Joy and relief are evident on the faces of the Obama family, shown here arriving back in Washington , the day after the election. Obama's victory over Mitt Romney November 6, was also a moment of deep satisfaction for that segment of the American voting public that longed for a happy ending to what has been a bitter, contentious presidential campaign.
The "dark moon" that rose after Obama's dismal first debate performance, was finally blown away. The people had voted, many standing in Republican-engendered long lines, lines that in Florida continued until 1:30 a.m., several hours after Mitt Romney conceded. Except for North Carolina, every swing state went for Obama.
The voters wanted Obama to have a second term. They made him the first second-term Democratic president to win a majority of the popular vote since Franklin D. Roosevelt. Bill Clinton won his second term with less than a majority of the popular vote.
This strong election victory sent two message to the President: The majority of voters did not trust Romney's economic policies, and they are tired of fighting Israel's wars. Implied in that second message is a demand: Move now on Israel's decades-old occupation of the Palestinian people. In short, move now on Palestine.
To those who would say, there was no mandate on Palestine in this election, let them listen to the music, not just to the words. Israel's wars come directly from its Occupation of Palestine. End the Occupation, and you end Israel's embrace of military solutions. Now is the time to move on Palestine.
Israeli loyalist and casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson does not believe this, which is why he gambled on a Mitt Romney victory over Obama. Adelson also gambled with heavy spending on carefully chosen congressional races. He was a big loser in this election.
Adelson lost the $20 million investment he gave to Romney's super PAC. In addition, the Jewish publication, Forward, lists other Adelson loses in targeted congressional races. Adelson gave $1.5 million to the campaign of Republican George Allen, who lost his bid for a Virginia Senate seat to Democrat Tim Kaine. Other Adelson Republican congressional bets included a $1 million contribution to Florida Republican Connie Mack, who lost in his attempt to unseat incumbent Democratic Senator Bill Nelson.
In New Jersey, Democratic 9th District Congressman Bill Pascrell (shown here) faced a general election opponent, Orthodox Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, a Republican on a "fool's errand" who chose to run against Pascrell in a district drawn as a Democratic district. Earlier this year, Pascrell had won a primary race against his fellow Democrat and AIPAC-supported opponent, Steve Rothmand.
In spite of the unfavorable odds, Adelson gambled on Boteach in the general election, giving Boteach's Patriot Prosperity PAC, $1 million. Adelson and his wife also gave Rabbi Boteach's campaign, $10,000. Boteach lost to Congressman Pascrell.
These congressional races should be received as messages to President Obama. What these losses say to the President is that heavy spending from pro-Israel billionaires do not automatically produce election winners.
Another message to Obama comes in the dismal electoral failures of two Tea Party heroes, Joe Walsh and Adam West, two Republicans who drew criticism for implied and/or actual signs of Islamophobia.
In Illinois, Joe Walsh lost his Congressional seat to his Democratic opponent, Iraqi war veteran Tammy Duckworth.
Walsh received considerable outside Republican funding to hold on to his district seat. His opponent lost both legs and a partial loss of one arm, after being shot down in her Apache helicopter in Iraq. Instead of acknowledging her sacrifice and moving on, Walsh criticized Duckworth's references to her war experiences -- not a good campaign move.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), reported on Walsh's use of Islamaphobic language in his campaign:
"Earlier this year, when a town hall meeting attendee told him that he was 'looking for some godly men and women in the Senate, in the Congress, who will stand in the face of the danger of Islam,' Walsh left the door open for suspicion of every Muslim living in Illinois when he responded, saying radical Islam is more of a threat 'now than it was right after 9/11,' and 'it's here. It's in Elk Grove. It's in Addison. It's in Elgin. It's here.'"
A report on the Walsh charge, which he refused to withdraw, ran on a Chicago television station. (click to view.)
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