NJDC's Blog

Josh Segall sees victory in Southern Congressional District

I’ve known for some time that as a Southern Jewish Democrat, that I was a fairly endangered species. I heard that following the Polar Bear, Southern Jewish Democrats are the next on the endangered list. That’s why it warms my little Texan heart to see someone like Josh Segall running hard for Alabama’s 3rd Congressional District. It’s rare to see a liberal Jewish Democrat running to win in the south, but Josh is determined to make it happen. The Politico has a terrific article on Segall detailing his plan to deliver for Alabama. And to boot, he’s only 29! As a Young Southern Jewish Democrat, I’m even more excited about Josh’s run for Congress. Who knows? If he wins, maybe I’ll give running for Congress a shot. It couldn’t be much harder to win in Texas than it is winning in Alabama!

Check out Josh’s campaign site here, and the Politico article here. 

The Grand Old Party?

The Republican Party is struggling to stay afloat. Wednesday's loss in a very conservative Mississippi district marked the third straight congressional loss for the GOP. This loss cannot be attributed to bad candidates, as many perceived the first two losses in Illinois and Louisiana. According to Representative Tom Cole (R-OK), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, "What we've got is a deficiency in our message and a loss of confidence in the American people that we will do what we say we're going to do."

What the Republicans say they are going to do is quite sticky. “The Change You Deserve,” a new GOP slogan, was discovered to be a trademarked ad for an antidepressant drug called Effexor. Dana Milbank of The Washington Post writes:

"Are depression symptoms keeping you from where you want to be?" Effexor's maker, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, asks in its promotions. "Not feeling as good as you used to?"

For House Republicans, the diagnosis is obvious: They are suffering from Election Anxiety Disorder. Tuesday night, they lost the third special election in a row to Democrats in heavily Republican congressional districts. Eighty-two percent of Americans say the country is on the wrong track, and they're largely holding President Bush and his party responsible. This week, panicked House Republicans defied Bush and voted with Democrats to pass a farm bill and to divert oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Voters are showing signs of “depression symptoms.” In the coming elections this fall, Republicans could lose a great number of seats. Karl Rove speculates that the GOP could lose as many as 25 seats:

Why is it tough sledding for Republicans? Public revulsion at GOP scandals was a large factor in the party's 2006 congressional defeat. Some brand damage remains, as does the downward pull of the president's approval ratings. But the principal elements are the Iraq war and a struggling economy.

Republican leaders are admitting their party’s difficulties in the face of public dismay. Democrats need to seize this opportunity with clear-cut strategies to win in the coming months. The Washington Post released a list of most endangered Republican seats. If the Democrats win a net-gain of nine seats in the Senate, the majority will be filibuster-proof. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters “Democrats, not drugs, is what the American People need.” We know what we need, let’s make it happen.

“Neville Chamberlain” McCain

NJDC issued this press release today:

Ira N. Forman, Executive Director of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC), released the following statement criticizing Sen. John McCain, President George Bush, and his allies for gross hypocrisies for casting Obama as the endorsed candidate of Hamas and for appeasement. Today in an opinion piece published in The Washington Post, former State Department official James Rubin revealed that in a British TV interview McCain did with Rubin in 2006, McCain responded to a question on whether U.S. diplomats should be working with the Hamas government in Gaza with, “sooner or later we are going to have to deal with them, one way or another.”

> See the video of the McCain interview

Forman’s complete statement follows:

For the last few weeks Sen. John McCain, President George Bush, and their allies have tried to cast Sen. Barack Obama as being the endorsed candidate of Hamas and willing to negotiate with Iran. But this is hypocrisy. It takes particular audacity to attack Obama for appeasement when McCain has advocated dealing with Hamas, a position Obama has opposed.

In 2006, following Hamas’s victory in the Palestinian parliamentary elections, James Rubin interviewed McCain for the British TV network Sky News's "World News Tonight" program. Rubin asked, “Do you think that American diplomats should be operating the way they have in the past, working with the Palestinian government if Hamas is now in charge?"

