Pajhwok Afghan News
Obama announces new team for Afghanistan
by Lalit K Jha
WASHINGTON (PAN): Having broken the Taliban momentum over the last two years, the United States is entering into a new phase in Afghanistan, with a drawdown of security forces beginning in July, President Barack Obama has said.
"In Afghanistan, the United States is moving into a new phase, transferring responsibility for security to Afghan forces, starting to reduce American forces this summer and building a long-term partnership with the Afghan people,” Obama told reporters on Thursday when he announced his new team for Afghanistan.
Gen. John Allen, currently deputy commander for CENTCOM, would be the new US commander in Afghanistan, while senior diplomat Ryan Crocker would take over as ambassador to that country, the president said.
The incumbent US commander, Gen. David Petraeus, would be new CIA director, replacing Leon Panetta, who would take over from Robert Gates as the next defense secretary.
"I cannot think of a group of individuals better suited to lead our national security team during this difficult time," Obama said, as he announced his choice for the civilian military team.
"I'm nominating a superb commander, Lt. Gen. John Allen, to succeed Gen. Petraeus as commander of the International Security Assistance Force," he said. As a battle-tested combat leader in Iraq, he helped turn the tide in Anbar province.
As CENTCOM deputy commander, he was s respected in the region and has been deeply involved in planning and executing the US strategy in Afghanistan. "As our troops continue to sacrifice for our security, Gen. Allen is the right commander for this vital mission," Obama said.
With coalition forces transferring responsibility to Afghans, the president said, the US was redoubling its efforts to promote political and economic progress in Afghanistan as well.
"Our tireless ambassador, Karl Eikenberry, has helped us dramatically increase our civilian presence of diplomats and development experts. Never before have our civilians and troops worked together so closely and so successfully," he added.
To build on Karl’s great work, Obama said, Ryan Crocker had agreed to return to public service as US ambassador to Afghanistan. He was the US first envoy to Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban regime.
"He reopened our embassy there. As a former ambassador to Pakistan, he recognises that our strategy has to succeed on both sides of the border. As ambassador to Iraq, his remarkable partnership with Petraeus helped reduce the level of violence and promote reconciliation…"
mud.
http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2011/04/29/obama-announces-new-team-afghanistan
Friday, April 29, 2011
Turkey: Global Summit of Women
PJ: The world is changing and women around the world are participating in that change like never before.
Hurriyet Daily News
Istanbul to host 2011 Global Summit of Women
More than 1,000 women from all over the world will gather in Istanbul for the 21st Global Summit of Women between May 5 and 7. Prominent women will gather in Turkey’s largest city to share winning strategies for advancing women’s economic lives and ensuring global prosperity.
The issues that will be discussed at the summit include growth of the world’s economies, development of a new breed of leadership and engendering of peace worldwide.
The president of the Washington, D.C.-based Globe Women, Irene Natividad, who is also the president of the summit, as well as the Turkish prime minister’s wife, Emine Erdoğan, Turkish state ministers Selma A. Kavaf and Nimet Çubukçu, first ladies from Namibia and Malaysia, Penexupifo Pohamba and Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor, as well as many other prominent women will participate in the summit.
“The Global Summit of Women was conceived as the nexus at which all sectors – public, private and nonprofit – would come together under the common vision of dramatically expanding women’s economic opportunities globally through exchanges of working solutions and creative strategies forged by women leaders in different parts of the world,” reads the summit’s mission statement. It also adds that the summit, also referred to as the “Davos for Women” is a business one, whose “business” focus is women’s advancement in the global economy.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=istanbul-to-host-global-summit-of-women-2011-2011-04-28
Hurriyet Daily News
Istanbul to host 2011 Global Summit of Women
More than 1,000 women from all over the world will gather in Istanbul for the 21st Global Summit of Women between May 5 and 7. Prominent women will gather in Turkey’s largest city to share winning strategies for advancing women’s economic lives and ensuring global prosperity.
The issues that will be discussed at the summit include growth of the world’s economies, development of a new breed of leadership and engendering of peace worldwide.
The president of the Washington, D.C.-based Globe Women, Irene Natividad, who is also the president of the summit, as well as the Turkish prime minister’s wife, Emine Erdoğan, Turkish state ministers Selma A. Kavaf and Nimet Çubukçu, first ladies from Namibia and Malaysia, Penexupifo Pohamba and Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor, as well as many other prominent women will participate in the summit.
