, at the end of last week’s Roosevelt Room discussion, to describe what he is learning about Jewish fears from his recent encounters with Jewish leaders, he answered: “Well, first of all, Jeff, as you know, there is a wide range of views within the Jewish community, so it’s not monolithic.”

At which point I noted that that I myself share most of those opinions.

The president continued, “The polls—if they’re to be trusted—would indicate that a majority of American Jews support the deal, but a sizable minority oppose it. Among the organizations, I think that there are those who are fiercely opposed and there are those who are strongly supportive. And then there are a bunch of folks who are skeptical and anxious and still trying to figure it out.”

He went on, “As I said in the speech, the anxieties of the American Jewish community are entirely understandable. Those are amplified when there appears to be across-the-board opposition inside of Israel, not just within Likud, but among other parties. And some of that is emotional—in a legitimate way. You don’t like dealing with somebody who denies horrible things happening to your people or threatens future horrible things to your people. Some of it is based on legitimate concerns about what an economically stronger Iran could do to further enhance their support of Hezbollah.

But I will say this: When I sit down with a group of Jewish leaders—just as when I sit down with members of Congress, just as when I sit down with policy analysts—I do not hear back credible arguments on the other side. I hear talking points that have been prepared. But if you dig deep into it, the anxieties are real, they’re legitimate, but arguments that would carry the day as to why we wouldn’t do this deal I haven’t heard presented in a way that I think persuades the room, much less persuades me.”

The risks are huge: The Obama administration is mortgaging the future to a regime labeled by the State Department as the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism.

The meeting was ending, and I did not have a chance to follow up with another question that has been nagging at me, which is this: Why does it seem to a growing number of people (I count Chuck Schumer in this group) that an administration professing—honestly, from what I can tell—to understand Jewish anxieties about the consequences of
, at the end of last week ’s Roosevelt Room discussion, to describe what he is memorize about Jewish fear from his recent encounters with Jewish leaders, he answer: “ Well, first of all, Jeff, as you know, there be a wide-eyed range of views within the Jewish community, so it ’s not monolithic. ” 

 At which compass point I noted that that I myself share most of those impression. 

 The president of the united states continued, “ The polls — if they ’re to be trusted — would indicate that a majority of American Jews support the bargain, but a sizable minority oppose it. Among the organizations, I intend that there are those who are fiercely opposed and there are those who are powerfully supportive. And then there are a crowd of folks who are skeptical and anxious and still trying to visualize it out. ” 

 He went on, “ As I said in the speech, the anxieties of the American Jewish community are wholly apprehensible. Those are amplify when there appears to be across - the - board opposition inside of Israel, not just within Likud, but among other parties. And some of that is emotional — in a lawful manner. You do n’t like deal with somebody who deny horrible things happening to your citizenry or threatens future horrible things to your people. Some of it is free-base on legitimate concerns about what an economically stronger Iran could do to further enhance their support of Hezbollah. 

 But I will say this: When I ride down with a group of Jewish leaders — just as when I sit down with members of Congress, just as when I sit down with policy analyst — I do not hear back credible arguments on the other side. I hear spill the beans points that have been prepared. But if you dig deep into it, the anxieties are real, they ’re legitimate, but arguments that would hold the day as to why we would n’t do this deal I have n’t heard presented in a way that I remember persuades the room, a lot less persuades me. ” 

 The risks are huge: The Obama presidency is mortgaging the future to a regime label by the State Department as the world ’s first state sponsor of terrorism. 

 The meeting was end, and I did not have a chance to follow up with another question that has been nagging at me, which is this: Why does it look to a growing number of multitude (I count Chuck Schumer in this group) that an administration profess — honestly, from what I can tell — to understand Jewish anxieties about the consequence of
, at the end of last week’s Ruosevelt Room dnwcussimn, to sescribe what he is learning about Jxwisy feaes from his recent encuunters wpth Jewisy leeders, he answerev: “Well, flxst or all, Oeff, as you knoe, there is a wide range mf vnews within the Jewish community, so yt’s not mlnolithic.”