McCain responded, “They're the government; sooner or later we are going to have to deal with them, one way or another, and I understand why this administration and previous administrations had such antipathy towards Hamas because of their dedication to violence and the things that they not only espouse but practice, so . . . but it's a new reality in the Middle East. I think the lesson is people want security and a decent life and decent future, that they want democracy. Fatah was not giving them that.”

Who is the real McCain? What does McCain really stand for? What is McCain willing to do to get elected? We must wonder: is McCain really the “Straight Talk Express”? Or is he more like the “Smear Talk Express” or the “Hypocrisy Talk Express”?

NJDC may not agree with McCain’s previous willingness to engage with Hamas, but reasonable people can disagree on policy. Yet, the McCain-Bush hypocrisy on this issue is beyond the pale.

No Shame

This afternoon the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) issued a release titled "Obama & Israel: Why So Defensive?"

After the President Bush attacked “appeasement” in his Knesset speech and Democrats responded with charges of using Israel's 60th for partisan politics the RJC stated: "Why when Barack Obama hears the word ‘appeasement’ does he think it applies to him?  Why when it comes to standing with Israel is Barack Obama so defensive?"  These sentiments were echoed by the White House Press Secretary in on the record remarks today.

This type of posturing gives cynicism a bad name.  While Bush did not mention Obama in his speech, numerous different media outlets made it clear that Bush aides were stating on background that the Bush comments about appeasement were directly aimed at Senator Obama.

For the White House press operation and the RJC to feign surprise at Senator's Obama's appropriate reaction and then to sarcastically chide Senator Obama for being too defensive, is the height of hypocrisy. Have these people NO SHAME!

And while we are talking about NO SHAME— where is candidate McCain?  The man who is running on his integrity, the man who talks about running a principled campaign continues to allow his fellow conservatives and the White House to do his dirty work. Some straight talk!

Bush Uses Knesset Speech to Launch a Cheap Political Attack

NJDC issued this press release today:

Washington, D.C. – Ira N. Forman, Executive Director of National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC), released the following statement criticizing President Bush’s speech to the Knesset of Israel today. According to press reports, White House officials have acknowledged privately that Bush specifically took shots at Sen. Barack Obama and other Democrats questioning their "appeasement" towards terrorists comparing that to how U.S. leaders appeased the Nazis before the start of World War II.

It is disappointing that President Bush and his aides would have the gall to use a historic speech to the Knesset in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Israel's independence to launch a cheap and tawdry political attack.

It was a real honor that Bush was invited to address the Knesset on Israel’s 60th anniversary and accepted the invitation.  Unfortunately, Bush took advantage of this opportunity to use the power and prestige of the presidency to launch a shameless political attack on foreign soil.

It is particularly shameless of Bush to use the red herring of appeasement against those who would suggest changes to his utterly failed polices of containing Iranian adventurism and terrorism in the Middle East.

It takes particular chutzpah to attack Obama for advocating a more active form of U.S. diplomacy when Defense Secretary Robert Gates just yesterday spoke of finding ways to engage Iran. Moreover, by using this political ploy of appeasement, Bush discredits the appropriate use of the appeasement analogy when it should be legitimately used as a guide to U.S. foreign policy objectives. 

Republicans continue to propagate outrageous falsehoods to scare voters about the security of Israel.  If Sen. John McCain is really the “Straight Talk Express,” he should denounce Bush and these smear tactics.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Our Pro-Israel Congress

By Steve Sheffey

It's started again. We're hearing that Mark Kirk is more than just a vote when it comes to Israel - he's indispensable, he's irreplaceable. You get the feeling listening to some people that if the Democrats nominated Judah Maccabee, they'd still vote for Kirk. ("Maccabee may say he's good on Israel, but how do we know? He's never held office...")

