"Our Political Leaders Are Responsible for the Deaths in Qana" Tasini

[Tom Rinaldo]

Jonathan Tasini (he's running against Hillary Clinton in the Democratic Primary for her U.S. Senate Seat) just made a bold post over at Kos regarding America's political leadership and what it happening now in Lebanon. Tasini is Jewish (no, not Italian, Jewish), and he has deep personal connections with the State of Israel. Here is part of his Kos Diary:

"I remind people that my father was a proud fighter in the Israeli underground in 1948 and fought for its founding. Half my family lives in Israel. Indeed, a cousin of mine was killed in 1973 war and my step-grandfather was murdered by a Palestinian, for the simple reason he was a Jew. I know what it is like to sit in a bomb shelter or touch the body of a person killed by war. Has Hillary Clinton or other so-called "friends of Israel," who have cheered for armed conflict and death and destruction, ever spent one night in fear from war or sobbing in sorrow because of the death of a loved one in war? For them, it is all about political calculations, pandering and votes.

Was it worth it? Was it worth it to poison the Lebanese environment with spilled and burning oil, toxic waste flows, piled up garbage that will spread diseases? The death of hundreds of civilians, the flattening of entire towns and a huge portion of southern Beirut, the destruction of hundreds of millions of dollars of civilian infrastructure, and the creation of a two-mile dead zone at the Lebanese border--none of this is going to make my relatives in Israel any safer from Katyusha and Fajr missile attacks in the future. This war has unified the Lebanese and much of the world against Israel, many of whom just a month ago despised Hezbollah--and has done relatively little to weaken the militia's power and appeal. Real security will come when we finally recognize that Israel's future is inextricably linked to a just resolution to the Palestinian people's legitimate demands for safety, security, and self-determination.

I want to guarantee Israel's long-term peace and security, as well as the peace and security of the Palestinians and the Lebanese. We can't ever do so with an approach that mimics the Bush Administration's imperial, oil-driven Middle East agenda. Last week George Bush sent Condoleeza Rice to the Rome peace conference for one purpose - to single-handedly derail the agreement for a cease-fire. Even by the Bush administration's already low standards, this was truly an embarrassment and a disgrace. But, we must also reject Hillary Clinton-style politics that allows itself to be held hostage to the blind ideology of the ultra-right-wing fundamentalist settlers and their supporters, who hold too much power."
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/7/31/112310/082

I stand with Jonathan Tasini on Israel.

[Tom Rinaldo]

1. Tasini is getting strong support from Jewish Americans

According to his Kos Diary:

"American Jews such as myself will have to gain the courage to speak out against unjust and ineffectual policies that play into the extremist agenda on both sides. If you want to gain any hope from my experience, it's worth noting that since my first statement last week, we have been deluged with calls and emails; they are running 10-1 in favor of my position, almost all from Jewish Americans."

[GAPeace]

15. It's a myth that all Jews support the Israeli hawks

The right wing of Israel is overrepresented in this country, saying that people who criticize Israel are "antisemitic"

I don't think much will be lost on the Jewish vote because of Tasini's peace demands. He's Jewish, for God's sake (no pun intended : )

[Totally Committed]

2. Thanks for posting that, Tom.

I am appreciating Tasini more and more by the day.

Last week George Bush sent Condoleeza Rice to the Rome peace conference for one purpose - to single-handedly derail the agreement for a cease-fire.

Bless his heart.

TC

[Tom Rinaldo]

3. I've met him a few times TC

Jonathan Tasini is thoughtful and he's genuine, and I like what he has to say on a wide range of issues. I think the word is only now starting to spread that Tasini managed to collect enough legal signatures on election petitions in New York State (not an easy feat) to force a Democratic Party Primary contest with Hillary Clinton. It's real, he's on the ballot for Septemeber.

[Totally Committed]

4. How does it look for him?

I know she's got a real juggernaut behind her... but wouldn't you just LOVE to see him upset her in that race?

I know I would. I'm sick and tired of her and her Hawkier-than-Them position on war and peace.

TC

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. Well, people were writing off Tasini from the moment he announced

The conventional wisdom was that he never would be able to gather enough legal signatures to make it onto New York's ballot. You need something like 15,000, but actually have to turn in over double that or your opponents will fine comb the petitions trying to throw out signatures on technicalities. Tasini turned in well over 40,000. Plus you have to hit a minimum number (don't remember the cut off) in at least half of New York's Congressional Districts, and Tasini cleared that hurdle also, so now he is on the ballot and there WILL be a Primary in New York.

