Biden: Don’t trust McCain on Iran
In his vice presidential acceptance speech [at 20:34 in the video], Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) used the candidate's contrasting approaches on Iran as one of the distinctions he drew on foreign policy:
"Should we trust John McCain's judgment when he rejected talking with Iran and then asked: What is there to talk about? Or Barack Obama, who said we must talk and make it clear to Iran that its conduct must change. Now, after seven years of denial, even the Bush administration recognizes that we should talk to Iran, because that's the best way to advance our security. Again, John McCain was wrong. Barack Obama was right."
Obama drew criticism from his onetime primary opponent Hillary Clinton and from Republicans for his statement last year that he would be willing to meet with the president of Iran, and he and Biden were two of just two dozen senators to oppose an amendment urging the declaration of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps as a terrorist group. But the campaign has been making the case that the Obama-Biden policy on Iran would be more effective.
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Bill Clinton: Need the “power of diplomacy” in Middle East
Bill Clinton didn't get into any specifics on the Middle East in his speech tonight, but did say that "our position in the world has been weakened by," among other things, "a failure to consistently use the power of diplomacy, from the Middle East to Africa to Latin America to Center and Eastern Europe."
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Obama’s great uncle saluted for Buchenwald liberation
In a speech devoted mostly to a rough attack on John McCain, 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry illustrated Barack Obama's patriotism by recognizing the new nominee's great uncle Charlie Payne, who participated in the liberation of a concentration camp during World War II [forward to 9:34 of the video].
"On a spring day in 1945, he helped liberate one of the concentration camps at Buchenwald," said Kerry in his speech. "Ladies and gentleman, Barack Obama's [great] uncle is here with us tonight. Please join me in saluting this American hero, Charlie Payne. Charlie, your nephew, Barack Obama, will end this politics of distortion and division. He will be a president who seeks not to perfect the lies of Swift boating, but to end them once and for all."
Payne rose from his seat, next to Michelle Obama, and acknowledged the ovation he recieved from the crowd. Payne first received attention in May, when Obama mistakenly said that he had helped to liberate Auschwitz – and was then accused of making up the story, since that camp was liberated by Soviet forces. The Obama campaign then clarified the name of the concentration camp.
UPDATE: At 2:04 ... Kerry hit the Bush-was-actually-bad-for-Israel talking point:
George Bush, with John McCain at his side, promised to spread freedom but delivered the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time. They misread the threat and misled the country. Instead of freedom, it's Hamas, Hezbollah, the Taliban and dictators everywhere that are on the march. North Korea has more bombs, and Iran is defiantly chasing one.
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Bayh: Bush has endangered Israel
One of the passed over vice presidential candidates, Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) attacked President George W. Bush's Middle East policy, and said John McCain would just bring more of the same.
In another example of the Obama campaign's continued effort to argue that their candidate will protect Israel more effectively than the Republicans, Bayh [at 1:58 of the video] said:
Under George Bush, the Middle East has become more troubled. That hurts America and endangers our ally, Israel, which has been forced to confront a resurgent Hamas, an emboldened Hezbollah and an Iran determined to get nuclear weapons. That is not the change we need.
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Wexler talks Obama and Israel on convention stage
Rep. Robert Wexler trumpeted Barack Obama's support for Israel in his speech to the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night, while arguing that the GOP presumptive nominee would make Israel less safe. Here's an excerpt:
We entered into an unnecessary war and remain bogged down in Iraq, as Afghanistan backslides, and the architects of Sept. 11 remain free. On Bush and McCain's watch, we have witnessed the growing influence of a belligerent Iran that has destabilized the Middle East and threatens our ally, Israel.John McCain offers more of the same failed policies that endanger both America and Israel. Barack Obama offers the change we need. Barack Obama will responsibly end the war in Iraq, prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and turn our focus back to defeating Al Qaeda.
We know Barack Obama is the President America needs. He's also the leader and friend Israel needs, and he will bring to the White House an unshakeable commitment to Israel's security. In his heart, in his gut, Barack Obama stands with Israel. Not only his words, but his deeds, bear testament to this fact.
Barack Obama, not John McCain, led the fight in the Senate for divestment legislation that would deliver powerful economic sanctions against Iran. As President, he will increase the international pressure on Iran and finally get results through direct and tough diplomacy. Results due to his stronger, more engaged American foreign policy.
This respected and strategic Obama foreign policy will be best for the security of Israel, our other allies worldwide, and America herself.
Barack Obama has seen with his own eyes the genuine threats faced by Israelis every day.
He recently traveled to the town of Sderot along the Gaza border, and met young families who want nothing more than to go about their lives in security and peace. Instead, as they go to work, as they take their children to school, they suffer under the daily threat of rocket attacks.
Barack Obama understands the threats Israel faces from Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria and Iran. And as President, Barack Obama will strongly support Israel's right and capability to defend itself, and finally make progress toward the goal of a two-state solution that preserves Israel's security as a Jewish state.
During his recent trip to Israel, Barack visited Yad Vashem, Jerusalem's Holocaust Memorial, where he recommitted himself to combating anti-Semitism and ending the genocide in Darfur.
Because Barack Obama knows that the words "never again" must have real meaning in our time. That's the leadership we need to keep America strong and allies like Israel secure. Leadership that restores our strength and America's global standing.
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