John McCain on Thursday at the Conservative Political Action Conference: »Those [Democratic] senators won't recognize and seriously address the threat posed by an Iran with nuclear ambitions to our ally Israel in the region. I intend to make unmistakably clear to Iran we will not permit a government that espouses the destruction of the State of Israel as its fondest wish and pledges undying enmity to the United States to possess the weapons to advance their malevolent ambitions.«
Where a candidate like George W. Bush had to repeat over and over again the names of enemies along a certain axis of evil, Mr. McCain has the pleasure to just name an ally for the same effect, addressing safety and security: Israel. And it is by far not only the Jews who McCain is courting with such gestures.
Naming the Iranian threat alone could after all not play too well into McCain's hands, since that might too easily sound like another Iraq war to come - so mentioning Israel instead quite a lot will do the trick, I predict: Not to do anything that might compromise Israel's security will be an often said phrase by McCain and his biggest supporters like Senator Joe Lieberman, worth more than any rhethoric tricks and promises all together, it seems. For McCain Israel will become a most effective tool, leaving the ecomomy to »stupid!« Democrats.
After all John McCain will have to win the trust even of the most conservative Republicans from the right wing of the party, and those he can't impress with pure social matters alone. To perform the long balance act between radicals and moderates among Republicans until November and therefore to win those who don't trust him without losing his strongest support which lays with the less conservatives, McCain shall be well adviced to play the Israel card here wisely, directly and indirectly but a lot, to connect all those he needs. No radical Republican will want to miss the chance to vote in favor of Israel, I'd say - and no moderate has to be ashamed to do just the same.
Already two weeks ago, when asked about his chances of winning the Republican nomination despite polls, odds and his poor relations with evangelical Christians, McCain noted that an influential segment of this community is very committed to Israel, and »obviously I have been a very strong proponent to the State of Israel...«, Israel, Israel, Israel.
And earlier, in the summer: »The State of Israel has never needed your support and your hopes and your prayers they way they need it today,« McCain said. »And God bless you for your commitment.« (At the annual Christians United for Israel Summit in Washington)
Yes, when it comes to Israel (psst: and Iran), Mr. John McCain indeed has an unforgetable fine and conservative record that should do a lot for him now: azstarnet.com/news
Where a candidate like George W. Bush had to repeat over and over again the names of enemies along a certain axis of evil, Mr. McCain has the pleasure to just name an ally for the same effect, addressing safety and security: Israel. And it is by far not only the Jews who McCain is courting with such gestures.
Naming the Iranian threat alone could after all not play too well into McCain's hands, since that might too easily sound like another Iraq war to come - so mentioning Israel instead quite a lot will do the trick, I predict: Not to do anything that might compromise Israel's security will be an often said phrase by McCain and his biggest supporters like Senator Joe Lieberman, worth more than any rhethoric tricks and promises all together, it seems. For McCain Israel will become a most effective tool, leaving the ecomomy to »stupid!« Democrats.After all John McCain will have to win the trust even of the most conservative Republicans from the right wing of the party, and those he can't impress with pure social matters alone. To perform the long balance act between radicals and moderates among Republicans until November and therefore to win those who don't trust him without losing his strongest support which lays with the less conservatives, McCain shall be well adviced to play the Israel card here wisely, directly and indirectly but a lot, to connect all those he needs. No radical Republican will want to miss the chance to vote in favor of Israel, I'd say - and no moderate has to be ashamed to do just the same.
Already two weeks ago, when asked about his chances of winning the Republican nomination despite polls, odds and his poor relations with evangelical Christians, McCain noted that an influential segment of this community is very committed to Israel, and »obviously I have been a very strong proponent to the State of Israel...«, Israel, Israel, Israel.
And earlier, in the summer: »The State of Israel has never needed your support and your hopes and your prayers they way they need it today,« McCain said. »And God bless you for your commitment.« (At the annual Christians United for Israel Summit in Washington)
Yes, when it comes to Israel (psst: and Iran), Mr. John McCain indeed has an unforgetable fine and conservative record that should do a lot for him now: azstarnet.com/news
