Right-Wing Media's Deranged Attack: Obama “Sided With Terrorists”

Written by Leslie Rosenberg

Published

Right-wing media unleashed a crazed onslaught after President Obama's speech on the Middle East, outrageously asserting that Obama “sided with terrorists” by saying that the 1967 borders should guide negotiations over the formation of a Palestinian state. But this position is nothing new, and American Jewish groups praised today's speech.

Right-Wing Flip Out And Tie Obama To Terrorists

CNN's Dana Loesch: Obama “Sided With Terrorists”. During her KFTK radio show, CNN contributor Dana Loesch claimed that in his Middle East speech Obama “sided with terrorists” and “people who believe that Israel doesn't have the right to exist.” [KFTK, The Dana Show, 5/19/2011]

Limbaugh: Obama Urged Israel To “Destroy Itself” And “Submit Its People To Potential Genocide.” Rush Limbaugh said of Obama's speech: “What kind of President urges a country to destroy itself and submit its people to potential genocide?” [Premiere Radio Networks, Rush Limbaugh Program, 5/19/2011]

Gateway Pundit: “Obama Proposed Today Giving Half Of Jerusalem...To Hamas-Fatah Terrorist Alliance.” From Jim Hoft's May 19 post to his blog:

“Let's be clear.
Obama today proposed giving half of Jerusalem, the Wailing Wall, The Temple Mount, Old Jerusalem, The holiest Christian Church in the world, The Church of the Holy Sepulchre to Hamas-Fatah terrorist alliance." [Gateway Pundit, 5/19/2011]

Right-Wing Blog, Ace of Spades: Obama Is “Endorsing The Terrorists' Key Demand. From a May 19 Ace of Spades blog post:

”Obama pretty much announced that he wants Israel to return to its 1967 borders-- thus endorsing the terrorists' key demand without requiring any substantive concessions on their part." [Ace of Spades, 5/19/2011]

Sean Hannity: Obama Supports Radicals. Following the speech, Sean Hannity posted the following tweet linking Obama to “radicals”:

Hannity tweet

But Obama's Position On The 1967 Borders Is “Nothing New”

Jeffrey Goldberg: “1967 Borders...Has Been The Basic Idea For At Least 12 Years”. Jeffery Goldberg wrote of the speech under the headline, “Nothing New in the Idea That '67 Borders Should Guide Peace Talks.” Goldberg added: “This has been the basic idea for at least 12 years. This is what Bill Clinton, Ehud Barak and Yasser Arafat were talking about at Camp David, and later, at Taba. This is what George W. Bush was talking about with Ariel Sharon and Ehud Olmert. So what's the huge deal here? Is there any non-delusional Israeli who doesn't think that the 1967 border won't serve as the rough outline of the new Palestinian state?” In a subsequent update, he added:

UPDATE: Here is what Hillary Clinton said in 2009: “We believe that through good-faith negotiations the parties can mutually agree on an outcome which ends the conflict and reconciles the Palestinian goal of an independent and viable state based on the 1967 lines, with agreed swaps, and the Israeli goal of a Jewish state with secure and recognized borders that reflect subsequent developments and meet Israeli security requirements.” [The Atlantic, 5/19/2011]

And Jewish Organizations Commended Obama For His Speech

American Jewish Committee “Praised President Obama's Call Today.” The American Jewish Committee issued a statement praising Obama's comments, specifically citing the president's comments on a “two-state solution”:

“President Obama has sternly warned the Palestinians, and the international community, to stop this senseless drive to try to achieve a state without any negotiated agreement with Israel,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris.

“The parameters of a two-state solution are just as clear today as they were when Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas walked away from the peace talks last September,” said Harris. “The Palestinians must return now to close the deal.” [American Jewish Committee, 5/19/11]

ADL: “We Support The President's Vision Of A Negotiated Israeli-Palestinian Settlement.” The Anti-Defamation League also praised Obama's speech, stating:

We welcome President Obama's compelling speech on the priorities for American policy in the Middle East. We applaud his strong outlining of the principles which motivate that policy, including supporting the universal rights of free speech, equality and religious freedom, opposing the use of force and political repression, and promoting political and economic reforms. These are a reflection of American values and promote American interests.

[...]

We support the President's vision of a negotiated Israeli-Palestinian settlement with strong security provisions for Israel, and a non-militarized Palestinian state. We appreciate his direct rejection of a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state and his understanding that the Hamas-Fatah agreement poses major problems for Israel. [Anti-Defamation League, 5/19/11]