Obama, McCain I'm-rubber-you're glue over Hamas

Ever since a leader of the militant Palestinian group Hamas said of Barack Obama. "We like Mr. Obama and we hope that he will win the election,'' Republican John McCain has sought to portray the Democratic candidate as BFFs with Israel's mortal enemy.

No matter that Obama has consistently called Hamas a terrorist organization that he would never negotiate with until it recognized Israel and renounced violence. No matter that he criticized former president Jimmy Carter for recently talking to Hamas leaders.

"I think what is going on there is the same reason why there are some suspicions of me in the Jewish community,'' he told The Atlantic. "Look, we don't do nuance well in politics and especially don't do it well on Middle East policy. We look at things as black and white, and not gray. It's conceivable that there are those in the Arab world who say to themselves, 'This is a guy who spent some time in the Muslim world, has a middle name of Hussein, and appears more worldly and has called for talks with people, and so hes not going to be engaging in the same sort of cowboy diplomacy as George Bush,' and that's something theyre hopeful about. I think that's a perfectly legitimate perception as long as they're not confused about my unyielding support for Israel's security."

Bob Kunst, one of the most zealous Democratic activists in South Florida, isn't convinced. He's planning to protest during Obama's visit to Hollywood next week. 

"I've been a Democrat my whole life, but I can't support this guy,'' said the diehard Clinton supporter. "God know I've been opposed to Bush, but I thought what he said yesterday was pretty on target." More on what Bush said in Israel yesterday here.

Meanwhile, a former Clinton administration official writes in today's Washington Post that McCain is "guilty of hypocrisy'' on Hamas. Column here.

McCain's response: "John McCain has always believed that serious engagement would require mandatory conditions and Hamas must change itself fundamentally  renounce violence, abandon its goal of eradicating Israel and accept a two-state solution. John McCain's position is clear and has always been clear, the President of the United States should not unconditionally meet with leaders of Iran, Hamas or Hezbollah. Barack Obama has made his position equally clear, and has pledged to meet unconditionally with Iran's leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the leaders of other rogue regimes, which shows incredibly dangerous and weak judgment."