Will pro-Israel voters fall for the Sestak con?
This morning Jennifer Rubin writes for Commentary Magazine that Joe Sestak should be nervous. Ms. Rubin provides a compelling argument and we'd like to know whether you agree or disagree with her. Tell us in the comments section below.
Does Sestak Agree with His J Street Backers?
JENNIFER RUBIN
June 8, 2010
Joe Sestak should be nervous. His record on Israel is spotty at best (he has signed on for a Iran sanctions bill and a pro-Israel resolution here and there but refused to sign on to numerous letters supporting Israel and backing sanctions, which the majority of his colleagues did) – and horrid at worst (signing on to the infamous Gaza blockade letter along with 53 of the most anti-Israel leftists in the House).
This report notes that like many of Israel’s harshest critics, he swears he’s a friend of the Jewish state and proclaims, “Their security is important to our security.” But his voting record is going to be hard to explain.
Sestak’s supposed concern about the “tensions between the Israeli government and the Obama administration” might have been hard to spot. He has had to play defense on his Gaza position:
The letter I signed concerning Gaza reflects another primary interest we have — humanitarian interests. Currently, Hamas is using the suffering of the Palestinian people as a recruiting tool for terrorists and a bargaining chip with foreign powers, and they should be held to account. I believe humanitarian aid — with the appropriate oversight and safeguards — will over time lessen, not increase, the capacity of Hamas to threaten Israel.
If that sounds a lot like the J Street line, you shouldn’t be surprised. J Street backed Sestak for the House and is vigorously doing the same in his Senate run.
His other associations are quite odd for such a fan of Israel. He fancied CAIR — appearing as the group’s keynote speaker in 2007. (”One of the featured speakers at the event is Muslim activist Rafael Narbaez, who has made a number of controversial comments about Israel. During a July 2006 speech at a Detroit mosque, Narbaez said Zionists have ‘the same racist ideology that the Nazis of Germany had.’”)
Comments
What is the Toomey stance?
Reading this article from Commentary, it is clearly labelling Sestak as a wishy-washy supporter of Israel who is not really one. I would like to see what Pat Toomey's stance is. What does Pat Toomey think should be done about the Blockade? (Noting that Egypt is a full partner in it - which somehow no one seems to mention) Should Hamas be encouraged? Or destroyed? And what will Pat Toomey do if elected Senator about this whole topic?
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