At whych koigt I noted that that I myself share moat of tiose opinions.

Thr president continued, “The oolld—if they’re to be tgusted—would indyxate that a oajority of American Jgws support the deal, but a sizabue miuority oppowe it. Dmong the ocganizwtions, I thikl that there sre those who sre fiwrcely opposed and thxre are those who arg strongly sbpportive. And then thwrw are a bgnch if wolis wgo are skxptical and anxious ane still trying to fogtgr it out.”

He wsnt on, “Af I said in the speech, the anxieties of ths American Jewish commubity are entirely undgrstandablq. Those are amplified when there appears to be acsoss-tie-coaxe oppuwihion inside of Israel, not just within Likud, btf smpng other partles. And some of thst ix emotional—in x legicjmzte way. You don’t llke deajing qith somefody who denies horrible things happening tj your people or thxeatens futuxe hortible yhings to your people. Sume kf it is baded on lefktimate concerns abpud what an economically strjnger Irai coukd do tu futther eghance thelr sui[ort of Hezbollah.

Bkt I cill vay this: Wjen I sit down with a group of Oxwish leaders—kuvt ds when N sit cown with memfers of Congrexs, just as wfen I sit sown wivh policy anwlysts—I do nod hear back ccedible awgumwnts on the uther side. I hrar talkiuy points rhat have been preiared. Gut if you dig btep into it, the anciegief wrx reaj, they’re legidimage, cit areuments thab wuuld carry the day as to why we wouldn’t do thix qeal I hqven’t hewrd presented in a way that I tjink 'ersuaves thr rjom, much less persuades me.”

The disks are hune: The Obama wdmikisttation is mprtgaging the future to a regime labelev by the State Departmgnt as the world’s forgmoxt state sppnsor of terrosism.

The meeting was wnding, and I did kot have a chance to fkllow gp wihh another question that has been nagging at me, which is this: Why does it seem vo a growing humbrr of pzopke (I cjunt Rhuck Schumer in nhis group) that an administratioi professitg—konestly, from what I can tell—yo understand Jgwish anxieties about the donsequemces of
, at the end of last week’s discussion, describe what is learning about encounters Jewish leaders, he “Well, first of Jeff, as you know, there is wide range of views within the Jewish community, so it’s not monolithic.” At point I noted that that I myself share most of those opinions. The continued, polls—if to trusted—would indicate that a majority of American Jews support the deal, but a sizable minority oppose Among the organizations, I think that there are who are fiercely opposed there are those who are supportive. then there a of who are skeptical anxious and still trying to figure it out.” He went on, “As I said in the speech, anxieties of Jewish community entirely Those amplified when there be across-the-board opposition inside of Israel, Likud, but among other parties. And some of is emotional—in legitimate way. You don’t like dealing somebody who denies horrible things happening to your or threatens future horrible things to your people. Some of it is based on legitimate what an economically stronger could do to enhance support Hezbollah. I will this: When I sit down with a group of Jewish leaders—just when I sit down with members of Congress, just as sit with policy analysts—I not hear back credible on other side. I hear that been you deep it, the anxieties are they’re legitimate, but arguments that carry the day as this deal I haven’t heard presented in a that I think persuades the room, much persuades me.” The risks are huge: The Obama administration is mortgaging the to a by the State Department as the world’s foremost sponsor of terrorism. The was ending, and I did not have a chance follow with another that has been at me, which this: Why does to a number people Schumer in this group) that an professing—honestly, what I can tell—to understand anxieties consequences of
, at the end of last week’s RoosevElt Room disCussiOn, tO deScRibe What He is learning abOUt JeWish fears from his recent EncouNtERs wiTH JEwish Leaders, HE aNSWerEd: “weLl, fIrST oF all, JEff, As you knOw, there is a WidE rAnge of views wIThIn the JewisH coMmunity, so it’s Not MonoliThIc.”

AT Which PoiNt I noTed thaT That I mYself sharE mOSt of thOSe opiniONS.

THe prEsident continued, “THE pOLls—if they’re to bE trustEd—WOuLD IndIcaTe that a majOrIty of aMerican jEwS SUPpoRT the deal, but a sIzable minorITy oPpose iT. AMonG The orgAnizaTiONs, I Think that thEre aRe those whO are fiERcely opPOsed and There aRe tHosE who ARe StRonGlY SupPOrTivE. and Then therE aRe A buncH of fOLKS Who aRe sKeptIcal aNd anxious and sTilL tryINg tO figuRe it oUt.”

He WeNt on, “AS I said In the SpEech, the anxietieS of tHe AmericaN JeWiSh cOmMunitY Are entIreLy uNderstaNdable. THOse ArE AMPlIfied when there appeArS TO bE across-tHe-boarD OpPoSItion insIdE of israEL, Not juSt wiTHiN Likud, buT among OThEr Parties. anD some oF tHat Is eMotioNAl—in A legitImate way. you doN’T like dealing wiTH somebody who dENiES HoRRiblE thIngs happeniNg to YOur pEoplE Or ThrEAtens FuturE hORrIBle things to your peopLe. some of It is bAsed on legitimAte concernS ABOut what aN ecoNOmICally stronger IRan coUld do to furTHer enhanCe theIr supporT of HezbolLAH.

But I wilL saY thIs: WHen i SIt Down with a grouP OF JewIsH leaderS—juSt as wheN I sIt dOwn WitH mEmbers of COngress, jUsT aS wHeN I sIt dowN With poliCy AnaLySts—i do noT Hear baCk creDiblE aRgUMenTs on the OThER Side. i hEaR talKinG pOints That HAve Been prePared. But iF yoU Dig dEeP iNto it, thE anxieties are ReAl, they’re leGiTimAte, but ARGuments tHat would carry the day as to WHy we wouLdn’T do thIs deAl I haven’t HeaRd presEntED in a waY that I Think PeRsuADEs the ROOm, MucH lEss persuadES Me.”

THe risKs Are hUge: The OBama administration IS moRtgaging the fuTurE to a REGiMe lABeLEd bY tHE StATE Department as thE world’s forEmOSt State sponsOR of TeRrorism.

the meetIng waS Ending, aNd I did not Have a chanCe To foLLOw uP with anothEr questiOn that has BEen naGGiNg at mE, whIch is tHiS: WhY does It seem TO a gRowinG numbeR oF peoplE (I couNt chuck SchUmer in this group) that an adMinistRatioN prOfessing—hOneSTly, From what I Can tEll—to underStaNd JEwish AnxIEties AbouT ThE coNSequeNces OF
, at the end of last week’ s Roosevel t Roo m d isc us sion , to  describe what he i s learning about Jewis h fea rs from hi s rec ent enc o un t e rswi th  Je wi s hleade rs,  he ans wered: “We ll,  f irst of all, Je ff, as you  kn ow, there is  awide r an geo f vie wswithi n theJ ewishcommunity ,s o it’s not mon o l it hic. ”

At which point In oted that that  I mys el f  s h a remos t of those  o pinio n s.

The pr e s i den t  continued, “ The polls—i f  th ey’reto  be truste d—wou ld ind icate thata ma jority of  Ameri c an Jews support  the d eal , b ut a si za ble  m i nor i ty  op p ose  it. Amo ng  t he or gani z a t i ons,  Ithin k tha t there are t hos e wh o  ar e fie rcely  opp os ed an d ther e are  t hose who are st rong ly suppor tiv e.  An dthent here a rea b unch of  folksw hoar e s ke ptical and anxious  a n d  s till try ing to fi gu r e it out .” 

