Memo to Sen. Cory Booker: Next time you’re caught committing a politically embarrassing faux pas, man up and own it instead of offering ridiculous excuses.
The New Jersey Democrat was one of several presidential wannabes who trekked to New Orleans last weekend for the lefty Netroots Nation conference, where he delivered a predictably overwrought speech.
He also posed for photos, including one where he held a sign reading: “From Palestine to Mexico. All the Walls Have Got to Go.”
The US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, which coined that slogan, was quick to post the picture on Twitter.
Booker, for all his recent sharp left turn, fancies himself a supporter of Israel. So why did he happily pose with a sign denouncing Israel’s security wall, which has virtually ended terrorist attacks?
“He didn’t have time to read the sign” and “didn’t realize it had anything to do with Israel,” said Booker’s spokesman.
Really? The word “Palestine” on the very top line wasn’t a tipoff? This, when Booker’s spokesman says the senator had no trouble noticing “Mexico” further down.
It’s understandable that he didn’t realize he had his arm around an official of the Palestinian group, but it’s hard to figure how he could have missed the shirt she was wearing, which read: “Palestine is a feminist/queer/refugee/racial justice issue.”
But that’s his story, and he’s sticking to it — while also stressing that he “hopes for a day when there will be no need for security barriers in the State of Israel,” which he now calls “unfortunate but necessary to protect human lives.”
A little something for everyone: That’s Cory.
All in all, just another sign that the other 2020 hopefuls don’t have to waste much time worrying about this lightweight.