Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Features
  • Comment
  • Store
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
    • Submit Press Release
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Arab Radio Podcast intro
    • Radio Baladi Detroit
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Toggle search form
  • Iowa Arab American Legislator Sami Scheetz
    ‘We Can’t Stop Now’: Sami Scheetz Announces Re-Election Bid for Iowa House District 78 American Arabs
  • American Middle East groups oppose granting Visa Waiver approval to Israel Sept. 27 , 2023
    American Middle East organizations protest against granting Israel Visa Waiver approval American Arabs
  • Alderman Lopez helped the Arab Community, now the Arab community should help Ald. Lopez American Arabs
  • Bavaria non-Alcoholic
    Ziyad Brothers congratulates brewers of Bavaria non-alcoholic beer for receiving international award Business
  • ADALAH confronts racist laws
    Civil Society Organizations to the Israeli Supreme Court: Cancel the Racist Admissions Committees Law Activism
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, announced Tuesday (Sept. 19, 2023) the filing of a lawsuit with a dozen plaintiffs seeking an end to the government’s secret watchlist that almost exclusively targets Muslims for harassment and humiliation when they travel.
    CAIR Announces Lawsuit in D.C., Mass., N.J., Mich. Seeking End to Secret Government Watchlist American Arabs
  • Furquan Ahmed serves as the Wayne County Community College District’s (WCCCD) Senior Vice Chancellor and President of the Northwest Campus.
    AHRC’s Announces its 2023 “Spirit of Humanity” Gala Awardees American Arabs
  • Congresswoman Debbie Dingell Wikipedia
    Flooding slams Wayne County in Detroit Michigan: Dingell releases statement of support Michigan
  • MBC launches new satellite channel focused on Saudi Culture
    Saudis launch new Satellite TV channel dedicated to Saudi Culture Arab World
  • The names and faces of the 14 Palestinian engaged in an open hunger strike to demand freedom from administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial. Graphic by Samidoun. You can join Samidoun's campaign here and find useful resources.
    Palestinians mount hunger strike campaign against administrative detention Arab World
  • “A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom & Human Rights,” McCormick Place, August 14-18, for the largest, worldwide gathering of global, faith-based, and social change leaders. 
    Largest global interfaith gathering coming to Chicago this week Christian & Muslim
  • State rep. Cyril Nichols, Democrat, 32nd Illinois House District
    Relationship between Arab Americans and African Americans needs more balance, Black State Rep says American Arabs
  • Syropotamia Online Magazine logo
    SYROPOTAMIA online magazine launched to Illuminate Arab American Stories American Arabs
  • Detroit’s true freedom fighters, activist, trailblazer, and leader Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson who died on July 10, 2023
    AHRC Mourns the passing of Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson, Freedom Fighter and Detroit Icon American Arabs
  • Abed Ayoub ADC National Director (Aug. 2022)
    ADC launches Arab American Business Advisory Council American Arabs

American Politicians, Bought and Sold

Posted on April 2, 2014September 24, 2018 By rayhanania No Comments on American Politicians, Bought and Sold
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

Loading

American Politicians, Bought and Sold

By Ray Hanania

Creators Syndicate April 3, 2014

Governor of New Jersey at a town hall in Hills...
Governor of New Jersey at a town hall in Hillsborough, NJ 3/2/11 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie wants to be president of the United States. He is showing how tough he is by standing up to claims he was involved in an outrageous abuse of government power.

But when it comes to standing up to Israel’s powerful lobby, the behemoth governor quickly buckled and begged for forgiveness.

Bridgegate is how the media describes the scandal that almost derailed Christie’s bid for president. It is an outrageous example of unethical political conduct that many blamed on the governor, but that the governor quickly and forcefully blamed on his top aides.

It happened, as these events usually do, just before an election last fall when Christie, a Republican, was facing a challenge from Democrat Barbara Buono. Turns out, Buono was getting a lot of support from officials in Fort Lee, N.J. A Christie aide reportedly ordered state employees to shut down lanes on the first day of school for 3 million New Jersey children, from Fort Lee to the George Washington Bridge. The lane shutdowns caused a three-hour traffic jam, inconveniencing all of Fort Lee’s residents.

Christie’s administration claimed the lanes were being closed to conduct a “traffic study.”

In reality, as emails later proved, the bridge closure was ordered as political punishment against Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, who refused to support Christie’s re-election bid.

It’s typical American political corruption. A government official abuses his or her powers to punish those who do not support them.

