Government

Update: Obama Admin Defends U.S. Ambassador Who Blamed Muslim Anti-Semitism on Israel

Obama Admin Backs Ambassador to Belgium Howard Gutman Over Anti Semitism CommentsWASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — The Obama administration says it has full confidence in the U.S. ambassador to Belgium, despite comments he made about anti-Semitism that prompted angry responses from Jewish groups and Republicans.

Howard Gutman, who is Jewish and whose father survived the Holocaust, told a European Jewish gathering last week that some hatred of Jews reflected hostility toward Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. He said it was different from traditional anti-Semitism.

On Sunday The Blaze reported:

Gutman said “a distinction should be made between traditional anti-Semitism, which should be condemned, and Muslim hatred for Jews, which stems from the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians,” reported YNet, which appeared to paraphrase his comments.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Monday that Gutman would remain in his post.

Toner said Gutman spoke as ambassador, yet expressed his own views. He declined to say if the administration disagreed with those views.

The White House on Saturday condemned anti-Semitism in all forms. Gutman did as well.

Jewish groups expressed outrage. Some Republican presidential candidates have demanded Gutman’s resignation.

Watch a news report courtesy of Jewish News One below:

Comments (111)

  • barber2
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:23pm

    Someone made a clever comment previously in which Obama was described as a guy who pushes someone to the ground and then offers to help them up. This incident reminds me of more of the same. Maybe this is the strategy of the Obama administration : to confuse the heck out of our friends and our foes. Or maybe Joe Biden is calling the shots….

    Report Post »  
    • smackdown33
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:41pm

      The ambassador’s statement is true. Why all the fuss? It is not an antisemitic comment. It is a statement of fact.

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    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:25pm

      As much as I hate to break it to people, no one ever in the history of the earth was given any of the planet’s acreage by God. Nope, the spirit’s of “Man” was given human skin and bones and self awareness, and that is the earth “Land” “Dry-ground” they were given. God had Abraham look out at all the multitudes of people, and that’s what he was given as a place to plant his seed. You dorks will never stop battling over acreage.

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    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:26pm

      The American Indians were the only ones who remotely got it right. That’s why they are going to get America.

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    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:30pm

      Men will be forever cursed by having other men steal their land away. The one with the strongest Armies are the land owners.

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    • Paul -Indiana
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:36pm

      Obama isn’t confusing me. It‘s obvious that he’s a taqiyya spouting muslim.

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    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:43pm

      They are going to destroy the Nation of Israel, and I hope people are aware of that. You just don’t know what the Beloved City actually is. I pity all of you.

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    • Meyvn
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 8:15pm

      Israel will NOT be destroyed. On the other hand… Damascus will be. And perhaps likely soon based on what I’ve seen, heard and read lately.

      Report Post » Meyvn  
    • morioka
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 9:47pm

      thank you Obama!
      the Arab spring song / by Israel:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbA0h0WfA4U&feature=relmfu

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    • Ookspay
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 9:49pm

      Some of us original Blazers will remember OKPOLUT TAHA. She was a very interesting poster, but crazy as a bat in a belfry,I miss her… I think Eliasim may be her illegitimate younger brother.

      Report Post » Ookspay  
    • ashestoashes
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 10:57pm

      @Eliasim You Wrote.. no one ever in the history of the earth was given any of the planet’s acreage by God. The American Indians were the only ones who remotely got it right. That’s why they are going to get America.
      Why Eliasim…and we thought that you are a quoter of scripture…don’t know where you get your scripture Eliasim..but it sure isn’t from God nor His Word…the Bible..He gave Israel to the Jews..And from another Blazer who took this from scripture..This is what God gave the Hebrews for the Nation of Israel.
      Borders of the NATION of ISRAEL was given by the creator, LORD of ALL & King of Kings Please read in Genesis 15:18 The FULL NATION of ISRAEL Includes ALL of Jordan, Most of Syria, Northern part of Kuwait. All of Lebanon,1/2 of Western Iraq, 1/3 of Saudi Arabia ((northern part)) All of the Suez of Egypt & the Western part of the border of Egypt on the RED SEA. Had they done when the land was given to them, destroyed ALL that stood against them, we would not have this trouble today, but they did not OBEY the LORD.

