“Lest anyone try to convince you that God should be separated from the state, our founding fathers, they were believers,” said Palin. “And George Washington, he saw faith in God as basic to life.” – Sarah Palin
It seems a site created by Binyamin Korn for “Jewish independents” is out to help Sarah Palin, via TPM, or at the very least publicize her views on Israel. No doubt because of the drumbeat from the right that Pres. Obama is too hard on our good friends, something that is utterly without merit.
The usual suspects will likely jump on a report from Danger Room that captures an interesting exchange with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen:
In a town hall on the campus of the University of West Virginia, a young airman asked Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen to respond to a “rumor.” If Israel decided to attack Iran, the speculation went, those jet would need to fly through Iraqi airspace to reach their targets. That airspace is considered a “no-fly” zone by the American military. So might U.S. troops shoot down the Israeli jets, the airmen asked the chairman, if they breached that airspace?
Mullen tried to sidestep the question. “We have an exceptionally strong relationship with Israel. I’ve spent a lot of time with my counterpart in Israel. So we also have a very clear understanding of where we are. And beyond that, I just wouldn’t get into the speculation of what might happen and who might do what. I don’t think it serves a purpose, frankly,” he said. “I am hopeful that this will be resolved in a way where we never have to answer a question like that.”
The airmen followed-up: “Would an airmen like me ever be ordered to fire on an Israeli – aircraft or personnel?”
Mullen’s second answer was much the same as his first. “Again, I wouldn’t move out into the future very far from here. They’re an extraordinarily close ally, have been for a long time, and will be in the future,” the admiral said.
I’m find myself in total agreement with Noah Shachtman’s final paragraph.
Interestingly, the techies at “Jews for Sarah” haven’t figured out how to link to other sites yet, while offering nods to an LA Times op-ed that shrieks “Obama is denying Israel the right to self-defense when it is not his, or America’s, life that is on the line.” Sarah Palin getting new prowess on foreign policy because of her stance on Israel, if only in “spirit.”
But it was her recent comments on the judicial decision that the “national day of prayer” was unconstitutional that caused such a ruckus. Palin saying, “I think we’ll be challenging that one.”
Conservative contortions to make our founding fathers Christians is a continual cant from the right. This time it’s Sarah Palin, which surprises no one, though she demurs to “believers.” It continues the misinformation campaign Republicans enjoy when trying to prove America was founded as a Christian nation, which is simply false.
To be fair, Democrats never take this on either for fear of being on the wrong end of the wrath of the faithful, of which I am one.
Palin citing George Washington, however, is particularly odd. Mr. Washington rarely attended church, which has been documented, though Martha did, even enjoying communion. At the end of Washington’s life there were no words intoning Jesus Christ or any Christian writing, with whatever his faith being actually unknown. That doesn’t mean Washington didn’t believe in a force beyond man. However, there is absolutely no evidence in history that he was a Christian, especially as it is meant today.
The thought that the founders would have come to Israel’s aid as modern American leaders have, which began under Pres. Harry Truman who rightly sanctioned an Israeli state, but has been pushed to a political breaking point of harming Israel through the actions of religious fundamentalists in this country, is simply unthinkable.
I could go on and on about Thomas Jefferson on this matter. A believer in God, he was someone who savored the words of Jesus Christ, but didn’t think much of religious institutions, and like Washington, didn’t feel the need to divide the nation on declaration of one faith. Jefferson was more interested in, as Washington put it to Rhode Island Jews: “May the Children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and figtree, and there shall be none to make him afraid. May the father of all mercies scatter light and not darkness in our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in his own due time and way everlastingly happy.”
Thomas Jefferson famously said:
We are answerable for them to our God. The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg. [...] They have made the happy discovery, that the way to silence religious disputes, is to take no notice of them. Let us too give this experiment fair play, and get rid, while we may, of those tyrannical laws. [...] A single zealot may commence persecutor, and better men be his victims. … .. – Notes on the State of Virginia (pgs. 285, 287)
As a GOTV ploy, playing the faith card has worked for the right before, so Sarah’s in good Republican company, especially as she stokes the 21st century cultural war, drawing from 20th century dogma.
The interesting new element being churned up now by the right, however, is meant to separate Jewish voters from Pres. Obama in anticipation for 2012. The Republicans sense an opening. However, so do Israeli hawks on the left; who hope they can move Obama’s Middle East policy, especially on settlements, because of it.
TM NOTE: This comment is WAY off topic and has no place in the comment section that follows the above essay.
Taylor, just so this doesn’t get lost, I’d like to point out the hateful statement from Imhotep on the similar NewsDiary on this issue:Imhotep says:
21 April 2010 at 11:57 am
There are lots of Jews on the Left who are really pissed off at the Left for questioning Israel’s foreign policy, its leadership and the undue influence that the 1% of Jews in America have on our Congress, our media, and our entertainment industry.
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What a shameful human being to make this statement that may as well have come out of the Third Reich. The reason that Jews may be hesitant sometimes to 1) have Israel live with a nuclear-armed Iran and 2) give East Jerusalem up to an entity (the PLO) that could be overthrown by Hamas any day and thus launch rockets from 500 feet at Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem is because anti-Jewish hatred such as that from Imhotep still is out there.
Jews have been beaten down quite a bit over the last, oh, 2000 years. While many Israeli leaders in the past have shown their commitment to peace, you have to understand the hesitancy to fully trust the opposite side when the Imhotep’s of the world still exist.
