A Philly fund-raiser throws support to Obama
Jewish attorneys raising money for Democratic presidential candidates is hardly news. Nor is it all that unusual for them to switch allegiances once their favorite is out of the game. Still, not so long ago, at least one of Hillary Clinton's most ardent supporters and fund-raisers had some major questions about Barack Obama, particularly on issues of concern to the Jewish community.
But now Philadelphia attorney Mark Aronchick is making those money pitches for the presumptive nominee. He tells JTA that after some initial concerns about some of Obama's advisers, he did "due diligence" on Obama's positions on Israel and social justice issues. And he was awed at the senator's recent AIPAC speech.
"Obama gave one of the best speeches I have ever heard at an AIPAC gathering."
The senator explained his positions in a way that demonstrated his commitment, Aronchick said, without pandering to the pro-Israel crowd. Aronchick cited Obama's detailed position about negotiating with Iran, his commitment to maintaining Israel's qualitative edge and his understanding that Israel needs to make decisions about Jerusalem and other negotiations with the Palestinians.
"He made me realize that there is an enormous opportunity here," Aronchick said. "I'm crazy about Hillary Clinton and think she would have been the most remarkable president in my lifetime. But I'm totally there with Sen. Obama now."
More on Aronchick and his Zen-like take on the presidential contest after the jump.
The Philadelphia Inquirer profiled Aronchick and another local Jewish attorney, Alan Kessler, pointing out the differences in their level of enthusiasm for the presumed Democratic nominee:
Aronchick, 59, a yoga devotee, sees the transition through a Zen lens."Negative energy, despondency and despair are a completely unproductive waste of time," he says in his office at Hangley, Aronchick, Segal & Pudlin. Twenty-seven floors above Logan Circle, it commands a stunning view of the city.
"Everybody needs to take a big, deep, yogic cleansing breath. Settle down, look at what's great going on around you, then get rolling. I'm a big believer in forward movement and disengaging from negative emotions.
"The hard part is seeing a person who would have been one of the most remarkable presidents we ever had, not get it. She would have been a better president than her husband, and he was a good president."
Aronchick continues: "Fortunately, we have a really good guy to go work for. . . . That doesn't mean I've eliminated disappointment or wistful thinking. That probably will always be there."
Alan Kessler, 57, also on Clinton's finance committee and a partner at Wolf, Block, Schorr & Solis-Cohen, needs a serious break before backing a new pony.
"I think some of us are just fatigued," he says. "We essentially went to war with Hillary Clinton. . . . After doing this so passionately for so long, it's a matter of catching your breath....
To get there this time, Kessler stresses the party before the person in his pitch. He focuses on such issues as choice, and the importance of having a Democrat appoint justices to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"Everybody knows I think Hillary would make a much better president. How can I go back and say Obama can do that? If they ask, I can say she will always be . . . better, but she's not the nominee. I'm not trying to pull the wool over anybody's eyes."
Aronchick meanwhile, says he's commited to getting the word out in the Jewish community. And he "deplores" the attempt to make Israel a wedge issue. He cited former Pa. Sen. Rick Santorum's recent op-ed.
"I can't imagine a mainstream thinker about the Middle East who would want anything else or need any more proof about his bone fide commitment to Israel," he said of Obama.
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Obama’s speech to AIPAC was good but Hillary’s was better. Then the next day Obama claimed he “misspoke” at AIPAC and virtually did a flip-flop with respect to Jerusalem. Obama cannot be trusted. This is not his first instance of flip-flopping. He does it on domestic issues as well as foreign policy. The man is a hypocrite. It shames me no end that the Democratic party has as its standard bearer a deceitful, conniving Chicago style politicain who is so untrustworthy.
We, the proud citizens of the US, need Senator Obama to lead us out of the quagmire of the Bush regime and into a 21st century safer and more prosperous for our children and grandchildren. I am a fervent senior citizen Asian American feminist supporter of the Obama campaign. McSame’s symptoms of dementia and senility are recognizable to anyone who’s had experience with relatives over 70. He wants to pass certain “beers… that is, bills”, just like he wants now to drill, drill, drill and bomb, bomb. bomb. Whether Democrat or Republican, we need to put our country’s security first, and that means saving the US from a President close to senility.
One cannot vote nor financially support Senator Obama as he changes his position as often as one changes a babies diapers.
Archie
Re: “Whether Democrat or Republican, we need to put our country’s security first, and that means saving the US from a President close to senility.”
Thanks for the comment, I am sure it will go over well with the over-70 demographic that tends to vote in large numbers along with another Obama who wrote that McCain is an “old man” who should “pay a well deserved visit to the undertaker.” I will use your comment accordingly in other blogs to make sure the over-70 demographic knows just what kind of people gravitate to Obama.
God BLESS (that’s BLESS, not curse) America, McCain 2008.
obama will be good for the blacks, but not for the USA or the Jews=he knows who he is-he just does not want us to know
Bill Levinson is a racist, an Islamophobe, and a supporter of Jewish terrorist organizations. His word counts for nothing.
“Frank N. Bean” is a liar and an anonymous coward who would not dare sign his real name to what he says. Google on “Obama” and “Internet thugs,” by the way--perhaps this individual’s function is to intimidate Obama’s opponents.
“obama will be good for the blacks, but not for the USA or the Jews=he knows who he is-he just does not want us to know” - Al Davis
Nope, wrong on all counts. You spout old fashioned racism. Obama is the greatest reason for hope that this country has seen in a long time. He’s a friend of Jews and a friend of Israel and he’ll be a friend whether you like him or not. I’m a proud supporter of Barack Obama.
Re: “You spout old fashioned racism.” It is Obama who chose to make this election about race. In “Dreams From My Father,” he openly supports Black Nationalism--his only problem with it is its lack of effectiveness as opposed to whether it is right or wrong. He talks about his “racial identity,” which is characteristic of RACISM.
Obama also accepted an endorsement from Michael Pfleger, who said “There were a whole lot of white people crying” (over Hillary Clinton’s defeat). The people with whom the Obamas have attended church for 20 years applauded this racist remark, with many of them standing.
Yes, it’s about race--by Obama’s choice, given his propensity to surround himself not only with racists (Wright, Moss, Sharpton, Farrakhan) but also anti-Semites (Sharpton, MoveOn) and anti-Catholic bigots (Farrakhan, MoveOn). I name Farrakhan because Obama had to be asked three times, on national TV, before he would “reject” Farrakhan’s endorsement.
Obama: don’t pose arm in arm with Al “white interloper” Sharpton and then, when I won’t vote for you, call ME a racist.
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Debbie
06/23/08 06:27 PM
I think that Mr.Aronchick should look beyond party politics ...if he is sincerely looking out for and committed to the security of the Untied States and Israel, he will be voting and making “money pitches” for Senator McCain.