I haven't spent any time on the latest McCarthyite garbage McCainFoxDrudge is pushing, attempting to make an issue of Obama's "ties" to Palestinian-American historian and author Rashid Khalidi.

The reason I haven't is because the charge that Khalidi is "anti-semitic" is beneath contempt and about as worthy of rebutting as earlier accusations from convicted felon Larry Sinclair that he had sex with Obama in a limo and watched him smoke crack. (If you are looking for a rebuttal, Scott Horton has a good one here.)

Ezra, though, has a better idea than wasting time with this crap. He recommends, as an act of solidarity, readers purchase Khalidi's book, The Iron Cage. It's an excellent book and would serve as a nice eff-you to the folks currently pushing this garbage.

Comments (4)

1. Are these people serious?

   Am I the only one that has seen the documents showing that John McCain paid this man over a half a million dollars to fund his research?

   On my scale of guilt by association, forking out that kind of money is far more "involved" than sharing a piece of cake. The entire McCain camp are hypocrites. *SIGH*

   Posted by PugInLipstick at 10/31/2008 @ 5:50pm

2. There are people whose wisdom, integrity, thoughtfulness and humanity do help us create a better society. Rashid Khalidi is one of those people. He has written analytical and well-researched books that help us understand the roots of the Middle East crisis. Yes he has viewpoint that raises serious criticisms of Israel, its government and how the Palestinian people have been treated. But then, so do many Jewish people like myself. However, Rashid doesn't do so in a way that provokes hatred--in fact he does the opposite. Additionally, he has never been afraid to criticize Palestinian leadership for what he sees as mistaken choices.

   The attacks on him are beneath contempt and stem in part from a fear that people like him can be truly effective in making progressive change and I think in part from ongoing efforts to demonize Palestinians.

   Steven Saltzman Chicago, Illinois

   Posted by SSaltzlaw at 10/31/2008 @ 6:33pm

3. Being sympathic to the Palestinian people is not an abandoment of the people of Israel. Support for the nation of Israel does not mean support for their government.

   Many people all over the world hate the Bush administration and a lot of choices that our government (inclusive of both houses) has made. I hope they don't judge us.

   The world made that mistake when we confused Hitler with the German people.

   Someone will respond with: guilt by association... If that made any logical sense then what could we say about Jesus and others who associate with societies' cast offs.

   I am buying copies of The Iron Cage tomorrow and giving them out as Xmas gifts.

   Posted by truthandjustice at 10/31/2008 @ 9:58pm

4. Are Palestinian-Americans and those possessing green cards, doing good work and paying taxes THE ENEMY now?

   What a crock.

   Posted by A_Pax_On_Your_Houses at 11/02/2008 @ 4:15pm