“The Global Summit of Women was conceived as the nexus at which all sectors – public, private and nonprofit – would come together under the common vision of dramatically expanding women’s economic opportunities globally through exchanges of working solutions and creative strategies forged by women leaders in different parts of the world,” reads the summit’s mission statement. It also adds that the summit, also referred to as the “Davos for Women” is a business one, whose “business” focus is women’s advancement in the global economy.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=istanbul-to-host-global-summit-of-women-2011-2011-04-28
Israel: Outrage over Fatah-Hamas deal
Haaretz
Netanyahu presses for U.S. action over Fatah-Hamas deal
Israel is expected to demand that the international community boycott the new Palestinian government if it does not meet the conditions the Quartet has set for Hamas.
By Barak Ravid
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted T Thursday in discussions with a visiting delegation of U.S. Congress members that the United States should consider stopping economic aid to the Palestinian Authority if a Hamas-Fatah unity government did not recognize Israel and renounce terror.
Netanyahu also told the seven U.S. lawmakers that Israel would not recognize a Palestinian unity government if it did not meet these conditions. “Israel would not recognize any government in the world that included members from Al-Qaida,” Netanyahu said.
Speaking to the American legislators, Netanyahu quoted remarks by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in April 2009, that Israel would not hold talks with or economically support a Palestinian government, including Hamas, until Hamas recognized Israel and abandoned violence.
Senior government officials familiar with the details of yesterday’s meeting of the septet said the main decision was to launch a diplomatic campaign, with particular emphasis on the European Union, to thwart international recognition of the unified Fatah-Hamas government.
Intelligence officials told the septet that Hamas had agreed to sign a reconciliation agreement with Fatah out of Hamas’ fears over the implications for its organization in light of the riots in Syria.
Joining the ministers at the meeting were Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, MI chief Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi and senior figures in the Mossad and the Shin Bet security service.
The MI officials told the ministers that Hamas is worried about the instability of the regime in Syria, which it considers the patron of the organization (Hamas’ headquarters is in Damascus). Hamas’ alliance with Bashar Assad has been harshly criticized in the Arab world.
Israel is expected to demand that the international community boycott the new government if it does not meet the conditions the Quartet has set for Hamas.
After Hamas won a majority in the 2006 elections to the Palestinian parliament, the Quartet − consisting of the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations − demanded that Hamas recognize Israel and existing agreements and renounce terror in exchange for international recognition.
Foreign Ministry Director General Rafael Barak sent a classified cable to Israel’s ambassadors to the EU, directing them to to make clear that Israel expects European leaders not to automatically release statements welcoming the Palestinian unity government.
“Hamas is a terror organization and the demand must first be made that it meet the conditions of the Quartet,” he wrote.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak yesterday said Israel asked its friends in the world not to talk to Hamas, unless the group undergoes “deep and fundamental changes” by dismantling its terror infrastructure and accepting the Quartet’s conditions.
In an interview yesterday on Army Radio, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman called for sanctions against the PA, such as withholding tax revenues. However, senior officials in Jerusalem and the septet have decided for now not to take punitive steps against the PA but rather to wait for clarification about the platform of a new Palestinian government.
Most of the European announcements about the Palestinian unity government emerging yesterday did not include the Israeli demands. European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said the European Union has long been calling for internal Palestinian reconciliation.
The German Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle, said in a statement that Hamas is “not a dialogue partner for us because we don’t work with organizations that fight with violence against Israel’s right to exist.”
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/netanyahu-presses-for-u-s-action-over-fatah-hamas-deal-1.358706
Netanyahu presses for U.S. action over Fatah-Hamas deal
Israel is expected to demand that the international community boycott the new Palestinian government if it does not meet the conditions the Quartet has set for Hamas.
By Barak Ravid
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted T Thursday in discussions with a visiting delegation of U.S. Congress members that the United States should consider stopping economic aid to the Palestinian Authority if a Hamas-Fatah unity government did not recognize Israel and renounce terror.
Netanyahu also told the seven U.S. lawmakers that Israel would not recognize a Palestinian unity government if it did not meet these conditions. “Israel would not recognize any government in the world that included members from Al-Qaida,” Netanyahu said.
Speaking to the American legislators, Netanyahu quoted remarks by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in April 2009, that Israel would not hold talks with or economically support a Palestinian government, including Hamas, until Hamas recognized Israel and abandoned violence.
