Sen. Clinton Skips Pro-Israel Rally In NYC

That news, by itself, would not raise too many eyebrows. However, the reason she's doing so should. It's apparently because Gov. Sarah Palin will be attending the same pro-Israel, anti-Iran rally scheduled for next week to coincide with the opening session of the United Nations:

Malcolm Hoenlein, executive director of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, earlier said the McCain campaign confirmed Palin would attend the rally Monday, which coincides with the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.

The Jewish group's Web site listed Clinton, Palin, Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel and Iranian dissidents as speakers at the midday rally at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza off First Ave., which Hoenlein said will protest the expected UN appearance of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as "a state sponsor of terrorism."

Hoenlein couldn't immediately be reached for comment Tuesday night on Clinton's decision to skip the rally.

Clinton, who lost the Democratic presidential nomination to Barack Obama, has been campaigning for him against the McCain-Palin ticket.

McCain also is New York-bound next week. He is expected to attend former President Bill Clinton's annual Global Initiative forum next Tuesday on challenges facing the global community and possibly join with Palin in meeting world leaders in the city for the UN session.

Well, doesn't that beat all. That's a very disappointing turn of events for Sen. Clinton and should make Jewish voters further question her commitment to supporting Israel and holding the line against Iranian aggression in the region.

UPDATE:
For those who wonder why I question Clinton's commitment to Israel should look no further than her smooch fest with Yasir Arafat's wife:



It's all about the company you keep. Clinton simply can't put aside her political differences with Palin to appear at a pro-Israel rally to oppose the very presence of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in New York for the UN, a man who poses a clear and present threat to US interests in the region, and who has made repeated threats against Israel.

UPDATE:
Well, doesn't that beat all. The Democrats are looking to pressure Malcolm Hoenlein's group to disinvite Gov. Palin from the pro-Israel rally if Obama or Biden aren't in attendance. Nice. Very classy. (HT: kynna at LGF)

Of course, the comments at Ben Smith's post on the Politico is quite classy. Racist, sexist, elitist (and many other -ists). These people are clueless and have so put partisan politics ahead of foreign policy and everything else that they simply are blind to what they're doing not only to the Democratic party, but to US foreign policy and making a strong statement of support for Israel and against Iran's ongoing militarism. Gov. Palin has so gotten under their skin that these people are coming unhinged in more ways than one (up to and including hacking into Gov. Palin's personal email accounts).