America - The Official Thread

[McLaren]

You mean that if there is violence towards them because hypothetically a person takes Trump's words litteral (which people in the past have done) and think they "hate america" (which they never even claimed), it will be their own fault?

Do I need to remind the recent past:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_2018_United_States_mail_bombing_attempts

Hating Trump's border policies, does not mean they "hate america".

You didn’t say anything about violence and neither did I.

 

[DDastardly00]

Some pretty disgusting, bigoted language on the previous page in some of the posts seemingly painting Christians with a broad brush. You all should head on back and clean up your posts, religious bigotry doesn't belong here and is against the forum rules.

Look, I don't care whether it's Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Trump supporters, and so on, don't stereotype, it's a fast lane into idiocy that even intelligent people are susceptible to.

Hey, remember that time a Mosque burned down in Texas and the Christian, Jewish community rallied around the Muslim community? Obviously not.

Wow, those horrible Texans, look at what they did...

After a mosque in the small town of Victoria, Texas, burned to the ground last weekend, the local Jewish and Christian communities there have come together to help those affected.

Members of the B’Nai Israel temple gave the keys to their synagogue to the Muslim community so they would have a place to worship, USA Today reports, and four churches in the town also offered space for the mosque’s Muslim congregation to hold services, according to NPR.

“Jewish community members walked into my home and gave me a key to the synagogue,” Dr. Shahid Hashmi, a co-founder of the Victoria Islamic Center, told the New York Times.

“We were very happy to do this,” Melvin Lack, treasurer of Congregation B’Nai Israel told USA Today. “You feel what’s happening in the community and everyone reacts.”

Children from the local Catholic school in Victoria also visited the mosque on Wednesday, forming what the Islamic Center called a “human chain of love and peace,” according to a Facebook post. The students also presented the Muslim community with a tree.

“The tree will be planted in the grounds of our new mosque & prominently displayed to remind us of this beautiful moment,” the post reads. “This is the spirit of love where the cross hugs the crescent.”

In addition, the Islamic Center also received financial support: a GoFundMe page has raised more than $1 million for reconstruction, according to USA Today. By Monday, the day after the page was created, the campaign was already close to hitting its target of $850,000.

 

[Blitz24]

Every group has it's extremists. Religion is not the reason why someone is necessarily extreme in their viewpoints.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Some pretty disgusting, bigoted language on the previous page in some of the posts seemingly painting Christians with a broad brush. You all should head on back and clean up your posts, religious bigotry doesn't belong here and is against the forum rules.

Cite specific examples. You seem to be conflating multiple posts to suit your desired level of outrage.

 

[DDastardly00]

Cite specific examples. You seem to be conflating multiple posts to suit your desired level of outrage.

Rather than point fingers, which is what you are asking me to do, instead I extended an invitation to edit those posts that contain offensive content. It's a better way to address it.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Rather than point fingers, which is what you are asking me to do, instead I extended an invitation to edit those posts that contain offensive content. It's a better way to address it.

You should report those posts for moderation rather than try to do the moderating.

 

[Danoff]

Some pretty disgusting, bigoted language on the previous page in some of the posts seemingly painting Christians with a broad brush. You all should head on back and clean up your posts, religious bigotry doesn't belong here and is against the forum rules.

Look, I don't care whether it's Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Trump supporters, and so on, don't stereotype, it's a fast lane into idiocy that even intelligent people are susceptible to.

Hey, remember that time a Mosque burned down in Texas and the Christian, Jewish community rallied around the Muslim community? Obviously not.

Wow, those horrible Texans, look at what they did...

I think this might be directed at me. I can see how you might think that I'm being bigoted against Christians when reading my previous post in this thread. If you took it in context though, you'd understand what I was saying. So let me re-supply the context.

I am trying to understand why Trump is going out of his way to defend Israel and bring up Israel at every step. I'm trying to get into Trump's head. I'm trying to understand the demographic vote-buying game that the Republican party is playing when it comes to Israel. What is their motivation? Why do they feel that this is a good move politically? Why else would they go out of their way to defend Israel.

