Pro-Palestinian Protesters at Obama's Hawaii House

Pro-Palestinian Protesters at Obama's Hawaii House

by Ross Colvin


KAILUA, Hawaii - A small group of placard-waving pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered near U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's vacation retreat in Hawaii on Tuesday to protest against the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.


]Protestor Ephrosine Daniggelis holds a placard in front of U.S. president-elect Barack Obama's vacation compound in Kailua, Hawaii December 30, 2008, during a protest against the Israeli attacks on Gaza. (REUTERS/Hugh Gentry)

Obama has made no public comment on the strikes, which Israel launched on Saturday. Aides have repeatedly said he is monitoring the situation and continues to receive intelligence briefings but that there is only one U.S. president at a time.

Some critics, however, say Obama did choose to speak out after the attacks on the Indian city of Mumbai in November in which gunmen killed nearly 180 people, condemning them as acts of terrorism.

Obama, who takes office on January 20 from outgoing Republican President George W. Bush, has also spoken out on economic issues facing the United States.

"He is talking about how many jobs he is going to create but he is refusing to speak about this," said one of the protesters, Carolyn Hadfield, 66.

Hadfield was one of eight protesters standing with placards reading "No U.S. support for Israel" and "Gazans need food and medicine, not war" near Obama's rented vacation home in Kailua, an upmarket suburb on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, where Obama is in the second week of a vacation with his family.

more...

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/12/30-10

to get used to this; the party's over!

Well, I'm sure they have their reasons, visibility to the media being the main one. But damn!

For peaks sakes "theres only one president at a time" how about signs in front of the White House!

him

I have no doubt that he will work for a two state solution, as most previous presidents did with the exception of the current one

I also have no doubt that Obama has no illusions

I am all for protesting but he is not president yet and this is a private family vacation. It's not the time or the place, and he is not the one they should be protesting.

I saw her on CNN and her sign "No U.S. support for Israel" tells the story of a halfwit. That's some real productive dialogue...

When she whines "He is talking about how many jobs he is going to create but he is refusing to speak about this...", what in the hell is she expecting? He's not President yet and he certainly isn't going to talk to some asshat that has an anti-Israel sign.

I'm certainly for a two-state scenario in the region, but this is no time for Obama to be projecting that he is President before getting sworn in nor is it correct to state his position, which could derail possible cease fire talks.

..he could at least make a statement to the effect that war making is not the answer.
That peace talks had better get started yesterday.
That he wouldn't be sending extra troops into Afghanistan. :duck:

Given that this current I/P action may be a covert move by the Bush war makers to make trouble for Obama
it would then make sense for Obama to not play his hand, because Bush warts would just slap it.

Too, Obama may be getting advice to the effect that the current crisis may be over in a few days.

Whatever, at least it's nice to know folks are standing up for the Gaza residents.

"President-elect Barack Obama supporters, from left, Jody Awana, McKenzie Miyata, McKenna Miyata and Tammy Kamakana, show their support with signs outside the vacation home of President-elect Barack Obama in Kailua, Hawaii, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008."