Mojitas and Bagels

Barack Obama is in Florida telling the Jews to just chill, he'll be their friend when he's in the White House. All that stuff written about him and his peeps? Come on. You know it's just the Republican attack machine. And those stupid people in middle America, clinging to their guns and bibles like they do.

This is truly an interesting little race going on here for the next President of these United States. Barack Obama is setting all kinds of new parameters with which he expects his critics to abide. No criticism on his friends, associates or spiritual advisers. No criticism of his outspoken wife who has her own press opportunities and rallies and the candidate says "whatever Michelle says is the message", according to Katie Couric's film crew that found that quote written on paper as they toured the press shop at Obama campaign headquarters for the April 24th CBS Evening News, according to Tim Graham at NewsBusters. Maybe Obama could claim it wasn't his writing, as he did with the questionnaire that appeared from the past not long ago.

From the television news report: Couric said, "Then there's the press operation, answering questions from reporters, trying to tamp down any controversy, in constant contact with the road while trying to make sure the message of the day survives." This was being said as the camera showed the note from Obama himself.

So, first Obama woos the Cubans and blames McCain and Bush for the failure of the embargoes to make change of the leadership on the Island. Problem is, as his top adviser Susan Rice tries to make McCain out to be a 'flip flopper' (because that's what Kerry was called, you know) and spinning a new position on Cuba. Not so fast, Dr. Rice. Not only are you not effective as a spokesperson, with your nasty finger pointing at McCain (your candidate says his is a 'respectful' campaign) you are just another spinmaster covering up for Obama's missteps. For the claim that in 2000 McCain favored normalization with Cuba and now doesn't, is just wrong. He has always called for free market reforms, political prisoners released and free elections in Cuba. None of that has changed. Rice knows that and she lies for Obama. The Bush policy is the same one that has been in place for decades.

Cuba has to change, not the U.S. I know that is a difficult notion for the candidate of change.

Obama is concerned the Jews in Florida may believe remarks made from supporters and advisers around him. They may assume that the speakers are saying what they really believe. Whether or not Obama likes it, a candidate is scrutinized on the basis of those around him. Rev. Wright is an anti-Semite, a racist, a 'spiritual adviser' who damns America. He was in the pews for over 20 years, a deliberate move to get into the Chicago political machine. His church honored Farakkhan with a lifetime achievement award. Obama was part of Farakkhan's Million Man March campaign.

Rev. Michael Pfleger, a Catholic minister at St. Sabina on Chicago's south side, who is a political activist dressed as a man of the cloth, is a 'spiritual adviser' for Obama. You may know the name originally for his harboring the illegal immigrant from Mexico and using her 8 year old American born son as a publicity prop. It's all about the children. After we use them for political gain and press coverage.

Pfleger was highlighted by Governor Blagojevic's appointment of a Farrakhan aide to serve on a hate-crimes commission. (Let that irony sink in for a minute). This appointee, Sister Claudette, refused to denounce Farrakhan's racist and anti-Semitic remarks so three Jewish members on the commission resigned. According to the article in National Review Online by Sabrina Leigh Schaeffer, the response from Pfleger was "good riddance."

Retired Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Merrill "Tony" McPeak is a national campaign co-chairman and has made numerous anti-Semitic and anti-Israel remarks. In a 2003 interview he blamed the Jewish-American community for the failure of the peace process between Israel and Arafat, according to Schaeffer. McPeak remains in place.

Hamas endorsed him for President and Obama was outraged that anyone noticed or commented on that. In 2003, Obama honored Rashid Khalidi, Palestinian critic of Israel and advocate of Palestinian rights, at a celebration which included anti-Israel poetry as entertainment, with a healthy dose of anti-American criticism. Obama waxed on about his long relationship with the Khalidis at the event. He spoke of all the meals shared with Rashid and Mona and Michelle and Barack, and of the effect Rashid had on his political thinking. Yesterday in Miami, when questioned about Khalidi, Obama brushed off any worries by saying his kids went to the same school as the Obama girls and he casually knew him from that contact. Hmm. Where have we heard that? William Ayers ring a bell? And that Rashid is a professor as he had been once, too. Interesting, all these intersections, isn't it.

There is also a connection between the Obamas and Hatem El-Hady, former chairman of Kindhearts for Charitable Human Development, an Islamic organization based in Toledo and shut down in 2006 for raising money for Hamas.

In 2004, President Bush won 24 percent of the Jewish vote. That was up from 2000. He was rewarded for being the most loyal President to the freedom and security of Israel. Obama knows he has not garnered much favor in the Jewish community. McCain, however, is supported quite strongly, especially in Florida.

Actions speak louder than words. In all communities.