Should I email my grandpa that Clinton says "vote Obama, not McCain"?

According to Ben Smith, Clinton puts up a flag for over-zealous supporters who've been suggesting they'd rather vote for McCain than Obama if Hillary doesn't get the nomination.

My grandpa is one of those Hillary supporters making such suggestions - but not as political posturing, but because he thinks the politicians who he's supported in the past (financial support for the Clintons) would not have been opportunistically misleading to him and his synagogue members about Obama's positions on Israel (i.e., "he'll talk with Iran, among other things, which will lead to limiting Israel's power to maintain and defend itself" ... and so on).

So should I email him with Clinton's statement (below the fold) or will it just piss him off and push him over the edge?  Are you going to email your Clinton supporting family members?

Clinton, speaking to reporters in Conshohocken just now, said she'd campaign for a united Democratic Party, no matter who's the nominee.

"Anybody who supports Barack or me would be very foolish to think voting for Senator McCain makes any sense," she said.

"Whatever differences Senator Obama and I may have...that pales in comprison with the differences we have with Senator McCain," she said earlier.

The Clintons are seen as tried and true to supporting Israel which has gained them support in the American Jewish community.  At a minimum, Obama appears to be an unknown on the subject (relatively).  

So what does Obama actually say about Israel?

"Our job is to renew the United States' efforts to help Israel achieve peace with its neighbors while remaining vigilant against those who do not share this vision. . . . That effort begins with a clear and strong commitment to the security of Israel: our strongest ally in the region and its only established democracy. That will always be my starting point. And when we see all of the growing threats in the region: from Iran to Iraq to the resurgence of al-Qaeda to the reinvigoration of Hamas and Hezbollah, that loyalty and that friendship will guide me as we begin to lay the stones that will build the road that takes us from the current instability to lasting peace and security."
[Speech at AIPAC Policy Forum in Chicago, 3/2/07]

His positions?

insist that Hamas recognize Israel, abandon violence, and abide by previous agreements made between the Palestinian Authority and Israel

designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization

stronger international sanctions against Iran to persuade it to halt uranium enrichment

Increase the annual foreign aid package that involves both military and economic assistance to Israel and sustain the unique U.S.-Israel defense relationship with full funding and continued cooperative work on missile defense programs, such as the Arrow.

encourage Palestinian moderates who seek peace and to isolate Hamas and other extremists who are committed to Israel’s destruction.

•  later, there will be time later. At least

  until after NC and IN if we go that far. I think this Hillary thing was the first in a string of minor concession to come. Start in June.

  by edgeways on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 10:26:48 AM PDT

•  Go ahead and email him

  It couldnt hurt, and it might help.

  by jj32 on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 10:34:20 AM PDT

•  My jewish father...

  ...recently told me..."You don't have to keep sending me those DailyKos Obama diaries, I love Obama but what about Israel?"

  Ok-a little background, my father worked in the Carter administration. He is really liberal socially. He doesn't talk about it but I found an AIPAC notepad in his smoking room at the house.

  So-I have listened and read about Obama's positions on the "Israel issue" and found Obama to be on my side on the issue and found Hillary to be more neocon or "AIPAC" on the issue. So I did five minutes of research on BarackObama.com and Google and forwarded to my father three articles and links to Obama's policy positions on Israel.

  The next day my dad said he is more comfortable after reading what I forwarded. A couple of days later I sent him links to "Jstreet"s (new pro Israel lobby)website and informed him they were a less neocon less AIPAC lobby for Israel issues. He replied that the Rabbi who married he and his his wife is a board member at Jstreet and he was glad there is a less neocon Israel lobby for him to support.

  So, if we educate the older Jewish voters they seem likely to be Obama supporters. Alot of older Jews tend to adhere to the Zionist AIPAC Israel positions but are likely to be more "Jstreet" with a little education.

  Thanks for the diary.

  by bradreiman on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 10:37:01 AM PDT

  •  Woops...

    ...my point was..absolutely email to granpa.

    by bradreiman on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 10:37:47 AM PDT

•  Wait until Hillary is either

  defeated in the Democratic primary, or she withdraws from the race. Then work on your grandfather. He's more focused on Hillary winning right now. Once that option is completely gone, he'll be more receptive to your email.

  by bbrown8370 on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 10:37:54 AM PDT

•  I have told my parents that I will

  convince my grandmother to vote for Obama.  She's a lifelong democrat, but very racist, and has said something so vile about Obama that I'm actually ashamed to be related to her.  I have my work cut out for me, but I'm going to do it.

  by Katie71 on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 10:41:33 AM PDT

•  Wait until *after* she's dropped out

  Only then can the healing begin.

  by SteamPunkX on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 10:48:14 AM PDT

•  Thanks for all the tips folks! n/t

  by Boalt on Tue Apr 22, 2008 at 11:38:11 AM PDT