Again, I’d urge you–as you courageously have done in the past—to condemn the racism and anti-Jewish bigotry of Imhotep.
Ramsgate has a diary up today on the “Jews for Sarah” element in my essay.
Palin couldn’t be more wrong. Our founding fathers were DEISTS; they believed in God, but wisely decided to opt for religious freedom by keeping the government out of the business of religion. Why don’t these evangelicals get the concept that religious freedom for THEM depends on freedom from being singled out based on religious beliefs? In our country in the 1600s, when the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the others were first established by the English, they persecuted people horrifically on the basis of strict puritanical religious tenets.
Evangelicals are pro-Israel zealots and for the life of me, I cannot imagine why Israelis or American Jews would want anything to do with them. They believe that the Jews will all be consumed by the fire in the Second Coming, if they don’t convert to Christianity. Why on earth would any Jewish person want to align themselves with that belief?
Noogan, as repulsive as these beliefs are, your beliefs concerning Israel are just as frightening to the Jewish people.
Yeah, you should just bow down and shut up and keep the money flowing! That pretty much what ya want there liberalaswhatever?
What is your end goal? If Israel retreated to 1967 borders, and Palestinians still refused to recognize Israel, what then? Israel did pull out of Gaza, forcefully removing 8,000 settlers in a heart-wrenching disengagement. What reward did Israel get in response? Prraise from Noogan? Hardly. They got thousands of rockets fired upon their southern cities by Palestinians in Gaza.
Take a breath, sit down, have 911 ready on the speed dial. I couln’t POSSIBLY agree more with you.
yes ive been hearing alot about palin and the end of church and state seperation. that jews for palin will be a tiny little group. as a jew who knows plenty of jews palin terrifies us.
seriously. This group is probably a few yahoos gathering together…amazing what the Internet can do to bolster these people, as well as frightening bigots such as Imhotep whose comments about “Jews controlling the media” are far more dangerous than these three Jews with a crush on Sarah.
“undue influence on” is a far cry from “control of” wouldn’t you say? Let me slowly repeat what I said so that everyone will know what a lying scumbag and bearer of false wittness you truely are. I said that the Left questioned why 1% of the population of the United States had such undue influence on the media, the Congress and the entertainment industry. You you care to refute the fact that only 1% of the population in the United States is Jewish. Or the fact that that 1% is overly represented in the media, the Congress and the entertainment industry. Especially compared to the fact that women who make up 51% of the population are under represented in those areas? Stop calling me names and argue the facts you low-life dirtbag. Peace
You are the racist, bigot David Duke lover, Imhotep. Jews “controlling the media, etc…” is one of the most vile, anti-Jewish conspiracy theories that has been used by numerous genocidal maniacs to slaughter Jews and start pogroms. If you have ever read Mein Kampf, you would see how dangerous such a charge can be. Imhotep, how you do not see how your comments are offensive and bigoted really shows what a pea-brain you really are. Alas, I wish all you were was ignorant. However, you are much worse. You are the most vile, disgusting, hatemongering scum of the Internet that is no longer welcomed by society, but can hide behind your computer and spew your racist, homophobic rhetoric without being condemned by society. We condemn you here, Imhotep. Now go and put your white hood back non.
“The airmen followed-up: “Would an airmen like me ever be ordered to fire on an Israeli – aircraft or personnel?”
Well considering the indisputable FACT that Israel dosen’t hesitate to fire on US ships and kill US personnel and civilians I sure as hell HOPE that is ever called on to fire on Israeli aircraft or whatever thew only thing the airman will say is “watch yer lead”
You speak of the USS Liberty? What an appalling episode that was. It took the Israelis 8 hours of flying over it to finally fire on that ship. Nobody can conclude that Israel did not know that the Liberty was a US vessel. The Zionists will shoot to kill anyone who gets in their way. They have been proving that fact for over 100 years now. Peace
secular, your comment criticizing Israel or wishfully hoping for a U.S.-Israel war that will never happen, just got Imhotep the Bigot all excited.
“Well considering the indisputable FACT that Israel dosen’t hesitate to fire on US ships and kill US personnel and civilians”
Here’s the FACTS. Not “wishfully hoping” for anything.But considering Israels nonhesitance when they feel it suites thier needs to make DEAD Americans,”How much lead” and have more ammo ready.
Keep dreaming, secular. U.S. and Israel, whether you and your buddy Imhotep like it or not, are the closest of allies and that feeling is strongest within the Pentagon.
That being the case LATC, perhaps it’s time to consider taking the Pentagon out. After all in a republic “we the people” have the right to do pretty much whatever we’d like now don’t we?
“Keep dreaming, secular. U.S. and Israel, whether you and your buddy Imhotep like it or not, are the closest of allies and that feeling is strongest within the Pentagon.”
You apparently don’t know many US military personel who have had to deal with Israeli military personel do you.
US mil are ALL completely aware of the USS Liberty and the fact that Israel will kill Americans with no hesitation if it suites their self percieved needs.
There is also the reality of the interactions between US Marines and Israeli forces in Lebanon, my favorite of which when a marine Luey stood in front of an Israeli armored column and pointed his 45 at the head of the commander of the first tank and told them they were NOT going through the Marine check point.
Someone has a chip on his shoulder when it comes to Jews. So did Hitler. : (
Imhotep says:
22 April 2010 at 9:54 am
That being the case LATC, perhaps it’s time to consider taking the Pentagon out. After all in a republic “we the people” have the right to do pretty much whatever we’d like now don’t we?
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I have no idea what you’re talking about.