Senior government officials familiar with the details of yesterday’s meeting of the septet said the main decision was to launch a diplomatic campaign, with particular emphasis on the European Union, to thwart international recognition of the unified Fatah-Hamas government.
Intelligence officials told the septet that Hamas had agreed to sign a reconciliation agreement with Fatah out of Hamas’ fears over the implications for its organization in light of the riots in Syria.
Joining the ministers at the meeting were Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, MI chief Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi and senior figures in the Mossad and the Shin Bet security service.
The MI officials told the ministers that Hamas is worried about the instability of the regime in Syria, which it considers the patron of the organization (Hamas’ headquarters is in Damascus). Hamas’ alliance with Bashar Assad has been harshly criticized in the Arab world.
Israel is expected to demand that the international community boycott the new government if it does not meet the conditions the Quartet has set for Hamas.
After Hamas won a majority in the 2006 elections to the Palestinian parliament, the Quartet − consisting of the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations − demanded that Hamas recognize Israel and existing agreements and renounce terror in exchange for international recognition.
Foreign Ministry Director General Rafael Barak sent a classified cable to Israel’s ambassadors to the EU, directing them to to make clear that Israel expects European leaders not to automatically release statements welcoming the Palestinian unity government.
“Hamas is a terror organization and the demand must first be made that it meet the conditions of the Quartet,” he wrote.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak yesterday said Israel asked its friends in the world not to talk to Hamas, unless the group undergoes “deep and fundamental changes” by dismantling its terror infrastructure and accepting the Quartet’s conditions.
In an interview yesterday on Army Radio, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman called for sanctions against the PA, such as withholding tax revenues. However, senior officials in Jerusalem and the septet have decided for now not to take punitive steps against the PA but rather to wait for clarification about the platform of a new Palestinian government.
Most of the European announcements about the Palestinian unity government emerging yesterday did not include the Israeli demands. European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said the European Union has long been calling for internal Palestinian reconciliation.
The German Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle, said in a statement that Hamas is “not a dialogue partner for us because we don’t work with organizations that fight with violence against Israel’s right to exist.”
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/netanyahu-presses-for-u-s-action-over-fatah-hamas-deal-1.358706
UK: A decline in government spending slows US economic recovery
The Independent
Fresh blow for global economy as US slows
Consumer spending hit by rapid rise ininflation and a stagnant jobs market
By Stephen Foley in New York
Slumping government spending, weaker exports and renewed caution on the part of consumers conspired to slow economic growth in the US in the first three months of 2011.
The world's largest economy grew at an annualised rate of 1.8 per cent in the first quarter – down from its 3.1 per cent pace at the end of last year – underscoring the sluggish and volatile nature of the recovery from recession.
Any hopes that economic growth might be enough to quickly bring down an unemployment rate that is still at 8.8 per cent were dented by the latest weekly benefit claims figures, also released yesterday, which showed an unexpected jump in the numbers joining the unemployment rolls.
Economists scaled back their expectations for the first quarter GDP figure as February and March drew on, but the first estimate published by the Commerce department yesterday was modestly weaker than even those lower forecasts. The consensus estimate had been 2 per cent.
Many analysts noted temporary factors were keeping the figure low. Federal government spending dropped 7.9 per cent, with defence spending down 11.7 per cent, and commercial construction unexpectedly plunged 21.8 per cent.
"Wild swings in government spending from quarter to quarter are notuncommon and are usually reversed quickly, and a severe series of winter storms held back construction in the first quarter," said Kevin Logan, chief US economist at HSBC.
But he added: "For the year as a whole, constraints on government spending, in combination with moderate growth in consumer spending, will probably keep GDP growth below 3 per cent. It appears likely that GDP growth will fall short of the Fed's recent forecast of 3.1 per cent to 3.3 per cent on a fourth quarter-to-fourth quarter basis."
Earlier this week, the FederalReserve cut its expectations for 2011 growth to the 3.1-3.3 per cent range, from an earlier forecast of 3.4-3.9 per cent, largely because of the disappointing start to the year. The central bank also promised to continue its unprecedentedly loose monetary policy for an extended period.
The GDP figures showed that trade was a drag on the economy in the first three months, while growth in the value of exports slowed from 8.6 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2010 to 4.9 per cent. Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of economic activity, slowed from 4 per cent to 2.7 per cent.
