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Hamas Praises Obama Again -- and Biden, Too

By Philip Klein on 10.20.08 @ 5:46PM

Hamas adviser Ahmed Yousef is back, and this time, he offers kind words for Joe Biden as well as Barack Obama. In an interview with WABC's John Batchelor, the spokesman for the terrorist group said he believed Palestinians would have better luck in an Obama administration, which would be "more fair and impartial" than the Bush administration. As for Obama's running mate, Yousef said, "I do believe Mr. Biden is a great man. And we do count on him also as a good partner with Mr. Obama to put the right policy regarding how to handle the problems in the region." He added that the terrorist group would send Obama a congratulation letter "the moment he will win the election."

Following Hamas's initial endorsement of Obama back in April, I spoke to Obama's chief strategist David Axelrod, who told me that the campaign was "flattered" by a comparison Yousef made between Obama and JFK.  The group withdrew its endorsement following Obama's speech to AIPAC in June, but now seems back on board.

But one thing has changed since Hamas made its initial endorsement. In their coverage of McCain-Palin rallies, the media has set the standard that a candidate is responsible for all of his or her supporters. So if Palin is responsible for every one of the thousands of people in the crowd when she speaks, surely Obama should be held responsible for the words of encouragement he continues to receive from a terrorist group.