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    • qzak491
      Posted on December 6, 2011 at 5:44pm

      ASHESTOASHES

      You might want to read Genesis 15,16, and 17. The land area you are talking about was given to ABRAM. It was done to include the land to be given to Ishmael, and his 12 tribes, when he was kicked out. After Ishmael was gone GOD changed Abram’s name to Abraham and made his covenant through Isaac. This covenant gave the land of Canaan to Abraham and Issac and their sons.
      The final bounderies of the land given by GOD is in Numbers 34

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  • SilentReader
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:16pm

    It’s amazing that these self-hating Jews still don’t get it. Or they do get it and they are collaborating with the Mohammedists for their own destruction. These Mohammedists have been killing the infidel since the advent of Islam 1400 years ago. Haven’t they read their Book of Jihad yet?

    And how come this guy doesn’t know that Arafat created the “Palestinians” as a thorn in Israel’s side to continue their jihad against the Jewsl? This is all a figment of their imagination. There was never a “Palestinian” state. Ever. It’s all part of the propaganda these Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas terrorists and their collaborators like CAIR put out on their Palestinian Wall of Lies! It’s why they created the MSA to begin with.

    Report Post » SilentReader  
    • Tear Em Up
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:21pm

      Sure because everyone knows, the victim of a bully is always asking for it….wait…

      http://traffic.libsyn.com/mikeleeandterrymartin/Number_92_Dec._5th._2011.mp3

      Report Post » Tear Em Up  
    • Viet Vet
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:32pm

      I’ve always been baffled at the high incidence of communism among American Jews. As the Venona Decrypts, declassified in 1995, disclose, Jews were attracted to communism. The Soviets however, while happy to accept their assistance, showed them no respect, referring to them in their in-house communication as ‘RATS’. Trotskyites were called ‘POLECATS’.

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    • smackdown33
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:43pm

      Self-hating Jew is defined as any Jew critical of anything Israel or Jewish. It’s an invention used to suppress criticism and hide the truth. A label.

      Report Post »  
    • smackdown33
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:02pm

      Communism is Jewish. Marx was Jewish.

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    • tzion
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:33pm

      Communism isn’t Jewish. Nothing in the Jewish faith or even education says anything about communism. It’s an idea coined by Karl Marx, who was a nonpracticing Jew (he didn’t subscribe to the Jewish faith). To say it’s Jewish is like saying Patent Rights are American (the first country that codified such laws). Just because a Jew invented communism doesn’t mean all Jews are communists.

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    • Bellini
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 8:17pm

      @Tzion: actually, Talmud does mention Communism. I can’t remember where unfortunately. It basically says that while it is a tempting idea for simple farmers (‘people of the land’), it is very misled.

      I can probably find where that is if you’d like to know.

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    • Natasha88
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 8:58pm

      Amen. The Jews’ self-hatred is getting to a point of suicide. Quite frankly, that cannot be afforded. Evil is clearly taking over the earth, whether you view it spiritually, religiously, or factually.

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    • tzion
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 9:57pm

      @Bellini Thanks for the clarification.

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    • ashestoashes
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:59pm

      @BELLINI you wrote @Tzion: actually, Talmud does mention Communism. I can’t remember where unfortunately. It basically says that while it is a tempting idea for simple farmers (‘people of the land’), it is very misled.
      I can probably find where that is if you’d like to know
      Sorry Bellini…The Talmud is a Babylonian text…it is very evil…The true Jews go by the Tenach or the Torah..not the Talmud…that is more than likely what Eliasim goes by..

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  • mike_trivisonno
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:15pm

    Clowns.

    The guy is a clown. To think Americans once looked to these sorts of people as experts disseminating sage advice.

    But is turns out they’re just clowns.

    Report Post » mike_trivisonno  
    • Itchee Dryback
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:53pm

      The guy obviously has some sort of identity problem.
      …I mean…come on! Look at him. Is he TRYING to come off as confused, with the odd glasses and mismatched tie.
      I think his very existence is a cry for help.

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  • inferno
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:15pm

    One can’t help but wonder, if his father knew he would have a son who blamed the Jews for causing
    their problems, if he, the father, would have sired any children .

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    • gsplgtr
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:32pm

      Howard Gutman is a poster child FOR abortion

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    • smackdown33
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:03pm

      He is not blaming Jews. He is blaming Zionists.