So what is the line of thinking here? Why the defense of Israel? Is it that the republican party thinks that wide swaths of their Christian voting bloc prefer whiter people in Israel? Is it that the Republican party thinks that wide swaths of their Christian voting bloc prefer Judaism to Islam? Have they performed polls that suggest that their constituents actually do prefer Jewish control of Israel over Muslim control? If so, what is the motivation?

Specifically, does Trump (someone who makes racist tweets) think that his Christian constituents don't like dark skinned people in Israel for some reason?

This is what I'm pondering. I think that you took it to mean that I'm calling Christians racist, and I'll state unequivocally right now that that is not my intent, and it is not what I believed I was saying. They're not the "white and delightsome" religion. That's that other religion.

So right now, for the record, I do not think Christians are racist or generally bigoted as a group. I hope this clears up your understanding of my previous post. I'll leave my previous post unedited so that people can see how you came to the conclusion you did, and how it looks in and out of context.

 

[Joey D]

So what is the line of thinking here? Why the defense of Israel? Is it that the republican party thinks that wide swaths of their Christian voting bloc prefer whiter people in Israel? Is it that the Republican party thinks that wide swaths of their Christian voting bloc prefer Judaism to Islam? Have they performed polls that suggest that their constituents actually do prefer Jewish control of Israel over Muslim control? If so, what is the motivation?

The thing with Isreal is pretty complex and I wish the US had absolutely nothing to do with the country. I still stand by my opinion that one of the main reasons behind major terrorist attacks like 9/11 stems from the US's continued support of the country (unless of course, Bush did 9/11 #jetfuelcantmeltsteelbeams).

Really, I think it comes down to a couple of things. One is its government. While fairly social, it does align more with America's flavor of democracy and freedom. Other Middle Eastern countries, for the most part, do not. Next is who's wealthy in America. While not everyone on the Forbes Top 100 list is Jewish, there are many billionaires who are. While I don't think America as a country has a keen interest in Jewish billionaires, the people who run the country love to take bribes...errr campaign donations.

Finally, and I suspect Trump is playing into this, there's a certain section of the American population that are Islamophobes. While they may or may not be OK with Jews, I think in the end they tend to think those who follow Judaism are better than those who follow Islam. Unfortunately, those people who are Islamophobes seem to support Trump and I think Trump knows this. He's pandering to his voter base as any good politician would.

With Christians or at least zealous Christians, the only reason I see strong support from them for Trump is due to things like his stance on abortion. Hell, even the Mormons in Utah who hate Trump will vote him in again for the simple fact he's anti-choice and seemingly doesn't like anyone in the LGBT community.

 

[mustafur]

(Skip to 5:23)Iranian Foreign minister Says that the UK pulled out of agreements with Iran on the nuclear deal the second Trump was elected on behalf of his wishes, well before he was even sworn into office.


This is what he Said after he was asked on his thoughts about the Oil tanker Situation between Iran and UK.

He also Said Spain Told Iran that UK took the Ship at Gibraltar on the wishes of the US, the Oil tanker isn't an Iranian Ship though, the oil within was though.

 

[PocketZeven]

You didn’t say anything about violence and neither did I.

I did imply it in the post you reacted on. Perhaps you overlooked it. The point I was making that his claims of the congresswomen "hate" america is factuallu incorrect and could potentially incite violence.

These posts werent about dems or republicans.

You can expect crazy Pro-trump people are going to make lives difficult for these hardworking women. Probably even life threatening dangerous. Accusing them of "hating"america is going to blow a fuse in some people.

In other news:

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mu...onspiracy-no-trump-exoneration-on-obstruction

So hopefully Trump can finally stop claiming the report was a "total exoneration".

 

[Danoff]

The thing with Isreal is pretty complex and I wish the US had absolutely nothing to do with the country. I still stand by my opinion that one of the main reasons behind major terrorist attacks like 9/11 stems from the US's continued support of the country (unless of course, Bush did 9/11 #jetfuelcantmeltsteelbeams).

