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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton briefly weighed into domestic politics today and called Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich's characterization of the Palestinians as "invented" people unhelpful.
In an interview last week with the Jewish Channel, Gingrich said, "I think that we've had an invented Palestinian people, who are, in fact, Arabs, and were historically part of the Arab community. And they had a chance to go many places. And for a variety of political reasons, we have sustained this war against Israel now since the 1940s, and I think it’s tragic."
Gingrich's remarks are at odds with the majority of the international community, including current U.S. and Israeli policy which both support a two-state solution with a Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace with Israel. The Arab League has also condemned Gingrich's comments calling them "racist," "irresponsible," and "dangerous" in a statement.
In an interview, PBS's Jim Lehrer asked Clinton if Gingrich's comment was helpful she said, "No, no and I think he recognized that from what I read." Clinton called it, "one of those innovated moments that happens in politics."
Yet, when asked to elaborate on his comments in a debate Saturday, Gingrich did not back down, "Is what I said factually correct? Yes, Is it historically true?" He added, "Somebody ought to have the courage to tell the truth. These people are terrorists. They teach terrorism in their schools," Gingrich went on say after being posed the question by ABC's George Stephanopoulos.
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Oh, for heaven's sake, Hillary, chill out.
Newt will say something totally different tomorrow. Or maybe even yet this afternoon.
Although, admittedly, it probably won't be anymore helpful.
Sorry fellow progressives but Newt is "kinda" right:
"Palestine" was a creation of the British when they took over the region from the Ottomans after the First World War. The "Palestinians" in the West bank are Jordanians (another invention of the British), and those in Gaza are Egyptians. I don't see anyone clamoring for Jordan or Egypt to take back their citizens.
The "Palestinian" cause predates the 1967 war, even prior to the annexation of Gaza and the West Bank by Israel. The Arabs want Israel gone; the Palestinian's plight is simply a convenient excuse. There has been a Jewish presence in Israel for 3500 years- the Muslims haven't been around for half that long:
1. The Romans took Israel from the Jews.
2. the Byzantines (Western Romans) inherited it.
3. The Caliphate Arabs took it from them when they waged Jihad across the Middle East and Northern Africa in the 8th century).
4. The Seljuk Turks, and then the Ottomans took it from them.
5. And finally, the British took it after WWI, splitting the area into 2 parts- Palestine, and Transjordan, with Palestine further divided by the UN partition into the Jewish state of Israel, and the West Bank (which became part of Jordan, along with Transjordan.
The Arabs response to the partition, 20 years before the West Bank and Gaza were issues, was an attempt at annihilation of the Jewish state- and so far, 63 years later, only Egypt and Jordan, the 2 countries who lost the territory disputed by the Palestinians (only Syria gripes about the Golan), are the only ones who have normal diplomatic relations with Israel and recognize Israel's right to exist. Odd, no?
Hey, GOP candidates, do you think the world is not watching your show? They are and the Arab League just said so and is right about Newt Gingrich's comments. They are racist, irresponsible and dangerous. While Newt and the other GOP candidate have a right to their opinion, they need to learn that in this modern media world, they need to tread carefully when commenting on foreign events, leaders, etc; they cannot go off half cocked and say whatever they wish to score political points in this country. Newt and the rest of the gang needs to think before speaking because every word spoken, however clever it may seem, can interfere with our existing foreign policy and diplomacy.
Jody - is that Newt or the Arab league that is racist, irresponsible and dangerous?
If his off the cuff remarks are a problem now, just imagine the disaster of Newt riffing gaffs in the oval office.
@Torpedo - By that definition, a lot of people are "invented"...including Americans.
What is irresponsible and dangerous is not recognizing those that wish to destroy us or our allies. Ignoring and attempting to appease terrorists has not been a good plan and never will be.
It is good to have a person not walk the tightrope of politically correctness and will call it like it is.
Not like they are going to like us any less than they do now.
ABO 2012
Good point, Torpedo, Spanky and Wayne. All true.
DaNoid...Unless you are a "Native American." you are "invented." Point remains that Newt is factually correct...Context is everything...That does not mean that we have to walk in lockstep with the Israelis. I do not see anything racist in the Gingrich's comments. Let us not forget that is was Bush that caused the current imbalance and many of the current problems in the Mid-East. Had Bush not invaded Iraq, Iran would most likely be contained.
I'd present you with a scorecard of terrorists who have been killed since President Obama took office but I don't want to bore you.
However, I think the President himself said it best...go ask Osama bin-Laden if President Obama is an appeaser!
Gingrich was just making a statement that was intended to sucker votes out of the audience, although I am betting they are too smart for his brand of nonsense. His remarks are inflammatory and would be a bone in the throat of the entire Middle East if that concept became a touchstone of US policy in that region. Newt is proving yet again exactly why he is not qualified to be President.
Not helpful? Wow, she has mellowed since the 2008 election. I know she is supposed to stay out of politics as SoS, but the temptation to trash Newt must be overwhelming.