Let's inject a dose of sanity into this discussion. Kirk is good on Israel, he understands the issues, and he articulates them well. Kirk is on the House Appropriations Committee, where he ranks in the bottom five of 29 Republicans. (There are 37 Democrats.) He sits on the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, where he is the third-ranking of five Republicans (there are eight Democrats). It's important to have backers of Israel on that committee, and Kirk backs Israel. Kirk's overall record on Israel is a plus in his column. But support for Israel is so strong and so deep in Congress that Congress will be just as pro-Israel whether Kirk wins or loses. Kirk is completing only his fourth term in Congress. He is in the minority party. He chairs no Congressional committees of importance to the U.S.-Israel relationship. Congress.org ranks Kirk only the 257th most powerful member of the House. Here's the full list, but you'll have to scroll to the bottom half to find Kirk.

Kirk does co-sponsor some pro-Israel measures, but if Kirk were not in Congress, the Democrats would find other Republicans to co-sponsor pro-Israel legislation, and those measures would pass by the same overwhelming margins. The next time you receive a list of Kirk's accomplishments, ask for the final vote tallies. You'll see that the pro-Israel measures he signs on to all pass by overwhelming margins and are all co-sponsored by Democrats. Israel enjoys strong bi-partisan support in Congress and among the American people.  Israel has many friends in Congress with much more influence and power than Kirk.

Obama Speaks Out on the Rocket Attacks on Israel

Statement of Senator Barack Obama on the rocket attacks on Ashkelon
Chicago, IL | May 14, 2008
"As the United States joins Israel in celebrating its 60th anniversary, today's cowardly rocket attack and tragic injuries remind us of the ongoing threats that Israelis face with courage and resolve. In the days and years to come, the United States must maintain its unshakeable commitment to supporting Israel’s right and capability to defend itself against these outrageous terrorist attacks, so that the Israeli people can live in peace and security."

New Blog: Republican Jewish Coalition Watch

A new blog keeping an eye on the RJC, created by Young Democrats of American Jewish Caucus

What Are We Watching?

Every year, the Republic Jewish Coalition (RJC) shows time and time again that it puts partisan interests above Jewish concerns and that they relentlessly attack anyone with whom they disagree, sometimes using only half-truths and drastically misleading statements. As Jews, we have long since known the dangers of misinformation. Indeed, as the targets of the blood libel and the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, we should know better than to spread half-truths and outright lies.

Bush at RJCThere is perhaps no better example than the RJC's often conflicted relationship with Joe Lieberman. When Joe Lieberman was running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2000, the RJC took out a full-page ad in the New York Times attacking him and attempting to link him to Louis Farrakhan (New York Times. October 5, 2000). Yet when Lieberman was challenged in the Connecticut primary by Ned Lamont in 2006, the RJC quickly used the opportunity to attack the Democratic Party and claim that "America and Israel [were] worse off" for his loss.

Republican Jewish Coalition Watch plays the critical role of documenting the inaccuracies and hypocrisies of the RJC. For each advertising campaign and email the RJC puts out, we attempt to catalog both accurate statements and misleading remarks. We attempt to document these statements by referring to non-partisan neutral sources.

Backlash on Boehner and Cantor

The Washington Post featured an article today, "Republicans Twist Obama's Words About Israel," setting the facts straight, noting:

Did Barack Obama call Israel a "constant sore," as Republican leaders are saying? Both House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (Ohio) and Deputy Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.) have taken the Democratic presidential front-runner to task for allegedly saying that Israel is a "constant wound" in U.S. foreign policy. The right-wing blogosphere is lending its voice to the chorus. But a fair-minded reading of Obama's remarks shows that his comment has been taken completely out of context.

NJDC yesterday issued a release lashing out at the "outrageous assertions" by  Boehner.

NJDC Lashes Out at Boehner Comments Against Obama

NJDC released the following press statement today:

Washington, D.C. – Following a press release by House Minority Leader John Boehner which falsely questioned Senator Barack Obama’s position on Israel, the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) released the following statement from Executive Director Ira N. Forman:

House Minority Leader John Boehner comments were outrageous assertions and it is disappointing Boehner would stoop to this level.

