South Florida Jews heard it plenty during the 2008 presidential race between Barack Obama and John McCain:
"Barack Obama is no friend of Israel..."
Problem is, there's no factual foundation for that statement. And there's no attribution for that quote. Because it was a myth spread far and wide by the kind of people and organizations that don't attach their names to the falsehoods they peddle to low-information, high-anxiety voters; especially to senior citizens; and most especially, to Jewish senior citizens.
A litany of half-truths, distortions and outright lies came fast and furious from the GOP and assorted Anti-Obama individuals and groups during the final months of that epic political war to win Jewish votes in Battleground Florida.
I was working on the campaign with a broad group of Palm Beach County seniors the whole time, and was personal witness to countless leaflets, pamphlets, mailers, chain emails, website links, radio ads, robo-calls, and plain old-fashioned gossip. Some were twisted mixtures of facts and quotes taken out of context and recombined like a Frankenstein monster of political fear & smear; and the rest of it was just wild-eyed rumor-mongering and ridiculous trash talk.
But Truth edged out all that, and Obama won enough votes from Jews, seniors and all sorts of other voters to allow him to win Florida by a few points, and get elected President.
So, here we are, three years later, and... Surprise, Surprise - the Fear & Smear Machine never shut down. It is in fact well-oiled and already in high gear down here in South Florida, and everywhere else that has large concentrations of Jewish voters, especially Jewish seniors.
But this time around, those of us in the Rational Majority of citizens, voters and Jews; those of us who insist on actual, verifiable facts to support any and all claims about political issues and candidates; those of us who believe that Truth trumps all else; we will not let the rumors and myths take hold.
The brand new video attached to this column, also available on YouTube for quick and easy sharing (and please do!), is but the brief beginning of a campaign to Get Out The Truth about President Obama's relationship with and support for Israel.
A more in-depth exploration of both sides of the issues raised in this first short video will follow. But for now, please watch this video, and share it with any and all in the Jewish community who may be asking the question: Is Obama a friend of Israel?
Comments