Rather Outspoken News

From Dan: Obama, Netanyahu and the Presidential Election
posted on September 12, 2012 by Dan

Pay no mind to national polls re Presidential race at this stage. They are virtually meaningless with little or no shelf-live. Do pay attention to under-reported news out of Israel.  Whether he intends it or not, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu increasingly is perceived to be nearly openly yearning for a Romney victory. This could be the difference in, say, Florida, where votes of older Americans of Jewish heritage might be decisive.

Israeli press reports say President Obama has refused a new meeting with Netanyahu re Iran.  The two men -- frankly and bluntly -- just don’t like or fully trust one another. This has led to the most dysfunction ever between a U.S. president and an Israeli P.M. The White House appears convinced Netanyahu has no intention of striking Iran before November, or perhaps even by the end of the year, but views him as grandstanding and in the process of leaning Romney. Netanyahu wants to air differences publicly; Obama wants to keep them private as much as possible. Obama’s team sees Netanyahu as trying to embarrass Obama and is concerned that he is getting far too involved in American politics, especially the presidential election.