I used the word "cowardly" in the previous post to describe how politicians declined to address the issue of tax free employee health insurance. Perhaps one might call it strategy, but it certainly led to a jerry rigged health law. But what clearly is cowardly is the Obama administration's approach to the Palestinian request to become an observer member of the United Nations.  Membership would have given the Palestinians access to the World Courts at the Hague, No matter what one feels about the Israeli-Palestinian  conflict, why should one object to one side taking its grievance to the Court?

The request easily passed in the General assembly, but did not pass the security council where passage requires a unanimous vote. President Obama had an opportunity there to be fair minded instead of taking the Israeli side which likes the status quo--its continued seizing of Palestinian land that undercuts sincere negotiations.  For the forthcoming election, Mr. Obama needed the US Jewish vote and the approval of the very influential America Israeli Peace Action Committee. In order to avoid vetoing the Palestinian application in the Security Council, he pressured the UK and Germany to abstain. Thus, Mr. Obama was able to avoid having a negative vote on the record. I call this action cowardly.