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    • tzion
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 10:02pm

      Anti-Zionism, often the front of modern antisemitism, blames Zionists for many of the world problems. Ironic considering that it was antisemitism that inspired Theodore Herzl (the one who first organized the Zionist movement) to become a Zionist.

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  • Alan
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:14pm

    This is just more evidence of the left’s perverse reversing of actions and reactions. The Muslim hatred for Jews does not stem from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinians as the Muslim hatred predates the Palestinian conflict by 1340 years. The conflict, in fact, stems from the 1400 years long Muslim hatred for Jews.

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    • Shasta
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:15pm

      Great answer.

      Report Post » Shasta  
    • barber2
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:36pm

      Don’t forget the Crusades. And the recent bombing of Christian churches in Egypt and Iraq. Not a lot of love for Christians either .

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    • smackdown33
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 7:04pm

      And Jews loved who?

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    • Natasha88
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 9:00pm

      THANK YOU. Most Americans are too stupid to know anything of History dating before the 20th century. Except slavery, of course

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  • flyoverbob
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:13pm

    His wife said it when he was nominated,she hated America.You have seen the type woman she is,he cannot disagree with her and live under the same roof.What do you think they talk about?How to divide and conquer.It is the darkest side of human nature to want to control other people.

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  • Miami
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:11pm

    As a Cuban born American Catholic I stand with Israel

    Report Post » Miami  
  • zoro51
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:11pm

    more SOCIALIST ANTI ISREAL BS form GUESS WHOM EVITA OBAMA TAX N SPEECH the HATER OF THE USA n ISREAL caters to MUSLUM interests ONLY now we have a douche bag spouting off more HATE.. MUSLUMS KILL they are ina CULT of HATE N DEATH theyll KILL ANYONE they dont care whom they just KILL ISREAL is not a killer go agisnt isreal n go against god himself… wouldnt stand too close when this dufus gets it….

    Report Post » zoro51  
  • simplygilly
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:09pm

    Well, he does have a point. After all, if there were no Jews, there’d be no antisemitism, no?

    Report Post » simplygilly  
    • tzion
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 10:04pm

      If their were no humans there would be no hatred at all.

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  • BO_Bill
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:05pm

    Isaiah was a prophet in the 8th Century BC. In Section 2-6, he notes:

    “Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers. Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots: Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.”

    He might have been talking about modern American Jews. I’ve been to Israel and Israeli Jews differ fundamentally from their American counterparts. I conclude that this is because the character of Israeli Jews is formed by an external threat and the need to defend a piece of land, both of which contribute to good mental health.

    In contrast, American Jews, such as this Howard Gutman, are attached to American political-media-financial institutions, and not land. Note their tendency to rent apartments, instead of owning a home (we are just visitors, blah blah blah). These people all too easily live in an artificial universe, and substitute themselves in place of God. All of this contributes to bad mental health.

    It should again be noted that Arabs cannot be ‘anti-Semitic’, as they are a Semitic people. A better word for Arab contempt for Jews would be ‘Judeo-aware’.

    Report Post » BO_Bill  
    • josh345
      Posted on December 6, 2011 at 8:36pm

      i am an american jew from ny. most jews in my community own a house, and many volunteer in the israeli army. i have relatives in israel and go there every summer. while i agree that there is a difference between israeli and american jews, i think that it is a difference between americans and israelis as a whole

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  • 82dAirborne
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:04pm

    The censor got me the first time around. I’ll try again.

    I never thought that I would say this but we have an A^&-douche for a president.

    Report Post » 82dAirborne  
    • 82dAirborne
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:06pm

      Ooops. I spoke too soon. Sorry for the double post.

      Report Post » 82dAirborne  
    • Exrepublisheep
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:09pm

      Lol, you’ve basically been saying that for quite a while, actually.

      Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
    • 82dAirborne
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:14pm

      @Exrepublisheep
      LOL. I guess your right but I have tried to respect the office if not the weasel in it. I just can’t take it anymore. Does he really believe that the American public is stupid? That we believe things just because HE says it?

      Report Post » 82dAirborne  
    • Ookspay
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:14pm

      LMFAO 82nd… I guess that would make him an “Enema of the State”.

