Biden and the Jewish media
Back when Joe Biden was a struggling presidential candidate, he had plenty of time for the Jewish media (don't forget about us now!).
Biden does Shalom TV:
Jennifer Siegel, then with the Forward, quizzed the Delaware senator back in March of 2007. A few choice quotes:
On reports that the Bush administration had pressured Israel to avoid talks with Syria:
"It's ridiculous. ... First of all, we shouldn't be directing Israel's policy, if that's true. Second, it is mistake not to let Israel, if it wishes to, if its sees an opportunity, because they know the area better than we do, to go out and explore possibilities with the Syrians."
Responding to suggestions that the United States needs to serve more as an honest broker in Israeli-Arab talks:
"In my 34-year career, I have never wavered from the notion that the only time progress has ever been made in the Middle East is when the Arab nations have known that there is no daylight between us and Israel. So the idea of being the 'honest broker' is not I think, like some of my democratic colleagues call for, is not the answer. It is being the smart broker, it is being the smart partner."
In what ways does the U.S.-Israel partnership need to change?
"It's a little bit like my saying to you, as a woman, taking you down in the middle of the night through the Bowery and saying, 'Look, I'm supporting you completely, and you get out of the car and you walk the next 20 blocks through the Bowery. I'm with you no matter what happens, if you take out a gun and shoot a passerby, I'm with you. If you get attacked, I'll help you.' Am I helping you, for God's sake? I've got to get out of the car and walk with you, with you, and not tell you where to walk. Sit with you and say, 'Now tell me … which way you going to walk here, let's talk this through.' And say 'I agree with you' or say, 'If you're going to walk the other direction, I think it's a real mistake,' and have a real argument with you about it, privately…. That's the relationship."I've had my shouting matches over 25 years, privately, in my office and in the offices of prime ministers. I've had disagreements. Israel's a democracy and they make mistakes. But the notion that somehow if Israel just did the right thing this would work, I mean that's the premise, give me a break."
UPDATE: Also, check out the transcript and video of Biden's remarks to members of the National Jewish Democratic Council in April 2007.
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Joe Biden,
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Biden: Don’t link Iraq and Israel
The Iraq Study Group, chaired by longtime Bush family political confidant James Baker and Lee Hamilton, ruffled plenty of pro-Israel feathers by asserting in its final 2006 report that "the United States will not be able to achieve its goals in the Middle East unless the United States deals directly with the Arab-Israeli conflict."
As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Joe Biden made a point of challenging that assertion. Just a few moments into his opening statement at a January 17, 2007 hearing, Biden declared: "As we explore answers to these questions, I'd like to make one thing clear – I do not accept the notion of linkage between Iraq and the Arab-Israeli conflict. Arab-Israeli peace is worth pursuing vigorously on its own merits, but even if a peace treaty were signed tomorrow, it would not end the civil war in Iraq."
It was a point that he would stress again in a later interview with Shalom TV.
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Jewish Republicans: Biden’s soft on Iran
Here's the statement released by the Republican Jewish Coalition:
Washington, D.C. (August 23, 2008) – Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) Executive Director Matt Brooks issued the following statement today:"With the selection of Senator Joe Biden as Senator Obama's vice president, the Democrat's ticket has now become an even greater gamble for the Jewish community. Throughout his career, Senator Biden has consistently been wrong on Iran and his voting record on Israel has been inconsistent. Like Obama, Biden fundamentally misunderstands the threat posed by an Iran determined to obtain nuclear weapons. Biden has continuously demonstrated poor judgment on Iran. He has voted against significant legislation that would pressure Iran to stop pursuing nuclear weapons. Biden has failed to recognize the serious threat that Iran poses to Israel and the US and its allies in the Middle East," said RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks.
In 1998, Sen. Biden was one of only four senators to vote against the Iran Missile Proliferation Sanctions Act, a bill that punished foreign companies or other entities that sent Iran sensitive missile technology or expertise. Biden was one of the few senators to oppose the bipartisan 2007 Kyl-Lieberman Amendment labeling the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. In a December 2007 debate, Biden said "Iran is not a nuclear threat to the United States of America." On MSNBC's "Hardball," Biden said he "never believed" Iran had a weapon system under production.
"The Jewish community was already gravely concerned with Senator Obama's na?ve understanding of the Iranian threat. An Obama-Biden ticket has proven that it is ill-equipped to deal with this threat. By selecting Senator Biden to join his ticket, voting for Senator Obama has now become an even greater risk," said Brooks.
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Joe Biden,
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Veepstakes |
Biden and the Jews
JTA's Ron Kampeas and Eric Fingerhut have a story up about Joe Biden's longstanding relationship with Israel and the Jewish community:
Before he announced his vice presidential pick on Saturday, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) said he wanted someone to spar with but who ultimately would be loyal enough to create a comfortable working relationship.No one knew then that he had picked U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), 65, but his ISO ad fit Biden's relationship with the Jewish community to a tee.
The loquacious Biden, who has served in the U.S. Senate since 1973, has sparred frequently with the pro-Israel community and with Israelis, particularly on the issue of settlements. But he has a sterling voting record on pro-Israel issues, and has as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee helped shepherd through key pro-Israel legislation.
Click here to read the full story.
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