After Charles Freeman stepped down from his pending appointment to a major intelligence post, the explanations started pouring forth from the anti-Israel lobby. In essence they said, “it’s all the fault of the Jews.” You know how powerful they are and how they control the media and the country’s politics. No one put this more forthrightly than Andrew Sullivan, who wrote that the opposition to Freeman’s appointment engaged in “character assassination,” and that “even minor appointments in the president’s own staff cannot proceed if the appointees question the p.c. line on Israel.”
I don’t know Sullivan’s definition of character assassination, but carefully quoting – often in full and never out of context- Freeman’s views on China, the Saudis and yes on Israel—and holding him to account for views that previously were ignored by those who vetted him, hardly fits the charge of character assassination.
Then there is the variation on the Israeli lobby theory: It was just the Jewish neo-cons, who evidently are so powerful even when the Republicans are out of office, that they can accomplish such a feat. Thus one Charles Freeman, a self-proclaimed Jewish peacenik, blogs that he “was the victim of a mob, not a lobby.” Freeman points to Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic liberal from New York, who now is himself evidently a neo-con. As for AIPAC, he points out that the first salvo against Freeman’s appointment came from dismissed AIPAC lobbyist Steve Rosen who is now on trial for violation of the Espionage Act. I guess despite these disabilities, Rosen too has great power.
Finally, Flesher (who Sullivan also links to) argues that he has heard from “very reliable sources” that AIPAC spokesman Josh Block contacted journalists and bloggers about Freeman. Block is communications director for the organization, and deals regularly with the press. Even if Flesher is right and Block cited articles and evidence that revealed Freeman’s positions on different issues, this is not only not lobbying—-but is well within the terrain of Block’s job. At least Flesher acknowledges that Freeman “had enough extra baggage to make him an easy mark.”
Then there was the ultimate so-called explanation, that which came from Charles Freeman himself. Now widely known, Freeman’s screed – and screed it is- includes the following key paragraph:
The libels on me and their easily traceable email trails show conclusively that there is a powerful lobby determined to prevent any view other than its own from being aired, still less to factor in American understanding of trends and events in the Middle East. The tactics of the Israel Lobby plumb the depths of dishonor and indecency and include character assassination, selective misquotation, the willful distortion of the record, the fabrication of falsehoods, and an utter disregard for the truth. The aim of this Lobby is control of the policy process through the exercise of a veto over the appointment of people who dispute the wisdom of its views, the substitution of political correctness for analysis, and the exclusion of any and all options for decision by Americans and our government other than those that it favors.
Charles Freeman is something of a mad hatter. He fails, however, to perceive himself in this manner. Freeman’s cultural milieu probably considers his views as relatively non-controversial. But let’s not get sidetracked. There is a far more important question that cannot be ignored: how did the Obama administration get involved with such a weird individual? Do Freeman’s views reflect those of the nation’s elected leader? President Obama does not deserve a pass. The buck stops at his desk. He minimally has people around him who share Freeman’s mindset. When are they going to be kicked out the door? Why were hired in the first place? We need answers from Obama—in the very near future.
Citing Pelosi now to justify AIPAC’s smear campaign of Freeman? Oh, that’s a good one. Nancy Pelosi–whom you would loathe on any other occasion–is so pro-Israeli, she practically lives in Jerusalem. She gets it though; no one in politics gets anywhere without AIPAC’s money and influence. Those who try to dissent from AIPAC’s political pressure, soon find themselves in the same position as Freeman–ask Paul Findley or Jim Moran. One Minnesota lawmaker reported she was threatened by an AIPAC caller over this. AIPAC is a malignant influence in this country. It’s time we distanced our policies from Israeli influence, whether governmental or lobby advocacy. After all, it’s brought us nothing but misery in foreign policy, destroyed our moral credibility, and put our troops in danger time and again. Israel takes our money and weapons systems, sells them to China, attacks our interests and targets our military, undermines our national security by spying on us, distorts our policies in the Middle East, and basically undermines US credibility by virtue of our alliance with them. This is a special relationship that is dangerous to our health.
The link to the Thursday 12 March WaPo editorial which Mr. Radosh cites above doesn’t work for me. Does it for anybody?
mounting errors
I see you’re back to it again. Can’t you get any new material? I thought that I set you straight on this garbage about a month ago. I can’t decide if you’re a left wing commy or an Islamo-Facist masquerading as a regular guy.
Name me one weapons system Israel sold China. Where has Israel attacked our interests. Aside from the Liberty in 1967, when has Israel ever attacked our military?
This special relationship that is so dangerous to our health gives the USA about 50% of its Mideast intelligence. Its saved the USA countless American lives.
