[yshavurah] Got the "SNOPE" on Howard Dean
- From: "Cheryl Levine" <clevineys@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "YS Havurah" <yshavurah@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 21:45:40 -0800
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Claim: Vermont governor Howard Dean promised "that if he is =
elected president, the United States will no longer support Israel the =
way it has in the past" and "characterized Hamas terrorists as =
'soldiers.'"=20
Status: Various - see below=20
Example: [Collected on the Internet, 2003]=20
HOWARD DEAN PROMISED THAT IF HE IS ELECTED PRESIDENT, THE =
UNITED STATES WILL NO LONGER SUPPORT ISRAEL THE WAY IT HAS IN THE PAST =
UNDER BOTH DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTS. IN HIS OWN WORDS HE =
WILL INSIST THAT THE UNITED STATES BE "EVEN HANDED" . THIS IS A TERM =
REGULARLY EMPLOYED BY ARAFAT AND HIS COTERIE OF ADHERENTS THAT MEANS TO =
BE ANTI-ISRAEL!!=20
GOVERNOR DEAN MADE THESE COMMENTS ON CNN ON SEPTEMBER 10, =
2003 ON THE WOLF BLITZER SHOW. HE HAS REPEATED THOSE WORDS SINCE.=20
IN THIS WERE NOT ENOUGH, GOVERNOR DEAN ON THAT SAME SHOW =
CHARACTERIZED THE HAMAS TERRORISTS AS "SOLDIERS". FOR THE FIRST TIME =
SINCE 9/11 WE HAVE SOMEONE RUNNING FOR THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF THE =
UNITED STATES CALLING TERRORISTS SOLDIERS.=20
I URGE YOU THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY LOVE FOR AMERICA AND =
ISRAEL YOU SHOULD NOT AND CANNOT VOTE FOR HOWARD DEAN FOR THE OFFICE OF =
PRESIDENT.=20
THIS COMING ELECTION MAY VERY WELL BE ONE OF THE MOST =
IMPORTANT IN DECADES.=20
PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ON TO AS MANY OF YOUR FAMILY AND =
FRIENDS AS YOU CAN.=20
=20
Hi All,
I followed Linda's suggestion and found the following (if you =
maximize your page, it'll read better)--this is somewhat reassuring but =
I'm still a little put off by his naivete in the terms he used and =
wonder what this really means about his private views and political =
sensitivities. We are seeing a rise in antisemitism (as stated by some =
of the watchdog groups) and I think its important to be aware of our =
potential leader's abilities and experience in this area.
Thanks to all who responded,
Cheryl
Origins: Former Vermont=20
=20
governor Howard Dean, who is seeking the Democratic Party's =
nomination as its 2004 presidential candidate, touched off controversy =
in September 2003 while speaking about the Middle East peace process for =
saying that he didn't "believe stopping the terror has to be a =
prerequisite for talking," that "it's not our place to take sides" on =
the issue, that an "enormous number" of Israeli settlements in =
Palestinian territories would have to be dismantled, and that "the =
United States needs an even-handed approach in the conflict." Dean was =
criticized for his remarks, particularly by presidential rival Senator =
Joseph Lieberman, in part because (as noted above) the term =
"even-handed," when used in reference to the Israeli-Palestinian =
situation in the Middle East, often indicates a pro-Palestinian (or =
anti-Israeli) position. Lieberman responded to Dean's remarks in a =
speech to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York:=20
When you start to say, in very loaded terms - particularly when =
Israelis are under assault by terrorists, not unlike the situation we =
find ourselves in - that America shouldn't take sides in the =
Israeli-Palestinian dispute, that's a break in more than half a century =
of the American foreign policies carried out by presidents of both =
parties, and it's very harmful.=20
I bet the Palestinians are more surprised than anyone else when =
they heard Howard Dean say this.=20
Dean admitted that he was unaware of the significance of the term =
"even-handed" and should have employed different terminology, while =
reasserting that the U.S. does "have a special relationship with Israel" =
and "would defend Israel if necessary":=20