John McCain and his conservative allies, like Boehner, continue to propagate a smear campaign against Obama and this is just the latest effort to spread blatant lies.

I have one question for Boehner, do you actually read the press releases that organizations like “The Freedom Project” release in your name?  No rational American with a reading ability at or above the sixth grade level could possible read Jeffrey Goldberg's, recent interview in the Atlantic with Obama and come to the conclusion that Obama does not deeply support the state of Israel let alone that he believes that Israel is a constant sore that infects American foreign policy.

Numerous journalists have recently reported on the spreading panic that is infecting the House GOP caucus as a result of one electoral setback after another.  Small wonder that the GOP now finds itself in such dire straits when their House Minority Leader has to resort to such shameless misrepresentations of Obama's record of support for Israel.

McCain Supporters Acknowledge Obama’s Support for Israel, Yet Scare Tactics Continue Trying to Distort Obama on Iran and Hamas

NJDC released the following press statement today:

Forman: Even Senator Lieberman and the head of the national Jewish Republicans have recognized that Senator Obama is a supporter of Israel.

Washington, D.C. – Despite months of relentless attacks on Democratic candidate, Barack Obama’s commitment to Israel, two key Jewish John McCain supporters have acknowledged Obama’s strong record on Israel.   

In an interview with CNN’s Late Edition on Sunday, Senator Joseph Lieberman, a McCain supporter, said, “John McCain obviously knows and has said that Senator Obama clearly doesn't support any of the values and goals of Hamas.” He went on to state, “I don't question Senator Obama's commitment to the security of the state of Israel.”

Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) Executive Director, Matt Brooks, admitted last month that, Obama’s voting record on issues related to Israel has been "fine" during his three years in the Senate.

“Even Senator Lieberman and the head of the national Jewish Republicans have recognized that Senator Obama is a supporter of Israel,” said Ira N. Forman, National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) Executive Director. “Yet through statements, fundraiser appeals, and conservative allies, the McCain campaign continues to propagate false assumptions that have become a smear campaign against Obama, who has a strong commitment to Israel, fighting terrorism, and ensuring Middle East peace and has vigorously criticized the activities of Iran and Hamas.

In a press conference on Friday in New Jersey, McCain erroneously again portrayed Obama as being the favorite of Hamas and willing to negotiate with Iran stating, "it's also fact that a spokesperson from Hamas said that he approves of Senator Obama's candidacy.”

"There continues to be a stream of outrageous falsehood from the McCain campaign to scare voters about the Middle East," said Forman. "McCain says he’s the ‘Straight Talk Express’ yet he and his messengers continually seem to have conflicting views about Obama on Israel and Middle East policy."

Editor's Note: We inadvertently originally cited Brooks with a direct quote. This statement by Brooks was an indirect quoted as reported by The Palm Beach Post.

John McCain: The Environment's Most Erratic Champion

As Emily Schwartz pointed out in a blog entry here recently, John McCain is no Teddy Roosevelt when it comes to environmentally friendly Republicans. While John McCain is the rare Republican who supports the active fight against global warming, he shows, as he does on many an issue, that there is a careful balance between doing the right thing and ensuring his party doesn’t tear off his hide.

Environmental issues are no different. An article published in the Washington Post today continues to put truth to power regarding McCain's stance on environmental issues. So, while he opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), he capitulated to one of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) many attempts to drill it. When Stevens attempted to attach the permission to drill ANWR to a must-pass defense funding bill, McCain gave in. Even though the bill would probably pass without the amendment, McCain would not vote against a defense spending bill at a time of war. Fortunately, others had better foresight. Even where he’s right, he’s wrong. For instance, McCain supports cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by mid century, an admirable goal. However, Obama and Clinton support cutting it by 80% in the same period! And McCain’s score from major environmental groups compared to the Democratic candidates is quite telling, as quoted from the Post article:

McCain's lifetime League of Conservation Voters score is 24 percent, compared with 86 for Obama and 86 for Clinton; Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund's conservation report card gave him 38 percent in the 108th Congress and 40 in the 109th.

