Bush dig at Obama draws fire from Obama - and Clinton - supporters

President Bush's apparent dig today at Barack Obama for his willingness to talk to U.S. adversaries - came under withering criticism from South Florida Democrats who accused Bush of playing politics with US-Israel relations.

Even Hillary Clinton supporters indirectly came to Obama's defense, criticizing Bush, though, like Bush, not mentioning Obama by name.

"The president himself said it was a 'rare privilege for an American president to address the Knesset,' '' the statement said. "But instead of using his rare opportunity to build bridges and communicate the strong support for Israel amongst Americans of all political stripes, the president interjected partisan, domestic, Democrats vs. Republicans politics.''

The statement was signed by Reps. Ron Klein, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Tim Mahoney, Alcee Hastings and Kendrick Meek, who called themselves "some of the strongest supporters'' of Israel in Congress. Wasserman Schultz, Hastings and Meek back Clinton; Mahoney and Klein have yet to take a side.

Rep. Robert Wexler, who chairs Obama's Florida campaign and has talked with Jewish groups to dispel concerns about Obama's stance on Israel, called Bush's remarks a "politically calculated attack'' on Obama and said he was "disgusted by them.

"It is unprecedented that a sitting American president would stoop to this level and launch a deliberate attack on Barack Obama who is a staunch supporter of Israel,'' Wexler said.

Here's the full statements:

"We are deeply offended by the President's assertion before the Knesset that some in America 'seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists. The American people, Democrats and Republicans alike, stand united behind Israel, and it is irresponsible of the President to suggest otherwise. The security interests of the United States and Israel are best served when political leaders from both parties work together instead of taking thinly-veiled shots at one another.

"As some of the strongest supporters of the state of Israel in the United States Congress, we believe the President's comments were wholly inappropriate in tone and in context. The President himself said it was a 'rare privilege for an American President to address the Knesset,' but instead of using his rare opportunity to build bridges and communicate the strong support for Israel amongst Americans of all political stripes, the President interjected partisan, domestic, Democrats vs. Republicans politics.

"To stand before the government of Israel and make false statements is simply reckless.The President should know that his virulent and incorrect assessment is even more dangerous than the worst partisan politics. "The United States sees Israel as a close friend and critical partner, and we hope that in the future, the President will reflect that reality when representing the American people abroad.

Wexler: "I strongly reject President Bush’s politically calculated attack on Barack Obama in the Israeli Knesset today. It is clear that President Bush was directly attacking Senator Obama while at the same time unconscionably using the horrors of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust for political partisan gain. I am disgusted by the President’s statement which was politically divisive and does nothing to address the security threats posed to Israel by its enemies: Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah.

"The President’s words are hypocritical; given that his own Administration is currently negotiating with Iran and our closest allies France, Germany,United Kingdom are directly negotiating with Iran on America's behalf. It is unprecedented that a sitting American President would stoop to this level and launch a deliberate attack on Barack Obama who is a staunch supporter of Israel."

Comments

The President's remarks were right on. I don't know if Obama supports terrorists or is simply too young and too naive to know better, but his plan for appeasement is a plan leading to American defeat. You can't negotiate with terrorists, the only two things you can do with terrorists are to defeat them soundly or surrender to them.

7:21 - good point. So I assume that you are equally disgusted with the Bush administration reopening talks with North Korea - the axis of evil who actually has WMD.

[BEN GRABER FOR CONGRESS]

Haven't You Had Enough Of Wexler Yet???

Vote for Ben Graber for congress

CHANGE YOU CAN TRUST

www.graberforcongress.com

[Miami Joe]

Inviting terrorist groups to the White House to speak Face to Face with the leader of the free world is the issue. Obama and Wexler are naieve or lying as usual.

[Miami Joe is naive]

Miami Joe - if you actually think that anyone - John McCain or Barack Obama - would be inviting terrorist groups to the White House, then you are the naive one.