Thomas, Walt-Mearsheimer to address ‘Move Over AIPAC’ conference

[Purveyor]

April 17, 2011

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Helen Thomas, Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer are scheduled to speak at a pro-Palestinian conference aiming to counter AIPAC's annual gathering.

A coalition of about 100 leftist and pro-Palestinian groups, led by Code Pink and the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, will run "Move Over AIPAC" in Washington from May 21 to 24, coinciding with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's annual conference.

The thrust of the "Move Over AIPAC" event will be "to learn about the extraordinary influence AIPAC has on U.S. policy and how to strengthen an alternative that respects the rights of all people in the region," according to its statement.

The conference will include protests outside the Washington Convention Center, the site of the AIPAC forum.

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http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/04/17/3086913/thomas-walt-mearsheimer-to-address-move-over-aipac

[shira]

1. Why isn't David Duke invited to speak alongside Helen Thomas and the other Jew haters? n/t

[WhiteTara]

2. David Duke hates those "Arabs" too.

And no one in that crowd hates the "Jews" either. Equal time, that's all they're asking.

[shira]

3. Give it up already. Helen Thomas proved she's a jew hating bigot in her Playboy interview.

And don't be so certain the pro-Palestinian crowd doesn't hate Arabs as well.

When's the last time they spent more than five minutes standing up for Arab rights in Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, or Syria, or stood up for Palestinians suffering under apartheid conditions in Lebanon?

Right - like their rightwing counterparts, they don't give a shit and are motivated almost entirely by hate.

[wellst0nev0ter]

4. I'd Like To Know What The Most Offensive Quotes Are

Just because.

[oberliner]

8. Here's a particularly unpleasant exchange

THOMAS: Do the Jews ever look at themselves? Why are they always right? Because they have been oppressed throughout history, I know. And they have this persecution. That’s true, but they shouldn’t use that to dominate.

PLAYBOY: In America you’re talking about a relatively small community. Jews make up roughly 2% of the US population. On a worldwide level, the percentage is well under 1%. Those numbers don’t exactly spell domination.

THOMAS: I get where you’re leading with this. You know damn well the power they have. It isn’t the 2%. It’s real power when you own the White House, when you own these other places in terms of your political persuasion. Of course they have power. You don’t deny that. You’re Jewish, aren’t you?

PLAYBOY: Yes.

THOMAS: That’s what I thought. Well, you know damn well they have power.

[WhiteTara]

13. That's unpleasant? Really? Oh. n/t

[oberliner]

18. Most people find claims that Jews "own the White House" to be unpleasant

You don't?

[LeftishBrit]

23. Accusing Jews of 'owning the White House' isn't unpleasant?

Remind me, how many Jews have been Presidents of the United States?

Oh, that's right, none of them.

And you can say that the statement isn't unpleasant!

[wellst0nev0ter]

36. That's It?

I read the same interview, and anyone with basic reading comprehension would know she's talking about how much influence Zionist Jews have with the White House and other policy makers when it comes to Israel. That's probably one of the least controversial facts if there ever is one. When was the last time a U.S. president made a hard policy move that ran directly counter to Israeli interest? No, it's not an evil mustache-twirling cabal that installs Jewish presidents in the White House, but when it comes to Israel, let's be honest here.

[oberliner]

37. "Jews own the White House" is one of the least controversial facts?

It is stunning that a poster at a board like this one, and an apparent affinity for the late Paul Wellstone, could even think of making a comment like that.

Please note, that she did not say Zionist at this point in the interview but rather Jews.

They were talking about the percentage of Jewish people in the world, and the US, not the percentage of Zionists in the world or the US, and her theory about their degree of power.

She also asked the interview if he himself was Jewish.

Why do you think she did that?

[wellst0nev0ter]

38. Like I Said, I Read The Same Interview

The only one who mentioned a "Jewish conspiracy" was the interviewer when he was quoting how Thomas said the White House was owned by "Zionists." That was the interviewer equating Judaism and Zionism, which apparently there's a REAL difference, unless there's not if you go by the Jeffery Goldberg quote in the interview. The only crime I'm seeing her commit is that she failed to hedge and backpedal like everyone is supposed to do concerning this issue.