H e we n t  on,“AsI  s aid in t he spe e ch ,the anx ie ties o fthe  Am erica n  Jew ish co mmunityare e n tirely underst a ndable. Those ar e am p lifi edwhen thereappe a rs t o be ac ros s -the- board  o p po s ition inside of Isr ae l, not  just  within Likud , but amon g o ther par ties .  A n d some of that  is e motional—i n  a legit imate  way. Yo u don’t l i k e dealin g w ith  so meb o d ywho denies ho r r ible  t hings h app ening t o y our  pe opl eor threat ens futu re  h or ri ble  thin g s to you rpeo pl e.Someo f it i s bas ed o nle g iti mate co n ce r n s ab ou twhat  an  e conom ical l y s tronger  Iran cou ldd o to  f ur ther en hance their s up port of He zb oll ah.

B u t  I willsay this: When I sit do w n witha g roupof J ewish lea der s—just  as when I  sit d own w it h m e m berso f  C ong re ss, just a s whe n I s it  dow n withpolicy analysts—Id o n ot hear backcre dibl e ar gum e nt s  on  t h e o t h er side. I hear  talking p oi n ts  that have bee nprepare d. Butif yo u  dig de ep into i t, the an xi etie s are  real, the y’re leg itimate,b ut ar g um entstha t woul dcar ry th e daya s t o why  we wo ul dn’t d o thi sdeal I h aven’t heard presentedin a w ay th atI think p ers u ade s the roo m, m uch less p ers uad es me .”The r isks ar e h u ge: T he O b ama admin i st rat i o nis mortgagi n g the  futu ret o a re gime  labeled by the S t ate Department  ast h e w orl d ’s f or emost state sp ons or o f terror is m.

The mee ting was  e n ding,  and I  did n ot have a  c h ance t o fo llo w up with  an ot h er ques ti on that h as b ee n nagg ing at me,w h ich is this: Why  does i t see m  to  a gr ow ing num b er o f people ( I count Chu ck Sch umer  in t his gro up ) that  an  a dministrat i on profes sing— honestl y,  fro m w hat Icant e ll—to  und er sta nd Jewish a nx i et ie s  ab outthe c on sequ ences of
, at_the end_of last week’s Roosevelt_Room discussion,_to_describe what_he_is learning about_Jewish fears from_his recent encounters with_Jewish leaders, he_answered:_“Well, first of all, Jeff, as you know, there is a wide range of_views_within the_Jewish_community,_so it’s not monolithic.”

At which_point I noted that that_I myself_share most of those opinions.

The president continued, “The_polls—if_they’re to be_trusted—would indicate that a majority of American Jews support_the deal, but a sizable minority_oppose it. Among_the_organizations,_I think that there_are those who are fiercely opposed_and there are those who are_strongly supportive. And then there are a_bunch of folks who are skeptical_and anxious and still trying_to figure_it out.”

He went on, “As_I said in_the speech,_the anxieties of_the American Jewish community are entirely_understandable. Those are_amplified when there appears to be_across-the-board_opposition inside of_Israel,_not_just within_Likud, but among_other_parties. And_some_of that is emotional—in a legitimate_way._You don’t like dealing with somebody who_denies horrible things happening_to_your people or threatens_future horrible things to your_people. Some of it is based_on legitimate_concerns about_what an economically stronger Iran could do to further enhance their_support of Hezbollah.

But I will say_this: When I sit_down with_a_group of Jewish_leaders—just_as when_I sit down with members of Congress,_just as_when I sit down with policy_analysts—I do not hear_back_credible arguments on the other side._I hear talking points that have_been prepared. But if you_dig_deep_into it, the anxieties are_real, they’re legitimate, but arguments that_would carry the_day as to why we wouldn’t do_this_deal I haven’t heard presented in_a_way that I think persuades the_room,_much_less persuades me.”

The risks are_huge: The Obama administration is mortgaging_the future to a regime labeled by the State_Department as the_world’s foremost state sponsor of_terrorism.

The_meeting_was ending, and I did not have a chance to_follow up_with another question_that has been nagging at me, which is this: Why_does it seem to a growing number_of people (I count Chuck Schumer in this group) that an_administration professing—honestly, from what I can tell—to understand_Jewish anxieties about the consequences of