Really, I think it comes down to a couple of things. One is its government. While fairly social, it does align more with America's flavor of democracy and freedom. Other Middle Eastern countries, for the most part, do not. Next is who's wealthy in America. While not everyone on the Forbes Top 100 list is Jewish, there are many billionaires who are. While I don't think America as a country has a keen interest in Jewish billionaires, the people who run the country love to take bribes...errr campaign donations.

Finally, and I suspect Trump is playing into this, there's a certain section of the American population that are Islamophobes. While they may or may not be OK with Jews, I think in the end they tend to think those who follow Judaism are better than those who follow Islam. Unfortunately, those people who are Islamophobes seem to support Trump and I think Trump knows this. He's pandering to his voter base as any good politician would.

With Christians or at least zealous Christians, the only reason I see strong support from them for Trump is due to things like his stance on abortion. Hell, even the Mormons in Utah who hate Trump will vote him in again for the simple fact he's anti-choice and seemingly doesn't like anyone in the LGBT community.

It's still not quite lining up for me.

So why not go out of our way to support South Korea then? If anything we're headed the other way on that one recently. Heck, how does having a more similar government to ours distinguish Israel from so many other nations of the world? Trump is more buddy buddy with Israel than Germany.

If Israel were suddenly predominately Muslim overnight (forgetting the how on that one for a moment), I don't think that the US, governmentally, would be affected at all. We don't actually get basically anything from Israel. Similarly, Jewish people don't make up a large segment of the voting population, so religious control over the region can't be it, at least directly. Maybe people are Islamophobic, but how does Israel being a nation of Islam (or not) raise the Islamophobia needle at all? Not that this would even happen if we cut off all support overnight.

There are only a few explanations for Trump's love that really hold muster for me. Racism, bribery, keeping tourism to the holy land alive, something in the bible. Maybe it's a military advantage somehow, but every time I play it out I end up thinking it's doing more harm than good.

 

[PocketZeven]

It's still not quite lining up for me.

So why not go out of our way to support South Korea then? If anything we're headed the other way on that one recently. Heck, how does having a more similar government to ours distinguish Israel from so many other nations of the world? Trump is more buddy buddy with Israel than Germany.

If Israel were suddenly predominately Muslim overnight (forgetting the how on that one for a moment), I don't think that the US, governmentally, would be affected at all. We don't actually get basically anything from Israel. Similarly, Jewish people don't make up a large segment of the voting population, so religious control over the region can't be it, at least directly. Maybe people are Islamophobic, but how does Israel being a nation of Islam (or not) raise the Islamophobia needle at all? Not that this would even happen if we cut off all support overnight.

There are only a few explanations for Trump's love that really hold muster for me. Racism, bribery, keeping tourism to the holy land alive, something in the bible. Maybe it's a military advantage somehow, but every time I play it out I end up thinking it's doing more harm than good.

Israel has been in a religious state of conflict. Trump Just wants to make sure that people now which "side"he is on. Also the jews in the USA (and around the world) are quite powerfull I understand. Siding with Israel makes sure he gets their support. South koreans dont have that same influence.

 

[McLaren]

I did imply it in the post you reacted on. Perhaps you overlooked it. The point I was making that his claims of the congresswomen "hate" america is factuallu incorrect and could potentially incite violence.

You said at most, probably. Of which does not change what I said about the tension they’ve already brought on themselves within their party nor tolerates violence in my post.

 

[PocketZeven]

You said at most, probably. Of which does not change what I said about the tension they’ve already brought on themselves within their party nor tolerates violence in my post.

Bringing tension to their party is not the same as being accused of "hating"America. If Trump just criticised them for being too far left and inciting conflict in their own party. I would get that.

But tweeting that they "hate america" is untrue and way out of proportion. Or do you think the Trump quote (about hating america) is justified?