Despite the overwhelming proof that Christie’s top aide, Bridget Anne Kelly, and David Wildstein, the Christie-appointed Port Authority executive who has the power to open and close the lanes, many believed it was Christie who sought the political revenge.

Even though the political buck stops at Christie’s desk as New Jersey’s governor, he has deflected the scandal to his aides and his presidential candidacy is still buoyant. Christie was showing he is “tough.”

But that’s not the case when it comes to standing up to Israel.

English: American billionaire Sheldon Adelson ...
English: American billionaire Sheldon Adelson and his family. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Last week, Christie delivered a speech to a Las Vegas group called the Republican Jewish Coalition where he spoke out in defense of Israel.

Christie described how he flew over Israel and the occupied West Bank and saw how “vulnerable” Israel is to possible attack, given that the center of Israel is so narrow and it sits between the Mediterranean Sea and Jordan.

Forget for a moment that Jordan is one of Israel’s closest, most accommodating Arab allies.

And I mean really accommodating!

Why just last month, the Jordanian government did its best to downplay the Israeli killing of a member of the Jordanian Royal Court, Raed Zeiter.

Zeiter, who was trying to get to Nablus in the West Bank to raise money for his son, Alaeddine, who was comatose in an Amman hospital, had been pulled off a transit bus at the Allenby Bridge border crossing by an armed Israeli soldier. The judge tripped and hit his head on the ground.

When Zeiter got up to protest, an Israeli sniper in a watchtower above the crossing, fired and hit Zeiter in the leg. Wounded and bleeding, Zeiter tried to get up and the Israeli soldiers around him pumped him with bullets until he was dead. Ten days later, Zeiter’s son died, too.

Miraculously, the Israeli video surveillance system at the Allenby Bridge was “not recording.” Israeli officials said they “regretted” the killing, but refused to apologize. Eager to make the Israelis happy, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and his government claimed the Israeli statement was “an apology.”

It shows you how far Jordan’s government will go to keep the Israelis happy. Yet, at the conference, Jordan being so close to Israel is a threat!

Well, that’s not what actually angered the members of the Republican Jewish Caucus.

They were angry because Christie referred to the West Bank as “occupied territory” rather than as “disputed territory.”

Christie was forced to apologize to Sheldon Adelson, the gambling billionaire and Israeli loyalist who media speculate spent as much as $150 million to help Newt Gingrich and then Mitt Romney try and fail to defeat President Barack Obama in the November 2012 elections.

Hey, when Adelson, the publisher of Israel’s largest Hebrew-language newspaper, tells an American to jump, you had better scream, “How high?”

I am not sure which should upset Americans more. 1. That a governor’s office was used to punish a political foe by causing a “traffic jam?” 2. That a billionaire who cares more about Israel than America has so much influence over the man people say will be the Republican Party nominee against Hillary Clinton in the November 2016 presidential elections.

Ray Hanania is an award-winning Palestinian American columnist managing editor of The Arab Daily News at www.TheArabDailyNews.com. Follow him on Twitter @RayHanania. To find out more about Ray Hanania and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2014 CREATORS.COM

Related articles
  • Facebook Memorial Page set up for Justice for Raed Zeiter
  • Podcast: Did Israel apologize to Jordan?
  • Conflicting Israeli and Jordanian statements on murder of Judge Raed Zeiter
  • Jordanians Demand Closure of Israeli Embassy
[subscribe2]

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
rayhanania
rayhanania
Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster at The Arab Daily News
RAY HANANIA — Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster

Ray Hanania is an award winning political and humor columnist who analyzes American and Middle East politics, and life in general. He is an author of several books.

Hanania covered Chicago Politics and Chicago City Hall from 1976 through 1992 at the Daily Southtown and the Chicago Sun-Times. He began writing in 1975 publishing The Middle Eastern Voice newspaper in Chicago (1975-1977). He later published “The National Arab American Times” newspaper (2004-2007).

Hanania writes weekly columns on Middle East and American Arab issues as Special US Correspondent for the Arab News ArabNews.com, at TheArabDailyNews.com, and at SuburbanChicagoland.com. He has published weekly columns in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, YNetNews.com, Newsday, the Orlando Sentinel, Houston Chronical, and Arlington Heights Daily Herald.

Hanania is the recipient of four (4) Chicago Headline Club “Peter Lisagor Awards” for Column writing. In November 2006, he was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist” by the New American Media. In 2009, Hanania received the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award for Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists. He is the recipient of the MT Mehdi Courage in Journalism Award. He was honored for his writing skills with two (2) Chicago Stick-o-Type awards from the Chicago Newspaper Guild. In 1990, Hanania was nominated by the Chicago Sun-Times editors for a Pulitzer Prize for his four-part series on the Palestinian Intifada.

