AIPAC Speeches and the VP Selection

Two items of note from the Obama campaign appeared, both from yesterday. First the announcement of his VP search committee. The three member team consists of Caroline Kennedy, Eric Holder, and Jim Johnson. I thought Obama was all about the elimination of corruption and impropriety. Caroline Kennedy? Obama tosses a bone to the fading Kennedy dynasty and memories of Camelot as head cheerleader Teddy is dying from brain cancer. She's a place holder, a name. Whatever.

Jim Johnson? Former Fannie Mae head poohbah who was in a tenure full of charges of corruption. According to a federal investigation in 2006, Johnson fudged on reporting his compensation. His publicly financed compensation. It was $20 million but he claimed $2 million. Oops. All those pesky zeroes. Also, a trip down memory lane brings the recollection that Johnson also was instrumental in choosing Geraldine Ferraro for Walter Mondale and John Edwards for John Kerry. There's a track record for you.

And number three on the VP selection committee is Eric Holder. Name sound familiar? It should if you remember the terrorization of a little Cuban boy named Elian Gonzalez under the guidance of his pal Janet Reno. And the Marc Rich pardon in the last day of the Clinton administration. And he approved the pardons of two Weather Underground terrorists, you know, the gang William Ayers hung with while bombing Federal buildings and whining that they didn't bomb more.

This is the end of business as usual in Washington, D.C.? This is terrific judgement in those whom surround you? Just more of the same with candidate Obama.

Yesterday Obama and Clinton addressed AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobbying group, proving the point that not all lobbyists are bad, as Obama is silly enough to imply. Or maybe he shouldn't have gone to court the votes of the Jews? McCain was there earlier in the week and was a hit, that was evident. Much applause and standing ovations. Hillary was also very warmly received. Obama's welcome was mediocre, proving that the Jews aren't so certain about his foreign policy proposals.

Joe Lieberman was there for both days of these speakers. Lieberman endorsed John McCain, as he does. McCain thanked him from the podium and acknowledged their long and mutual friendship. Lieberman said of Obama, "I would say respectfully that I thought in this speech that there was a disconnect between things Senator Obama said today in particularly with regards to Iran and things that he has said or done earlier either in the campaign and senate. To be specific, I was troubled earlier in the year during the campaign season when Senator Obama referred to, I guess compared Iran and other rogue and terrorists states to the Soviet Union and minimized the threat represented by Iran. I think that is wrong." True enough, Joe.

Then he criticized Obama's vote against an amendment Lieberman and Jon Kyl (R-AZ) brought to a vote designating Iran's Revolutionary Guard a terrorist group and was passed by a super majority of the Senate. Obama voted against it. Hillary voted for it. McCain voted for it. The bill, Obama said, included language that linked the war in Iraq to Iran and that "troubled him." Well, it troubles our soldiers and their families that it is a proven fact that the war in Iraq is linked directly back to Iran, what with them providing weapons and bombs to insurgents and all.

Obama didn't like that Lieberman spoke truth to power and confronted Lieberman on the floor of the Senate. After greeting each other on the Senate floor, according to Jake Tapper of ABC News, Obama kept hold of Lieberman's hand and led him across the floor to a corner of the Democratic side. Strong words were exchanged for Lieberman's remarks, which had been delivered via a conference call to AIPAC. The discussion, "intense", continued for about five minutes. Reporters remarked that with Obama so much taller than Lieberman, he towered over Lieberman with a look of aggression, Lieberman literally up against a wall.

There's the old south side of Chicago community organizer for you. Not too tactful to do that on the floor, he should have taken it to the Cloak Room or an office. I thought he was all about a higher tone in the campaign.

Later, it was reported that creepy voiced Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid got in on the action himself. "I've had conversations with Lieberman at some length. I'm not going to discuss the conversations here. But I think the discussions he had with Obama yesterday and the discussions he had with me yesterday were fruitful. We'll let the future decide what it's going to be , but I'm not about to threaten anybody." What a foolish man.

Lieberman should tell Obama and Reid that he's decided to caucus with the Republicans now and then Reid's majority by a breath is gone. Who'd be smiling then?