Israel Matzav

Surprise: Obama agrees with Romney statements about 'Palestinians'

When we last left 'Palestinian' chief negotiator bottle washer Saeb Erekat, he was seething over Mitt Romney's remarks about 'Palestinian' culture holding back economic achievement. Perhaps it should be pointed out to Saeb that President Obama feels the same way.

In his famous 2009 “Speech to the Muslim World” in Cairo, [Obama] said:

“But all of us must recognize that education and innovation will be the currency of the 21st century -- and in too many Muslim communities, there remains underinvestment in these areas.”

He pointed out that "a woman who is denied an education is denied equality... And it is no coincidence that countries where women are well educated are far more likely to be prosperous."

He added that he has "an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose...Governments that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, successful and secure."

Two years later, in another speech (this one on the Arab Spring), he told the U.S.-Islamic World Forum:

"Throughout the region, many young people have a solid education, but closed economies leave them unable to find a job. Entrepreneurs are brimming with ideas, but corruption leaves them unable to profit from those ideas."

Maybe Obama has read the same fine David Landes book that Romney cited – which discusses the importance to a healthy economy of women’s empowerment. Why might we think this? Because Obama said:

"History shows that countries are more prosperous and more peaceful when women are empowered… The region will never reach its full potential when more than half of its population is prevented from achieving their full potential."

Reading all this, one might even conclude that Obama has been quite a bit more critical of Arab societies than Romney has. One trusts it isn’t racist to point that out.

Heh.

Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, Campaign 2012, Mitt Romney, Palestinian culture, Palestinian economy

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:45 AM