Kathy Bostjancic, director for macroeconomic analysis at business research body The Conference Board, called the disappointing first quarter GDP result "a pause, not a trend", but cautioned: "Moderate growth is not enough to meaningfully lower the unemployment rate or help tackle our large fiscal challenges. A higher growth trajectory will require substantially more business investment, jobs and personal income to support consumer spending."
That was a sentiment echoed by the White House. "Today's report shows that the economy posted the seventh straight quarter of positive growth, but while the continued expansion isencouraging, clearly, faster growth is needed to replace the jobs lost in the downturn," said Austan Goolsbee, chairman of President Barack Obama's Council of Economic Advisers.
The broad measure of inflationdescribed in the GDP figures, the personal consumption expenditures price index, rose at a rate of 3.8 per cent – its fastest pace since the third quarter of 2008 – after increasing 1.7 per cent in the fourth quarter. The core index, which excludes food and energy costs, accelerated to 1.5 per cent.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/fresh-blow-for-global-economy-as-us-slows-2276351.html
Fresh blow for global economy as US slows
Consumer spending hit by rapid rise ininflation and a stagnant jobs market
By Stephen Foley in New York
Slumping government spending, weaker exports and renewed caution on the part of consumers conspired to slow economic growth in the US in the first three months of 2011.
The world's largest economy grew at an annualised rate of 1.8 per cent in the first quarter – down from its 3.1 per cent pace at the end of last year – underscoring the sluggish and volatile nature of the recovery from recession.
Any hopes that economic growth might be enough to quickly bring down an unemployment rate that is still at 8.8 per cent were dented by the latest weekly benefit claims figures, also released yesterday, which showed an unexpected jump in the numbers joining the unemployment rolls.
Economists scaled back their expectations for the first quarter GDP figure as February and March drew on, but the first estimate published by the Commerce department yesterday was modestly weaker than even those lower forecasts. The consensus estimate had been 2 per cent.
Many analysts noted temporary factors were keeping the figure low. Federal government spending dropped 7.9 per cent, with defence spending down 11.7 per cent, and commercial construction unexpectedly plunged 21.8 per cent.
"Wild swings in government spending from quarter to quarter are notuncommon and are usually reversed quickly, and a severe series of winter storms held back construction in the first quarter," said Kevin Logan, chief US economist at HSBC.
But he added: "For the year as a whole, constraints on government spending, in combination with moderate growth in consumer spending, will probably keep GDP growth below 3 per cent. It appears likely that GDP growth will fall short of the Fed's recent forecast of 3.1 per cent to 3.3 per cent on a fourth quarter-to-fourth quarter basis."
Earlier this week, the FederalReserve cut its expectations for 2011 growth to the 3.1-3.3 per cent range, from an earlier forecast of 3.4-3.9 per cent, largely because of the disappointing start to the year. The central bank also promised to continue its unprecedentedly loose monetary policy for an extended period.
The GDP figures showed that trade was a drag on the economy in the first three months, while growth in the value of exports slowed from 8.6 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2010 to 4.9 per cent. Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of economic activity, slowed from 4 per cent to 2.7 per cent.
Kathy Bostjancic, director for macroeconomic analysis at business research body The Conference Board, called the disappointing first quarter GDP result "a pause, not a trend", but cautioned: "Moderate growth is not enough to meaningfully lower the unemployment rate or help tackle our large fiscal challenges. A higher growth trajectory will require substantially more business investment, jobs and personal income to support consumer spending."
That was a sentiment echoed by the White House. "Today's report shows that the economy posted the seventh straight quarter of positive growth, but while the continued expansion isencouraging, clearly, faster growth is needed to replace the jobs lost in the downturn," said Austan Goolsbee, chairman of President Barack Obama's Council of Economic Advisers.
The broad measure of inflationdescribed in the GDP figures, the personal consumption expenditures price index, rose at a rate of 3.8 per cent – its fastest pace since the third quarter of 2008 – after increasing 1.7 per cent in the fourth quarter. The core index, which excludes food and energy costs, accelerated to 1.5 per cent.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/fresh-blow-for-global-economy-as-us-slows-2276351.html
Thursday, April 28, 2011
UK: MP joins US birther discussion
Voice Online
Diane Abbott joins Obama 'birther' controversy
By Elisia Brown
MP DIANE Abbott has joined in the controversy over the legitimacy of Obama's presidency over claims he is not a US national.