 

[SestoScudo]

Fair enough. But everlasting damage was already done when (greenlighted by the US) Germany, the UK and particularly France attacked, invaded and toppled the nation of Libya. The fleeting thrill of neoliberal ecstasy, smug piety, and gloating pride achieved when Gaddafi was disemboweled by sword thru the rectum has long since been vitiated by the persistent waves of immigrants and rightwing populism washing back and forth across the Continent.

Gaddafis death was pretty brutal but his not the only dictator to suffer a brutal death.

There has been many like Samuel Doe and Benito Mussolini.

Also look up on Roman Emperor Valerian's death he got captured by the Sassanid Persians in a battle he lost. He was kept as a POW until he was executed kept as a trophy by the Persian King

 

[McLaren]

Bringing tension to their party is not the same as being accused of "hating"America. If Trump just criticised them for being too far left and inciting conflict in their own party. I would get that.

But tweeting that they "hate america" is untrue and way out of proportion. Or do you think the Trump quote (about hating america) is justified?

I never said it was. You said life was going to be difficult for them, I said they’ve already made it somewhat difficult for themselves. I didn’t mention anything about violence or anything that justifies Trump’s tweet.

You’re reaching more than need be and I’m not going to spend any more time arguing with you over a possibly language misunderstanding like Famine.

 

[PocketZeven]

I never said it was. You said life was going to be difficult for them, I said they’ve already made it somewhat difficult for themselves. I didn’t mention anything about violence or anything that justifies Trump’s tweet.

You’re reaching more than need be and I’m not going to spend any more time arguing with you over a possibly language misunderstanding like Famine.

I clearly started criticising Trumps claims they "hate America". I obviously said both making life difficult and dangerous in conjunction. It isnt incorrect to assume you adressed both with your comment stating it is their own fault. By saying that they made" it somewhat difficult for themselves", lets me assume that you somewhat agree with Trump's narrative. I perhaps presumed wrong and you decided to concentrate on the part of my post where I said that Trump's claims about them "hating America" and resulting into making their life more difficult. Is them making it difficult for themselves or in other words their own fault?

That said, what do you think of the claim they "hate america"?

 

[Biggles]

But... I'm still just so confused.

The Jewish population is 2% of the US. So even if all of them wanted to see the US strongly supporting Israel, that still amounts to peanuts in the general election. I'd think it would easily be outweighed by the number of people who simply don't want to have anything to do with that region. Especially if you combine it with another population (say, Muslims) who perhaps are mostly actively anti-Israel.

So the take-home here is that somehow Christians seem to be in support of Israel and that this somehow appeals to the Christian vote. So we have to surmise that the Christian population prefers the Jews to be in charge of the holy land instead of the Muslims... and that they prefer this enough to think that it's worth our involvement in the middles east?

I just can't wrap my head around it.

It's still not quite lining up for me.

So why not go out of our way to support South Korea then? If anything we're headed the other way on that one recently. Heck, how does having a more similar government to ours distinguish Israel from so many other nations of the world? Trump is more buddy buddy with Israel than Germany.

If Israel were suddenly predominately Muslim overnight (forgetting the how on that one for a moment), I don't think that the US, governmentally, would be affected at all. We don't actually get basically anything from Israel. Similarly, Jewish people don't make up a large segment of the voting population, so religious control over the region can't be it, at least directly. Maybe people are Islamophobic, but how does Israel being a nation of Islam (or not) raise the Islamophobia needle at all? Not that this would even happen if we cut off all support overnight.

There are only a few explanations for Trump's love that really hold muster for me. Racism, bribery, keeping tourism to the holy land alive, something in the bible. Maybe it's a military advantage somehow, but every time I play it out I end up thinking it's doing more harm than good.

Danoff - sometimes you remind me of Mr. Spock adrift among the illogical humans on the Starship Enterprise. I think the big factor inaccessible to you is the "something in the bible". A big part of Trump's support comes from conservative evangelicals who have a particular set of beliefs. I refer you to this article in the National Review (& the associated comments) for further clarification/confoundment.

https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/03/the-real-reasons-american-evangelicals-support-israel/

 

[Danoff]

A big part of Trump's support comes from conservative evangelicals who have a particular set of beliefs.

