Palin disinvited from (anti) Iran rally

Summerwind · 09-18-08, 06:55 PM

Ben Smith's Blog: Palin disinvited from Iran rally - Politico.com
by Ben Smith

Quote:

September 18, 2008

Palin disinvited from Iran rally

The organizers of an anti-Iran rally Monday rescinded their invitation to Alaska Governor Sarah Palin after Democrats protested that her presence would turn the event into a political rally, McCain campaign and Jewish community sources said.

The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations created a political tempest by inviting Palin to speak without clearing her invitation with another speaker, Senator Hillary Clinton. Clinton promptly dropped out of the event, saying it would be seen as unduly political. The McCain campaign then pressed Senator Barack Obama to join Palin on the stage in a show of unity against Iran.

The Obama campaign in turn offered to send Congressman Robert Wexler of Florida -- who had harshly attacked Palin for slender ties to Pat Buchanan-- to the event.

But the appearance that the non-partisan group was aligning with the Republican ticket put the group and its president, Malcolm Hoenlein, under heavy pressure from Jewish Democrats, including members of the conference, members of Congress, and the liberal group J Street, not to give Palin a platform, sources said. Hoenlein told the McCain campaign that he would have to rescind Palin's invitation or cancel the rally.

The organizers, I'm told, have formally disinvited all elected and political officials, but the move was about Palin.

Interesting news. Now I'm never in favor of an anti-(fill in the country) rally; but at least they recognized that it might be prudent to remain non-partisan.

Note to Mods: I've posted this in the same forum as the corresponding "Clinton declines" thread. I've noticed when I've done this before, the anti-McCain thread (mine) get tossed into Partisan Politics while the anti-Democrat threads stay in Breaking News. Since this is the same forum as its related post and it is a new article today, I ask that it stay put. Thanks.

Summerwind · 09-18-08, 06:59 PM

Here's FauxNews link as well, perhaps it is better than a blog article.

Palin Disinvited From Iran Rally After Clinton Pulls Out - America’s Election HQ

Panther · 09-18-08, 07:09 PM

I guess that clears up the question whether this is a pro-Israel, pro-Jewish group or just a liberal partisan organization.

Frolicking Dinosaurs · 09-18-08, 07:24 PM

Sure does - this is a pro-Israeli group that didn't want their rally to turn into a political football.

P/N · 09-18-08, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frolicking Dinosaurs

Sure does - this is a pro-Israeli group that didn't want their rally to turn into a political football.

Which explains why they dis-invited Clinton right?

Frolicking Dinosaurs · 09-18-08, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P/N

Which explains why they dis-invited Clinton right?

Did Clinton attend? It was my understanding that she had already declined.

P/N · 09-18-08, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frolicking Dinosaurs

Did Clinton attend? It was my understanding that she had already declined.

After she realized Palin was going to be there. Since Clinton declined to show, why dis-invite Palin? The proved they were non-partisan by inviting both. But when one declines to attend, not because of the message the group stands for, but because another attendee is the VP candidate for the opposing party, they don't look non-partisan anymore when they do what they just did.

I believe the group is non-partisan, but this was a bad move on their part - it makes it look like they are partisan.

Frolicking Dinosaurs · 09-18-08, 09:27 PM

Maybe they wanted the rally to be about Iran and not about the fact that Palin attended and Hillary didn't. You don't have to Einstein to figure out what McCain would have done with this.

As I said in one of the threads, Clinton was going to be wrong no matter what she did. If she went, McCain would have likely tried to make it seem she supported Palin - if she didn't go, she would be accused of supporting Iran (which you guys did when she announced she wasn't going). It is easier to dismiss Hillary loves Iran than to dismiss Hillary supports Palin if they land on the same stage and McCain uses that in an ad.

John1234 · 09-18-08, 09:30 PM

Darn.
I was hoping that Palin would get something to add to her resume other than "I can almost see Russia from my house".

I was almost hoping to see her sing the song of the Global Empire.
"Bomb Bomb Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran"

justone · 09-18-08, 10:44 PM

Clinton already created a partisan controversy. The Jewish wisdom told them – stay away from non-issue scandals. The only Jewish step they could do was to distance themselves from partisan politics, because the event did not have any relation to partisan politics. I think it is a Jewish thing and I must tell I like some Jewish jokes, especially when they are made by Jews. If I was not so tired I would think about something to make as an imitation. It is like we are jumping up and around and Jews are minding their business and do not have us on their minds? What matters is the statement Palin can make in regards to de-invitation. What is she saying, anything that can make one laugh or at least feel no tension?
What is she saying?