    8 years ago

    Maven, how off the wall can you be? Would you have said the same thing about Jews speaking up during the holocaust. You seem to be advocating another one ch’v, by your attitude. Israeli government aside, don’t the nissim that happen here regularly tell you anything?

    Right now, being anti Israel is to be advocating the murder of over 6 million Jews who are living here.

    Speaking up against a President, especially a destructive one, is a Democratic right. I guess you also don’t believe that Jews have rights in a democracy either?

    The Torah tells us how the Land will be desolate in our absence and that it will bloom for us when we are to come home. That’s exactly what happened. Those are part of the promises Hashem made to us. To oppose our being here is to oppose Hashem. That is the truth! Live with it!

    Shimon
    Shimon
    8 years ago

    Truly astonishing. It’s 2015 and most Jews still don’t realize who this man is? The stereotype of the “smart Jew” has evaporated.

    qazxc
    qazxc
    8 years ago

    There are nebach some very disturbed people posting on VIN and other Orthodox oriented websites.

    The Israeli military and intelligence services report unprecedented levels of cooperation between the US and Israel. The US has pumped huge amounts of money into Israel’s missile defense systems under this aadministration.
    The Israeli military and intelligence communities are split on the Iran deal.

    Yet, sitting here in the States, yiddin are writing some pretty awful things about President Obama personally.

    In truth, I believe any deal with Iran will leave us plenty about which to worry, the only question is how much. I’m no expert but the experts are themselves split in this particular deal, leaving me wondering how anyone can label the president an anti Semite. Just plain childish and simple minded.

    Frankly, I think the fact that President Obama hasn’t taken the James Baker approach ( $!#/^ the Jews, they don’t vote for us anyway) supporters of Israel would tend to indicate he is anything but an anti Semite.

    A not great president who gave us eight more years of George Bush’s policies? Probably how history will judge him but that doesn’t make him an anti Semite any more than those policie made GGeorge Bush an anti Semite.