WASHINGTON (JTA) -- The White House will not hold a Jewish History Month event this year because of the sequester.
A White House official confirmed to JTA that the reception, which usually takes place toward the end of May, would not take place this year because of the congressionally mandated across-the-board budget cuts that kicked in last month.Yet, as Keith Koffler writes:
The sequester cuts kicked in March 1, but that hasn’t stopped the White House from staging a variety of fun events marking all sorts of occasions.It's one thing to have voted for Barack Obama and another thing entirely to be a craven sycophant. Any number of people who participate here, including me, voted for Barack Obama. This does not make them so insecure that they feel they must always and forever defend this administration no matter what it does.
The celebration of St. Patrick’s Day last month included an East Room bash with hundreds of guests and a separate breakfast party at the vice president’s residence.
Tuesday, the Obamas took in an exclusive viewing in the White House theater of the movie “42,” which chronicles the life of Jackie Robinson, with the film’s cast and crew. Earlier, in the day, Michelle hosted a “42 Film Workshop” for kids in the State Dining Room that featured Harrison Ford.
Obama even got in a reception for the Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings and major league soccer champs LA Galaxy on March 26. And there’s money around to transport him to the golf links, where he traveled by motorcade last weekend.
Next Tuesday, the Obamas will be treated to a command East Room performance “celebrating” Memphis soul music, with performances by stars like Justin Timberlake and Queen Latifah.
Deciding what to cancel could become problematic for the White House, as various groups begin to despair at not getting coveted presidential treatment.
For example, next month also traditionally includes a White House celebration of Cinco de Mayo. But it would seem doubtful Obama would nix that event, given the fierce competition for Hispanic voters.
The fact of the matter is that Barack Obama is no friend to the Jewish people and to the extent that he is an ally of Israel he is a piss-poor ally who does not know what the heck he is doing. He has proven that assertion time and time again.
But this?
This is just a kick in the head, but I'm sure his Jewish sycophants would love to get on their hands and knees to kiss the boot.
But he cut his salary by 5%, see, so he's making the very same sacrifices all the 'Merkin peebles face these days!
ReplyDelete;)
I voted for him twice, both times because I just didn't agree with anything his opponents had to offer domestically. Not that I thought he was any great shakes on that last count himself, either.
I voted against McCain-Palin and Romney-Ryan more than I ever voted for Obama (although I'll admit I've always liked Joe Biden). I'd vote the same way again today, but this may be more an example of the piss-poor choices we're given in our national elections over anything else.
But yeah, that being said. If this is true, it's kinda rather inexcusable, no? I can't imagine what the excuse would be. Answers would seem to be in order.
Oh well, who cares. He's run his last race, so he sure doesn't...
(At least I don't ludicrously defend him as somehow being Israel's best friend forever, because he once held a Seder in the White House or something...)
DeleteWhich if the other party was smart, perhaps they could maybe learn something from this.
ReplyDeleteStop coddling Christian fundamentalists, stop waging class war against those of us at the bottom, stop winking and smiling at white supremacists, stop opposing science in the same manner as Islamic fundamentalists, and maybe there's a new voting bloc to open up for youze...
Am I wrong? I'd actually like opinions on this...
Jay,
Deleteyou're not wrong or, at least, we are mainly in agreement.
I wouldn't put it in quite the terms that you do above, but there is no question that the Republican Party is wracked between the secular rationalists and the "values voters."
From my perspective both sides have good attributes and bad attributes. From a secular economic perspective I have always favored a tax code that favors the poor and the middle class, yet I wonder how it is that Democratic Party control over places like Detroit or Washington, D.C. have utterly failed to help those communities out of poverty.
As for white supremacism and racism, there is no question in my mind but that the conservative movement and the Republican Party is considerably less bigoted than is the progressive movement and the Democratic Party. This, needless to say, is not to suggest that the Republican Party does not have its "racist" elements. Of course, it does, but they have done a good job of marginalizing their racists even as the progressives mainstream theirs.
Remember the voice vote on Jerusalem during the Democratic National Convention? That was pure anti-Semitism and it was right there for everyone to see at the heart of the Democratic Party.
As for Evangelicals, that movement is very interesting, very dynamic, and in a process of transition. The younger generation is more gay friendly and more environmentally concerned than the crustaceans that preceded them.
Y'know, I rarely speak of domestic American politics on this blog because I want to maintain focus and because I know the Arab-Israel conflict far better than most other people who can speak to American domestic politics.
I do think, however, that it is more and more the time to mix things up. The last thing that we need is for the Democratic Party to take us for granted and that is precisely what is happening.
Obama just cancelled the Jewish heritage celebration.
This is yet another wake-up call.
I am not a Republican - not yet - but it is definitely time to move on.
Now here's the conversation I want!