      Report Post » Ookspay  
    • 82dAirborne
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:19pm

      @Ookspay
      Very, very nice!!!!

      Report Post » 82dAirborne  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:02pm

    LOL! To no one’s surprise, the most anti-Semitic, most anti-Israel administration in U.S. history defends the anti-Semitic remarks of obama’s anti-Semitic ambassador to Belgium…

    Report Post » Tri-ox  
  • paperpushermj
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:01pm

    Here is a tip for this Administration and Sec. of State Ms Clinton.
    When confronted with the Indefensible……
    …..DON”T

    Report Post » paperpushermj  
  • 82dAirborne
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:00pm

    I never thought I would say this but: We have an ass-douche for a President.

    Report Post » 82dAirborne  
  • TRONINTHEMORNING
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:00pm

    Hideous administration on all counts; nasty little people who deserve less than coal in their stocking.

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  • Lateris
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:57pm

    Placating the Obama administration and appeasing them to state that Israel’s issues are because “they defend themselves” is utter mire. Appeasing the Muslim nations on the Middle East is foolish and futile. In a way this is what happened before WWII when Hitler came into power. The Reform movement blamed the Orthodox and the Orthodox blamed the reform movement. Sadly, in the end they were all lined up as the same people. I compare this to Israelis and American Jews. Jews who are Democrats need to realize you are on the wrong side with this administration. Get your party back or a Holocaust could occur in the US! What makes any democrat Jewish man think that the Muslim nations in the Middle East will not only try to destroy Israel but also the US seems irrational to me. Use logic. The Muslim nations will eventually come after the US in full terrorist force and through the system. Geez gang it’s already happening.
    It should also be noted that In Judaism you are allowed to question and debate issues. This is beautiful. But when you sell out your own people that have to defend themselves against “people who put bombs on their bodies and blow themselves up” you’re not honoring the dead who lost their lives due to the same savage hatred the Muslim nations of the Middle East exhibit to the Jews and Secularism. What is worse when you points these fact s out the propaganda machine point this out as being racists. In fact it is the Islamic propaganda that is racists. Al

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  • Lateris
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:56pm

    Placating the Obama administration and appeasing them to state that Israel’s issues are because “they defend themselves” is utter mire. Appeasing the Muslim nations on the Middle East is foolish and futile. In a way this is what happened before WWII when Hitler came into power. The Reform movement blamed the Orthodox and the Orthodox blamed the reform movement. Sadly, in the end they were all lined up as the same people. I compare this to Israelis and American Jews. Jews who are Democrats need to realize you are on the wrong side with this administration. Get your party back or a Holocaust could occur in the US! What makes any democrat Jewish man think that the Muslim nations in the Middle East will not only try to destroy Israel but also the US seems irrational to me. Use logic. The Muslim nations will eventually come after the US in full terrorist force and through the system. Geez gang it’s already happening.

    It should also be noted that In Judaism you are allowed to question and debate issues. This is beautiful. But when you sell out your own people that have to defend themselves against “people who put bombs on their bodies and blow themselves up” you’re not honoring the dead who lost their lives due to the same savage hatred the Muslim nations of the Middle East exhibit to the Jews and Secularism. What is worse when you points these fact s out the propaganda machine point this out as being racists. In fact it is the Islamic propaganda that is racists.

    Report Post »  
  • Kiba
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:53pm

    This garbage spewing divide and conquer America (along with the rest of the world) corrupt crooked as a dogs leg race baiting jew hateing cartooner time of an administration that is in the cess-pool called Washington D.C. as disgusting as it might sound is doing its best to get Isreal into a war with our so-called presidents buddies or ‘partners’ over there and like the cliche goes “carefull what you wish for”. As far as Im concerened this guy isnt just the anti-america but the anti-christ as well. And I dont care who knows it or likes it. Someone ‘splain’ to me just what kind of Christian would or could do such a thing? We have to get rid of ‘these people’ in the upcomming election or we all had better think about jumping the fence ourselves south of the border and just take our chances untill our Generals in our military wake-up and do what they are sworn to do and that is protect this country from its enemies foreign AND DOMESTIC and descend on D.C. and clap that bunch down there in irons and shakles and haul them off to Levenworth where they belong and start installing a legitimate Government in this country. This crap is starting to get just a little bit blatant!

