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Did Jews ‘Sell Out Israel’ By Supporting Obama?

Minnesota Republican Michele Bachmann thinks so

by
Stephanie Butnick
March 06, 2014
U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) speaks during a news conference May 16, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.(Alex Wong/Getty Images)
U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) speaks during a news conference May 16, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.(Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Minnesota Republican Michelle Bachmann, former kibbutznik and failed Yiddishist, has some harsh words for American Jews who voted for President Obama. Namely, that in supporting a president who lobbied Congress to hold off on additional sanctions against Iran, they sold out Israel.

According to Talking Points Memo, Bachmann made the assertion in an interview with Family Research Council President Tony Perkins. “What has been shocking has been seeing and observing Jewish organizations who it appears have made it their priority to support the political priority and the political ambitions of the President over the best interests of Israel,” Bachmann said. “So in some respects, they sold out Israel.”

Bachmann argued that since sanctions against Iran are in Israel’s best interest, the lack of support for them by Obama—and his Jewish donors—signifies a failure to protect the Jewish State. “The Jewish community gave him their votes, their support, their financial support and as recently as last week, 48 Jewish donors who are big contributors to the president wrote a letter to the Democrat senators in the U.S. Senate to tell them to not advance sanctions against Iran. This is clearly against Israel’s best interest,” she said.

It sure takes a lot of chutzpah—or as Bachmann calls it, “chootspa“—to accuse Jews of selling out Israel. Have a listen for yourself:

Stephanie Butnick is chief strategy officer of Tablet Magazine, co-founder of Tablet Studios, and a host of the Unorthodox podcast.