President Obama and Sarah Palin extend their Passover wishes in similar ways

President Barack Obama called Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to wish him a happy Passover. On Saturday, Obama delivered a message to all Jews in an attempt to send warm wishes "to all those celebrating the sacred festival of Passover."

"The story of Passover — which recalls the passage of the children of Israel from bondage and repression to freedom and liberty — inspires hope that those oppressed and enslaved can become free," Obama said in a statement. "This year, that ancient instruction is reflected in the daily headlines as we see modem stories of social transformation and liberation unfolding in the Middle East and North Africa. Against the backdrop of change, we continue to pray for peace between Israel and her neighbors, while reaffirming our enduring commitment to Israel’s security."

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin posted a Passover message to her Facebook account on Monday that mirrored Obama's in structure and substance.

"Tonight is Passover, the Jewish people’s celebration of their deliverance from bondage and their Exodus to the Land of Israel," Palin wrote. "Passover contains poignant spiritual and historical meaning for Jews, but it also reminds all of us of mankind’s universal aspiration to be free from bondage and oppression.

"Today, in the same region where the story of Exodus took place, Arabs suffering under despotic regimes are seeking their own freedom and self-determination. As Jews in Israel, the Middle East’s only liberal democracy, gather for Passover, we hope for the spread of freedom and peace throughout the region. On this Passover holiday, our family sends our best wishes to the Jewish community. Chag kasher V'Sameach. Happy Passover. And next year in Jerusalem," Palin posted.

The woman who famously described herself as a hockey mom spent two days in Israel last month, where she expressed her support for the the nation, met with Netanyahu and sported a Star of David necklace. During a tour around the sacred Western Wall, she asked her guides, "Why are you apologizing all the time?" after being told that Jews were not allowed to pray openly on the Temple Mount.

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Note: Andrew Malcolm is on vacation

-- Tony Pierce
twitter.com/busblog

Above photo: Sarah Palin visits the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City on March 20. Credit: Ilya Yefimovichi / AFP-Getty Images

Top photo: President Obama takes part in a Seder last year at the White House. Credit: Pete Souza / White House

Comments

[tpartyus]

lets see the israeli government ever celebrate a christian holiday, they actually attack and spit on american christians visiting israel google it. disgusting to watch our president cower to jewish interests. jews in germany after ww1 actually had saturday their sabbath declared a no work day and enforced it through their controll of weimar german government.....look how that ended

[Louis perez]

This is the President's time not Sarah, so her name should never be in the same sentence with the President.

[Louis perez]

This is the President's time not Sarah, so her name should never be in the same sentence with the President.

[h mmmm]

Seriously. Why does it matter what that woman thinks about anything???
I can't think of any other half`term govs who ran for vp and lost who get this much media attention.

[ThomasFredette]

Yes, of course this is the President's time! Why, no one should make any proclamation of well wishes to any other Country other than the Messiah! How dare Sarah? And how dare the Times even compare the two at this Holy time! Especially when Obama is making nice with Israel! We, of course, praise the mighty Messiah at this time of Jewish tradition. Who is Sarah Palin anyways! She doesn't have the same relationship with Benjamin the way Obama does, like when he tells Benjamin during his White House meeting that he's feeling "peckish" and he may leave the Jewish delegation to let themselves out! Or the fact that he literally fights Israel on its sovereignty. At least he didn't lead them out the White House back door- past the garbage- like he did with the Dalai Lama! Yeah ..... Sarah is garbage and Obama walks on water. The silly Progressives- can't see past their outstretched palm!

[C Smith]

Obama’s recent Passover message to "Jewish families and their friends" was a contrived example of historical revisionism, an ill-disguised "Trojan horse" endorsing the Muslim Spring, and an affront to those familiar with the narrative of Jewish escape from an earlier genocide.

"And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river..." (Exodus 1:22).

"And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more" (Exodus 11:6).

"... Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the Passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses.... And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead" (Exodus 12:21-30).

"... For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us (I Corinthians 5:7).

http://the-day-of-the-lord.blogspot.com/2011/04/cry-in-night.html

[Servillex]

ThomasFredette , h mmmm & Louis perez - Let me explain you. Sarah Palin is depicted on the relevant photo, with the Star of David. That's it)

[ThomasFredette]

Servillex, you missed my sarcasm-I thought I laid it on pretty thick! Either way, the picture of Sarah I assume was when she visited Israel. Has Obama ever .... been? There's a lot off lying rock over there ..

[Joseph Durocher]

Andrew, you omitted the final sentences in Barack Obama's Passover message:

"We in America - and even here at the White House - share the Jewish people's concerns about the recent goings-on in the Middle East. We are certain that our efforts in Libya and Egypt and the lack of same in other countries like Syria enhance the likelihood of peaceful co-existence between Israel and her neighbours. We ask only that Israel continue to trade land for promises of peace.

As for the nuclear weapons program in Iran, I think I - Barack Hussein Obama - speak for all Americans when I say, good luck with that."

[Bill589]

Current president, and next president in the same article.
“Game On!”

[blackone]

She doesn't even have a job and the Media repeatedly reports her thoughts as if she is a head of state: "Sarah Palin tours Israel and India", "Sarah Palin trashes the National Endowment for the Arts", "Sarah Palin celebrates Reagan", "Palin Criticizes Federal Reserve", Palin supports cut of funding to NPR", Palin gives thumbs-up to Governor Walker.