"It is shocking that figures suggest that around half of Republicans either think Barack Obama was not born in the US or are not sure," the Labour Shadow Health Minister stated.
"It is sad that the so-called 'birther' movement, which maintains the President was not born in Hawaii, has been allowed to reach this stage. It is quite absurd," she added
The right wing creed 'birtherism,' maintains that President Obama is not qualified by birth for office. If this claim is true, it would mean Obama is illegitimate as President.
In a bid to quash cynics and conspiracy theorists, the President has publically released his full birth certificate, after repeatedly being questioned on his origins, more recently from business mogul Donald Trump.
Yet to make a formal announcement, Mr Trump has has sucked up several weeks of headlines and overtaken rivals in early polls by seizing on suspicions about the President's country of birth. It appears the republicans remain united in their desire to remove Obama from presidency.
"The focus on President Obama’s nationality, at a time of great consequence for America, has been a way of delegitimizing Obama and his work," stated the labour MP
"I only hope that the UK can learn from this sorry episode, and can help us to move away from the focus on personality above policy in our politics."
http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=19499
Diane Abbott joins Obama 'birther' controversy
By Elisia Brown
MP DIANE Abbott has joined in the controversy over the legitimacy of Obama's presidency over claims he is not a US national.
"It is shocking that figures suggest that around half of Republicans either think Barack Obama was not born in the US or are not sure," the Labour Shadow Health Minister stated.
"It is sad that the so-called 'birther' movement, which maintains the President was not born in Hawaii, has been allowed to reach this stage. It is quite absurd," she added
The right wing creed 'birtherism,' maintains that President Obama is not qualified by birth for office. If this claim is true, it would mean Obama is illegitimate as President.
In a bid to quash cynics and conspiracy theorists, the President has publically released his full birth certificate, after repeatedly being questioned on his origins, more recently from business mogul Donald Trump.
Yet to make a formal announcement, Mr Trump has has sucked up several weeks of headlines and overtaken rivals in early polls by seizing on suspicions about the President's country of birth. It appears the republicans remain united in their desire to remove Obama from presidency.
"The focus on President Obama’s nationality, at a time of great consequence for America, has been a way of delegitimizing Obama and his work," stated the labour MP
"I only hope that the UK can learn from this sorry episode, and can help us to move away from the focus on personality above policy in our politics."
http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=19499
Canada: Opinion: The US "Birther" embarrassment
The National Post
Opinion
The disgrace of the Birthers
David Frum, National Post · Apr. 28, 2011 | Last Updated: Apr. 28, 2011 4:07 AM ET
Even for the small band that sustained the phony controversy until now, the Barack Obama birth-certificate "issue" ends today.
Any last lingering doubts that maybe, perhaps, a pregnant Stanley Anne Dunham in the summer of 1961 boarded a propeller plane from Honolulu to Los Angeles, then from Los Angeles to New York City, then from New York City to Gander, then from Gander to London, then from London to Nairobi -and then repeated the trip backward a few weeks later -all so that her baby could acquire Kenyan nationality -those doubts are definitively squelched, as they should have been three years ago.
Now the more haunting question: How did this poisonous and not very subtly racist allegation get such a grip on our conservative movement and our Republican party?
I know there will be Republican writers and conservative publicists who will now deny that birtherism ever did get a grip. Sorry, that's just wrong. Not only did Trump surge ahead in Republican polls by flaming racial fires -not only did conservative media outlets from Fox to Drudge to the Breitbart sites indulge the birthers -but so also did every Republican candidate who said, "I take the President at his word." Birthers did not doubt the president's "word." They were doubting the official records of the state of Hawaii. It's like answering a 9/11 conspiracist by saying, "I take the 9/11 families at their word that they lost their loved ones."
Yet even now, the racialist aspect of the anti-Obama movement has not subsided. Trump has moved from the birth certificate to questioning the President's academic qualifications for Harvard Law School. Trump himself was a troubled student (at one point, he attended a military school) who nonetheless gained admission to Wharton. His father's wealth and business success cannot have hurt with that application.
Yet he feels himself qualified to pronounce on who is and who is not smart enough to attend Harvard Law. Barack Obama graduated magna cum laude. (And to anticipate a new line of attack -yes, Harvard Law School exams were blindgraded.) He was elected editor of the law review. And his classmates, left and right, universally admired his abilities.
