Actually, Obama Agrees with Helen Thomas

Timing couldn’t be worse on this one, and frankly, we are broke. Via the NYT:

President Obama promised a $400 million aid package for the West Bank and Gaza on Wednesday, as the United States scrambled to come up with a way out of the stalemate in the Middle East exacerbated by the Gaza flotilla incident last week.

Mr. Obama, meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House, said that the money would go to housing and schools. White House officials said that the money also would help increase access to drinking water and to help address health and infrastructure needs.

“While we work with our partners in the Palestinian Authority, Israel, Egypt, and the international community to put such a strategy in place, these projects represent a down payment on the United States’ commitment to Palestinians in Gaza, who deserve a better life and expanded opportunities, and the chance to take part in building a viable, independent state of Palestine, together with those who live in the West Bank.”

Is this Obama’s way of saying he agrees with Helen Thomas–by offering the Palestinians a huge payout of American tax dollars. Nothing says ‘Sorry, I’m with you,’ like $400 million in US aid.

Aren’t the liberals out there tired of our money being sent overseas yet? That $400 million could be used for public schools, roads, bridges, and, of course, health care.

And in reality, did Helen’s remarks really differ that much from the administration’s position of standing with Palestine and rebuking Israel. It just comes out better and much more diplomatic when speech writers prepare your remarks and you rehearse it, than when someone asks you out of the blue.

And, yes, you can equate Israel, stop building settlements/neighborhoods with “Get the hell out of Palestine.”

The question (because there is always the same question) is Why? Why did Obama quickly throw Helen Thomas under the bus? It really wasn’t a secret what Thomas thought , and it wasn’t a secret that Obama fully supported Palestine.

Now, it will be even more interesting to find out who takes Helen’s empty chair in the front row.

I just can’t help but hum “The Wheels on the Bus.”