Obama's record on Israel repudiates critics

By Mel Levine

http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=19111

In all my years in politics, I have not seen a candidate as gifted and transformative as Sen. Barack Obama. At a time when our country is divided and dispirited, one only needs to see the multigenerational, multiethnic and highly enthusiastic crowds at his rallies to sense that he has the rare ability to bring people together and help them make common cause.

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On Tuesday, Obama delivered an eloquent, personal statement both repudiating Wright's repugnant views and, more importantly, discussing the complex issue of race in America in a manner that CNN commentator Bill Schneider called the "most thoughtful and sophisticated" in recent memory.

In this important speech, Obama again expressed his strong support for our stalwart ally, Israel, rebutting any claims that the Middle East conflict is rooted in Israel's actions, rather than, as he put it, "emanating from the perverse and hateful ideologies of radical Islam."

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Those of us who care deeply about Israel have a profound stake in who serves as president of the United States. Israel has a great friend in Obama. And it does a disservice to Israel and to the U.S.-Israel relationship to allow those with a hostile political agenda to continue to assassinate the character of Obama, whose election as president would not only revitalize America's image in the world and elevate America's standing once again in the community of nations, but also would insure Israel of a steadfast and committed friend in the White House.