Former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, now in a crowded Republican primary field looking to challenge Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, expressed his support for Israel on Thursday -- and attacked President Barack Obamas policies in regard to that American ally.
We must firmly acknowledge that if history has taught us anything, it is that policies of appeasement are ultimately destined to fail, Hasner said on Thursday. On this front, President Obama has proven to be even more irresponsible than Jimmy Carter.
Hasner was in Washington on Thursday, where he spoke to members of the Legacy Political Fund. Two of the leading conservative Republicans in the Senate -- John Thune of South Dakota and Floridas own Marco Rubio -- also spoke to the group on Thursday.
When I was invited to this event, I was asked to put aside my campaign stump speech and speak about an issue of personal importance that will offer you a true sense of who I am -- as a fighter, someone who has gone against the grain their entire life, someone who has proven they will stand up to Democrats and Republicans who act like them, and also why I am running for the United States Senate, Hasner said.
I believe we are in an ideological battle for the heart and soul of our country and we must rise to this generational challenge like those generations before us rose to theirs. And so it is that I have the unique opportunity to speak with you about an issue that I believe is of importance to all of us here today, and also important to America -- standing shoulder to shoulder during these challenging times with our greatest ally in the Middle East: the state of Israel.
Hasner offered a warning that Israel faced numerous threats, as it has during its history.
"The slow, steady assault against Israel by Muslim extremists and their allies has moved from an isolated few to a vocal many, Hasner said. What has changed, thankfully, is the ability of the Jewish people to defend themselves from within the borders of their own country. What must never change, and one of the things my candidacy is here to ensure, is that America's support for Israel is always of the highest and best quality.
Among the many reasons for us to stand with Israel, the most obvious is found rooted in our own Americanism. That is because the state of Israel is a reflection of American virtue and values, and so it is no surprise that the United States was the first to stand with Israel just minutes after her independence was declared, continued Hasner. The miracles of 1776 were in many ways revived again in 1948, and so the special alliance between our two countries is natural, imperative and unlike any other.
Hasner turned his focus -- and his fire -- toward Obama, accusing the administration of undermining American relations with Israel.
We are now suffering under an administration which has been the most hostile since Israel's existence. President Obama cynically suggests that Israel itself would be safer if it simply submits to policies that concede its sovereignty and self-defense, insisted Hasner. He has turned away when Israel is attacked, blamed the Jewish people for the violence of Islamic radicals, and brushed aside the existential threats posed by Iran. The Obama administration uses Israel as an issue to distract attention from its avoidance of a far more pressing threat to be dealt with.
Hasner also turned his focus to Iran and he weighed in on the aftermath of the Arab Spring."
The world is now on the clock as Iran is rushing to cross the nuclear threshold, Hasner said. President Obama's endless offers of outreach and too-little, too-late efforts to implement effective sanctions are proving laughable in comparison with the determination shown by Ahmadinejad and his proxies.
President Obama eagerly took credit for helping shape the Arab Spring, but now he stands silent as the Muslim Brotherhood and Islamic extremists begin their long march through the new governments being formed in North Africa and the Middle East, Hasner continued. In Egypt, it is now just a matter of days before we will soon witness the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist parties take control of the largest Arab country in the world and its American-built military.
Hasner also criticized Obamas handling of Libya and Syria.
President Obama also irresponsibly chose U.S. engagement in Libya without congressional approval, where we had little to no security interests at stake, Hasner said. And while I am not saddened to see Gadhafi go, his replacement by al-Qaida affiliates and their totalitarian brand of Islamic fundamentalism may be just as oppressive and even more dangerous. And now, as violent unrest grows in Syria, where we do have strategic interests, we see the Obama administration completely afraid to engage in any policy that might weaken or neutralize the most important of Iran's allies.
Hasner also took aim at taxpayer funding of hateful and corrupted United Nations institutions which relieve the genocidal Hamas terror organization of pressure and responsibility."
The Florida Republican also bashed Obama for supporting the Muslim Brotherhood who advocate violent hatred toward America and Israel.
Turning toward his Senate candidacy, Hasner insisted that the situation in the Middle East was one of the reasons he was in the race.
