COMMENTARY MAGAZINE
Ed Koch: I Knew Obama Would Betray Israel
Alana Goodman
| @alanagoodman
01.07.2013 - 6:25 PM
01.07.2013 - 6:25 PM
I admire former Mayor Ed Koch’s willingness to break with his own party on issues of principle, but his comments to the Algemeiner today are mind-boggling. In between some very strong denunciations of the Chuck Hagel nomination, Koch casually let it drop that he suspected Obama would abandon his pro-Israel positions after the election. The former mayor, of course, endorsed Obama’s reelection and served as one of his surrogates to the pro-Israel community:
“Frankly, I thought that there would come a time when [Obama] would renege on what he conveyed on his support of Israel,” said Koch, adding, “it comes a little earlier than I thought it would.”
“It’s very disappointing, I believe he will ultimately regret it,” Koch said, “and it undoubtedly will reduce support for him in the Jewish community, but I don’t think he (the President) worries about that now that the election is over.” …
Koch explained to The Algemeiner why he decided to back the President’s re-election even though he says he suspected that Obama would backtrack on his pro-Israel overtures. “I did what I thought was warranted and intelligent,” he said, “He was going to win! There was no question about it. I thought it would be helpful to have a Jewish voice there, being able to communicate.”
The Mayor says he has no regrets, “it’s wouldn’t make any difference. The Jews were going to vote for him no matter what. And that’s the nature of the Jews. They are always very solicitous of everybody else except there own needs and community.”
Just a reminder, here’s what Koch said in a video endorsement for the Obama campaign in October:
“I’m confident President Obama will continue his unambiguous commitment to the Jewish state in his second term, building on his record of leadership by preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and funding the Iron Dome missile defense system that is saving Israeli lives.”
To summarize: Koch believed none of that, but still vouched for Obama with Jewish voters because a.) Obama was going to win and it was important that Ed Koch maintain good relations with the White House so he could encourage pro-Israel policies (which isn’t working out too well, considering the Hagel nomination), and b.) Jews were going to vote for Obama no matter what (which would kind of mean Ed Koch’s entire schtick is irrelevant, no?).
it never occurred to Ed Koch to stay silent before the election?
What will Jack Lew now do re: SecTreas? Does he realize he is Obama's Court Jew?
What will Jack Lew now do re: SecTreas? Does he realize he is Obama's Court Jew?
Yeah, Koch missed a perfectly good opportunity to STFU.
If an 88 year old Jewish war vet, couldn't speak the truth (and he really should have felt free to speak the truth at this point), he should have kept quiet.
If an 88 year old Jewish war vet, couldn't speak the truth (and he really should have felt free to speak the truth at this point), he should have kept quiet.
Oh Alana, who exactly is Jack Lew and why do people not like him?
And while we are at it, is Eric Holder staying on, or who will be AG?
And while we are at it, is Eric Holder staying on, or who will be AG?
well, Ed_, I cited Jack Lew, not Alana. Lew is Obama's current WH Chief
of Staff, and about the only name out there for SecTreas.
From what I read, GOP Senators don't like Lew from when he ran OMB.
My beef is that Lew made his money, during a short break starting in 2006, from mostly government service, running a hedge fund for Citi that bet on the housing meltdown. (Also, I want Sheila Bair as SecTreas.)
However, Jacob Lew is an observant Jew. That will certainly fuel the myth that the 'Joos run all the banks' (Paulbot alert!).
Holder is staying for another year. The real nomination battle will be EPA!
From what I read, GOP Senators don't like Lew from when he ran OMB.
My beef is that Lew made his money, during a short break starting in 2006, from mostly government service, running a hedge fund for Citi that bet on the housing meltdown. (Also, I want Sheila Bair as SecTreas.)
However, Jacob Lew is an observant Jew. That will certainly fuel the myth that the 'Joos run all the banks' (Paulbot alert!).
Holder is staying for another year. The real nomination battle will be EPA!
That was pretty much Alan Dershowitz's reason for voting for Obama as well.
H
Under Robert's Rules, one must be in the prevailing side of a vote in
order to move to reconsider the vote at the next meeting. Hence if you
know that your side is going to loose the vote anyway and hence your
voting "against yourself" isn't going to make a difference, it is often
wise to do so in order to be able to be able to make the motion to
reconsider at the future date.
Ed Koch is 88 years old, and two years ago, Debbie Schlussel stated the opinion that he was *then* in "the early stages of dementia." See: http://www.debbieschlussel.com/36892/ed-koch-has-... So there may be some issues there -- along with the desire to return to the limelight in at least a little sense.
I see and respect Ms. Goodman's point -- but then there is the Faustian choice of if Obama was going to win anyway, would it better to be in a position to do what he is doing now, and speaking out in a way that he might not have been able to had he not campaigned for Obama?