I think "not helpful" is Hillary's code for "idiotic".
"Idiotic" and that's putting it nicely.
nisl,
But she had to respond to Lehrer's question, though. Right? And he put her on the spot by asking if Gingrich's question was "helpful". And she added it was "one of those innovated moments that happens in politics," giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Sometimes I think we over-scrutinize every word public figures say, looking for meaning, when in fact the words meant "this much, and no more". Just my opinion.
Yeah, but still, Hillary and Newt have some history.
I bet Jim Lehrer was hoping she would issue a verbal smack down.
Newt is an 'invented' person.
He really thinks he can be President!
Oh, and BTW Newt got 'Occupied' at a speach at the University of Iowa....some blowhard Newt supporter got up close and personal with one of the protesters.....the Occupiers were ushered out!
Daniel wrote a scenario where a world leader will come to Jerusalem and establish peace between Israel and her neighbors (Daniel 9:27). The Psalmist exhorted Jews to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6) and many others, especially Christians, are also praying for the peace of Jerusalem. The Daniel passage confirms that there will be peace in Jerusalem howbeit a short lived peace that will result in a false peace. Jerusalem will indeed be key in any discussion of peace in the Middle East but there will not be true peace in Jerusalem for at least 7 years, that's the 7 years of the Tribulation period as described in Revelation 4-19.
An excellent accounting, Joe Green.
IF you belive the bible, of course.
Not everyone does, however.
Well Newt if you were thrown out of your home and forced to leave the country of your birth I think you might be plenty upset. And this guy wants to be President of the United States. Thanks, but no thanks.
...and I thought Newt was supposed to be some super-smart historian. Silly me. If he was a super-smart historian he'd be able to tell you about things like the folly of how the map of the Middle East was so poorly drawn after WW II or how even the concept of someone as an "Arab" is a relatively new concept compared to referring to that person as part of their tribe.
Does Newt understand that by his definition we as Americans are an "Invented People"?
I know...how about we move a whole ethnic group into Newt's home state of Georgia so that they can establish a whole new nation there? We can do that, right? I'm sure everyone living in Atlanta right now won't mind because, after all, Georgians are an "Invented People", right?
IS there really such a thing as an ethnic Palestinian?
"Nutty Newt" is dumb and dangerous on all Foreign Policy Issues. That is fact! His "Super Spewing" is not truthful, not accurate, and not diplomatically decent. "Nutty Newt" is showing that he is a "Social Sadist" and the world is not impressed. How will "Nutty Newt" handled himself in dicussions with North Korea? How about Iran? How about Pakistan? How about "Nutty Newt" when he start politically threatening Putin of Russia? The ending to all of these situations will end in a "Mushroom Cloud" America. "Nutty Newt" is very mentally ill, and has too big of an EGO. "Nutty Newt" has no rational thought process, and thinks incorrectly that his antics will have no consequences. That is fact!
… and now for something completely different
Father Newt O’Surge will now deliver the Sermon from his Mount (of the moment) Callista.
Brethren, was I not present when God created the world?
It was I who on the seventh day, yes I who told Him to take a break.
The evil Satanic Socialist tried to intervene and tempt the Good Lord saying:
“Listen not to the Newt. Take a whole weekend off, write a book.”
Brethren, at that moment when the scales of injustice seem most perilously awry
I knelt upon my greed and summoned forth my prodigious intelligence-
“Consider this O’ Lord! If thou doeth as the Socialist Satan suggests,
The poor will demand to have what we have, and instead of multiply they will occupy.”
The Lord then moved close to my ear and inquired as to what was a book.
“Here O’ Lord are several of mine, I will help Thee write Thine.”
Brethren, the Lord smiled unto me and blessed me with three wives,
And then said unto me: “Go forth and possess the Land of Tiffany.”
Hey, all you Palestinians, who do you think you are? Sheep? Get off of my lawn.
I'm in the company of a poet and didn't even know it! ;o)
Nicely done!
...and loving it! Great poe, it made me smile.
Gingrich is the worst of the worst possible candidates.
ideology: So creative! I enjoyed it!
Who's Next on his LIST????
Gingrich's statement unhelpful? How helpful was to it go through Oslo I, Oslo II, Taba, Wye, Tenet, Mitchell, Zinni, Sharm El-Sheikh, Roadmap, Annapolis while disregarding the truth? I think Gingrich should tonight on the FOX News debate bring up the subject of the death of the mutually assured destruction doctrine with regards to Iran, another taboo topic nobody is willing to talk about. For more info on MAD google MAD is Dead Bernard Lewis
And Hillary should know because of all those years of foreign policy experience....right?? LOL
Face it, Hillary is just an Obama appointee who had to be trained to even function in our state dept.
Newt, will soon have the honor and the pleasure of sending her packing. He can then appoint a real diplomat, with real diplomatic experience to the post of Secretary of State.
ABO 2012.