And I believe she accidentally served some ham sandwiches, which may have prompted that her asking the interviewer if he's a Jew.

[oberliner]

39. Alrighty then

Interesting that you mention the Jeffery Goldberg quote because while the interviewer was sharing it, Helen Thomas interrupted and asked "did a Jew write this?" - not "did a Zionist write this?" oddly.

But since you read the interview and still maintain that there was nothing said that was anti-semitic or anti-Jewish, then I guess that's that.

[wellst0nev0ter]

41. Only Someone From Mars

who read the Jeffery Goldberg quote would ask if the person writing the quote is a Zionist. But the quote has enough of that messianism and the ethno-religious pride that would, in any other venue of reason, invite questions about the writer's objectivity.

But I guess you read the interview and see a raving anti-semite. I read the same interview and see a woman who's unfortunately blunt, makes too many inartful comments, but still raises valid points. Admit it, when it comes to Israel, we know which side has the influence over U.S. foreign policy. How saying that simple fact out loud demands denouncements of anti-semitism is really strange.

[oberliner]

42. Totally disagree with you

I certainly don't think Helen Thomas is a "raving anti-semite", though I do think she made some anti-semitic remarks that are quite unfortunate considering her illustrious and admirable career as a journalist.

I would also note that these remarks have been roundly condemned by a wide variety of Democrats and progressives.

[wellst0nev0ter]

43. Yes, Her Words Were Unfortunate

but in regards to her most famous quote, I see her as simply adopting the rhetoric often used by Israel hardliners, rhetoric used by even the so-called Democrats and progressives you get in this forum, how the Palestinians are "pawns" of the Arab states, how this problem would have been solved if the other Arab states would just grant them citizenship and ship them out of occupied territories. Of course, since that rhetoric is often bathed in crocodile tears, they aren't recognized as the hateful proposals of transfer that they really are.

[azurnoir]

44. I certainly don't think Helen Thomas is a "raving anti-semite" but yet

why is it you seem to promote that very idea at almost every available opportunity?

[oberliner]

45. Who started this thread?

Hint: it wasn't me.

Someone asked for evidence of Helen Thomas's bigotry and I attempted to provide it.

Verbatim quotes from a recent interview.

[azurnoir]

46. ah so in your opinion Helen Thomas is not an antisemite? n/t

[oberliner]

47. I've never met the woman

I can only speak of her comments that I have read and heard.

I found her comments with respect to Jews owning the White House to be anti-semitic.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[shira]

6. Seriously? Like only "Likud Zionists" would take offense at blatant anti-Jew bigotry? n/t

[King_David]

10. I am a Zionist

I support Meretz (you have heard of them I guess ? Left wing progressive Zionists)

And I think Helen Thomas is a Jew Hater.

Obama and most of the Democratic caucus support Zionism too.

And this forum supports the Democratic party.

Do you?

[shira]

20. Meretz people aren't progressive enough around here...

Unless you side with "real" progressives in Israel like Gideon Levy and Amira Hass, you're a rightwinger.

[LeftishBrit]

24. I also support Meretz and think Helen Thomas' remarks about Jews are vile.

[oberliner]

7. David Duke loves Palestinians

He pays tribute to them all over his website.

[WhiteTara]

11. shows what I know. n/t

[oberliner]

19. Yes indeed

Quick Google search will fill you in if you are interested.

[WhiteTara]

40. I'm not interested in David Duke n/t

[azurnoir]

21. yes indeed he does so that about says it huh? just like that fact that

Robert Spencer loves Israel

could seem that there are 'questionable' supporters on both sides :hi:

[oberliner]

22. He does seem to hold racist views against some Arabs, but the Palestinians he celebrates

What do you think that is all about?

[azurnoir]

29. Robert Spencer celebrates Palestinians?

could you post some of that please?

[oberliner]

30. Have no idea what you are talking about

Never heard of Robert Spencer.

Did you mean that as a response to someone else?

