Susan Estrich: Barack, Israel and Al Sharpton

Obama, Israel And Al Sharpton

Fri Mar 16, 3:00 AM ET

It wasn't exactly a Sister Souljah moment, but recognizing the suffering of the Palestinians on the eve of his maiden address as a presidential candidate before AIPAC, the national pro-It wasn't exactly a Sister Souljah moment, but recognizing the suffering of the Palestinians on the eve of his maiden address as a presidential candidate before AIPAC, the national pro-Israel lobby, as Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) did this week, was certain to get the notice of the crowd." lobby, as Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) did this week, was certain to get the notice of the crowd

"Nobody is suffering more than the Palestinian people," is what Obama said in Iowa on Sunday.

"Awarding first place in the suffering matrix is odious and infelicitous," is what Rabbi Steven Silver of Redondo Beach, Calif., told a reporter interviewing delegates to the AIPAC meeting on Monday. "I think a lot of Americans would find that comment offensive, too." His son, a Clinton partisan, was reportedly spreading the word to others about Obama's comments

"Awarding first place in the suffering matrix is odious and infelicitous," is what Rabbi Steven Silver of Redondo Beach, Calif., told a reporter interviewing delegates to the AIPAC meeting on Monday. "I think a lot of Americans would find that comment offensive, too." His son, a Clinton partisan, was reportedly spreading the word to others about Obama's comments.

In Obama's speech to the conference, the Illinois Senator went out of his way to affirm his support for Israel. "I am pro-Israel," he said. He and Hillary said all the same things about fighting terror and supporting Israel's security. But Hillary never mentioned the Palestinians in her well-received speech, while Obama said: "All of us are committed to two states living side by side in peace." Even more troubling to his critics was Obama's inclusion of cynicism as an obstacle to peace in the Middle East. "One of the enemies we have to fight," Obama said, "is not just terrorists, it's not just Hezbollah, it's not just Hamas — it's also cynicism."

Many supporters of Israel are skeptical of anyone who is not sufficiently cynical about the prospects of peace; the idea is that it's only realistic to be cynical. There was, reportedly, much murmuring about Obama's attack on cynicism and what it portends for Israel, particularly when coupled with his earlier recognition of Palestinian suffering.

In truth, there is nothing new in any of Obama's comments. He's running on hope and optimism, after all. It's not as if he's singled the Middle East out. And as for the suffering of the Palestinians, I've heard similar comments from Israel's best friends in pointing out the price of their failed leaders. And sure enough, that is precisely the context in which Obama made his remarks. "If we could get some movement among the Palestinian leadership, what I'd like to see is a loosening up of some of the restrictions on providing aid directly to the Palestinian people." Nothing necessarily wrong there.

Of course, all of this was happening even as Obama was being dragged into an even more public tussle with Rev.

Al Sharpton, the high-profile New York activist to whom Obama has apparently been insufficiently solicitous. Sharpton has made clear that he is not necessarily going to endorse his fellow black, and has loudly denied the increasingly obvious explanation that his political judgments are driven by his ego. Obama's willingness to stand up to Sharpton may or may not cost him in the black community — my guess is it will ultimately cost Sharpton more, which Al is smart enough to figure out — but it certainly generated attention to the rift.

You can see in Obama's moves signs of either the sort of independence that could win this race for him or the sort of inexperience that could lose it for him. Hillary was a hit at AIPAC. In a roomful of donors for whom Israel is the number one issue, she left no doubt as to her commitment. She gave them what they wanted, which is what you would expect her to do. The conventional step for her opponent would be to do precisely the same thing. Hillary has made her peace with Sharpton. Many expect him to endorse her.

But Obama is not going to beat Hillary at the conventional game. That's her hand. If he's going to win, not to mention preserve his integrity in the process, he has to be who he is. Whether that is viewed as naivety in action or the insight of a new generation of leaders is the judgment voters will ultimately have to make.