We should be promoting environmental policies that are not only progressive, but also aggressive in keeping our Earth healthy for generations to come. Does John McCain agree? Sure doesn’t look that way.

McCain isn’t a Maverick? What a surprise …

Senator McCain’s record has proven that time and time again, he’s a conservative when his party needs him. A May 7^th Arizona Republic article revealed that since 1999, McCain has cast the deciding vote in Congress on major issues in favor of the Republican Party 14 times. By comparison, during this time period McCain’s only sided with the Democratic Party four times.

In addition to voting with his party the majority of the time, McCain appears to be trying to distance himself from those few times he did oppose his own party. For example, his plan for our economy has been to make permanent the temporary tax cuts that President Bush initiated back in 2003; during said time McCain actually voted strongly against these tax cuts and sided with the Democratic Party.

It’s evident that despite allegations that McCain fights against the Republican Party, he isn’t a “maverick” after all.

Statements of Senators Clinton and Obama marking Israel's 60th Anniversary

Statement of Barack Obama on Israel's 60th Independence Day

Chicago, IL | May 07, 2008

This week marks the 60th anniversary of the fulfillment of a dream -- the independence of the State of Israel. Throughout many centuries, Jews held fast to the hope of returning as free people to the land of their ancestors. Blessed with visionary leaders like Theodore Herzl and David Ben-Gurion, in the 20th century they began to take the practical steps necessary to build a modern state. Against all odds, and overcoming obstacles from international indifference, to hostile opposition in the region, to the murderous crimes of the Nazis, the leaders of the Zionist movement declared the establishment of the State of Israel in May 1948. In their moment of triumph, they were immediately plunged into a war for their new nation's very survival. Because of the courage and commitment of its people, Israel did survive. While threats to its existence have endured, Israelis have built their nation into a strong, vibrant democracy, with a prosperous economy, a rich cultural life, and a deep friendship with the United States that benefits both our peoples in so many ways. Even in hard times, Israelis have so much to be proud of. As the Jewish State continues to grow and prosper, the United States will always stand with Israel to ensure it can defend itself against threat of terrorism and violence, from as close as Gaza and as far as Tehran. We must never waver in our unshakeable commitment help Israel achieve its goal of true security through lasting peace with its neighbors.

On this happy occasion, I send congratulations and warm wishes to President Peres, Prime Minister Olmert, and the Israeli people, and I join with Jews and friends of Israel everywhere in celebrating Israel's 60th Independence Day.

Statement by Senator Hillary Clinton on the Occasion of

Israel's 60th Anniversary

I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the people of Israel on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment as a state and homeland for the Jewish people, and I join all the friends of Israel who celebrate today with joy and pride.

Emerging after the tragedy of the Holocaust, the Jewish State was reborn after two thousand years, fulfilling the biblical prophecy of a return to Zion.  Since then, in just three score years, Israel has welcomed Jewish exiles from Europe, the Arab world, Africa, and the former Soviet Union. 

From my first trip to Israel in 1982 to my most recent visit in 2005, I have seen for myself Israel's achievements – and its challenges. The people of Israel, proud and free and always triumphing in the face of adversity, have built a strong and vibrant democracy, a diverse and rich society, and an innovative and thriving economy. 

Yet today, even as we celebrate all that Israel has achieved, we know that the Jewish state is still not safe. In every generation, Israel faces serious challenges to its security and threats to its existence. And just as the United States recognized Israel at birth, and has always stood by Israel when its survival and well-being were challenged, so too do the American people stand by Israel today, united by shared values and strong bonds of friendship.

As President of the United States, I will be proud to continue and strengthen these bonds, so that the State of Israel will continue to grow, from generation to generation, in security and peace.

Am Yisrael Chai! (the people of Israel live!)

