At AIPAC, Obama and Clinton Move On

Eight minutes. That was the span of time this morning separating the end of Barack Obama's speech to the American Israel Political Action Committee's policy conference in Washington, D.C. from the start of Hillary Clinton's, delivered at the same podium. It was just long enough for Obama to slip out of the hall and into a black SUV--and for Clinton to pull the same maneuver--without the two Democratic candidates crossing paths or exchanging words. But while Clinton and Obama today passed on their first chance to share a stage since debating in Philadelphia on April 16, it was clear from their respective remarks to AIPAC that Obama has turned his attention to the battle ahead, that Clinton has accepted her primary loss--and that Democratic unity is the next order of business for both. We're moving on.

Obama's goal: dispelling any lingering doubts about his pro-Israel bona fides. With Republican nominee John McCain harping daily on his willingness to meet with Iranian leaders--an effort that has succeeded in raising some suspicions in America's Jewish community--the Illinois senator this morning sought to reframe his stance in more favorable terms. To that end, what was once construed as talking to Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad "without preconditions" "in the first year" of his presidency has now become, after months of evolution, "tough and principled diplomacy" designed to "advance the interests of the United States" that would take place "at a time and place of my choosing," and only after Obama "open[s] up lines of communication, build[s] an agenda, coordinate[s] closely with our allies and evaluate[s] the potential for progress." Much of Obama's remarks were equally defensive, as he rebutted the false Republican charge that he plans to sit down with Hamas ("there is no room at the negotiating table for terrorist organizations") and dismissed the persistent, "provocative emails [that] have been circulating throughout Jewish communities across the country" claiming that he is some sort of  unpatriotic Muslim Manchurian candidate. "All I want to say is, let me know if you see this guy named Barack Obama," Obama joked. "Because he sounds pretty frightening." That said, the senator did attack McCain for supporting a war in Iraq that has, in his opinion, allowed "Iran [to] strengthen its position" and made the "United States and Israel... less secure." Expect Obama to keep up that criticism between now and November--in front of Jewish and non-Jewish audiences alike.

When Clinton spoke a few minutes later, it wasn't the content of her speech that was striking; strongly pro-Israel, it pretty much matched her former rival's. But the context was completely different. Her eyes rimmed with red, her face a little puffy, the New York senator look exhausted--and perhaps a little defeated. At one point, Clinton's voice cracked in the middle of a line. "[I've] talked too much," she admitted, smiling. If she were truly defiant--stuck, as the New Republic's Michael Crowley put it last night, "in the bunker"--Clinton could've spoken about what she'd do for Israel as president. But she didn't. Instead, the former first lady tenderly, tentatively acknowledged reality. "I know Sen. Obama understands what's at stake here," she said. "It's been an honor to contest these primaries with him, and it's an honor to call him my friend." And then, after stressing that "we need a Democrat in the White House next January," Clinton made a simple prediction that said it all: "Let me be very clear: Sen. Obama will be a good friend to Israel." She didn't concede, or endorse, or withdraw; those things will happen soon enough.

But clear she was.