His writings have also been honored by two national Awards from ADC for his writing, and from the National Arab American Journalists Association.

Hanania is the US Special Correspondent for the Arab News Newspaper, covering Middle East and Arab American issues. He writes for the Southwest News newspaper group writing on mainstream American issues.

Click here to send Ray Hanania email.

Follow RayHanania on Gettr.com, the uncensored Twitter Ray Hanania on Gettr, the new Twitter
rayhanania
Latest posts by rayhanania (see all)
  • ‘We Can’t Stop Now’: Sami Scheetz Announces Re-Election Bid for Iowa House District 78 - September 27, 2023
  • American Middle East organizations protest against granting Israel Visa Waiver approval - September 27, 2023
  • Alderman Lopez helped the Arab Community, now the Arab community should help Ald. Lopez - September 27, 2023

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
American Arabs, Bloggers, Commentary, Ray Hanania, US Arab Politics Tags:Allenby Bridge, apology, Barack Obama, Chris Christie, Israel, Israeli lobby, JORDAN, King Abdullah II, New Jersey, no apology, Raed Zeiter, Sheldon Adelson, West Bank, Zeiter

Post navigation

Previous Post: America and Saudi Women Again!
Next Post: Incumbent Washington DC mayor ousted, but American Arab candidate fails in bid

Related Posts

  • Holy Month of Ramadan celebrated with Medjool Dates American Arabs
  • Palestinians protest in support of hunger strikers at the Gaza border with Nahal Oz. Photo copyright Gaza Strip Photographer Ahmad Hasaballah
    Palestinians injured in protests supporting hunger strikers Ahmad Hasaballah
  • Arafat’s legacy an inspiration to everyone seeking freedom, justice Bloggers
  • Mordechai Vanunu Reports Israel Renews Human Rights Restrictions 12th year Arab World
  • Haaretz Headline: Trump Has His Finger on the Nuclear Button, and No One Can Stop Him Arab World
  • Canada Coptic Orthodox welcome His Grace Bishop Eklemandos American Arabs

More Related Articles

Dr Adel Makki LAHC Awardee 2018 Adel Makki to receive achievement award American Arabs
Connecting Dots: USS Liberty, Niger, Admiral and Senator McCain Arab World
Rashida Tlaib and family American Dream Vs. French Wishes Abdennour Toumi
Actor Edward James Olmos headlines Detroit diversity conference April 10 in Dearborn American Arabs
LOVE, Valentines Day, Ash Wednesday, Fools and Stages of the Soul Arab World
Ex- Al Qaida Fighter: Al Qaida plans to attack the US on September 11 were public, CIA did noting to stop it Ali Younes

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Alderman Lopez helped the Arab Community, now the Arab community should help Ald. Lopez
    September 27, 2023
  • Ali Mohamed Ahmed Osman Charge d’Affaires Embassy Sudan Tokyo
    The RSF mutiny’s resonance in Sudan: Understanding some of its impacts on regional and global dynamics
    September 23, 2023
  • Windows at many American Arab owned stores were broken the day after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. 14 Americans who "looked' Middle Eastern were murdered in the six months after the terrorism by Americans, most of whom were never prosecuted. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Disrespecting the memory of the 2,977 murdered victims of Sept. 11, 2001 by fueling a hatred of Arabs and Muslims
    September 11, 2023
  • Magdi A. Mofadal is the ambassador of Sudan to Austria
    Factors Stalling the Peace Process in Sudan
    August 28, 2023
  • grab634.jpg
  • Ziyad-300x300FIndStore.jpg
  • NEWS
  • Iowa Arab American Legislator Sami Scheetz
    ‘We Can’t Stop Now’: Sami Scheetz Announces Re-Election Bid for Iowa House District 78
    September 27, 2023
  • American Middle East groups oppose granting Visa Waiver approval to Israel Sept. 27 , 2023
    American Middle East organizations protest against granting Israel Visa Waiver approval
    September 27, 2023
  • Alderman Lopez helped the Arab Community, now the Arab community should help Ald. Lopez
    September 27, 2023
  • Bavaria non-Alcoholic
    Ziyad Brothers congratulates brewers of Bavaria non-alcoholic beer for receiving international award
    September 22, 2023
  • NEWSWIRE
  • American Middle East groups oppose granting Visa Waiver approval to Israel Sept. 27 , 2023
    American Middle East organizations protest against granting Israel Visa Waiver approval
    September 27, 2023
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, announced Tuesday (Sept. 19, 2023) the filing of a lawsuit with a dozen plaintiffs seeking an end to the government’s secret watchlist that almost exclusively targets Muslims for harassment and humiliation when they travel.
    CAIR Announces Lawsuit in D.C., Mass., N.J., Mich. Seeking End to Secret Government Watchlist
    September 19, 2023
  • Furquan Ahmed serves as the Wayne County Community College District’s (WCCCD) Senior Vice Chancellor and President of the Northwest Campus.
    AHRC’s Announces its 2023 “Spirit of Humanity” Gala Awardees
    September 18, 2023
  • MBC launches new satellite channel focused on Saudi Culture
    Saudis launch new Satellite TV channel dedicated to Saudi Culture
    August 18, 2023