I wish it were otherwise, but it does seem that these racialized attacks on Obama have exacted a toll on him. But they also have exacted a toll on the opposition to Obama. The toofaint repudiation of birtherism by regular Republicans has shaped not only the Obama brand, but also the Republican brand. It was not only white people who heard the implied message about who counts and who does not count as a "real American."
I write as an opponent of virtually every major and minor action of this administration. Republicans should be fighting this president on policy, not winking at those who use race as a weapon. It's worth recalling the generous words of John McCain on election night 2008:
"Though we have come a long way from the old injustices that once stained our nation's reputation and denied some Americans the full blessings of American citizenship, the memory of them still had the power to wound. A century ago, president Theodore Roosevelt's invitation of Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House was taken as an outrage in many quarters. America today is a world away from the cruel and frightful bigotry of that time. There is no better evidence of this than the election of an AfricanAmerican to the presidency of the United States. Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth."
And those who imagine that they somehow enhance the value of that citizenship by belittling the American-ness of their President -they not only disgrace the politics they uphold, but they do damage that will not soon be forgotten by the voters a revived Republicanism must win.
(c)David Frum dfrum@frumforum.com
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/disgrace+Birthers/4687291/story.html
Opinion
The disgrace of the Birthers
David Frum, National Post · Apr. 28, 2011 | Last Updated: Apr. 28, 2011 4:07 AM ET
Even for the small band that sustained the phony controversy until now, the Barack Obama birth-certificate "issue" ends today.
Any last lingering doubts that maybe, perhaps, a pregnant Stanley Anne Dunham in the summer of 1961 boarded a propeller plane from Honolulu to Los Angeles, then from Los Angeles to New York City, then from New York City to Gander, then from Gander to London, then from London to Nairobi -and then repeated the trip backward a few weeks later -all so that her baby could acquire Kenyan nationality -those doubts are definitively squelched, as they should have been three years ago.
Now the more haunting question: How did this poisonous and not very subtly racist allegation get such a grip on our conservative movement and our Republican party?
I know there will be Republican writers and conservative publicists who will now deny that birtherism ever did get a grip. Sorry, that's just wrong. Not only did Trump surge ahead in Republican polls by flaming racial fires -not only did conservative media outlets from Fox to Drudge to the Breitbart sites indulge the birthers -but so also did every Republican candidate who said, "I take the President at his word." Birthers did not doubt the president's "word." They were doubting the official records of the state of Hawaii. It's like answering a 9/11 conspiracist by saying, "I take the 9/11 families at their word that they lost their loved ones."
Yet even now, the racialist aspect of the anti-Obama movement has not subsided. Trump has moved from the birth certificate to questioning the President's academic qualifications for Harvard Law School. Trump himself was a troubled student (at one point, he attended a military school) who nonetheless gained admission to Wharton. His father's wealth and business success cannot have hurt with that application.
Yet he feels himself qualified to pronounce on who is and who is not smart enough to attend Harvard Law. Barack Obama graduated magna cum laude. (And to anticipate a new line of attack -yes, Harvard Law School exams were blindgraded.) He was elected editor of the law review. And his classmates, left and right, universally admired his abilities.
I wish it were otherwise, but it does seem that these racialized attacks on Obama have exacted a toll on him. But they also have exacted a toll on the opposition to Obama. The toofaint repudiation of birtherism by regular Republicans has shaped not only the Obama brand, but also the Republican brand. It was not only white people who heard the implied message about who counts and who does not count as a "real American."
I write as an opponent of virtually every major and minor action of this administration. Republicans should be fighting this president on policy, not winking at those who use race as a weapon. It's worth recalling the generous words of John McCain on election night 2008:
"Though we have come a long way from the old injustices that once stained our nation's reputation and denied some Americans the full blessings of American citizenship, the memory of them still had the power to wound. A century ago, president Theodore Roosevelt's invitation of Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House was taken as an outrage in many quarters. America today is a world away from the cruel and frightful bigotry of that time. There is no better evidence of this than the election of an AfricanAmerican to the presidency of the United States. Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth."
And those who imagine that they somehow enhance the value of that citizenship by belittling the American-ness of their President -they not only disgrace the politics they uphold, but they do damage that will not soon be forgotten by the voters a revived Republicanism must win.
(c)David Frum dfrum@frumforum.com
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/disgrace+Birthers/4687291/story.html
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