Oil Independence

Israel is taking steps toward becoming the world leader in the age of the electric car. Multimillionaire Shai Agassi, with great enthusiasm from private donors and the Israeli Government, is working to make Israel cleaner and oil independent. His company, Project Better Place, is planning to mass-distribute the new electric cars next year, and to establish a network of battery-recharging areas by 2011. The Israeli Government has pledged significant tax incentives for buyers. According to Dafna Agassi, marketing director of Project Better Place, the electric car market has the potential to transform technology the way the mobile phone did:

Think about what happened with Finland and Nokia -- it sprung an entire industry. We are starting the field here. Imagine bringing this to other countries and the potential impact is huge.

Today, the price of crude oil has hit a record high at $122 a barrel. President Bush remains adamant that the solution lies in replenishing our oil reserves and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. President Bush also wants Congress to allow construction of more nuclear and coal plants. Instead of continuing to build dirty fuel sources and destroying an area rich with wildlife, the United States should be following Israel’s example of pursuing an environmentally friendly way to rid our dependence on oil.

The three presidential candidates have all spoken about global warming as a top priority in the coming years. However, The American Prospect addresses Senator McCain’s environmental failures in “The Myth of Green McCain.” The Senator claims to be “a leader on the issue of global warming,” but has yet to produce any sort of comprehensive environmental plan of action. Senator McCain has the worst environmental record of the three presidential candidates. The League of Conservation Voters published their congressional scorecard for 2007, and McCain received a zero based on his environmental voting record. In order to keep up with the changing global climate and economy, we need a president who will lead us in fight against oil dependency. John McCain is not that person.

A Note on Holocaust Remembrance Day

Today marks the annual anniversary of Holocaust Remembrance Day across the globe.

The, holiday, known in Hebrew as Yom Hashoah, was established through legislation in the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) to fall on the 27th of Nissan on the Hebrew calendar. The purpose of the day is to remember those 6,000,000 Jews who perished in the Holocaust.

We also remember a vow of "never again". On this day, let us remember tragedies past and work to prevent such acts in the future. On this day, it is especially important to remember America’s commitment to the State of Israel. Even today, the Jewish people and their young nation are under constant threats from those who would seek to recreate the tragedies of the past. Let us all work together to maintain the critical bipartisan alliance at home and consensus abroad to ensure that Israel’s security and her people’s prosperity is guarded without fail.

 

McCain's own spiritual advisor problem

Lest we forget, as we are reminded in Open Left today, McCain has his own spiritual advisor challenges.  Does this mean that McCain subscribes to all these off the wall statements from his supporters?  Probably not all of them anyway - but before the Republican attack machine goes after Senator Obama for the unfortunate ravings of his former Pastor they should remember the old saying that people in glass houses should not throw stones.

HEAD OF REPUBLICAN JEWS: OBAMA HAS "FINE" RECORD ON ISRAEL

Washington, D.C. - Despite months of relentless attacks on Barack Obama's commitment to Israel, Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) Executive Director, Matt Brooks, admitted Saturday that Senator Obama actually has a good voting record on Israel.

As quoted in the Palm Beach Post: "Obama's voting record on issues related to Israel has been 'fine' during his three years in the Senate, Brooks says."

"For fifty years, the pro-Israel community has used voting records as the most important single arbiter of whether a candidate is considered 'pro-Israel' and as the primary predictor of future behaviors," said Ira Forman, National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) Executive Director and longtime political strategist within the Jewish community. "Even the head of the national Jewish Republicans is acknowledging that Senator Obama has a fine record. Perhaps now the conservative smear artists will be shamed into ending the mudslinging," Forman stated.

NJDC contends that both Senators Clinton and Obama are strong supporters of Israel and the special relationship which exists between our two nations. The nonpartisan organization, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which does not endorse candidates, has said, "Senators Clinton, Obama, [and] McCain [...] have demonstrated their support for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship."

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Republican primary candidate gives the Hitler Salute?

