JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People

EMET pulls out of involvement with “Obsession Project”

By Eric Fingerhut · September 29, 2008

A pro-Israel think tank has pulled out of involvement with "The Obsession Project," just a few days after a Muslim advocacy group filed a complaint about the effort.

The Washington, D.C.-based Endowment for Middle East Truth had agreed to write a policy paper and lead an educational outreach effort subsequent to the distribution of 28 million DVDs of the film "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West." The DVD distribution was funded and arranged by the Clarion Fund, and EMET was not involved with that portion of the project.

EMET founder and president Sarah Stern initially told JTA on Friday that she had been taken advantage of by the group and had never spoken with Ari Morgenstern, who was quoted in press reports as speaking for EMET and the Obsession Project.

But the communications strategists for the project, Baron Communications LLC and 30 Point Strategies, shared e-mails and phone records that showed Stern had at least four telephone conversations earlier in the week with Morgenstern. In addition, they produced an e-mail from Sept. 22 which showed Stern approving of a press release and other materials announcing EMET's participation. Another e-mail a day later from Stern included a lengthy note backing the project's mission and the sign-off "Soldier On!"

Stern now does acknowledge having spoken to Morgenstern and approving involvement with the project, but now says she "made a mistake" in not getting approval from EMET's board before agreeing to became a partner. She said she still supports efforts to encourage Americans to watch "Obsession."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations asked the Federal Election Commission on Sept. 23 to investigate the distribution of the DVDs and whether it was intended to influence the election – even though the film includes no partisan political content. The DVD were inserted into dozens of newspapers in swing states. The Muslim group claims that Aish HaTorah International is behind the project. A spokesman for Aish HaTorah denied the organization was involved, but said employees of the group may be involved in their free time.

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RJC continues ads; Jewish Dems fight back

By Eric Fingerhut · September 29, 2008

The Republican Jewish Coalition has released the latest in its series of ads that are making lots of Jewish Democrats mad. This one entitled "Barack Obama's Advisors: Pro-Palestinian, Anti-Israel, Even Hostile to America," attacks the Democratic nominee for his longtime relationship with Rev. Jeremiah Wright, as well as others with whom the group says Obama "surrounds" himself. (The RJC uses an expansive definition of "surrounds," considering, for instance, one of the advisors named in the ad, Robert Malley, says he was never an adviser to the campaign and only offered informal advice.)

At last week's National Jewish Democratic Council Washington Conference, former congressman and Obama campaign adviser Mel Levine charged that the RJC is "weakening Israel" and damaging the tradition of bipartisan support for the Jewish state with such advertisements.

"They are denigrating strong friends of Israel, starting with Barack Obama," said Levine. "They are interested in tearing apart someone for purely partisan reasons. It is very harmful to Israel."

Democrats were planning to fight back, though. Levine noted that the Obama campaign is distributing talking points to rebut some of the issues raised by the RJC, and others on the panel, entitled "Israel: Bipartisan Consensus or Partisan Wedge Issue," suggested that there was nothing wrong with raising legitimate questions about McCain on the Middle East – his mixup of Sunni and Shiite Muslims earlier in the campaign, for instance – as long as it is done "respectfully."

Ira Forman, NJDC executive director, drew a distinction between the RJC's ads and the Democratic argument that the Bush administration had made Israel "less safe" – saying his party is not calling Republican friendship with Israel into question.

But RJC executive director Matt Brooks objected to the NJDC attacks, saying he was reminded of the "old adage" that "when there's a bad set of facts, change the subject."

"We're not in any way trying to harm bipartisan support for Israel," said Brooks, but arguing there is a "big difference between Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain, a lot of issues and ideas" that require "vigorous debate."

"That is what a campaign is all about," he said.

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Political tidbits: Is Bubbie’s vote really that important?

By Eric Fingerhut · September 29, 2008

• Writing in The New Republic, Nate Silver explains "Why your Bubbie will not decide the election" – no matter how many grandchildren make The Great Schlep.
• Barack Obama tells a group of mostly Jewish donors in Detroit why he likes the Jewish New Year.
• Abba Spero, in the Jewish Press, compares John McCain and the rebbe of the Warsaw Ghetto.
• Former New York Mayor Ed Koch hits the campaign trail in South Florida, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
• Cox News Service checks out the "army" the Obama campaign is building in Florida to sway Jewish voters.
• What will the "Palin Effect" be? Bradley Burston explores that question in Ha'aretz.
• Jeffrey Goldberg, blogging at The Atlantic, says Sarah Palin demonstrated "terrifying ignorance" when asked about Hamas's electoral victory in Gaza.
• The Wall Street Journal on campaign yarmulkes – and whether they're appropriate for synagogue.
• Over at Ynet, Israeli Likudnik Yoram Ettinger compares the worldviews of the two presidential candidates – turns out he isn't a fan of Obama.
• In the Huffington Post, Sherman Yellen argues it is "deeply offensive to any Jewish voter who cares about Israel" for the presidential candidates to "exploit" fears of an Iranian attack on Israel.
• Marilyn Henry, in the Jerusalem Post, examines the role of clergy and houses of worship in politics.
• Thirty-three pastors endorsed candidates from their pulpits yesterday, hoping to get sued.
• As Congress races to vote on the big bailout before Rosh Hashanah starts, here's a look at House Democrats' point man on the bill, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), who quips that "it's a well-known rule" that "God will only hear your prayers if you're in your congressional district."
• And some background on Eric Cantor's role in the bailout drama, as one of the House Republicans who helped scuttle the original plan.

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Shanah Tovah from Barack Obama

By Eric Fingerhut · September 29, 2008

Barack Obama released High Holiday greetings Sunday afternoon. He spoke about "reparing the world" and bringing peace and security to Israel. Here's his full statement:

"As Jews around the world celebrate Rosh Hashanah, I want to send my best wishes for a happy, healthy, and sweet new year. This marks not just a time for rejoicing, but for reflecting on the hopes the new year brings, and on our responsibilities to see them fulfilled. As families come together to mark the High Holy Days, upholding a proud Jewish tradition, let us all rededicate ourselves to the task of repairing this world for our children and grandchildren, and to working to achieve peace and security for Israel. On behalf of all of the Obamas and Bidens, Shana Tovah."

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