I hate the Middle East issue. i freakin hate it because it's too emotional for people. all summer long, Dean was getting heat from leftists and Arabs for being an AIPAC-loving Sharon toadie. Now this week, Elijah Cummings, my Baltimore Congressman, is delaying his endorsement because of his Jewish constituents who are concerned about Dean's commitment to Israel. ALso, a email is circulating around saying Dean will sellout Israel. A friend of mine received it and his parents demanded to know if Dean was gonna screw over God's chosen people. Sigh. Given how close this election will be, i do not want to lose a single Jewish voter over this, but it looks like many will be voting for Bush. I understand the psychological forces that cause these groups to be so reactionary, but argh, it's frustrating.
http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-md.politics09dec09,0,6222579.column?coll=bal-local-headlines
Apparently Jewish groups didn't take kindly to Kerry's suggestion of sending Jim Baker either:
http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=8835
I will say one good thing about George Bush I. he did the best he could on the Middle East issue and had some real gains made.