In light of the recent controversy, it is worth noting this article written last year by Palestinian activist Ali Abunimah, who was disappointed by Barack Obama’s more recent pro-Israel statements, and remembers a different Obama who was cozy with leading anti-Israel intellectual Edward Said, pictured below:
The last time I spoke to Obama was in the winter of 2004 at a gathering in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. He was in the midst of a primary campaign to secure the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate seat he now occupies. But at that time polls showed him trailing.
As he came in from the cold and took off his coat, I went up to greet him. He responded warmly, and volunteered, “Hey, I’m sorry I haven’t said more about Palestine right now, but we are in a tough primary race. I’m hoping when things calm down I can be more up front.” He referred to my activism, including columns I was contributing to the The Chicago Tribune critical of Israeli and US policy, “Keep up the good work!”