By the way, welcome back! I really missed kicking you around.
President Obama is the CONCERN, not Chas Freeman, stop misdirecting us from the real consequences of this appointment. Freeman’s public statements spearhead the essence of Obama’s ‘change policies’ which seek to abandon our relationships & redefine everything we know to be American.
What worries me is that people seem to accept this as a valid explanation. Ben Smith’s article on politico about it has the comments section full of people espousing views like mountainaires, which are ridiculous.
For some odd reason, Israel seems to excite conspiracy theories about their supposed influence over us. Maybe we support them because supporting people like Hamas, who use terrorism, suicide bombing, and fear are morally repugnant?
Good for AIPAC. At least someone with an ounce of sense still has some say in this government. I bet 95% of AIPAC members voted for Zero though. Wonder how many of them had relatives in the Warsaw Ghetto?
Any organization that seeks to subvert the U.S. government on behalf of a foreign power is by definition subversive. We need a new HUAC to investigate AIPAC, expose its members and root them out from any influence. This country needs a new Joe McCarthy.
Bad link to WaPo editorial.
Second #5, Oscar; #3, where’s your documentation??
Try this:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/11/AR2009031103384.html
(Ton has “content” mispelled in the link)
Frankly the Freeman process getting as far as it did was a little disturbing; if some nutcase (no matter how respected among the left) want to blame all his problems on the “Israel Lobby”, well, fine, I guess it’s his right. But not in public office….Just reading his comments about Tiananmen square, and the suppression of the Bonus Army in the US back in the early 30′s, were enough to consider using Freeman and Intelligence in the same sentence a dicey proposition. His further victimization rants just support that…
And I mispelled “Ron”, sorry
well, like Icarus the Israelis have overshot – REALLY STUPIDLY – arrogance does it everytime.
There will be a huge blowback over the Chas Freeman debacle – Schumer and that aipac idiots boasting will not go over – what a setup – bravo.
The Obama adin wants to change the tone w/ Iran and ….. that will be done
ha ha ha
“President Obama is the CONCERN, not Chas Freeman, stop misdirecting us from the real consequences of this appointment.”
That’s right. Chas Freeman is ancient news. forget about him. We must redirect our concerns toward Barack Obama’s disastrous selection of Dennis Blair to be his administration’s Director of National Intelligence! What in hell is going on in the White House? something is very wrong. The last time I checked Obama is the president of the United States. The buck stops at his desk.
Okay, I confess. As a Jew I admit publicly that we created capitalism, communism, control the media, the international financial system, are descendants of Satan by way of pigs and apes, defile little children, are intent on oppressiong Muslims, dominating the world, invented pornography, rock and roll and the evil bialy.
Now that I have that off my chest, please leave me alone. I have to go now and control the media…..
Benson – WaPo link fixed. Thanks.
PJM editor
I sure hope they did.
It would be nice to know that they are doing something positive for Israel.
Do you job right and be proud of it.
Thats more than those morons in the White House can say.
The Israelis are running our foreign policy?
Really?
Thank God SOMEONE is!
Thank God it’s them and not =:obama’s 60s radicals.
Two ways of looking at this–one is that Freeman’s own brand of paranoia, something about which he is evidently quite proud, is what forced him out. And he had to show it off once more for everyone just in case someone missed it. In this case, no, the Israel Lobby, or morally correct lobby, had nothing to do with it.
The second way of seeing it, since this all took place on Purim, and if you consider Gd a part of the Israel Lobby, then, I guess, yeah.
But in that case, it’s just so cool.
it’s the Jews..of course….holy fish..what a nightmare…the question was asked how could the Obambi administration know such a weirdo….are you freakin kiddin me…the “One” of course knows all kind of weirdo types..does he really know anyone normal….and his views on Israel are of course arabesque…to say the least…if this really surprises anyone, i would be shocked…a China loving Jew hating Saudi bum kissing member of the intelligence community as Obambi’s intel advisor…sounds about right to me with this crew in town…what could possibly go wrong.
peace out
lmfao
Did the Israelly Lobby force out Charles Freeman? That is a stupid question! The real question is “Should the American Jewish Lobby have force out Chas Freeman?” YES!
#15
J.J., don’t be modest. You left off foreign debts, homeless vets, AIDS, crack and Bernie Goetz.
It’s the JOOOOOOOOS!!! Oh give the rest of the world a freakin’ break. Just because you can’t get laid doesn’t mean it was a Jewish conspiracy. Isn’t it time to go check on your “sheets” hanging on the laundry line? IF it were the Israelis running our foreign policy, well they’ve been doing a crappy job. Get a freakin’ grip. “Chas” got his bigoted, paid for arse handed to him. The reality that he was bought and paid for by both the Chinese and the Saudis, in conjunction with his obvious anti-Jewish, is what sunk his worthless butt. Good riddance. Now, who’s next Obambi? On the lighter side, we never did get to find out if he lied on his taxes. Anyone want to take bets on him having done so?lol
This is pretty good attempt to shift blame but it’s a little too late.
I love how people are all of the sudden human righs activists when they are not discussing Israel, or people accuse others from accepting money from a foreign government when it’s not accepting money from Israel.
It was the Jews stupid not the “Israel Lobby”, and no amount of smearing and obfuscating can change the fact. Everyone knows if you don’t have the approval of people in our government then you are out.
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/middle-east/schumer-takes-credit-for-getting-chas-freeman-ousted/
Chuck Schumer had this to say:
“Charles Freeman was the wrong guy for this position. His statements against Israel were way over the top and severely out of step with the administration. I repeatedly urged the White House to reject him, and I am glad they did the right thing.”
http://www.archive.org/details/MythOfTheJewishLobby
Joe “Klein” wanders through the swamp (at Time’s “Swampland”: http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2009/03/10/assassination/ Essentially: “A mob of Jewish thugs assassinated Freeman.” Quick, we must defend the fatherland!
Those sneaky Hebes. They get everywhere. It reminds me of that joke about the old peasant sitting reading the Protocols of the Elders of Zion on his porch in the shtetl. “Moishe,” says his friend, “what are you reading that disgusting thing for? Put it away.” “That’s all right, Avi, I just like reading about how powerful I am.”
The idea that a country roughly the size and population of New Jersey should be able to dictate US foreign policy says more about those who propose such fanciful notions than anything else.
I just read the LA Times and in its Opinion section there is an unsigned article about how the AIPAC and the Jews forced Freeman out of office. Nothing was said about his affiliation with Saudi Arabia or his affiliation with China or that Nancy Pelosi was death against him.
Thank God we get the News from the LA Times and that its not a bit slanted.
That “Jewish Lobby” sure has clout!
How about that Jewish vote? 4 to 1 for Louis Farrakhan’s black Messiah! Now that’s clout! Chas Freeman voted with the 4, you know. What? You don’t know Charley my boy is Jewish, like Rahm Emanuel, and David Axelrod? Jews are everywhere … ha ha ha ha ha!
Since when does Chuck Schumer, Israeli spy Steve Rosen and a few other pro-Israeli firsters get to dictate Obama’s appointees?
Who cares who got rid of him? Let it be Castro for all I care. Just as long as he is gone.
But is there a chance that unofficially he will still have influence?
#27 Carl Sesar:
How do you know he’s Jewish? I’ve Googled and Wiki’d him, and there doesn’t seem to be much information about his family, other than his father was in business.
It seems to be beyond the comprehension of some people that most Zionists aren’t Jewish, but there we are. Most Jews aren’t Zionists, and most Zionists aren’t Jews.
Ah cheeze, the JUICE did it, stealing our just share of the credit. The chinese tongs weren’t happy with “New Dawn” Freeman, us evil spec ops facists “black helicoptered” him and we demand our fair share of the hate!! Youse JUICE have the same right, for the same reasons, that the NAACP has to oppose a KKK klansman or we baby killers have to oppose Frency Kerry.
#29 naftali:
See Ron’s 3rd paragraph above, but I also read it elsewhere a couple of days ago.
#31 Carl
I don’t know. If he were Jewish, how was he even allowed to set foot in Saudi Arabia? My understanding is that the Saudis are very careful about letting Jews inside the country. And they have a history of protesting US Ambassadors who speak their language, that is, if they aren’t on their payroll.
But I’ll keep an eye out for any word one way or the other.
# 36 naftali:
Well, I also read that Freeman has at times been on the Saudi payroll, but I can’t vouch for it. Also, while not a common thing, Jews are allowed to live in Saudia Arabia under special circumstances. An old friend of mine, who went to the same Hebrew school as I when we were kids, became a world-class petroleum engineer, and he lived in Saudi Arabia for a while designing oil refineries there. Finally, Freeman’s nasty attitude toward Israel, and all the harsh things he’s said, are typical among so called “self-hating” Jews. So I’m inclined to think he’s probably one himself. But again, I don’t know for sure.
Thank God SOMEONE is
This latest fiasco about Chas Freeman is captured perfectly in the backstory of a political cartoon USMediaAndIsrael.com Encouragingly, the Press is not turning its head away this time
The Israel lobby also successfully silenced NYTimes columnists Thomas Friedman and Frank Rich: http://usmediaandisrael.com/?p=134