Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., June 06, 2008 Sivan 3, 5768 | | Israel Time: 19:27 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, addressing an AIPAC meeting, Monday. (AP)
Last update - 21:30 02/06/2008
McCain tells AIPAC: Obama meet with Ahmadinejad would be 'earful of anti-Semitic rants'
By The Associated Press
Tags: Barack Obama, Israel 

Republican John McCain raised the specter of a nuclear Iran in a speech to a pro-Israel lobby, once again chastising Democrat Barack Obama for his willingness to meet with leaders of Iran and other U.S. foes.

"It's hard to see what such a summit with President [Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad would actually gain, except an earful of anti-Semitic rants, and a worldwide audience for a man who denies one Holocaust and talks before frenzied crowds about starting another," McCain told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Advertisement
McCain has criticized Obama for saying in a debate last year that he would meet leaders of Iran and other U.S. foes without preconditions. The Arizona senator argued Obama is naive and inexperienced to think that such a meeting would yield progress.

He criticized Obama for seeming to suggest that Iran is trying to develop a nuclear program because the U.S. refuses to engage in presidential-level talks. McCain said the Clinton administration in particular tried to engage Iran for two years, even lifting some sanctions, to no avail.

"Even so, we hear talk of a meeting with the Iranian leadership offered up as if it were some sudden inspiration, a bold new idea that somehow nobody has ever thought of before," McCain said as dozens in the audience laughed.

In his speech, McCain called for measures aimed at increasing pressure on Iran, such as severely limiting Iranian imports of gasoline, targeted sanctions such as denying visas and freezing assets and a worldwide campaign to divest from companies doing business with Iran.

McCain called for financial sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran, which he said aids in terrorism and weapons proliferation, and he criticized Obama for opposing a measure to impose those sanctions.

McCain has warm relations with the group, which is influential in the Jewish American community. His call for sanctions against gasoline imports is a priority that AIPAC's members plan to lobby for in Congress later in the week.

In contrast, Obama has worked to reassure Jewish voters who have expressed some unease about his candidacy.

At a synagogue visit late last month, the Democratic presidential hopeful promised an "unshakable commitment" to Israel if he is elected.



