Folks that are actually paying attention to Barack Obama's many flip-flops certainly remember a whopper from early June when he told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee that Jerusalem must "remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided."
As this angered Palestinian groups, the junior senator from Illinois quickly reversed his position the following day.
Last Sunday, Obama appeared on CNN's "Fareed Zakaria: GPS," and instead of being challenged about this flip-flop, the host seemed to aid and abet it (photo courtesy CNN.com).
Two days later, WOR radio's Steve Malzberg exposed Zakaria's complicity by first playing what Obama said to AIPAC on June 4 (15-minute audio available here):
Let me be clear. Israel's security is sacrosanct. It is non-negotiable. The Palestinians need a state that is contiguous and cohesive, and that allows them to prosper — but any agreement with the Palestinian people must preserve Israel's identity as a Jewish state, with secure, recognized and defensible borders. Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided.
Yet, here's how Zakaria addressed this issue with Obama on July 13:
ZAKARIA: One area where you're outside the international consensus -- and certainly, perhaps, some others -- is the statement you made in a recent speech supporting Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel.
Now, why not support the Clinton plan, which envisions a divided Jerusalem, the Arab half being the capital of a Palestinian state, the Jewish half being the capital of the Jewish state?
OBAMA: You know, the truth is that this was an example where we had some poor phrasing in the speech. And we immediately tried to correct the interpretation that was given.
Amazingly, Zakaria didn't challenge this statement. Now you know why my colleague Brent Baker was so concerned in May when it was announced that this "pretty conventional liberal" was going to get his own program.
Honestly, if Obama is going to be able to explain away his major flip-flops and policy changes with a simple "we had some poor phrasing...we immediately tried to correct the interpretation," the nation probably shouldn't bother going through the time and expense of an election this November.
Readers are strongly encouraged to listen to Malzberg's entire segment on this issue.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.
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"Poor Phrasing"?
July 20, 2008 - 18:34 ET by scamoramaJust whose "poor phrasing" was it that "we" had?
It came out of his mouth, didn't it?
Ask about anything this guy says, the response is always, "mis-interpreting", or "taking it out of context", or "poor phrasing", and the MSM rolls over and lets him get away with it.
New Zealand is looking better and better.
Howdy Scam... Let him get
July 20, 2008 - 18:45 ET by bigtimerHowdy Scam...
Let him get away with it...heck they already have the script ready for him, they usually preview it on other shows with other talking heads beforehand on any subject he gets caught lying or flip-flopping about...
He is well prepared by THEM.
I have never seen anything like this in my life-time...and I'm no spring chicken.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
I'll agree with you on
July 20, 2008 - 18:55 ET by scamoramaI'll agree with you on that.
I remember the press liked Ike, and they really liked JFK, but this is so far overdone as to be ridiculous.
What will they do in November when their champion loses?
Well he was talking to Jewish people the day before
July 20, 2008 - 19:27 ET by jefflebowskiObama was talking to a Jewish audience when he said that Jerusalem would be the capital of Israel. Now that he's going to Iraq, he'll tell them that Baghdad needs to be the capital of the US....the next day it will be Kabul. This guy talks but never says anything.
"I believe in fair trade but I also believe in fair trade."
Jeff Lebowski
www.angrywhitedude.c...
Let me be clear. Israel's
July 20, 2008 - 20:31 ET by stratmanExactly what other interpretation could be devived from Obama'a words?
For such "poor phrasing", the words were strong and unambivalent. The only thing "poor" for Obama is the fact that he was caught in yet another blatent pandering speech. The "phrasing" was loud and clear.
I am finding it increasingly amazing that Obama is not shunned by millions of Jews as well as all educated adults. The man is a phony on the order of the Goracle.
We are all in trouble if this doofus is elected.
RRAM Tough!
Well strat
July 20, 2008 - 20:55 ET by Cool ArrowThe wind was blowing from the East that day, and I think he was talking to a Jewish assembly.
It was either that or bring up those Palestinians clinging to their Korans and cinching up their suicide belts?
LYDSEXICS UNTIE
"I am finding it
July 21, 2008 - 09:13 ET by SickofLibs"I am finding it increasingly amazing that Obama is not shunned by millions of Jews..."
I agree, but I believe that the overwhelming majority of Jewish voters could not, in their wildest dreams, entertain the 'notion' of not voting Democrat.
Obama would have to bomb Israel to not get the Jewish vote.
And if this new concept of 'poor phrasing' as a legitimate excuse (even though it came out of his own mouth) were around when I was in high school, I would have gotten in a lot less trouble.
A couple follow-up questions Mr. O
July 20, 2008 - 20:50 ET by mattmYou say "we" had 'poor phrasing' in the speech? Who is 'we'? And: Do you know what the hell you're even talking about?
matt -- that's the royal
July 21, 2008 - 06:59 ET by Jack Bauermatt -- that's the royal "we," you two bit hick and peasant!!!
Don't you know your place?
And that place is not to question His Royal Phoniness?
Listen to this!
July 20, 2008 - 20:51 ET by okiehawk44BHO: "I'm saying this now because what I was saying yesterday didn't play too well and all I really want is to be elected president of the United States and if you don't like what I'm saying now I have this to say 'Stop talking about my wife, she is off-limits' and if that doesn't do it take this 'Stop talking about my race, I'm black blah, blah, blah'."
Great Speaker?
July 21, 2008 - 05:03 ET by theworminatorfor someone who is routinly touted as a great speaker he sure "mis-phrases" a lot.
Obambi is a great reader.
July 21, 2008 - 07:08 ET by expatriotObambi is a great reader. Give him a teleprompter and he does very well. That is because he can rehearse the speech numerous times.
Leave him on his own and he is toast, uh, uh, not able to uh really, like you know, uh, get his point across. That is if indeed he has any points that he would like to make with the American people.
please stop the madness
July 21, 2008 - 09:41 ET by candanceWe don't need this bumbling fool *wandering around* the Middle East with any kind of power.
I'm starting to believe that Obama is so arrogant he thinks he doesn't need to know facts. He seems to drift from one interview to another making stuff up as he goes and smoothing over gaffes with pretty words.
Since the left is really so concerned about world opinion - what will the world think of us when we elect "the best and brightest" and he can't even make up his mind on Israel?
There's a simple explanation
July 21, 2008 - 15:44 ET by 911isbusyThe man is dishonest.
Those who have not swords can still die upon them.