DeleteLemme get back to you in a few hours. I'm trying to rip out some weeds on the dying daylight for now, and also waiting for a pizza delivery.
Dinner!
Will be back to address this in three hours or so...
Okay, I'm actually still around, so maybe let's talk about this (can we talk for a minute!)...
DeleteI'm willing to listen to everyone, Mike, but when even Black Republicans are telling us that Republicans have an institutional problem with racism, I'm inclined to listen to them.
The Democrats are for shit. They're completely useless. I agree with that, when it comes to our problems. After all, I actually live in the inner city and I can speak to this from experience.
The problem is, the Republicans are even more useless. And I can speak to that, too.
Someone is missing an opportunity.
I'll agree that the 'progressive' movement is extremely racist. But I'll disagree that they're less racist than the Republicans. Once again, let's listen to Thermone Spence Jr., Lewis Harris and Robert Allen Mansfield.
These men would certainly know more than either of us, I'd think?
"Remember the voice vote on Jerusalem during the Democratic National Convention? That was pure anti-Semitism and it was right there for everyone to see at the heart of the Democratic Party."
Agreed. I'm sure not defending Democrats (I'm not one), after all, and I would hope I don't come across as doing same.
As for Christian Evangelicals, I'm inclined to let them speak for themselves, too.
Do they really support equality for gay folks? Are they actively pushing for same amongst their people?
I do hope they are.
But if they aren't, then they deserve the exact same amount of disapproval we grant Muslims who also similarly refuse to come out of the Middle Ages.
"The last thing that we need is for the Democratic Party to take us for granted and that is precisely what is happening.
Obama just cancelled the Jewish heritage celebration.
This is yet another wake-up call. "
Agreed, Mike.
Don't let my comments here be confused for defenses of the Democrats.
Both parties generally suck at the moment, and have more than their share of problems.
I am, however, noting how I think Republicans can make gains. If they can stop winking at white supremacists, and stop coddling abortion clinic bombers and the like, my point is that maybe even I can consider supporting them one day.
But not until they address their own serious issues.
Jay, I understand and I think that your points are well-taken.
DeleteI am, after all, a life-long Democrat who has only recently become an independent.
The fact of the matter is that we are both political orphans.
I hold it harder against the progressive movement and the Democratic Party than I do against the conservative movement and the Republican Party because it was the Democrats that orphaned me.
I do not know exactly what I will do politically going forward, but I would rather help reform the Republican Party than support the Democratic Party because the Democratic Party it is making a home of itself for anti-Semitic anti-Zionists and the BDS.
This is to say, that the contemporary iteration of Nazi-like Jew hatred mainly comes out of the progressive-left which represents the base of the Democratic Party. The Democrats may be better on tax issues, but they are not better on universal human rights.
When it comes to women's rights and gay rights and the freedom of the Jewish people in the Middle East the Republicans are far and way much better than are the Democrats, sadly enough.
That leaves me out and therefore I, like you, am a political independent.
I have come to the conclusion that I will stand with those who are friends and allies to the Jewish people and the Jewish State and oppose those who are not.
From my perspective, the progressive-left and the Democratic Party are something akin to enemies of the Jewish people.
They support those who would kill us, so what else could they possibly be?
Fair enough, Mike.
DeleteI suppose my ultimate point is that the enemy of our enemy isn't necessarily our friend, either.
I realize you're not claiming that they are, and I certainly understand where you're coming from.
I consider myself an Independent these days, too, though I'm still a registered Democrat (PA is a closed primary state, so if I wasn't, I'd essentially have no say in city politics, since Philadelphia votes at least 90-10 Democratic for all city-wide offices).
I'm still a liberal, and likely always will be. I have that odd quirk of insisting on consistency of stated principles, so that's why I also mostly insist on calling out Democrats and 'progressives' these days, myself.
Anyway, yeah. I think we're agreed for the most part, then, aside from my being much harsher on Republicans, and their utlimate ability to change on social and domestic issues.
I think in the end, what we really need is more folks like you and me running for office from a new party. Fat chance that, though, eh? My fundraising, for instance, would be abysmal considering the circumstances of our current system, once I let loose on my platform. Heh.
AND! Actually, I'll be back tomorrow night Gotta run for a bit, but I promise I'll be around to address this in about 22 hours.
ReplyDeleteUntil then, my friends! ;)
Also, Mike, I'd suggest that we not pay attention to certain hate sites, and what they have to "say," because they're ultimately just partisan hacks who have nothing, ever, to contribute to any conversation.
ReplyDeleteLet's give those craven sycophants the exact amount of attention they deserve, which is none.
Do we really care though? I don't. I'd rather he just left us alone, ignored us. Anyone who finds themselves a friend of Obama ultimately regrets it.
ReplyDelete