I've since learned that that is a very sensitive word to use in =
certain communities, so perhaps I could have used a different euphemism. =
But the fact of the matter is, at the negotiating table, we have to have =
the trust of both sides. When you're at the negotiating table, you don't =
sit down and blame people when you're negotiating. There's a difference =
between our policy in Israel - which has always been supportive, =
including the willingness to defend Israel - and what you do at the =
negotiating table, which clearly has to have the trust of both sides. We =
do have a special relationship with Israel. We would defend Israel if =
necessary. I think that is well-known. However, we are also the only =
country capable of bringing peace to the Middle East, and when we sit at =
the negotiating table, we do have to have the trust of both sides or we =
will never succeed.=20
Dean explicated that by "even-handed" he meant that the United =
States should pursue a policy of serving as an "impartial broker" =
between the two sides in order to reach a peace deal, and asserted that =
"the American policy is and will continue to be based on Israel's right =
to exist" and that the U.S. "must condemn all civilian killings, =
including any terrorist attacks."=20
Dean drew another round of criticism when he was asked during a =
CNN interview whether he felt Israel had the right to target and =
assassinate Hamas leaders, and answered:=20
I think no one likes to see violence of any kind, [but] there is =
a war going on in the Middle East, and members of Hamas are soldiers in =
that war, and therefore it seems to me they are going to be casualties =
if they are going to make war.=20
Some listeners interpreted this as a logical response meaning that =
Israel is at war with Hamas, and therefore as long as Hamas continues =
suicide bombings against Israelis, Israel has the right to attack Hamas =
leaders. Other listeners took umbrage at the remark, feeling that Dean =
was injudiciously equating terrorists with legitimate defense forces.=20
What policies Howard Dean would likely pursue in the Middle East =
should he become president is an issue voters will have to determine for =
themselves. Summaries of his statements and positions regarding Israel =
(as well as those of other presidential candidates) can be found at =
JSOURCE (the Jewish Virtual Library) and the web site of the Arab =
American Institute.=20
Additional information: Dean Defends Middle East Remarks=20
(CNN.com) =20
Last updated: 8 December 2003 =20
The URL for this page is http://www.snopes.com/politics/israel/dean.asp=20
Click here to e-mail this page to a friend=20
Urban Legends Reference Pages =A9 1995-2003=20
by Barbara and David P. Mikkelson=20
This material may not be reproduced without permission
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-------
Sources:=20
Kurtz, Howard. "Why Dean Got Hit on Israel."=20
The Washington Post. 10 September 2003.=20
Nagourney, Adam and Jodi Wilgoren. "At Debate, Democrats Clash =
Over Mideast."=20
The New York Times. 10 September 2003 (p. A22).=20
CNN.com. "Dean Defends Middle East Remarks."=20
10 September 2003.=20
Cheryl B. Levine, Psy.D.
Clinical and Consulting Psychologist
Positive Perspectives, Inc.
1030 Vester Ave, Suite C
Springfield, OH 45505
(937) 390-3800 - office
(937) 390-3804 - fax
Behavioral Science Consultant
"Mad River Family Practice:
Ohio State University Rural Program"
4879 US Route 68 South
West Liberty, OH 43311
(937) 599-1411 - office, TH only
(937) 465-9945 - fax
-- Binary/unsupported file stripped by Ecartis --
-- Type: application/octet-stream
-- File: sz=120x600A|160x600A/
-- Binary/unsupported file stripped by Ecartis --
-- Type: image/jpeg
-- File: dean.jpg
-- Binary/unsupported file stripped by Ecartis --
-- Type: image/gif
-- File: page.gif
-- Binary/unsupported file stripped by Ecartis --
-- Type: image/gif
-- File: referenc.gif
Other related posts:
- » [yshavurah] Got the "SNOPE" on Howard Dean