Obama Grilled on Ties to Pro-Palestinian Professor
A persistent questioner at a campaign stop Thursday grilled Barack Obama on his ties to a professor with pro-Palestinian views, prompting Obama to speak at some length against “guilt by association” and about his support for the Jewish community.
The at-times heated exchange occurred during a town hall event held at a synagogue in Boca Raton, Fla. The questioner focused on Obama’s relationship to Rashid Khalidi, a professor of Arab studies at Columbia University who has drawn fire for some of his criticisms of Israel.
Obama responded by saying he has met Khalidi and spoken with him in an academic context, when Obama was teaching at the University of Chicago.
“He is not one of my advisers. He’s not one of my foreign policy people,” Obama said. “He is a respected scholar, although he vehemently disagrees with a lot of Israel’s policy.”
Obama then objected to the suggestion that his contacts with Khalidi mean he shares Khalidi’s views.
“Part of my philosophy … is I believe in listening to people even when I disagree with them,” Obama said. “And part of the reason that the Jewish community in Chicago is so close to me is because they know that on many occasions I’ve spoken out vigorously against anti-Semitism, even in my own community, even when it’s not convenient.
“But that doesn’t mean that I’m not listening to different perspectives on a whole host of issues. That’s part of my job as an elected official. That will be part of my job as president.”
Obama has also come under fire from some critics for his ties to William Ayers, a college professor who once was a member of the violent radical group Weather Underground. Obama has responded similarly to those criticisms, saying that he knows Ayers but doesn’t share his views.
Some Jewish voters are turned off by Obama’s willingness to negotiate with countries like Iran and Syria. Others reject Obama because of e-mails spreading false rumors about him.
Obama has stressed that he wouldn’t negotiate with the militant Palestinian group Hamas and is promising an “unshakable commitment” to Israel if he is elected president.
The Illinois senator also says he hopes his presidency would help improve strained relations between American black and Jewish communities.
Democratic presidential candidates didn’t campaign in Florida during the primary, but Obama is focusing on the state now that he’s close to wrapping up the nomination.
FOX News’ Bonney Kapp and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Obama sure has to defend him self a lot because of the people he knows
Morris who hates Hillary with a passion can not tie her to that many people
Yes indeed, Obama listens to Jewish people while he is disagree with them. He said if we have talked with Iran, they would not develop nuclear crisis. What a nonsense, the European have talked with Iran all this times and produced no result. Even the U.S. also have initiated the clear view for Iran to understand. By the way, Obama is neither Reagan or Nixon. The impeached Bill Clinton talked face to face with Arafat in Egypt and guess what? Nothing to show for. I speculate that it is all about Obama, and not about American’s interest.
Obama could not give a straight answer, if it slapped him in his face. So much for that, and him hopefully.
Why are so many people focused on Obamas’ ties with his associates ie. Wright, Farrakhan, Ayers, Khalidi isn’t the issues the priority not his judgement? Why focus on his past (130 “no comment” present votes) it is his promise for change we should believe in.
If Obama is elected President Israel will be at war before 2010 and Obama will not lift a hand to help them.
Pray for Israel and the USA.
FOX GET A CLUE. IT WAS NEVER HEATED OR WAS OBAMA GRILLED. FAIR AND BALANCED MY A..
I fail to see a problem here. Professor Khalidi is pro-Palestinian? Just what in the name of God is wrong with that? Being pro-Palestinian is not pro-terrorist or necessarily anti-Israel. I believe that one can be pro-Palestinian and against terrorism, just as the same person can be pro-Israel and still speak up when it crosses the line.
Unfortunately most US politicians and journalists like the author of this piece must march in lockstep with their masters at AIPAC, and never criticize Israeli policy no matter how despicable their transgressions. That’s why news from that part of the world is censored here- fear of losing your job.
Interestingly, if you go to Israeli news websites they are free to speak out against their own country’s policies regarding the Palestinians, and ours. In this country, we are free to criticize our own government, but not the Israeli’s.
Mr. Obama is a typical politician and attempts to rhetoric his way out of issues, he in my opinion has no solution to any issues which in turn leads up to no change, his campaign model is about so called change, what change, anytime there’s a change in any administration there’s always a change, so therefore he needs to speak about solutions, he’s not who he portrays he is,
This Pa “sweetie” is voting for mccain in the fall.. yes harcore dem here, a hillary supporter too.. i urge all hillary clinton supporters vote mccain in the fall over obama.. thanks
Obama isn’t mature enough to be the President of the United States of America. I also believe that there is more turth to the emails than what the liberal media is saying.