Winston Churchill taught that the evil regimes of the world thrive when free and good nations favor emotional idealism over pragmatic realism, Hasner said. My candidacy is about standing up to meet this pivotal moment in history, knowing that only policies predicated on strength, exceptionalism and determination can bring about a truly peaceful outcome.
When our enemies know that our foreign policy isn't shaped by presidential popularity polls, but by an unwavering defense of our interests, our values and our allies, we will live in a different world than we do today, Hasner continued. The vision and moral clarity that it takes to lead our great country must be restored. America must lead from the front and in doing so we will leave President Obama behind. As a United States senator, I will bring a sharp and structured outlook to American foreign policy, particularly our relations in the Middle East region and our alliance with Israel.
Hasner called for a realistic assessment of the situation in the Middle East and offered a grim reminder to his audience.
We will never be able to make friends out of America's enemies. Therefore, our efforts -- plain and simple -- must only be focused on defeating them, Hasner said. We must recognize that the United Nations and international law have been hijacked and tainted. President Obama is only adding fuel to the fire by lending America's legitimacy to the expansion of their authority. While our Constitution vests strong power in the executive branch to deal with matters of state, it has placed the power of the checkbook in the legislature. And Congress must throw the brakes on this process to the full extent of its ability.
Hasner insisted that America needs to rethink the two-state solution to solving the Israeli-Palestinianconflict.
We can no longer promote the two-state solution as gospel, while the consideration of any other alternative is treated as blasphemy, said Hasner. It is clear that the Arab war against Israel is not about establishing a 23rd Arab state called Palestine. To them, this is about establishing the state of Palestine on the ruins of all of Israel. Israel should not be pressured by the United States to continue negotiating with false moderates and terrorists seeking her destruction.
Hasner said Israels allies need to work across religious lines to help that nation.
Israel's Christian-Zionist friends must be fully embraced within the pro-Israel Jewish community. The continued outpouring of support that Israel receives from its non-Jewish friends has made many important accomplishments possible, said Hasner, who is Jewish. This is particularly true of the evangelical Christian community, which has established many organizations that support Israel for all the right reasons.
Theirs is not a messianic vision, nor is it about proselytizing or conversion, Hasner continued. Rather, their support is about a moral identification with Israel's values, a genuine concern for the American interests and democratic freedoms that Israel represents, as well as the inspiration and deep meaning that they find in Israel's biblical spirit. To my Christian-Zionist friends, know that your support is important to many Jewish people, for we have prayed hard and waited long for this friendship.
I want you to know that I will always stand up against Jewish politicians and rejectionists within the pro-Israel community who seek to undermine and discredit the value of Christian-Zionist support by misrepresenting the true nature of your intentions, said Hasner. You are our brothers. The prophet Isaiah said: For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest. I know these words hold true in all of our hearts.
Today, I have come to you as a candidate for the United States Senate to ask for your support, so that, together, we may live up to Isaiah's holy words, Hasner said in closing. And for America's sake we shall always stand with our beloved and eternal ally, the state of Israel.
While Hasner increased his profile on the national level, his campaign continued to focus on Florida with a major endorsement on Thursday.Attorney and conservative activist Will McBride, who took 30 percent of the Republican primary vote when he challenged Katherine Harris for the GOP nod in 2006, announced on Thursday that he was backing Hasner in the primary.
"As Albert Einstein said, 'Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.' If we want different results, we must fire career Washington politicians who have made their living in the House and Senate and send Adam Hasner to the U.S. Senate to fight for Republican values such as smaller government, lower taxes, defense of the unborn, and reining in wasteful spending in Washington," McBride said in a statement.
"Will is a well-respected conservative leader and I am honored to have his support," said Hasner. "Like me, Will understands that this election is about saving the miracle that is America. If we continue down the path of record debt, unsustainable spending, and massive government-controlled health care, President Obama is going to turn the American dream into a nightmare. It's critical we select the right Republican to defeat Senator Nelson. That's why I'm running, and why I am proud to have Floridians like Will McBride standing with our campaign."
After his surprisingly strong showing in 2006, McBride has remained on the campaign sidelines, though there was buzz that he would run for attorney general or for Congress in 2010.
Other candidates for the Republican nomination include former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, businessman and retired Army officer Mike McCalister, U.S. Rep. Connie Mack and restaurant executive Craig Miller.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