Related articles:
  • Does Barack Obama really have a Jewish problem?
  • Hamas for McCain
  • McCain rejects pastor's support after 'God sent Hitler' comment
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Terrorist donuts
    U.S. Arabs irate over criticism of celebrity cook's kaffiyeh.
    All the way to hell
    Rosner's blog: It's Obama's good intentions that pro-Israel activists fear.
      1.   Not good for Jews to ally themselves with one party 19:10  |  Jewish Guy 02/06/08
      2.   McCain Inconsistant 19:19  |  MichaelF 02/06/08
      3.   why is he explaining to the jews? 19:26  |  sam i am 02/06/08
      4.   To Jewish Guy 19:28  |  Greg 02/06/08
      5.   Obama not naive 19:29  |  Stan 02/06/08
      6.   i do not agree 19:35  |  Keops 02/06/08
      7.   To Greg #4 - bunch of crap??? 19:46  |  Greg from USA 02/06/08
      8.   Obama on Iran 19:47  |  Dor 02/06/08
      9.   McCain - empty rethoric, empty promises 19:48  |  Greg from USA 02/06/08
      10.   Obama is both the Wright and the Left guy 20:20  |  POP 02/06/08
      11.   You don`t make peace with your friends! 20:26  |  MARK KLEIN, M.D. 02/06/08
      12.   THIS IS A MAD MAN. GOD SAVE AMERICA! 20:30  |  JACKAL 02/06/08
      13.   NOW WILL I BE `ANTISEMITIC` IF I MENTION CONTROL OF JEWISH LOBBY? 20:32  |  JACKAL 02/06/08
      14.   Obamanation Democrats and Jews 20:43  |  joe Smith 02/06/08
      15.   Is McCain Running for Olmert`s Job? 21:06  |  Dovy 02/06/08
      16.   #11 Mark Klein,MD 21:11  |  Moshe 02/06/08
      17.   wrong jewish guy! 21:15  |  jonathan 02/06/08
      18.   The Usual Republican Party Fellatio Of AIPAC 21:27  |  chet 02/06/08
      19.   McCain catering to AIPAC 21:37  |  Tosefta 02/06/08
      20.   Obama (Barake Hussein that is) is indeed a threat to Israel! 21:39  |  Gabi 02/06/08
      21.   Your Pick 21:48  |  Robert 02/06/08
      22.   Jewish Old ladies in Florida 21:49  |  Robert 02/06/08
      23.   Joe Smith #14 - Lieberman??? 21:59  |  Greg from USA 02/06/08
      24.   Alright Smart people. LOL we suppose this is done, Who is next in 22:09  |  Simon Mohammed 02/06/08
      25.   His struggle for survival is making a fool of him! 22:35  |  Roxana from IRAN 02/06/08
      26.   Cutting off Iran`s gasoline may save the world from nuclear war 22:38  |  Realist 02/06/08
      27.   Reply to Joe Smith ( 14) - Spot on ! 22:46  |  Tod Zuckerman 02/06/08
      28.   McCain sleep better when Jews & Arabs kill each other 22:48  |  Sami Abdul 02/06/08
      29.   Obama adds new member to his "Anti-Jew Crew" 23:02  |  mko 02/06/08
      30.   Israel and terrorism 23:09  |  Yariv 02/06/08
      31.   Enough trading on US foreign policy for Israel 23:09  |  Secular 02/06/08
      32.   "an earful of anti-Semitic rants" 23:13  |  hollingsworth 02/06/08
      33.   Obama, the child 23:16  |  Peter 02/06/08
      34.   NO JACKAL, NOT "ANTI-SEMITIC 23:19  |  Brant 02/06/08
      35.   Ahmedinijad 23:22  |  Frank 02/06/08
      36.   Robert #21 - Who should we attack? 23:25  |  Greg from USA 02/06/08
      37.   Jonathan #17 - glass 1/4 full??? 23:31  |  Greg from USA 02/06/08
      38.   Tod Zuckerman - makes no sense 23:35  |  Greg from USA 02/06/08
      39.   Gobama! 23:42  |  Natallie Durson 02/06/08
      40.   # 31 Frank, you are partially right 23:51  |  dan 02/06/08
      41.   A "worldwide opportunity" for Ahmadinejad to look like a jackal 23:55  |  newageblues 02/06/08
      42.   obama is a trojan horse! 00:00  |  Zvi 03/06/08
      43.   #9 I have to agree 00:02  |  Outsider 03/06/08
      44.   # 28, hollingsworth 00:06  |  dan 03/06/08
      45.   No 1 00:07  |  Anthony 03/06/08
      46.   to 22 00:09  |  Anthony 03/06/08
      47.   #25 Quote the whole article, MKO 00:10  |  Outsider 03/06/08
      48.   Bush and neocons biggest enemies of Israel ans jews 00:26  |  Daniel 03/06/08
      49.   #31 Frank....I have some swampland in Florida for sale 00:48  |  Pastor Joseph 03/06/08
      50.   #32 Greg.....countries who support killing Americans stupid! 00:52  |  Pastor Joseph 03/06/08
      51.   Bombing -To Greg 01:04  |  Bobby 03/06/08
      52.   QUESTION FOR JOHN McBUSH (McCAIN) 01:05  |  Arik Silverman 03/06/08
      53.   Jesus is pretty clear "Turn the other cheek".Then again and again 01:49  |  Yaakov Sullivan 03/06/08
      54.   Obama - No Problem, He Likes Anti-Jewish Rants 01:50  |  Tod Zuckerman 03/06/08
      55.   Aipac speech something weird 02:20  |  Bruce Rubin 03/06/08
      56.   Obama McCain Whatever! 02:37  |  Yosemite 03/06/08
      57.   Greg from USA 03:45  |  American in NY 03/06/08
      58.   To Yaakov Sullivan #53 03:46  |  HS 03/06/08
      59.   #34-Brant-Excellent Post 04:05  |  Nate 03/06/08
      60.   Tod Zuckerman 08:08  |  Yosemite 03/06/08
      61.   McCain is a clown. 15:24  |  Jack 03/06/08
      62.   # 7, how many deaths? 16:44  |  Andrew 03/06/08
      63.   AIPAC IS THE DEVIL 18:54  |  Louis 03/06/08
      64.   NoBrain McCain 23:19  |  Jim 03/06/08
      65.   #3 sam I am 23:56  |  Jim 03/06/08
      66.   Pastor Joseph # 50 countries who support killing Americans stupid 23:58  |  American in NY 03/06/08
      67.   Ode to McCain 23:58  |  Jim 03/06/08
      68.   #7 Greg from USA 00:22  |  Jim 04/06/08
      69.   #13 Jackal 00:39  |  Jim 04/06/08
      70.   #14 joe smith 00:56  |  Jim 04/06/08
      71.   #15 Dovy 01:10  |  Jim 04/06/08
    &nb