[azurnoir]

33. you apparently did not read the previous post you replied to

and you do not know who Robert Spencer is??????? For one who claims to 'keep up' on right wing hate you seem to be quite lacking in knowledge of the subject

Robert Spencer is the directer of Jihad Watch along with David Horowitz a right wing anti Muslim blogg

[shira]

32. David Duke supports Palestinians despite being racist otherwise. Why? n/t

[azurnoir]

34. Robert Spencer supports Israel why? n/t

[LeftishBrit]

25. He loves Palestinians the same way that Christian Zionists love Jews

They are pawns in his antisemitic game. But his 'support' for them would never survive, for example, the establishment of a Palestinian state that required any degree of financial support from America.

[oberliner]

31. Yes, exactly

That was the point I was trying to make.

[azurnoir]

35. well Thank you for capitalizing on the opportunity to 'clarify' your point

otherwise it could have appeared to quite something else

[King_David]

9. I will repeat : Why have a prominant AntiSemite adress an anti-Israel protest ?

They keep tellin us they not Anti Jew just anti Israel,Anti Occupation,Anti Zionist etc

THEN they get the most prominant Antisemite in the US today to adress their rally.

Kind of like when Iran hosts David Duke at their 'anti Zionist' conferences.

Is David Duke adressing it too?

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[King_David]

14. Great argument

Interesting to see just who supports the Antisemites on a progressive website.

[WhiteTara]

15. Let's reframe this...who supports human rights

on a progressive website.

[King_David]

16. Last time I looked

Jews were human.

G`Day , I am done with you.

[WhiteTara]

49. wouldn't human rights be for all sides?

this is not a black and white issue, even though many try to make that seem so.

[Shaktimaan]

17. what's "zion?"

BTW, you consider the greatest threat to Zion is a 90 year old woman?

Zion being Jerusalem? Or did you mean Zionism?

K_D never said that Helen Thomas was the "greatest threat to Zion." He asked "Why have a prominant AntiSemite adress an anti-Israel protest ?" which is a perfectly reasonable question in my opinion. Does it not bother you that a righteous cause like pro-Palestinian-ism is being undermined by anti-semitism and bigotry?

The danger here is not to Zionism, after all, but to the Pro-Palestinian movement. Should they continue to align themselves with anti-semitic people and rhetoric then they risk seeing their core mission sidelined by extremism. Any reasonable arguments would lose credibility when juxtaposed with anti-semitic propaganda.

I fear not for Zionism's future from this, but for their own.

[LeftishBrit]

27. Agreed!

To give a parallel - suppose that a group that opposed the Iranian regime asked Daniel Pipes, Melanie Phillips and Terry Jones to be speakers? Wouldn't that detract from the message of supporting human rights in Iran?

[LeftishBrit]

26. Helen Thomas?

One way of getting anti-Occupation Jews to support them - NOT!

[shira]

28. Oh, there are still Jews who will support Helen Thomas. Count on that. n/t

[azurnoir]

48. truth Helen Thomas announced she wasn't participating in this conference 3 days prior to the OP

Statement about Helen Thomas and Move Over AIPAC
On April 14, 2011, in Latest News, by Move Over AIPAC!


Over 100 organizations have come together to endorse the Move Over AIPAC gathering in DC in May during AIPAC’s annual conference. Helen Thomas was invited to speak, as a journalist who is fearless about questioning power and unnecessary wars, but because some of her comments have sparked controversy, several members of the coalition and our grassroots community had concerns about her appearance.

When Thomas was informed about this, she feared that the focus of the events might shift to her, instead of AIPAC and U.S. policy, and she gracefully withdrew her participation. “I am delighted that people are coming together for this gathering and I want to make sure that the focus stays on AIPAC and U.S. policy, not me,” she said.

http://www.moveoveraipac.org/2011/04/life-long-journalist-helen-thomas-to-be-honored-at-move-over-aipac-summit-2/

Looks as though JTA is either uninformed or looking to delegitimize the conference via questtionable propaganda

[WhiteTara]

50. AIPAC has huge rooms at Democratic conventions

both state and national. They have a large amount of influence in the party.