This is a story so incredible, even I couldn’t make it up. Tony Zirkle, a candidate in the Republican primary for Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District seat gave a speech to a rather unique audience, the Nationalist Socialist Worker’s Party, or the Nazi Party. The speech, which centered on the trafficking and prostitution of young white females, is a staple of Zirkle’s many runs for public office.  I don’t know if suggesting that we should honor Hitler is also part of his platform, but it seems to fit. And when asked about it, Zirkle mentioned that he had spoken to two black journalists about it as well (the Nazi party is white supremacist), and that he would be happy to talk about it to the following as well: "If the Black Panthers or the Jewish Zionists want me to speak about these issues, I'll do it."

This kind of attitude of racism and anti-Semitism is simply un-American. To his credit, it was a fellow Republican opponent for the primary, Luke Puckett, who brought this meeting to the attention of the media, and stated, “I can't believe, in 2008, someone could have such backward opinions." The point of mentioning this isn’t to paint the Republican Party as pro-Nazi, racist, or anti-Semitic; quite the contrary.  owever, when your party promotes discrimination and intolerance (however unintended it may be) in its platform, candidates like Mr. Zirkle are always going to pop up. It’s not a real shocker that he has yet to win a single race.

Check out the full story here.

The Jewish Pennsylvania Primary Vote

According to exit polls,  Senator Hillary Clinton carried the Pennsylvania Jewish Primary vote yesterday by 14 points.  She received 57% of the Jewish vote to Senator Obama's 43%.  Jews voted in large numbers and constituted 7% of the state's primary election vote.  Interestingly, Jews constitute only 2.3% of the state's population as a whole.

Resolution in Honor of Israel at 60

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer made the following statement on the House Floor today, in support of a resolution acknowledging the 60th anniversary of the state of Israel:

Madam Speaker, it is fitting today that Members on both sides of the aisle join to recognize the founding of our nation's steadfast friend and ally, the State of Israel; to reconfirm the special bond that exists between our two nations; and to reiterate that the support for Israel in this Congress is bipartisan, overwhelming and stronger than ever.

On May 14, 1948 - the day on which the British Mandate for Palestine expired - the people of Israel proclaimed the sovereign and independent State of Israel.

And, 11 minutes later, the United States - at the direction of President Truman - recognized the establishment of this new state.

President Truman observed:  "I had faith in Israel before it was established, I have faith in it now.  I believe it has a glorious future before it - not just another sovereign nation, but as an embodiment of the great ideals of our civilization."

Madam Speaker, over the ensuing six decades it has become increasingly clear that Israel's success is not only a strategic imperative for the United States, but a moral imperative, as well.

Ours is a relationship of principle and conscience, of shared values and common aspirations, of peace and opportunity, and of a mutual commitment to freedom and democracy.

The United States and Israel are nations of immigrants.

We are safe havens for the oppressed.

We are partners for peace.

And, we are united in fighting terrorism.

No people on earth have been subjected to more bigotry and violence than the Jewish people.

And, no people are more in need of a sovereign, secure homeland to provide safe haven and to protect identity.

David Ben-Gurion once remarked: The security of Israel "is a question of the survival not only of the people of Israel, but of the Jewish people the world over."

Throughout the last 60 years, Israel has been an island of freedom in a sea of despair. It has been vilified, threatened and attacked.  And yet, it has prevailed and prospered - just as it will prevail and prosper today, tomorrow and in the future.

When we talk of Israel, we inevitably acknowledge her courage in the face of those who seek her destruction.

But let us also acknowledge that over the last 60 years, the Israeli people have established a vibrant, pluralistic, democratic political system that includes freedom of speech, association and religion; a vigorous, free press; free, fair and open elections; the rule of law and an independent judiciary.

Furthermore, Israel has developed an advanced, entrepreneurial economy and is among the world leaders in the high-tech industry.

Madam Speaker, over the last five years, I have had the privilege of traveling with Congressional delegations on tours of Israel three times.  And, what the Members saw was a reflection of themselves: People who love their country; people who want to live in peace and freedom; and people who want their children to have even greater opportunities.

As our allies in Israel celebrate their 60th anniversary of independence, let us honor their determination to fulfill the vision of Zionism's founding father, Theodor Herzl, who observed, "If you will it, it is no dream."

