Republicans and Democrats Take Part in Anti-Ahmadinejad Demonstration

Election Day is getting closer and everybody talks about the campaign. Yesterday, Republicans and Democrats confronted each other during a demonstration with a motto that was “stand together against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.”

While the Iranian president is to make a speech at the United Nations today, a movement of Jewish organizations called for a demonstration in front of the UN building last Monday. They wanted to protest against Ahmadinejad’s presence. Thousands of people made it and along with, literally, a procession of personalities, such as Elie Wiesel or the head of the Iranian Parliament Dalia Itzik. All those contributors came and asked the UN to take measures against Iran.

But when you take a few steps backwards, you realize that something more interesting is actually going on – the presidential campaign. Indeed, from this perspective, Iran and Israel were no longer the main matters. In NYC, the message on demonstrators’ placards read nothing but: “McCain – Palin.”

Ben Jacobson, president of the Young Republicans at Yeshiva University College, said he brought along those placards because he was shocked by Palin’s absence. The Republican candidate was supposed to take part in the event, as well as Hillary Clinton. But the former Democratic candidate said she would make it, although, she avoids appearing in such events when McCain’s fellow candidate is around. Therefore, the organizers canceled Palin’s invitation so the rally wouldn’t turn into a political one.

“Mind you, everything turned into a bona fide political meeting,” Jacobson said ironically, who founded another slogan with his friends: “Stop Obama Now!” instead of “Stop Iran Now!” To which Bob Kunst said: “This is totally stupid, Palin’s presence would have been a great asset for the demonstration, it’s shame that her invitation was canceled.”

On the other hand, it was more difficult to spot the Democrats among the crowd. No “Obama – Biden” placards showed. Rachmael Benhaim, who supports the Illinois senator said: “Today, we have to forget about our political disagreements for a while and stand up together against Iran. But those pro-Palin placards are quite disturbing, since, from my point of view, she and Ahmadinejad are the same. She’s not here, so much the better, because she doesn’t share today’s message: religious tolerance.”