I was reading an article recently about Palestinians' views on the upcoming elections. While the people don't see a big change in US policy regardless of who wins the election it seems that many people on the street believe that Obama will be better for their cause. The question of course is why.
It can't be any of Obama's actions while he was a Chicago State Senator where he cosponsored a bill authorizing the state of Illinois to invest in Israel bonds.
It can't be any of his actions in the US Senate where he was a lead sponsor of the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act, a cosponsor of the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act, among other things.
It can't be his statements; “Israel’s security is sacrosanct […] I will also carry with me an unshakable commitment to the security of Israel and the friendship between the United States and Israel.” – New York Sun, 2/25/2008) The list goes on.
There's of course been a lot of talk about Obama's connections to noted Palestinians like Rashid Khalidi. However, as recent news reports show, McCain has connections to him as well, funding his organizations with hundreds of thousands of dollars in a relationship that spans from 1993 to 1998. Zbigniew Brzezinski has endorsed Obama but when McCain was asked who he would pick as his representative to the Arab/Israeli conflict Zbigniew Brzezinski was among those he named, along with "the smartest guy I know" to the Middle East .... "Brent Scowcroft, or Jim Baker though I know that you in Israel don't like Baker.” So that can't be it either.
One thing that I didn't think about, however, was an opinion by David Rabinovich of Mesquite, NM. He said "The man on the street in Arab countries considers Barack Obama as a Muslim because of their patrilinial outlook on religion, not realizing that in the secular West, religion is a matter of individual choice!"
Genius!! Finally something that might make sense. Muslims see someone as one of their own if their father is Muslim. As Jews, we view people who have a Jewish mother as Jewish. Therefore the Palestinians' view that Obama will be better for their cause may simply be a matter of liking someone because they believe he's one of them religiously. And before you snicker or thumb your nose at people who hold those kinds of beliefs, let's think back to those ridiculous polls in 2000 about who you would rather have over at your barbecue, Bush or Gore? Many people feel more comfortable with those they are familiar with or seem more like them.
We must be smarter than that.
Elections must be about the issues.
They must be about a candidates intelligence.
They must be about who you trust to do a better job.
They must be about experience.
If we fail to use those criteria then we are simply acting like those people back in 2000 who used, as one of their criteria, who they would rather have over for a barbecue.
If we fail to use those criteria then we are simply acting like the Palestinians.
