Mithrall

Was anyone else bothered by the choice of venue for the first speech of the General Election campaign against John McCain? This election isn't about Israel, it is about the United States of America. We should be discussing what is best for America, not what would be best for Israel. Now If what is best for Israel is also what is best for America then all well and good. When did we become Israel's second state?

itsmeeeeeee

not bothered at all. they're having their conference, and obama took advantage of an opportunity to reach out to a constituency he needs to gain more support from.

it was a fantastic speech and i'm sure it will go a long way to undo some of the lies that both hillary and mc cain use against him, in distorting his policies towards israel, etc.

he appeared to be VERY warmly received!

__________________

Mithrall

If it was just a matter of coinciding scheduling opportunities, I don't have a problem with that but I still would have wished that the first post-primary speech not to have been in front of any specific interest group. I also have a problem with the whole one-upsmanship aspect of our support to Israel. When one candidate promises Israel $29 billion in foreign aid, the next candidate has to offer $30 billion. We are strategic allies with alot of other countries but only with Israel does this sort of thing happen.

itsmeeeeeee

the jewish voting block is an important one.

all three candidates addressed them.
it would have been stupid not to.

hillary's speech was pandering.
obama's was very reassuring and informative.
and mc cain's on monday was just stupid pandering times 10.

as always, obama showed his character and made the others look pretty lame. i noticed hillary didn't get NEARLY the enthusiastic response that obama got. luke warm to be generous, in comparison.

__________________

Mithrall

I'm not arguing that they aren't, I just didn't feel it was the appropriate venue for the first post-primary speech. Let's face it, all of the candidates were pandering to the jewish vote by outdo each other in thier support of Israel. I did like the fact that he mentioned the Israeli settlements and the need for a contiguous state of Palestine so there is hope for a more even-handed approach to American middle eastern policy.