Palin blasts Obama for ties to Palestinian professor
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/10/29/palin6.jpg caption=" Palin's criticized Obama's ties to Palestinian professor Rashid Khalidi."]
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (CNN) - Sarah Palin thrust Barack Obama’s relationship with a Palestinian academic into the national spotlight on Wednesday at a rally in Ohio - a tactic reminiscent of her repeated attempts to tie Obama to former radical William Ayers.
Palin kicked off her rally in Bowling Green by stressing, as she always does, that “it is not negative campaigning to call someone out on their record.” In recent weeks Palin has used that line to open up an attack on Obama’s tax plans. On Wednesday, she tried something different.
“It seems that there is yet another radical professor from the neighborhood who spent a lot of time with Barack Obama going back several years,” Palin said. “This is important because his associate, Rashid Khalidi, he, in addition to being a political ally of Barack Obama, he's a former spokesperson for the Paliestinian Liberation Organization.”
Khalidi - whose name Palin mispronounced - is currently a leading scholar of Middle Eastern Studies at Columbia University, and was a contemporary of Obama’s while on faculty at the University of Chicago.
Khalidi has been a stern critic of United States foreign policy towards Israel and has accused the country of “occupying” Palestinian territories, but he has denied acting as a spokesman for the PLO.
The Los Angeles Times reported in April that Obama praised Khalidi at a 2003 going-away party for the professor when he left Chicago. The McCain campaign has pressured the Times to publicly release a videotape of the event, but the newspaper has refused, citing the request of a source.
Palin said the public has a right to know what Obama said at the event.
“And the twist here is that there's a videotape of a party for this person, back in 2003, a celebration of him, and Barack was there, and we know some very derogatory things were said there about Israel and America's support for that great nation,” Palin said.
“And among other things, Israel was described there as the perpetrator of terrorism instead of the victim. What we don't know, what we don't know is how Barack Obama responded to these slurs on a country that he now professes to support, and the reason is the newspaper that has the tape, the Los Angeles Times, refuses to release it.”
Palin accused the Times of being Obama’s “pet newspaper” and said the paper would win a Pulitzer Prize for “excelling in cow-towing.”
The Republican vice presidential nominee was joined at her Ohio rally by Joe Wurzelbacher, known to the world as Joe the plumber. It was the first time the celebrated small business owner has appeared with Palin on the stump.
Palin described Wurzelbacher as “a fellow Alaskan” because he once lived near Fairbanks.
Palin is an idiot.
40% of people still want McCain? I hope he loses his seat in Arizona after this is all said and done.
I have gone through most emotions; Now at the end I feel only sorry and pity for this woman for Alaska
I can't believe this is an issue for the Mcpain/JoePlumber/Hockeymom/pitbulPalin campaign. He is a professor on middle east affairs. And....? Who cares? I have learned that when you cross paths with a wide range of people you become more tolerant of other cultures, religions and beliefs. This is one of the positives of Obama. He is not sheltered (like Palin in Alaska) and does not view anyone different as bad. That is what this country should be about.
( soccer mom ) the real reason we haven't heard about her and the AIP is b/c she's white, lets be honest here, just look at how the media treated Obama and rev Wright, everyday, all day, and still till this day we hear about wright. They have tapes of Palin prasing this party and nothing said about it.
Wow I can't believe they keep doing this when it has been proven she has much more radical ties than Obama. I think she believes her own lies.
The GOP has no new ideas ( or old ones for that matter ) they just want power and are scared as hell that they are losing .
Every time she opens her mouth, it confirms my believe that I have made the right choice in voting for Obama.
Does she even know what the heck she is talking about? Is she going to get mavericky on him now oh boy watch out! What really is sad is the people who really take her serious, lol.
Wow gays! If you want Russian Way, vote for Palin/McCain. She sound like Russian politician.
Independed.
Does this lady have anything positive to contribute? Everything from her is such negative crap that no one really cares about.
So out of touch.
Last call, any one wants to buy some "snake oil" from Arizona" or "moose oil" from Alaska?
How does she know what the tape shows if she has not seen it? Are we to add village psychic to her list of abilities? Village hypocrite would be a better title!
That word should be "belief" ;o)
Aren't her 15 minutes up yet?
To: Hardworking American for McCain October 29th, 2008 2:21 pm ET Go for it, Sarah! Rip 'em a new one! WTH? RIP 'em a new one? Are you in jr. high still or just some white trash redneck in a bar wearing your ball cap and swiggin' a beer? Then again, the Republicans have at least two of what you are telling Sarah to rip a new one of, right there, running for Pres.. and VP so I guess Repubs would know a lot about those 'holes' to which you are most like referring in your comment about ripping.
OBAMA/BIDEN '08 & '12 YES WE CAN WITH THESE TWO MEN OF INTEGRITY LEADING US!!
When is she going to start attacking McCain?
Mr. McCain has his own connection to Mr. Khalidi. According to tax records, a foreign policy organization that Mr. McCain chairs, the International Republican Institute, gave more than $850,000 in 1998 and 1999 to a group in part founded by Mr. Khalidi, the Center for Palestine Research and Studies.
It amazes me that you folks will look the other way when his own words are put right there in front of you how he is racist. It is like you are somehow hipnotized.
He broke nearly all promises to IL when running for Senate, he broke his promise to take public funds... the list goes on. All of this means nothing to you?
I know we all want things to be better than the past 8 years no doubt about it. However just because someone is smart and says what you want to hear does not mean a thing. Look at what he has DONE, actions folks actions speak very loud.
Palin could stand to pay attention a few professors herself – she's not exactly the brightest bulb in the string.
Sarah Palin is Dick Cheney with lipstick!
So what we're saying is a Palestinian who doesn't support is evil for that point of view?
Sara Palin is a complete oxymoron of an American. It is ironic how
she spewed her venom and incited the most ugliest underbelly of
American society, and she herself abused her power while in office.
I wonder of the bigots some of which call themselves Cristians can look themselves in the mirror this morning?
The sad part is that they probably can. McCain may have saved a tiny
bit of any honor that he has left by defending his and Palin's lies about
Senator Obama, who worked his way up to become a worthy and
patriotic American, only to be told by his fellow American, that he is the
unamerican. This should wake America up to not judge a book by
its cover. The devil just may wear lipstick.
Desparate..... and pitiful
Dishonorable diservice to our Coutry Palin... you will live a loney, spite-filled life...
Oh Sarah, just shut up already! No one cares! All you're doing is showing your true face to America, the evil, twist and conniving one, the "diva" your own campaign aides talk of, that "has no relationships of trust, not even with her family". Good Christian? Hardly. Good Liar? Definitely. Good Candidate? Never!