Obama Backpedals on Israel Support, Could Further Compromise Reelection

COMMENTARY | As an Illinois senator, Barack Obama was highly critical of the war in Iraq. In his 2006 A Way Forward in Iraq speech to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs Obama said:

"[W]e should be more modest in our belief that we can impose democracy on a country through military force. In the past, it has been movements for freedom from within tyrannical regimes that have led to flourishing democracies; movements that continue today...It's in our interest to help foster democracy through the diplomatic and economic resources at our disposal."

At a White House reception in honor of Jewish American History Month Tuesday, Obama reaffirmed Washington's "unshakeable support and commitment" to the security of State of Israel, reports Israel News. Two days later, President Obama stood before cameras and the world to announce he was going to use those " diplomatic and economic resources" at his disposal to force Israel to reconfigure its border to their 1967 lines in compliance with Palestinian demands.

Where Sen. Obama insisted that we must "be more modest in our belief that we can impose democracy on a country through military force," President Obama is bold in encouraging Palestinians to impose their demands through violent protest. Where President Obama had reaffirmed his "unshakeable support and commitment" to defend Israel against its enemies Tuesday, he said Thursday that "The Palestinian people must have the right to govern themselves, and reach their full potential, in a sovereign and contiguous state;" according to the Sydney Morning Herald, he warned that while Israel has the "right to defend itself," he emphasized with a pointed finger they must now do so "by itself."

Comparatively speaking, this would be the equivalent of having some other powerful world leader encouraging illegal immigrants in the United States to force their belief that the American Southwest belongs to them through violent protests while offering support of their effort.

In July of 2009, Jewish leaders met with Obama to discuss his peace efforts in Israel. Despite his demands for a complete freeze of Jewish settlements on the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the leaders left their meeting "glowing" and in full support of his endeavors in their belief that he was still on their side. Now the Wall Street Journal reports Jewish donors and fundraisers are warning representatives of Obama's re-election campaign that the president is at serious risk of losing financial support because of concerns about his handling of those commitments.

Some Jewish donors say Obama has pushed Israeli leaders too hard against a longstanding element of U.S. policy to halt construction of housing settlements in disputed territory. Some also worry that the president's "peace negotiations" put more pressure on the Israelis than the Palestinians. In evidence of their position, Jewish leaders point out that where Obama has made several visits to Muslim countries, he has yet to visit Israel.

As the president continues down his re-election campaign trail, he seems oblivious to the increasing amount of followers that continue to pour from the base of his support bucket. While his poll numbers on domestic issues continue to sift like sand through a sieve, the man who has abandoned his promise of "Hope and Change" for Americans has foolishly chosen to place all of his political eggs in a flimsy foreign policy basket .

Sources:

"Way Forward in Iraq Remarks - Chicago Council on Global Affairs" Obama Speeches

Steve Weizman, "Israel rejects Obama peace plan, Palestinians cagey", The Sydney Morning Herald

David M. Bresnehan, "Mexicans Say Southwest Belongs to Them" New with Views

Laura Meckler, "Jewish Donors Warn Obama on Israel", The Wall Street Journal

Mimi Hall, "Obama's liberal base 'disengaged'", USA Today

Patricia Campion, "Angry Protests Show Obama Slipping Among Former Supporters", Associated Content

Patricia Campion, "Will Obama's Osama Bump Be Enough to Save His Foundering Presidency?", Associated Content

"Obama supporters: Explain what "CHANGE" and "HOPE" really mean?", Yahoo Answers

Richard Grenell, "Clinton Signals Her Frustration with Obama's Weak Foreign Policies", Huffpost World