Bush Uses Knesset Speech to Launch a Cheap Political Attack

NJDC issued this press release today:

Washington, D.C. – Ira N. Forman, Executive Director of National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC), released the following statement criticizing President Bush’s speech to the Knesset of Israel today. According to press reports, White House officials have acknowledged privately that Bush specifically took shots at Sen. Barack Obama and other Democrats questioning their "appeasement" towards terrorists comparing that to how U.S. leaders appeased the Nazis before the start of World War II.

It is disappointing that President Bush and his aides would have the gall to use a historic speech to the Knesset in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Israel's independence to launch a cheap and tawdry political attack.

It was a real honor that Bush was invited to address the Knesset on Israel’s 60th anniversary and accepted the invitation.  Unfortunately, Bush took advantage of this opportunity to use the power and prestige of the presidency to launch a shameless political attack on foreign soil.

It is particularly shameless of Bush to use the red herring of appeasement against those who would suggest changes to his utterly failed polices of containing Iranian adventurism and terrorism in the Middle East.

It takes particular chutzpah to attack Obama for advocating a more active form of U.S. diplomacy when Defense Secretary Robert Gates just yesterday spoke of finding ways to engage Iran. Moreover, by using this political ploy of appeasement, Bush discredits the appropriate use of the appeasement analogy when it should be legitimately used as a guide to U.S. foreign policy objectives. 

Republicans continue to propagate outrageous falsehoods to scare voters about the security of Israel.  If Sen. John McCain is really the “Straight Talk Express,” he should denounce Bush and these smear tactics.

Comments

[JULIUS HOLLANDER]

I litened carefully and watched the talk closely and did not get the impression that President Bush was relating to Senator Obama. He was equally relating to people working at this time in the Department of State!