Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., February 20, 2008 Adar1 14, 5768 | | Israel Time: 20:21 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 01:46 17/02/2008 Where is our Obama? By Yossi Sarid Tags: Barack Obama, Israel Two months ago, who would have believed that an African American could be chosen as a presidential candidate? Granted, it was clear from the outset that the Bush-Cheney era would provoke a reaction and that lust for change would flood America from coast to coast. But very few predicted how far the pendulum would swing. Can we in Israel also expect to see the end of an era, ushering in new blood? The enthusiasm will be hard to curb. Barack Obama will attract mass rallies, riding high on predominantly young shoulders and record voter turnout. Obama has already proved he is able to win in the East, West, North and South and in both Republican and Democratic states. Advertisement Black and white Americans alike vote for him, both women and men, Hispanics and even many Jews. They vote for him even though the ambassadors of evil frown at him, as if he were not really good for the Jews. The candidate should know he has supporters here as well. It's okay to be friends with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and to help him with his public image, but it's more important to befriend Israel as a whole. The candidate should know that not every Malcolm Hoenlein, who cares about us at a distance and online, truly knows what's best for us. Instead of blind friendship in the name of Evangelism and the Bible, we prefer responsible, rational support that's also reliable. And the candidate better not let himself be too impressed with protocols of the elders of Zion in the Diaspora, who see fit to blacken his name. For shame, we apologize. Barring surprises, Obama will be the Democratic Party's presidential candidate and John McCain will be the Republican candidate. Two decent individuals who attract mainly nonpartisan voters. Obama made no attempt to disguise his opposition to the Iraq war from the outset; neither did McCain try to conceal his consistent support of it. It seems the American public has had enough of masked men. Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney have dropped out of the race. Giuliani was mayor of New York City and Romney governor of Massachusetts - both liberal areas. After they became presidential candidates, they changed their skin and pretended to be die-hard conservatives. And who's still in the race? Reverend Mike Huckabee, who emits at once an air of eccentricity and integrity. And McCain, who started sinking when he stopped being McCain, and resurfaced only when he went back to being himself. Americans are tired of those who don disguises, the reborn who try to reissue themselves and who emerge from the PR machine with face transplants. When America chooses to rediscover itself, it picks candidates who don their true colors. When will we drop the chameleons from our menu? Where is our Obama? A new hope as awoken in America. There is new life after eight years of self-loathing. There is flow after the ebb. And the whole world is watches in awe, at how kindling catches fire once more, lighting up hearts along the way. There are those in Israel who are envious of the hope Americans have not yet lost. It is not the hope of 2,000 years, which has already begun to congeal. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Intrigue at Heathrow According to the BBC, an IDF general dodged arrest as U.K. police feared shootout. Decency in remission A Ramat Yishai widow is suspected of faking cancer to receive donations.   1.   Loved it 03:06  |  King T 17/02/08   2.   Obama Increases US/Allies Soft Power 06:47  |  Dan 17/02/08   3.   Yossi Sarid, Yossi Beilin and Amos Oz are the Israeli Obamas..... 10:45  |  Swiss (Dino) 17/02/08   4.   A Metaphor of the Occupation 10:51  |  RW 17/02/08   5.   yossi sarid "where is our hussein obama" 10:59  |  yossifan 17/02/08   6.   Where is our Obama? 11:00  |  Ralph 17/02/08   7.   swiss dino tells us he is a metaphor for goodness 11:16  |  toblerone 17/02/08   8.   Israeli Obama was not allowed to enter Israel. 11:17  |  Dutch Dirk 17/02/08   9.   swiss dino the good people of switzerland 11:18  |  toblerone 17/02/08   10.   Scyooz me, Dutch Dork, but... 12:13  |  Joe Sittizen 17/02/08   11.   Bibi Netanyahu = Israel`s Winston Churchill 12:21  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 17/02/08   12.   well, where is obama, indeed? 12:37  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/02/08   13.   Ovadiah @ 11 13:03  |  Daniel W 17/02/08   14.   GOOD VS EVIL: BARAK VS MCCAIN 13:06  |  indrajaya 17/02/08   15.   Is this article serious? 13:43  |  Vince P 17/02/08   16.   Indrajaya @14 13:47  |  daniel 17/02/08   17.   Fortunately, nowhere in sight 14:36  |  A Jew 17/02/08   18.   Where is our Obama 14:44  |  Shmuel I Popack 17/02/08   19.   Baruch Sadam Huseein Obama 14:58  |  Hilda 17/02/08   20.   new political blood in Israeli politics 15:11  |  M 17/02/08   21.   Why do we need an Obama ? 15:31  |  Eli 17/02/08   22.   yossi sarid is a good man 15:39  |  hiyossi 17/02/08   23.   Where is the Palestinian Obama? 15:51  |  Meir 17/02/08   24.   To No.22 check your facts !!!! 15:54  |  Eli 17/02/08   25.   #3 Swiss (Dino) 15:59  |  Smadar 17/02/08   26.   Feiglin is our Obama 16:06  |  Herbert Kaine 17/02/08   27.   palestinean cause vs. palestinean people 16:10  |  M 17/02/08   28.   Obama 16:22  |  Yariv 17/02/08   29.   open your eyes! 17:10  |  Space 17/02/08   30.   # 25 Smadar 17:16  |  Swiss (Dino) 17/02/08   31.   #13 Daniel: Please Provide a List of Bibi`s "Lies" 17:47  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 17/02/08   32.   A better question 18:00  |  Danite 17/02/08   33.   #30 Swiss (Dino) 18:30  |  Smadar 17/02/08   34.   America is doing the wrong thing! 19:06  |  Gil 17/02/08   35.   Israels has to labor to give birth to an Obama 21:23  |  Mike 17/02/08   36.   To # 23 Arafat was the Palestinian Obama 21:46  |  Mike, 17/02/08   37.   Hilda 00:55  |  American in Canada 18/02/08   38.   We have Netanyahu,who is worth a thousand Obama`s 12:20  |  Yossi Saar 18/02/08   39.   Barak Hussien Obama 12:23  |  utycez 18/02/08   40.   Sarid, Oh Sarid... 15:56  |  Buzaglow 18/02/08   41.   Where is our Mattisyahu? 09:13  |  Pinchas 19/02/08   42.   Re: America is doing the wrong thing 19:34  |  Joe 20/02/08

Today Online Israel still building in settlements despite Olmert's promise Responses: 213 Abbas cool to aide's call for Kosovo-like statehood declaration Responses: 135 Amira Hass: Israel is stealing Palestinian land, private or not Responses: 87 Peace-minded residents of Gaza and Sderot share joint blog Responses: 35 Chelsea's Israeli soccer coach sent anti-Semitic death threat Responses: 12 More Headlines 19:16 IDF chief: I can't rule out conflict in near future 19:29 Shas MK blames gays for recent earthquakes in the region 16:27 Chelsea's Israeli soccer coach sent anti-Semitic death threat 14:25 Netanyahu: Olmert government taking measures to cede Jerusalem 13:30 Abbas cool to aide's call for Kosovo-like declaration of statehood 15:05 Iranian opposition group: Tehran accelerated nuclear program 16:55 Construction continuing in West Bank settlements despite PM's pledge 14:26 Ahmadinejad calls Israel 'germ' born amid Western bid to dominate Mideast 12:28 Winograd panel member questioned over political considerations 17:24 Underworld figure's son turns himself in to police after months in hiding Previous Editions Select Day 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb 07 feb 06 feb

Special Offers Advertisement 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM Marina Royale Herzelia Pituach Your Luxurious Suite While Staying in Israel Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved