The Los Angeles Times reported in April, in an article titled “Allies of Palestinians see a friend in Barack Obama,” that Barack Obama, Bill Ayers, and Bernadine Dohrn attended a 2003 “celebration of Palestinian culture” in Chicago. It was a farewell party for Rashid Khalidi, a former spokesman for the PLO terrorist group. Obama gave a speech in which he “reminisced about meals prepared by Khalidi’s wife, Mona, and conversations that had challenged his thinking.” Also, that his many conversations with the Khalidis were “consistent reminders to me of my own blind spots and my own biases. . . . It’s for that reason that I’m hoping that, for many years to come, we continue that conversation — a conversation that is necessary not just around Mona and Rashid’s dinner table,” but around “this entire world.” The Khalidi’s are still outspoken criticts of Israel, and supporters of Palestinian extremists.
The LA Times says it has a video of the event, but refuses to release it because they are “protecting a source.”
Did Obama stand up for Israel when “one speaker likened “Zionist settlers on the West Bank” to Osama bin Laden, saying both had been “blinded by ideology?” No. In fact, Hussein Ibish, a senior fellow for the American Task Force on Palestine, said “I am confident that Barack Obama is more sympathetic to the position of ending the occupation than either of the other candidates.”
What did Barack Obama say at the dinner? How did he react to the criticism of Israel that he heard at the event? How close were the Obamas and the Khalidis?
These questions are important because Barack Obama may well be elected President of the United States. It is imperative that we learn about his relationship with Rashid Khalidi, a former spokesman for Yasser Arafat’s PLO, and how the Khalidi’s opinions influenced Obama’s thinking.
The LA Times is in the tank for Obama. If the tape exists, and if it is in their possession, there must be a serious reason why they won’t release it. They do not have to reveal their source, but, they have to release the tape.
Tell the LA Times to release the tape:
Los Angeles Times Letters To The Editor
202 W. 1st St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 237-5000
Fax: (213) 237-7679
Protest at the LA Times Building:
There was a protest all day today at the LA Times Building in Downtown Los Angeles. There will be more protests this weekend: tomorrow morning at 10am, and Sunday at 10am and 2pm.
For video and reports from the front line visit freerepublic.com.