What about Canada?
December 1, 2011, 9:00 am
Posted by Margaret O'Brien Steinfels
“‘No ally is more important than the state of Israel,’ Obama said at the fundraiser, which collected at least $300,000 from wealthy donors for his re-election bid and other Democratic campaigns.”
Ha’aretz reports from the U.S. what the MSM doesn’t seem to know about.
OOOPS: Politico has the story from AP. And Mondoweiss…. guess it’s viral!
I could hear the sucking sound all the way down here in Kentucky. Obama got my vote last time around. Given his recent behavior ($, UN), I’m reassessing.
I read this as pretty routine campaign/fundraising language from Obama. Obama tends to choose his words pretty carefully, so note the difference between saying “No ally is more important than Israel”, and “Israel is our most important ally”. Obviously I have no way of knowing, but I strongly suspect Obama made a conscious choice to use the former phrasing, and not the latter.
P.S. Joseph Jaglowicz, once the Republicans settle on a nominee, you might want to check out his position on Israel and Palestine before making a final decision.
Don’t worry, Canada’a Pants, nobody up here can stay offended for too long.
What is MSM?
I wonder if the Canadian Government’s interest in getting closer to China so as to find a new partner for its oil sands and its exploitation might also be another reason why Obama ignored Canada? That he intends to let Canada know of his displeasure?
@Joseph A. Komonchak (12/01, 11:04 am) MSM is short for “mainstream media”, a phrase which sometimes (though not always) has a negative connotation.
Luke Hill: You’re in explaining mode; Explain the difference:
“No ally is more important than Israel” versus “Israel is our most important ally”
@Margaret Steinfels (12/01, 2:26 pm) Sure.
“Israel is our most important ally” is a statement that Israel is first and foremost among US allies.
“No ally is more important than Israel” can mean that other (potentially, many other) countries (e.g., Canada, Great Britain, Brazil, India, Germany, Egypt) are equally as important to the US as Israel is.
It’s a minor distinction, and a somewhat slippery one, but it is a distinction.
(Like all those coaches who say things like, “No player has worked harder than ______ to contribute to our team’s success this year”. It might even be true…but there were a bunch of other players who worked just as hard. It’s a way of praising without overpraising.)
Thank you. Hadn’t thought of that.
You’re welcome.
P.S. Again, it’s just speculation-at-a-distance on my part. For all I know, Obama really meant that Israel is the United State’s most important ally (though I hope that’s not the case).
Luke, it’s not a minor distinction – it’s major weaseling. They mean very different things. But I have no doubt his Jewish listeners weren’t taken in – the difference is glaring if you’re listening carefully, and since they were paying him to talk – money, votes – they were listening carefully.
Sometimes, smart people aren’t smart enough to realize that most people aren’t dumb and a great many are almost as smart as they. Dumb mistake.
From Canada, this is just a shrug…its campaign season again, and again, and again.
Oh Canada!
Mr. Hill, I’m considering withholding my vote for President. I’m an Independent, generally lean Democratic, and would not vote for a Republican candidate (not because of party affiliation but because of policy differences, etc. that prevail in the party at this time).
That said, thanks for the reminder.