I love a high-class soap. Well today I feel like Alistair Cooke on Masterpiece Theater, speaking in his plummy voice: "Our last episode ended with Rahm Emanuel's father Benjamin, who served in the Irgun, a terrorist organization, saying that Rahm would be for Israel in the White House, and he's not an Arab so he won't be cleaning the floors. Remember that viewers? Today's episode…"
Now it's not Alistair talking, but a smart Washington friend writing to me:
Now will Emanuel need to say that he disagrees with his father?
Will he start to receive so many questions he's got to answer? This hit
Democracy Now Wednesday morning as the lead question from Amy Goodman
to Diana Buttu. And now Wednesday evening, Ali Abunimah's op-ed is in
the Washington Times (for Thursday's paper). He spends considerable
time on the quote. We're talking the Washington media market even if
it's not the Washington Post.
Will he start to receive so many questions he's got to answer? This hit
Democracy Now Wednesday morning as the lead question from Amy Goodman
to Diana Buttu. And now Wednesday evening, Ali Abunimah's op-ed is in
the Washington Times (for Thursday's paper). He spends considerable
time on the quote. We're talking the Washington media market even if
it's not the Washington Post.
The Washington Times apparently hates the incoming Obama
administration more than it loves an expansionist Israel. I wonder,
however, how many centrist or left-leaning papers would have run this. Here's the great Amy Goodman:
administration more than it loves an expansionist Israel. I wonder,
however, how many centrist or left-leaning papers would have run this. Here's the great Amy Goodman:
We welcome you both to Democracy Now! Diana Buttu, I wanted to start with you on Rahm Emanuel’s father’s comment, its significance.
DIANA BUTTU: It
is. It’s a very significant comment, not just because it’s coming from
his father, but the fact that Rahm Emanuel himself has not backed down
from this comment. He hasn’t made any statements separating himself or
distancing himself from his father’s comments. And his voting record in
the past in Congress leaves a great number of Palestinians and people
who are concerned about Israel ’s occupation of Palestine —leaves a
number of us concerned.
is. It’s a very significant comment, not just because it’s coming from
his father, but the fact that Rahm Emanuel himself has not backed down
from this comment. He hasn’t made any statements separating himself or
distancing himself from his father’s comments. And his voting record in
the past in Congress leaves a great number of Palestinians and people
who are concerned about Israel ’s occupation of Palestine —leaves a
number of us concerned.
The feline has departed the gunnysack!