Ok, I'm working my way through the national review bit...

Uh...

This is pretty confusing, but it's also headed out of this thread and into the God thread a little bit. There's something in the NT that actually says that people who don't believe in Christ will get their own country. That's pretty confounding.

This bit is also something I've been poking at:

It’s difficult to overstate the profound impact that a visit to the Holy Land has on a believing Christian. I’ll never forget my time in Israel. Not only was it moving to stand where Jesus stood and to walk where Jesus walked, other aspects of the visit bring the miracle of Israel’s rebirth into sharp focus. How can you visit the ruins of the fortress of Masada and not grasp the improbability of the journey from total destruction to diaspora to renaissance?

This next one is also very confusing to me. I think the side picking on the religious holy war is maybe motivated by other things than morality. But even if it's not, it's a religious holy war... why on Earth do we want part of that?

Then there’s basic morality. As I’ve written before, from the very moment of its founding, Israel has been subject to repeated, genocidal threats to its existence. It has defended itself in the face of overwhelming odds, faced enduring terrorist threats that we in the United States can’t imagine, and built an imperfect but well-functioning democracy that grants all its citizens (Jewish and Arab) a greater degree of individual liberty than the citizens of any other Middle Eastern nation.

 

[Imari]

So the take-home here is that somehow Christians seem to be in support of Israel and that this somehow appeals to the Christian vote. So we have to surmise that the Christian population prefers the Jews to be in charge of the holy land instead of the Muslims... and that they prefer this enough to think that it's worth our involvement in the middles east?

I just can't wrap my head around it.

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/robert-jeffress-3-reasons-why-christians-care-about-israel

Fundamentalist Christianity is well aware of it's strong ties to Judaism. Israel was promised to the Jews, and this fits the Christian narrative just fine.

Is it that the republican party thinks that wide swaths of their Christian voting bloc prefer whiter people in Israel? Is it that the Republican party thinks that wide swaths of their Christian voting bloc prefer Judaism to Islam? Have they performed polls that suggest that their constituents actually do prefer Jewish control of Israel over Muslim control? If so, what is the motivation?

Regardless of why, fundamentalist Christians are broadly supportive of Israel. You can ask why that is, but as it ties back into their religion the answer is likely not to be something objectively rational.

As to why Trump would want to pander to fundamentalist Christians... because he wants votes and will take them any way he can get them?

If Israel were suddenly predominately Muslim overnight (forgetting the how on that one for a moment), I don't think that the US, governmentally, would be affected at all.

Well, given the Trump administration backing far, far away from a two state solution I'd have to disagree. Palestine is for all intents and purposes the Islamic Israel. While it's existence is debatable, it's there for governments who wish to support it.

We don't actually get basically anything from Israel.

Israel buys billions of dollars of military equipment from the US each year. They also have remarkably advanced military research and production for the size of the country. They are a strong ally in a key location. The US gets plenty out of it's relationship with Israel.

A lot of top-of-the-bellcurve conservative people are capable of pretty horrific ideas.

As are top-of-the-bell-curve liberals. It's almost like it's a human thing rather than a political thing.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Ok but... why do they like Judaism?

Thinking more about it, I think a lot of it has to do with Benjamin Netanyahu.

He's the leader conservative Americans look up to as the ultimate strongman. He's the guy that went around Obama to directly address the GOP-controlled US congress. He's the one that isn't kind to adversaries, and will use overwhelming force if he pleases. He's the one who will make inflammatory statements under the pretext of being "politically incorrect". He, and by extension Israel, is the 80s action movie hero, surrounded by enemies on all sides and ready to go scorched earth.

I don't honestly think religion (as I said before, there are plenty of non-religious conservatives who vehemently support Israel) plays a big part, other than vicarious Islamophobia. It's all about the projection of strength over perceived enemies. Israel has been doing that since 1948. It's toxic masculinity bound up in Islamophobia.