Notwithstanding all the above, will Koch have traction with Jewish voters? Will he put the scare into the Pro Israel Democrats?
Ed Koch is 88 years old, and two years ago, Debbie Schlussel stated the opinion that he was *then* in "the early stages of dementia." See: http://www.debbieschlussel.com/36892/ed-koch-has-... So there may be some issues there -- along with the desire to return to the limelight in at least a little sense.
I see and respect Ms. Goodman's point -- but then there is the Faustian choice of if Obama was going to win anyway, would it better to be in a position to do what he is doing now, and speaking out in a way that he might not have been able to had he not campaigned for Obama?
Notwithstanding all the above, will Koch have traction with Jewish voters? Will he put the scare into the Pro Israel Democrats?
I didn't.
And I *have* done that trick of voting against myself so that I could make the motion to reconsider later.
And I *have* done that trick of voting against myself so that I could make the motion to reconsider later.
Koch: "it wouldn’t make any difference.I thought it would be helpful to
have a Jewish voice there, being able to communicate.” Even a member of
the Lodz Judenrat couldn't have said it better.
You should be ashamed of yourself for making this false and offensive comparison.
Let's remember that the members of the Judenrat also sincerely believed
that they were acting for the greater good of the Jewish community.
Ed Koch is not acting under threat of imprisonment, torture, or death,
and Obama is not a Nazi. You should be equally ashamed of yourself for
attempting to defend this indefensible statement.
"There is something almost charming about the left’s habit of using childish name-calling...."
-- Seth Mandel in Commentary
-- Seth Mandel in Commentary
Whether it's because of advanced age or some other reason, Mr. Koch has
become so adept at advancing specious arguments to justify his support
for Barack Obama, I think he should be seriously considered for the next
open cabinet position.
I was stunned when I read Koch's article earlier today. "oh yeah, I
knew he was gonna stab Israel in the back EVENTUALLY, I just didn't
think it'd be right now" ???
welcome to liberal Judaism, 21st century style. whatever mental gyrations it takes to keep supporting Barack Obama shall be done.
welcome to liberal Judaism, 21st century style. whatever mental gyrations it takes to keep supporting Barack Obama shall be done.
Truly. Again, the term blackwhite comes to mind. Since I am not a Party member, it is not a compliment.
Koch should be (and no doubt is) ashamed. But nobody should have fallen
for it. Obama's true nature as an isolationist appeaser has been clear
from the start. Like all isolationists, he believes that the way to stay
out of trouble is not to have allies count on you. And like all
appeasers, he believes enemies can be appeased by "engaging" them while
disengaging from allies.
This is looking like a replay of the Republican-led (and Democratic-followed) isolationism of the post-WWI years. Back then, the US decided France and Britain were the threat to European peace, and Germany was the power whose grievances needed to be appeased.
So, here we go again.
This is looking like a replay of the Republican-led (and Democratic-followed) isolationism of the post-WWI years. Back then, the US decided France and Britain were the threat to European peace, and Germany was the power whose grievances needed to be appeased.
So, here we go again.
No, I think it is worse now -- if nothing else, imagine what Hitler
could have done with a dozen laptop computers and basic copies of
MicroSoft Office.
I think you misunderstand Barack Obama. Obama is neither an appeaser
nor an isolationist, rather, he is someone who believes that he is
entitled to power regardless of his views or what the electorate really
thinks. He appeases when he thinks that advances his power; he'll stand
firm if he thinks that advances his power.
The Hagel nomination is his way to give the finger to anyone and everyone who has disagreed with his "policies" or his desire for power. He is saying, in effect, I won the election, so now I do whatever I want regardless of what I said on the campaign trail or in those cute electronic messages I sent you.
Voters either realized that this is the real Obama or they didn't. Those who realized the reality should, and probably did, vote for Romney, regardless of what they might have thought of Romney's policies. Those who didn't realize they were being conned owe the rest of us a bigger apology than Mayor Koch is offering here.
Face it guys, we now have a loose gun not just on deck but with his hands on the rudder.
The Hagel nomination is his way to give the finger to anyone and everyone who has disagreed with his "policies" or his desire for power. He is saying, in effect, I won the election, so now I do whatever I want regardless of what I said on the campaign trail or in those cute electronic messages I sent you.
Voters either realized that this is the real Obama or they didn't. Those who realized the reality should, and probably did, vote for Romney, regardless of what they might have thought of Romney's policies. Those who didn't realize they were being conned owe the rest of us a bigger apology than Mayor Koch is offering here.
Face it guys, we now have a loose gun not just on deck but with his hands on the rudder.
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