JCER: Unmoved and Unrepentant

The Obama supporters at the Jewish Council on
Education and Research (JCER) have their story and they are sticking to it. One would think that during the Aseres Y'mei Tshuva (10 days of repentance between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur), when kapora (atonement) is the order of the day, that an apology would be in order to Generals Dayan and Halevy. But an apology has not been forthcoming. Instead, we have denial and justification - ah classical Clintonian liberalism at its best. Mechila (forgiveness) is not required when you believe yourself to be morally superior by rite and privilege from the god of liberalism. Is the Jewish vote still so fluid that this story is making such headlines?

What exactly does this mean? express support for Senator Barack Obama or his policies (see Press Release). Or his policies? How do they define this? Is a policy of communication with your enemy in any fashion the same thing as no pre-condition negotiations? Or has the infectious call for "change" been interpreted to mean only change according to Obama? Could a high level back channel discussion to make clear the consequences of certain actions and how those actions are interpreted through the lenses say of Israeli national interest or American national interest also be considered engaging in talks?

Let's take another look at Gen. Uzi Dayan's quote from the JPOST article found in the APRPEH post Generally Speaking...

"It's not only misleading, it was an interview about what the next president was going to have to deal with," former deputy chief of General Staff Maj.-Gen. (res.) Uzi Dayan told The Jerusalem Post. "And to know that they used this interview and took five seconds, and put me in a list of people praising Barack Obama…

"It wasn't about the campaign, it was about the political and security issues of the Middle East that the next president should be involved in," he continued. "Nothing was said about Obama or [Republican presidential candidate John] McCain."

There is nothing in this quote from Gen. Dayan which correlates with the comment from JCER's response to the negative publicity.

Try some blatant hypocrisy:

While JCER has endorsed Barack Obama for President, neither the film, nor any of our subsequent remarks imply that those interviewed are endorsing Obama's candidacy.

Anyone who stomached watching this thing would laugh at this assertion. Of course it was an Obama endorsement. The film was made to look as if EVERYONE interviewed believes the Obamessiah has divinely inspired answers and B"H is not George W. Bush. This is the proof text: the video portrays Obama running against Bush, not McCain (and/or McCain as Bush II). The sub-theme of the liberals message has been an 'anyone but Bush' supercharging the 'Obama at all costs' campaign.

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Tuesday, October 7, 2008 - JCER RESPONDS TO REPORTED CONTROVERSY OVER VIDEO
[With thanks to Israel Resource News Agency]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2008

CONTACT: Jessica Rosenblum, Rabinowitz/Dorf Communications, (202)265-3000/
(202)279-0005 (m), jessica@rabinowitz-dorf.com

JCER RESPONDS TO REPORTED CONTROVERSY OVER VIDEO

NEW YORK- Mik Moore, co-executive director of the Jewish Council on
Education and Research (JCER), released the following statement today with
regard to the film launched by the group this weekend, featuring seven
members of Israel's security establishment:

"In the film released this weekend by the Jewish Council on Education and
Research, retired members of Israel's security establishment express support
for Senator Barack Obama or his policies and provide relevant analysis.

The purpose of the film is to educate Jewish voters about support within
Israel's security establishment for policies Obama has advanced regarding
Israel. JCER is a non-profit organization created to develop and disseminate
information to voters in the United States regarding issues of concern to
the Jewish community.

The Israeli producers have assured us that all participants were fully
informed of the nature of the project. While JCER has endorsed Barack Obama
for President, neither the film, nor any of our subsequent remarks imply
that those interviewed are endorsing Obama's candidacy. This film is not an
advertisement and will not be used as an advertisement. We are willing to
work with the film's producers to address any new concerns now being raised
by any of the participants. "