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Message received!
President Obama’s staunchly pro-Israel speech at the United Nations this week shows he heeded the message from Republican Bob Turner’s stunning victory last week, sources said yesterday.
Spurred on by Democrats such as Ed Koch and Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind, many Queens and Brooklyn voters — including disgruntled Jewish Democrats — voted for Turner in droves to protest Obama’s position on Israel as well as his failure to bolster the shaky economy.
“I was thinking of issuing a press release claiming credit for the Israel speech. Two weeks ago, the speech would have been different,’’ said Hikind, an Orthodox Jew who backed Turner over Democrat David Weprin — also an Orthodox Jew.
“The speech by President Obama indicated that he read the results of the special election in the 9th Congressional District. Clearly, the election had an effect. The speech leaves little to complain about.’’
Obama’s position this summer — that Israeli and Palestinian leaders use the pre-1967 borders for the basis of negotiations — infuriated Koch, who was among the first Democrats to support Turner.
Koch made it clear his support of a Republican was meant to send a message to the White House over Obama’s stance on peace talks, and what he thought was Obama’s shabby treatment of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
But yesterday, Koch seemed overjoyed to be back in the Democratic fold, thanks to Obama’s unflinchingly strong UN speech in support of Israel.
“I told the president the speech was magnificent,’’ said Koch, who met Obama at a White House-sponsored UN reception at the New York Public Library Wednesday night.
Koch, who had even threatened to campaign against the president, was invited to the reception by the White House.
“The president is on the right track! It was wonderful,” Koch said. Last month, I would not approve. This week, I’m ecstatic!’’
In his UN speech, Obama said, “America’s commitment to Israel’s security is unshakable. Our friendship with Israel is deep and enduring. And so we believe that any lasting peace must acknowledge the very real security concerns that Israel faces every single day.’’
As for his very public recent spat with Obama, Koch said, “I’m not looking back. I’m looking forward.
“I have no regrets in saying, ‘Thank you, Mr. President, for standing up magnificently for Israel.’ ’’
Koch now says it’s “very possible that I will be campaigning for President Obama’s re-election.’’ He stumped for Obama in Florida in 2008.