October 23, 2012 | 4:09 am

October 23, 2012

Posted by Shmuel Rosner

President Obama and Mitt Romney shake hands at the start of the final presidential debate at Lynn University in Boca Raton, October 22, 2012. At center is moderator Bob Schieffer. (Photo: Reuters)

In-depth

Obama Clearly Won the Debate, and he May Have Helped Himself with Jewish Voters

Writing for Algemeiner, Republican and Romney supporter Alan Steinberg lauds the president for his performance in the foreign policy debate. 

Obama ... emphasized America’s commitment to Israel and joint Israel-American military cooperation.  There are very questionable aspects of Obama’s record on Israel – his pressure on Israel to make territorial concessions, his disrespectful treatment of the Netanyahu government, and his refusal to establish “red lines” regarding Iran’s movement towards obtaining a nuclear weapon.  Yet Romney failed to challenge Obama on any of these points.

Romney Passed the Test

The Republican nominee showed that he can be presidential during the final debate in Florida, says Fred Barnes in the Weekly Standard. 

Romney wasn’t stumped or forced on the defensive on any issue. He committed no gaffes. As the challenger, Romney didn’t need to “win” the debate—he only needed to hold his own against Obama’s deeper knowledgeable, sharp criticism, and occasional irritation.  And he did.

George W. Bush Won This Debate

The ideas presented by both Obama and Romney in the foreign policy debate were framed by the vision of the last Republican president, writes Peter Beinart in the Daily Beast.

The Bush administration essentially defined American foreign policy as American military policy. The Bushies dismissed the Clinton administration’s emphasis on international economics as what Charles Krauthammer dubbed a “holiday from history.” In the Clinton era, treasury secretaries had been powerful foreign policy players. In the Bush administration, they became foreign policy afterthoughts. And judging from tonight’s debate, international economics remains an afterthought.

Daily Digest

• Times of Israel: Turkey dismisses reported Israeli reconciliation attempt
• Haaretz: Survey: Most Israeli Jews would support apartheid regime in Israel
• Jerusalem Post: PM vows tough response to Gaza attack, hints Iran involved
• Ynet: Israel-US ties: Nothing new under the sun
• New York Times: Iran’s Political Infighting Erupts in Full View
• Washington Post: Would direct U.S.-Iran talks be bad for Israel?
• Wall Street Journal: Turkey Can't Afford Its Saber-Rattling

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