When 20,000 Becomes a "Majority" or, The J Street Mob

We won? We?

Remember the Tonto-Lone Ranger joke? (*)

Well, read on to find out who the "we" is in the story of removing Sarah Palin from the speakers' list at the anti-Iran rally. (Kippah tip: AtlasShrugs)

We Won! Palin Not Speaking at Iran Rally

We collected over 20,000 signatures in 24 hours asking Iran Unity rally organizer Malcolm Hoenlein to take Sarah Palin off the schedule for Monday's rally, and he caved to our pressure on Thursday afternoon citing the fact that the rally had become too partisan.

This is the right decision. A unity rally to express communal solidarity is no place for partisan politics. And to give such prominence to Sarah Palin alone would have spoken neither to, nor for, the American Jewish community.

This is a victory not just for the 20,188 others who signed J Street's petition. It's a victory for the broader community. And we're pleased the rally's organizers came to their senses so quickly.

Victories like these don't come easily - or often. But when they do, we should savor them, at least briefly.

We'll be back at it tomorrow, because our next task is making sure that the messages at the rally reflect the view of a majority of Americans - Jewish and otherwise - that the best way to deal with Iran is through tough, smart diplomacy - not saber rattling and threats of force.

The "we" is the J Street Gang. The latest radical, progressive mob who, with big bucks, is trying to take over the American Jewish establishment and specifically do in Israel.

How did Malcolm collapse?

For example, I received this notice:-

CAMERA was never consulted in this matter and would not have agreed to the course taken.

We have been in contact with Malcolm Hoenlein, Vice Chairman of the Conference, have expressed our dismay and have urged the invitation be restored, along with one to a representative chosen by Senator Obama's campaign.

Like untold numbers of Jews, we're angry and offended by what's been done in our name.

Eli Hertz, Chairman, CAMERA

Andrea Levin, Executive Director, CAMERA

Were proper procedures followed?

Was there any sembalnce of democracy?

Or are the radicals running roughshod?

When Malcom was directing the Soviet Jewry rallies of over three decades ago, there were always politicians. Who is going to do the actual work of government, the 20,000 lefties, the 100,000 protestors or the few politicans who realize our cause is just, for Israel, for Jews and for America.

If there was anything partisan in this affair it was the hostile takeover by the J Street mob.

Here's from The Forward's report:-

...Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines told the Forward that “the attendance from a representative of the McCain campaign was news to us. This was never billed to us as a partisan political event, and because it is such an important issue, we do not want to distract from it by contributing to a political show.” Michael Goldfarb, a spokesman for the McCain-Palin campaign, blasted Clinton’s justification for bailing out.

“The claim made by Ms. Clinton’s office that she did not want to attend because it would be a partisan event doesn’t add up, since Ms. Palin’s attendance would seem to make it bipartisan,” he told the Forward.

...Sources close to the issue said, on condition of anonymity, that the flap had caused heated discussions among the rally organizers, with the New York-based groups expressing dismay about the decision to invite Palin.

Several left-leaning members of the Presidents Conference, which comprises 52 Jewish organizations, also criticized the decision to reach out to the Republican Party, which they claimed was made by Hoenlein. They argued that having Clinton, who is the junior senator from New York and no longer running on a presidential ticket, is legitimate, while inviting McCain’s running mate was a political decision.

“I am very disappointed that the rally organizers approached Governor Palin in the first place,” said Kenneth Bob, national president of Ameinu, formerly the Labor Zionist Alliance. “While such rallies in the past have included a bipartisan speaker list, in an election year you want to take special care to invite figures from both sides of the aisle who are well respected by the Jewish community. This certainly does not include Palin, and this invitation has taken the focus away from the matter at hand, Iran. While the conference likes to maintain good relations with both parties, the Democrats can’t like how this was handled,” said Bob, whose organization is a Presidents Conference member.

Something is wrong.

Something needs to be corrected.




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(*)

The Lone Ranger and his faithful companion Tonto find themselves surrounded by hundreds of hostile Indians, screaming and whooping. The Lone Ranger turns to his faithful companion, Tonto, and says, "Old friend, we seem to be in serious trouble." Tonto looks at him and replies, "What do you mean 'we', whiteman?"