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Events

  • Amer Zahr's 1001 Laughs Palestine Comedy Festival returns in 2023
    Amer Zahr's 1001 Laughs Palestine Comedy Festival returns in 2023
    16 Sep 23
  • Huna al Quds exhibit opens at Museum of the Palestinian People
    Huna al Quds exhibit opens at Museum of the Palestinian People
    29 Sep 23
    Washington D.C.
  • Light in Gaza: Born of Fire Upcoming Book Tour Dates for Portland & Washington State
    Light in Gaza: Born of Fire Upcoming Book Tour Dates for Portland & Washington State
    30 Sep 23
  • US Council of Muslim Organizations to hold 10th anniversary Fundraiser
    US Council of Muslim Organizations to hold 10th anniversary Fundraiser
    15 Oct 23
    Oak Brook
  • Arab American Democratic Club to host 40th Anniversary celebration Nov. 1
    Arab American Democratic Club to host 40th Anniversary celebration Nov. 1
    1 Nov 23
    Bolingbrook

POPULAR POSTS

  • AHRC’s Announces its 2023 “Spirit of Humanity” Gala Awardees AHRC’s Announces its 2023 “Spirit of Humanity” Gala Awardees The American Human Rights Council (AHRC-USA) is pleased to announce its ... posted on September 18, 2023
  • The RSF mutiny’s resonance in Sudan: Understanding some of its impacts on regional and global dynamics The RSF mutiny's resonance in Sudan: Understanding some of its impacts on regional and global dynamics By Ali Mohamed Ahmed ... posted on September 23, 2023
  • Disrespecting the memory of the 2,977 murdered victims of Sept. 11, 2001 by fueling a hatred of Arabs and Muslims Disrespecting the memory of the 2,977 murdered victims of Sept. 11, 2001 by fueling a hatred of Arabs and Muslims ... posted on September 11, 2023
  • Arab-American influencers Furrha Family share secrets of their success Arab-American influencers Furrha Family share secrets of their success Salem Furrha and his eight children @theFurrhaFamily on TikTok and Instagram represent ... posted on February 6, 2021
  • Factors Stalling the Peace Process in Sudan Factors Stalling the Peace Process in Sudan By Magdi A. Mofadal Sudan’s partners are sounding the alarm over the deteriorating ... posted on August 28, 2023
  • Regional and International Stakes in Sudan’s Stability Regional and International Stakes in Sudan’s Stability By Magdi A. Mofadal Sudan has been grappling with the gravest catastrophe in ... posted on July 14, 2023

Recent Posts

  • ‘We Can’t Stop Now’: Sami Scheetz Announces Re-Election Bid for Iowa House District 78
  • American Middle East organizations protest against granting Israel Visa Waiver approval
  • Alderman Lopez helped the Arab Community, now the Arab community should help Ald. Lopez
  • The RSF mutiny’s resonance in Sudan: Understanding some of its impacts on regional and global dynamics
  • Ziyad Brothers congratulates brewers of Bavaria non-alcoholic beer for receiving international award
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Glory to God int he Lowest by Author Rev. Donald Wagner
    Book Review: Glory to God in the Lowest: journeys to an unholy land
    February 18, 2023
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Comedian Ahmed Ahmed at The Comedy Bar in Chicago June 9 - 11, 2023
    Comedian Ahmed Ahmed performs in Chicago June 9-11, 2023 at The Comedy Bar
    June 9, 2023
  • Ziyad Food item
    Essential recipes and ingredients during Ramadan 
    April 4, 2023
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast
    December 15, 2022
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Comedian Ramy Youssef courtesy of his Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ramysfaceboo/
    “Ramy” cable series melds Arab world reality with every day American life
    October 22, 2022
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at Gab.com, MeWe.com and IDobbinate.com, the alternatives to Facebook and Twitter Censorship.

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2023 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme