The connections between Obama and Hamas are at least troubling, as are his association with a lot of controversial people. Earlier it was found that Hatem El-hady, a fundraiser for Hamas, had been working for Obama. After this was disclosed El-Hady disappeared from the Obama website without a trace. Now it turns out that another guy advising Obama's campaign meets with Hamas, apparently as part of his day job. Here is a blurb about this from Blue Crab Boulevard.

No Wonder They Endorsed Him

Published by Gaius under Politics


I didn't slap Barack Obama over the recent ringing endorsement that Hamas gave him. No politician can control unwanted endorsements once they are made. But maybe Hamas had a reason to believe that Obama would be willing to welcome their overtures. Since one of his advisers happened to be regularly meeting with Hamas.

One of Barack Obama’s Middle East policy advisers disclosed yesterday that he had held meetings with the militant Palestinian group Hamas – prompting the likely Democratic nominee to sever all links with him.

Robert Malley told The Times that he had been in regular contact with Hamas, which controls Gaza and is listed by the US State Department as a terrorist organisation. Such talks, he stressed, were related to his work for a conflict resolution think-tank and had no connection with his position on Mr Obama’s Middle East advisory council.

“I’ve never hidden the fact that in my job with the International Crisis Group I meet all kinds of people,” he added.

Ben LaBolt, a spokesman for Mr Obama, responded swiftly: “Rob Malley has, like hundreds of other experts, provided informal advice to the campaign in the past. He has no formal role in the campaign and he will not play any role in the future.” The rapid departure of Mr Malley followed 48 hours of heated clashes between John McCain, the Republican nominee-elect, and Mr Obama over Middle East policy.

I wouldn't know Robert Malley if I tripped over him in the street. But you can bet your bottom dollar that Hamas knew he was associated with the Obama campaign. This shows a shocking lack of political and diplomatic acumen on both Malley's part and of the Obama campaign. Whether Malley intended to or not, he was seen by Hamas as speaking for a potential President of the United States. He should not have offered to advise the campaign without telling them of his involvement with Hamas. The Obama campaign should have vetted Malley before letting him anywhere near the candidate.

And if the Obama campaign knew of Malley's connection, that raises this to a whole different level.