The website IsraelToday, for instance, has posted a story full of alarm over the addition of Spence to the team. Their reaction is similar to many Israel supporters here in the states, too. "Fred Thompson names anti-Israel ex-senator as campaign manager" their headline screams. They are very worried over Spence's past slights to Israel and for being "soft on Islamic terrorism."
Israel Today isn't the only one. Many bloggers and MSM news sources have been reporting that Abraham is the new "campaign manager" for the Thompson campaign. But, there seems to be a major misconception over Spencer's position with the Thompson campaign here. Many reports are calling Abraham Fred's "campaign manager" but this does not seem to be a truthful description of his role.
It seems more like Spence will be a mere campaign advisor and "ambassador" to Washington, NOT the campaign manager. According to one report in the New York Post, Thompson's campaign manager is Randy Enwright, not Abraham.
"Spence is not going to be the campaign manager," the adviser said. "He won't be running anything."That job will be in the hands of Randy Enwright, a veteran Florida Republican who is widely respected and also once ran the GOP in Iowa.
And according to the San Francisco Chronicle:
Enright is a veteran operative in Florida who was part of President Bush's political operation in the key swing state; he also was executive director of the Republican Party of Iowa. Abraham served in the Bush administration after losing re-election in 2000 to Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow; in 2006, he joined a French-owned nuclear company, Areva Inc., as chairman of its board of directors.
They say that "Enright is heading the political operation, while Abraham doesn't yet have a title," and this seems to solve the fact that Abraham is not the campaign manager.
We also have a more detailed report from Politico:
The day-to-day campaign will now be run by Randy Enwright, a Florida consultant who was the political director. And former Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.) will be the chairman, acting as the campaign’s ambassador to official Washington.
In other words, Abraham is not in the decision making position that other news media is assuming he is going to be.
Now, it seems that the media has assigned Spencer Abraham to be Fred Thompson's "campaign manager," but I don't see Team Thompson ever saying that directly. I think this Abraham-is-manager meme is one created by and furthered by the media.
It just seems awfully odd that some sources say Abraham isn't the manager, yet others insist he is.
Additionally, Thompson does not have a record of being anti-Israel. To answer to that point here is an article penned by the candidate himself at National Review online.
Let me ask you a hypothetical question. What do you think America would do if Canadian soldiers were firing dozens of missiles every day into Buffalo, N.Y.? What do you think our response would be if Mexican troops for two years had launched daily rocket attacks on San Diego — and bragged about it?I can tell you, our response would look nothing like Israel’s restrained and pinpoint reactions to daily missile attacks from Gaza. We would use whatever means necessary to win the war. There would likely be numerous casualties on our enemy’s side, but we would rightfully hold those who attacked us responsible.
He also showed his sympathy for the Israelis and against the Palestinians here:
The Palestinian strategy is to purposely target and kill Israeli civilians. Then, when Israel goes after those launching the attacks, Palestinians claim to be the victims. If Palestinian civilians aren’t hurt in the Israeli attacks, they stage injuries and deaths.Too often, they garner sympathy and support from a gullible or anti-Semitic media in the international community.
He also uses the word "Islamofascist"...
I’m beginning to wonder how much longer this vicious plot will work though. International sympathy for Palestinians has diminished as the same Islamofascist extremists have brought havoc to Madrid, Bali, Somalia, London and elsewhere. More importantly, Israelis themselves are suffering so badly, they may be on the verge of losing their sympathy for the people who have sworn to kill them.
... and more support for Israel:
The irony is that Israel has the military might to easily win the war that is being waged against them today. They haven’t used that might, in the past, out of compassion for Palestinian civilians and because it could trigger a wider regional conflict.If the world doesn’t act to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions, it must be prepared for the consequences of Israel defending itself.
Man. None of THAT seems too anti-Israel!!
It all seems to be a puffed up story, anyway. What do you all think? Will only time tell?
