Countdown
Palestine: Peace Not Pandering
Vol. VII, No. 37
Posted on Tuesday October 31, 2006
Palestine: Peace Not Pandering More
than two weeks before its release, former President Jimmy Carter’s upcoming book, “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” is already fodder for political pandering on the left and right. In the book, the Nobel Peace Prize winner asserts that, “Because of powerful political, economic, and religious forces in the United States, Israeli government decisions are rarely questioned or condemned.” Eager to prove his point, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) released a statement saying, “With all due respect to former President Carter, he does not speak for the Democratic Party on Israel…We stand with Israel now and we stand with Israel forever…It is wrong to suggest that the Jewish people would support a government in Israel or anywhere else that institutionalizes ethnically based oppression, and Democrats reject that allegation vigorously.” DNC Chairman Howard Dean joined in, saying, “On this issue President Carter speaks for himself, the opinions in his book are his own, they are not the views or position of the Democratic Party. I and other Democrats will continue to stand with Israel in its battle against terrorism and for a lasting peace with its neighbors.” Perhaps most disappointing is the response from Congressman John Conyers (D-MI), who reportedly called Carter to chide him for the book’s title. Conyers represents thousands of Arab Americans and has always been counted on as a voice of reason on Middle East issues.
As each election seems to lower the bar on negative campaigning, some Arab American candidates finds themselves victims of both the typically sleazy political attacks and anti-Arab bigotry. A recent mailer sent by the Michigan Democratic State Central Committee accuses State Representative David Farhat (R) of being “wined and dined” during a visit to Qatar and implies an attached photo of Farhat was taken with the country’s Minister of Oil. The flier does not mention that the 24-member bipartisan delegation was led by Democratic Minority Floor Leader Mary Waters. According to the American Arab Chamber of Commerce who sponsored the delegation, “Representative Farhat was acting in his capacity as a member of the House Committee for Higher Education in trying to create links between Michigan universities and Qatari students…The gentleman pictured with Representative Farhat is HE Ahmad Bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, who received an MA in Economics from Central Michigan University in 1981.” Qatar is home to Education city, a 2500-acre campus which hosts branches of leading American universities including Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Carnegie Mellon, and Georgetown. Maybe Rep. Farhat was trying to add a Michigan university to the list.
Is Liberal a Four-Letter Word?
One of the possible leadership changes garnering attention in Washington is the House Government Reform’s National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations subcommittee. This subcommittee has jurisdiction over “all matters relating to national security, veterans’ affairs, and international relations, including anti-terrorism efforts, both foreign and domestic, and intelligence gathering activities.” In line to chair this important committee if the Democrats take over the House is Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), one of the only members of Congress to score 100% on AAI’s recent congressional scorecard. In a document titled “America Weakly” the RNC attacks Kucinich as not up for the job. Their proof? He is…gasp…a liberal and a peace advocate. Other unforgivable acts include advocating for cuts in defense spending to pay for pre-kindergarten care and universal health insurance. Imagine funding one spending priority by cutting spending in other areas. What a liberal idea.
Another Endorsement for Ellison…
On his way to becoming the first Muslim elected to Congress, State Rep. Keith Ellison recently received the endorsement of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “The race to succeed Martin Sabo in Congress has turned into such a brawl of personal revelations and unseemly attacks that voters must be feeling starved for substance. When they do look at issues of substance, however, we think they’ll prefer state Rep. Keith Ellison…Critics have tried to paint the Minneapolis DFLer [Democratic-Farmer-Labor] as a radical and a divider. That simply doesn’t square with the view of people who know him. Colleagues at the Legislature describe a congenial and productive lawmaker. Fellow lawyers say Ellison is a hardworking and talented attorney. During two terms in the Minnesota House, he has authored bills on lead paint abatement, voter fraud, retail crime and a healthy range of other issues, often building bipartisan alliances in the process. His trademark is bringing people together, and he has a gift for enfranchising the disenfranchised, a talent that Minnesota needs.”