It helps Tasini that there are serious Democratic primary races for both the Governor and Attorney General positions (though Spitzer is a shoe in for Governor"). The elected Nassau County Executive, a Democrat, is putting up a fight for Governor that the media is covering. That will make it harder for them to not cover Tasini at all, which has been the route they have taken to date. Most established Democrats in NY will not say anything in public against Hillary Clinton. Sure, most probably genuinely support her, but it is clear from back channels that there are some who don't, but who don't want to cross her path and take that kind of heat.

I think it hangs in the balance now TC, whether the Tasini challenge becomes a protest movement that doesn't really break out, or whether it will start to gather steam. It depends on how many of the people around the nation who are all worked up backing Lamont against Lieberman also now take an interest in Tasini against Clinton. That can bring Tasini more money and more "buzz", which is what he needs to get even more money and more "buzz".

Obviously Hillary Clinton is the overwhelming favorite, how could she not be? But the results in CT may throw more of a spotlight onto NY. Were Tasini able to approach a third of the NY State primary vote against Hillary Clinton, against all the odds, that would be a very strong political message to the system. Eugene McCarthy getting 42% of the 1968 Primary vote in New Hampshire was enough to force LBJ to resign.

[Tom Rinaldo]

6. P.S. I will add this though

I carried petitions to help get Tasini onto the New York State ballot up in Ulster County, and it was pretty easy to get registered Democrats to sign, just by openly explaining that Jonathan Tasini wanted to run in a Democratic Primary against Hillary Clinton for U.S. Senate. I think if he had half her money he would win. Of course he doesn't though.

[Totally Committed]

18. In an effort to "put my money where my outrage is"...

I donated a little to his campaign, as I did with Lamont. Not a lot, because these days it can't be, just what I could afford. I encourage anyone who can, to do so.

Nice work, Tom!

TC

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. Kick for the evening crowd n/t

[SOS]

8. He's got my vote

nt

[AusGail]

9. Tasini certainly sounds like the voice reason

It restores my faith in mankind to know that not every Israeli or member of the Jewish community is an extreme right winger. Unfortunately, in Israel, they have a voting system that ensures that the extreme right always win enough seats to influence policies.

As they say- "Its not over till the fat lady sings". If Lamont has a chance of beating Lieberman, then Tasini certainly deserves a look-in. A day in politics is a long time.

[readmoreoften]

10. Tasini and I were in a civil disobedience together & face 15 days in jail

He has come out regularly on the picket line and walked the loop... and he wasn't even campaigning. I didn't know who he was until someone told me. He's genuine. He's the real deal.

[brindis_desala]

11. excellent! n/t

[God Almighty]

12. True

[bvar22]

13. Tasini gets $25 from me tonight:

If I were a rich man, I would send more.
https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/tasini-private

Check out his website.
http://www.tasinifornewyork.org/

Even if you don't think he has a chance, donate to his campaign.

[mom cat]

16. He will be getting something from me too!

[Tom Rinaldo]

17. Thanks for posting his wb site. n/t

[Boomer]

14. A voice of reason

I'd never heard of him before, but now I'll keep a close eye on this race.

It's high time we had a high profile political debate, instead of knee-jerk support, for Israel's attack on Lebanon. It's too complicated an issue to claim there is only one view of the situation.

[Tom Rinaldo]

19. The NY Daily News picked up on this

This was emailed to me, I haven't found a link yet:

"Primary foe rips Hil on Israel

BY HELEN KENNEDY
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Hillary Clinton's primary opponent lashed out at the senator over Israel yesterday, blaming the deaths of 37 children in Qana on her refusal to push for a ceasefire.

"She, and a broad segment of our political leadership, bear responsibility for the deaths ofthese children," Democrat Jonathan Tasini said in a statement. The youngsters were among about 60 civilians killed in Israel's weekend strike on the southern Lebanese town of Qana

"Rather than call for restraint, Hillary Clinton stopped just short of declaring, 'Let the bombs fall.'"...

...Tasini, a former president of the National Writers Union, has been struggling to gain traction against his monumentally better known and better funded opponent.

Clinton has ignored his attempts to get her to agree to a League of Women Voters debate Sept. 6 ahead of the Sept. 12 primary."