 

[Danoff]

Fundamentalist Christianity is well aware of it's strong ties to Judaism. Israel was promised to the Jews, and this fits the Christian narrative just fine.

So I'm learning.

As to why Trump would want to pander to fundamentalist Christians... because he wants votes and will take them any way he can get them?

So I'm learning, from your help and @Biggles. This isn't making me feel better about it, it's making me feel worse. The fact that this might be the President directly catering to scriptural prophecy makes me want to vomit nonstop.

Israel buys billions of dollars of military equipment from the US each year. They also have remarkably advanced military research and production for the size of the country. They are a strong ally in a key location. The US gets plenty out of it's relationship with Israel.

Looks like the other way around

Since 1985, the United States has provided nearly US$3 billion in grants annually to Israel, with Israel being the largest annual recipient of American aid from 1976 to 2004 and the largest cumulative recipient of aid ($121 billion, not inflation-adjusted) since World War II.[1][2] Seventy-four percent of these funds must be spent purchasing US goods and services.[3] More recently, in fiscal year 2014, the US provided $3.1 billion in foreign military aid to Israel.[2] Israel also benefits from about $8 billion of loan guarantees.[2] Almost all US aid to Israel is now in the form of military assistance, while in the past it also received significant economic assistance. Strong congressional support for Israel has resulted in Israel receiving benefits not available to other countries.[2]

Thinking more about it, I think a lot of it has to do with Benjamin Netanyahu.

He's the leader conservative Americans look up to as the ultimate strongman. He's the guy that went around Obama to directly address the GOP-controlled US congress. He's the one that isn't kind to adversaries, and will use overwhelming force if he pleases. He's the one who will make inflammatory statements under the pretext of being "politically incorrect". He, and by extension Israel, is the 80s action movie hero, surrounded by enemies on all sides and ready to go scorched earth.

I don't honestly think religion (as I said before, there are plenty of non-religious conservatives who vehemently support Israel) plays a big part, other than vicarious Islamophobia. It's all about the projection of strength over perceived enemies. Israel has been doing that since 1948. It's toxic masculinity bound up in ignorance with a big heaping of Islamophobia.

This theory is very truthy. It feels right even if it's hard to prove.

 

[VolkswagenX]

Also the jews in the USA (and around the world) are quite powerfull I understand.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Holy ****. The Big Orange One will be at war with Iran before you can say "fake noooos, giant intellectings, the very yoojest".

 

[PocketZeven]

Holy ****. The Big Orange One will be at war with Iran before you can say "fake noooos, giant intellectings, the very yoojest".

Trump himself and supporters are spinning it in overtime as no collusion, Mueller is a biased political pawn, is taking revenge for being turned down the job of FBI director and asking "why is he avoiding question about the origin of the report?" (which was already anounced as not being in the purview, because of ongoing investigations)

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Nothing is going to change.

 

[McLaren]

I clearly started criticising Trumps claims they "hate America". I obviously said both making life difficult and dangerous in conjunction. It isnt incorrect to assume you adressed both with your comment stating it is their own fault. By saying that they made" it somewhat difficult for themselves", lets me assume that you somewhat agree with Trump's narrative. I perhaps presumed wrong and you decided to concentrate on the part of my post where I said that Trump's claims about them "hating America" and resulting into making their life more difficult. Is them making it difficult for themselves or in other words their own fault?

That said, what do you think of the claim they "hate america"?

Last time:
You said Trump’s tweet was going to make their lives more difficult. They already have made their own lives somewhat more difficult in part of their own doing thanks to certain interactions with their own party and the tension caused by those interactions. Their careers as politicians didn’t just get difficult thanks to Trump’s tweet; they’ve had a number of people detest them beforehand.

I said nothing about violence however or condone it. Nor do I agree with Trump. I’m not going to comment on the claim bc I don’t think there’s any substance to it. It’s just Trump attacking them and using them to push nationalism towards people. I don’t like either of the girls, but I also haven’t seen them hate America. Omar’s closest thing to a controversial statement on a country concerns the Middle East.

