June 05, 2008
Over at Commentary?s blog, Daniel Halper speculates that Obama, at least in terms of foreign policy, might be shifting Hard Right, going all ?unpatriotic? and stuff. He even asks whether ? the Democrats have merged with the paleocons??
As wonderful as all this sounds, sadly Halper?s evidence for Obama?s conservative conversion is that he?s starting to sound like Chuch Hagel? Perhaps in the fervid imagination of the Commentary set, Hagel is a pitchfork carrying, blackshirt donning, Confederacy sympathizing, traditionalist Catholic. In reality, Hagel is a liberal internationalist who supports open borders and has much more in common with Chris Dodd than Pat Buchanan.
For evidence of Obama?s Hagelianism, Halper quotes a series of mildly critical, guarded statements old Chuck made about the Iraq war over the years, and then remarks, ?each sounds like Obama.?
Nifty! But perhaps Halper should have listened more attentively during Obama?s recent speech at AIPAC:
?Those who threaten Israel threaten us. Israel has always faced these threats on the front lines. And I will bring to the White House an unshakeable commitment to Israel’s security.?
?As president, I will implement a Memorandum of Understanding that provides $30 billion in assistance to Israel over the next decade ? investments to Israel’s security that will not be tied to any other nation. First, we must approve the foreign aid request for 2009. Going forward, we can enhance our cooperation on missile defense. We should export military equipment to our ally Israel under the same guidelines as NATO.?
?The danger from Iran is grave, it is real, and my goal will be to eliminate this threat.?
Tell me, Mr. Halper, who does Obama sound like here?
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