Sun-Sentinel uncritically reported Florida GOP official's comment that "I wish Obama would not pretend to care about the Jewish community"
In a May 17 article, South Florida Sun-Sentinel Washington bureau chief William E. Gibson reported that Republicans "are preparing to attack [Sen. Barack] Obama as a tax-and-spend liberal who poses a threat to Israel's security." He also wrote: "Republicans hope to win the state by reducing the Democratic advantage in South Florida, particularly among Jewish voters. They point to Obama's willingness to meet with leaders of Iran and other nations hostile to Israel." But after laying out the Republicans' purported strategy against Obama in Florida, rather than providing a response from the Obama campaign or a Democratic Party representative to the reported attacks, Gibson quoted Sid Dinerstein, chairman of the Palm Beach County Republican Party, saying, "This is a terrible thing," and adding, "I wish Obama would not pretend to care about the Jewish community." Indeed, aside from reporting that among the "special messages tailored to Floridians" that Obama will offer is a "promise" to Jewish leaders to "help safeguard Israel," Gibson did not quote or reference anyone defending Obama's commitment to Israel and the Jewish community. Moreover, despite noting Republicans' criticism of "Obama's willingness to meet with leaders of Iran," at no point did Gibson mention that Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has also reportedly stated that the United States needs to be willing to "sit down and talk" with Iran.
