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MCCAIN AND KHALIDI, SITTING IN A TREE...
While we're on the topic of the McCain campaign's odd efforts to attack Barack Obama by way of an obscure Columbia Middle East studies professor named Rashid Khalidi, Seth Colter Walls reports:
In regards to Khalidi, however, the guilt-by-association game burns John McCain as well.Oops. This, of course, just goes to show how absurd it is to suggest that Khalidi is some sort of radical polemicist. The guy is such a credentialed and respected scholar that even right-leaning organizations have funded his work, simply because it's good work. They may not agree with his personal conclusions, but Khalidi's scholarship gets taken seriously.During the 1990s, while he served as chairman of the International Republican Institute (IRI), McCain distributed several grants to the Palestinian research center co-founded by Khalidi, including one worth half a million dollars.
A 1998 tax filing for the McCain-led group shows a $448,873 grant to Khalidi's Center for Palestine Research and Studies for work in the West Bank. (See grant number 5180, "West Bank: CPRS" on page 14 of this PDF.)
The relationship extends back as far as 1993, when John McCain joined IRI as chairman in January. Foreign Affairs noted in September of that year that IRI had helped fund several extensive studies in Palestine run by Khalidi's group, including over 30 public opinion polls and a study of "sociopolitical attitudes."
Of course, there's seemingly nothing objectionable with McCain's organization helping a Palestinian group conduct research in the West Bank or Gaza. But it does suggest that McCain could have some of his own explaining to do as he tries to make hay out of Khalidi's ties to Obama.
COMMENTS (8)
So Obama’s eight years on the board of the Joyce Foundation when grants were given to gun control groups show his anti-gun bias?
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0408/9722.html
Posted by: Paul L. | October 29, 2008 1:27 PM
Mmmmm....you forgot to mention his ties to Arafat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfTvYlMGUxA
Posted by: El Viajero | October 29, 2008 1:36 PM
El, are you really referencing Fox News as a source? Nice circular argument there... "The Republican Establishment has stated, which the Republican Establishment has confirmed..." Are you aware that the Bush Administration, yes, even them, has ties to Arafat? There could even be the reasoning that someone doing studies in Palestine would seek the cooperation and consent of the legitimate Palestinian government... you know, the one that the Bush Administration supported?
Get a life.
Posted by: Jaycal | October 29, 2008 2:33 PM
You're giving those that are trying to make an association to Obama too much credit.
Khalidi = Palestinian = Foreign = probably Arab = Friend of Obamas's.
Most people won't get even the part about Palestinian. They'll go directly to "Arab-sounding name as friend of Obama" and nod their heads knowingly.
Posted by: byl | October 29, 2008 3:51 PM
What is troublesome about this whole Khalidi nonsense is the prejudice behind it. It is astonishing how tortured this logic is.
Professor Khalidi is maligned because he is sympathetic to the Palestinian cause – were American Irish politicians attacked for their support to the IRA? Demonizing of Arabs and Muslims is disgusting and it is more disgusting because it is allowed by both parties.
Posted by: Farah | October 29, 2008 6:16 PM
This is funny.
Before this Obama episode, bashing Khalidi and any other Palestinian professors was considered a fully bi-partisan sport. It's quite nice to see Ezra jump on the bandwagon of reason and denounce the cretins who are accusing Khalidi of being a terrorist, but one wonders where were all the rest of the Democrats when these accusations were being made about everyone who isn't a completely pro-Israel nut in academia.
Anthony Weiner, for instance, was baying for Columbia professors' blood and I can't recall hearing many Democrats standing up to him then.
Democrats: as bad as Republicans, except when necessitated by electoral consideration. Sometimes.
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