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About Rahm Emanual:
"As I mentioned in my email yesterday, I was working on an article
about Obama's first major post-election appointment, that of Rahm
Emanuel as his chief of staff. You can read it at:
http://www.alternet.org/election08/106189/is_obama_screwing_his_base_with_rahm_emanuel_selection/?page=entire#comments
Since I finished the article yesterday afternoon, I have seen a
number of critical analyses of the appointment which emphasize
Emanuel's Israeli connections. My article, as you will read, faults
Emanuel on his support for neo-liberal trade policies, his efforts to
move the Democratic Party to the right on a whole range for foreign
and domestic policies, his support for the war in Iraq, and a number
of other issues, including his hawkish position vis-a-vis
Israel. However, I would caution against criticism that centers
around guilt by virtue of family background or assumptions that
Emanuel's political biases are shaped primarily by ethno-religious
ties. I have also seen no evidence that Emanuel's positions
regarding Israel -- as objectionable as they are -- are much
different than other centrist and center-right Democrats, that he is
disproportionately focused on Middle East policy relative to other
issues, or that his appointment has anything to do whatsoever with Israel.
There have also subsequently been some analyses I've read by those on
the left who, while disagreeing with many of Emanuel's political
positions, argue that he was hired more for his administrative and
political skills and he will influence policy too much. That may
well be the case and I certainly hope that is how it turns out, but I
still think there is reason for concern.
You can access other articles of mine about the election and other
topics through my website at: www.stephenzunes.org
Please feel free to pass this on to others who might be interested
and invite them to contact me about being added to my e-mail
list. Also, please let me know if you wish to be removed from this
mailing list."
"As I mentioned in my email yesterday, I was working on an article
about Obama's first major post-election appointment, that of Rahm
Emanuel as his chief of staff. You can read it at:
http://www.alternet.org/election08/106189/is_obama_screwing_his_base_with_rahm_emanuel_selection/?page=entire#comments
Since I finished the article yesterday afternoon, I have seen a
number of critical analyses of the appointment which emphasize
Emanuel's Israeli connections. My article, as you will read, faults
Emanuel on his support for neo-liberal trade policies, his efforts to
move the Democratic Party to the right on a whole range for foreign
and domestic policies, his support for the war in Iraq, and a number
of other issues, including his hawkish position vis-a-vis
Israel. However, I would caution against criticism that centers
around guilt by virtue of family background or assumptions that
Emanuel's political biases are shaped primarily by ethno-religious
ties. I have also seen no evidence that Emanuel's positions
regarding Israel -- as objectionable as they are -- are much
different than other centrist and center-right Democrats, that he is
disproportionately focused on Middle East policy relative to other
issues, or that his appointment has anything to do whatsoever with Israel.
There have also subsequently been some analyses I've read by those on
the left who, while disagreeing with many of Emanuel's political
positions, argue that he was hired more for his administrative and
political skills and he will influence policy too much. That may
well be the case and I certainly hope that is how it turns out, but I
still think there is reason for concern.
You can access other articles of mine about the election and other
topics through my website at: www.stephenzunes.org
Please feel free to pass this on to others who might be interested
and invite them to contact me about being added to my e-mail
list. Also, please let me know if you wish to be removed from this
mailing list."