 

[PocketZeven]

Nothing is going to change.

Better to have tried and failed, then not to have tried at all.

 

[Biggles]

So I'm learning, from your help and @Biggles. This isn't making me feel better about it, it's making me feel worse. The fact that this might be the President directly catering to scriptural prophecy makes me want to vomit nonstop.

I wouldn't expect it to make you feel better! You really need to delve into the comments associated with the article to see the various, complex & sometimes opposing permutations of biblical "truth" presented.

I think, when it comes to Israel it's an "all of the above" scenario. However, I feel Trump doesn't really care about any of it personally, especially "scriptural prophecy", - he just has chosen to identify with a block of the electorate - evangelicals - who have "end-times" ideas about Palestine/Israel. This also ties in with a significant block of American voters who are reflexively drawn towards xenophobia, islamophobia & militarism. In comparison, sympathy for the plight of the Palestinians resonates with a tiny percentage of the American electorate.

 

[DDastardly00]

You should report those posts for moderation rather than try to do the moderating.

The way I handled it just fine. I was transparent and clear about my objections without having to resort to anonymously reporting people's posts.

I think this might be directed at me. I can see how you might think that I'm being bigoted against Christians when reading my previous post in this thread. If you took it in context though, you'd understand what I was saying. So let me re-supply the context.

I am trying to understand why Trump is going out of his way to defend Israel and bring up Israel at every step. I'm trying to get into Trump's head. I'm trying to understand the demographic vote-buying game that the Republican party is playing when it comes to Israel. What is their motivation? Why do they feel that this is a good move politically? Why else would they go out of their way to defend Israel.

So what is the line of thinking here? Why the defense of Israel? Is it that the republican party thinks that wide swaths of their Christian voting bloc prefer whiter people in Israel? Is it that the Republican party thinks that wide swaths of their Christian voting bloc prefer Judaism to Islam? Have they performed polls that suggest that their constituents actually do prefer Jewish control of Israel over Muslim control? If so, what is the motivation?

Specifically, does Trump (someone who makes racist tweets) think that his Christian constituents don't like dark skinned people in Israel for some reason?

This is what I'm pondering. I think that you took it to mean that I'm calling Christians racist, and I'll state unequivocally right now that that is not my intent, and it is not what I believed I was saying. They're not the "white and delightsome" religion. That's that other religion.

So right now, for the record, I do not think Christians are racist or generally bigoted as a group. I hope this clears up your understanding of my previous post. I'll leave my previous post unedited so that people can see how you came to the conclusion you did, and how it looks in and out of context.

I appreciate the clarification, thank you.

While I don't have a solid answer to your questions, I do believe our support for Israel is for Strategic, not political reasons. Support for Israel has been bipartisan since the end of WWII for mostly security reasons. I will offer this from the Institute for Policy studies:

Strategic Reasons for Continuing U.S. Support
There is a broad bipartisan consensus among policymakers that Israel has advanced U.S. interest in the Middle East and beyond.

• Israel has successfully prevented victories by radical nationalist movements in Lebanon and Jordan, as well as in Palestine.
• Israel has kept Syria, for many years an ally of the Soviet Union, in check.
• Israel’s air force is predominant throughout the region.
• Israel’s frequent wars have provided battlefield testing for American arms, often against Soviet weapons.
• It has served as a conduit for U.S. arms to regimes and movements too unpopular in the United States for openly granting direct military assistance, such as apartheid South Africa, the Islamic Republic in Iran, the military junta in Guatemala, and the Nicaraguan Contras. Israeli military advisers have assisted the Contras, the Salvadoran junta, and foreign occupation forces in Namibia and Western Sahara.
• Israel’s intelligence service has assisted the U.S. in intelligence gathering and covert operations.
• Israel has missiles capable of reaching as far as the former Soviet Union, it possesses a nuclear arsenal of hundreds of weapons, and it has cooperated with the U.S. military-industrial complex with research and development for new jet fighters and anti-missile defense systems.

Source: https://ips-dc.org/why_the_us_supports_israel/