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    • Exrepublisheep
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:00pm

      Please DO jump the fence, and take some friends with you.

      Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
    • Kiba
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:14pm

      Naw were about to toss the likes of you and yours over incase you havent noticed. You libs had your chance but you blew it pronto just like we all knew you would lol. Too much to fast, just cant help yourselves now can you? Oh yeaaa you all thought all of a sudden our military was gonna be disbanded and gay couples were gonna start getting married on the white house steps! ha ha ha. Dream on Alice wonderland is just right around the corner! You came, you saw, you blew it! Seeee yaaaaa!!!

      Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:22pm

      KIBA…I have a feeling the democrat brand will be harmed for quite a few election cycles thanks to the antics of Obama, Pelosi and Reid. The house is already firmly GOP and will take several cycles to change hands. The midterms in 2010 were a profound victory for conservatives and a harsh repudiation of the democrats’ policies up to that time.

      Report Post »  
  • doomytram
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:49pm

    Another smooth hire by those senior staffers in the Obama Admin., no pun intended.

    The Ivy league Labor academics in the Obama administration and Romer all those dislocated economist he hired were flops. The administration is making its miserable mark on the middle class. No.

    Report Post » doomytram  
  • ares338
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:45pm

    It’s no wonder. American Jews are typically liberal anyway.

    Report Post » ares338  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:59pm

      Gutman is a typical liberal American jew with no idea what Islam really says about jews. He filters everything through the naivite of American liberal idealsim and moral relativitism.
      Modern-day Muslims still boast of the slaughter of Jewish tribes and the Battle of Khaybar. The Qur’an – and later on, the various Hadiths-teach hatred of jews. The Qur’an is rife with verses that can be described only as virulently anti-Semitic. The amount of Surahs are too numerous to cite, here’s only a few: Surah 2:75 (Jews distorted the Torah); 2:91 (Jews are prophet-killers), 4:47 (Jews have distorted the Bible and have incurred condemnation from Allah for breaking the Sabbath), 5:60 (Jews are cursed, and turned into monkeys and pigs), and 5:82 (Jews and pagans are the strongest in enmity to the Muslims and Allah). And of course, there is the genocidal Hadith from Sahih Bukhari, 4:52:177. “The Day of Judgment will not have come until you fight with the Jews, and the stones and the trees behind which a Jew will be hiding will say: ‘O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him!”‘ Thus, the Arab Muslims had their own “final solution” in store for the Jews already in the 7th century. By the way..Hamas’ charter quotes this Hadith verse almost verbatim.
      Gutman and Obama are idiots marinated and fomented in the leftism of our education system. They can’t help themselves.

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  • AmeriCat
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:42pm

    Defends Fast and Furious with killing of American citizens,
    Defends ObamaCare, Executive Orders, and Czars….

    Defends Muslim Brotherhood, Shariah Law, and Anti-Semitism

    That’s the WH way….but NOT the American way!

    Report Post »  
    • MidWestMom
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:18pm

      Don’t forget his “”You’re fed up with him, but I have to deal with him even more often than you,” remark

      Report Post »  
  • supertas
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:40pm

    Self loathing. Another affliction of the left.

    Report Post »  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:41pm

      Traitors of a feather stick together.

      Report Post » TXPilot  
    • ashestoashes
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:45pm

      Who appoints these ambassadors?

      Report Post »  
    • Shasta
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:59pm

      Ashestoashes, the president appoints U.S. ambassadors, usually as payback for political donations

      Report Post » Shasta  
  • welovetheUSA
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:38pm

    Yes……….ofcourse Obama would defend such bull…………..can’t wait till all these jew haters are out of office…2012.

    Report Post » welovetheUSA  
  • gmoneytx
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:38pm

    But Obama has done soooo much for Israel!

    Report Post » gmoneytx  
    • pamela kay
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:47pm

      GMONEYTX, yeah,The Prez must have been misquoted or maybe it was taken out of context since he has supported and done more for Israel than any other administration. It might come back as………What he meant to say……………..! What ever Obama.

      Report Post » pamela kay  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:36pm

    .
    You really have to wonder about a guy in Red Glasses. I’m thinking panties…………..

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • barber2
      Posted on December 5, 2011 at 6:25pm

      Maybe he redistributed them from Sally Jesse Raphael…

      Report Post »  

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