Through courage and will, Israel was born and the dream of generations was made real - and it will endure.

I want to congratulate the citizens of Israel and the entire Jewish community on this important anniversary of Israel's founding.

Happy Earth Day!

Since first established in 1970, Earth Day has been a national reminder that we must take responsibility to protect the planet on which we live.

Judaism commands us to take initiative in maintaining the environment. From the very beginning, “The Lord God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden, to till it and tend it" (Genesis 2:15). It is our duty to take care of the earth. Tikkun Olam, a pillar of Judaism, literally tells us to repair the world. We must act now to correct injustices done to our environment.

It is time for new leadership that can bring about necessary changes to transform America into the frontrunner in environmental sustainability. Today, President Bush set the record for the highest disapproval rating of any President in the 70-year history of the Gallup poll. The Democratic candidates are prepared with new energy policies. Senator Clinton’s Earth Day statement and Senator Obama’s Earth Day statement address making smart choices in government and in private that reflect our status as stewards of the earth.

The Talmud explains: While the sage, Choni, was walking along a road, he saw a man planting a carob tree. Choni asked him: “How long will it take for this tree to bear fruit?” “Seventy years," replied the man. Choni then asked: “Are you so healthy a man that you expect to live that length of time and eat its fruit?" The man answered: “I found a fruitful world because my ancestors planted it for me. Likewise, I am planting for my children.” Though we have barely begun to see the effects of global warming, it is a problem that future generations will inherit. By taking steps in our own lives to reduce carbon emissions, we can ensure a better world for our children.

For more on Judaism and protecting the environment, see the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life.

How Does McCain Really Feel About Hagee?

During his Sunday morning interview with George Stephanopoulos on This Week, Senator McCain said that accepting the Pastor’s endorsement was "probably" a mistake but quickly followed up by saying that he was "glad to have his endorsement". McCain also stated earlier that he "admired" Hagee’s leadership, yet he condemned any of Hagee’s remarks that were "anti anything".

McCain only attempted to distance himself from Hagee after he received intense criticism for accepting the Pastor’s endorsement. Even then, McCain said: "all I can tell you is that I am very proud to have Pastor John Hagee's support."

For more information on McCain's connection to Hagee and the Pastor's controversial comments, click here.

NJDC Condemns Outrageous Falsehoods from McCain Camp, RJC

NJDC released the following press statement today:

Washington, D.C. - Today, the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) condemned the false accusations and fear mongering from the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) and Senator McCain's campaign surrounding Senator Obama's view on former President Jimmy Carter's recent meeting with Hamas.

Both the RJC and the McCain campaign falsely claimed that Senator Obama did not condemn Carter's meeting with Hamas last week, when in fact, on April 10th, the JTA reported, "The leading presidential candidates all said that it would be a mistake for Carter to meet with Hamas." The article continued with a statement from an Obama campaign spokesman: "Senator Obama does not agree with President Carter's decision to go forward with this meeting because he does not support negotiations with Hamas until they renounce terrorism, recognize Israel's right to exist and abide by past agreements."

"This is just an outrageous falsehood," said Ira N. Forman, NJDC Executive Director. "This is the kind of irresponsible behavior we saw in 2000 when the RJC charged Vice President Al Gore as anti-Israel because he wouldn't promise to move the Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on his first day in office. Bush made the promise to move the Embassy, then failed to live up to his word without a hint of criticism from the RJC."

"Senator McCain and the RJC ought to be ashamed of themselves for employing such reckless falsehoods that instill unnecessary fear in voters," Forman continued. "How can Senator McCain's supporters claim their candidate has 'integrity' when his campaign is willing to spread utterly blatant misinformation?"

Even the conservative-leaning Washington Times wrote, "Mr. Obama joined the White House and Israel in opposing Mr. Carter's outreach to Hamas."

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Chris Matthews' view of the Jewish and African American Vote

Media Matters today quoted Chris Matthews from the April 16 edition of MSNBC's Hardball:

MATTHEWS: What is the Catholic vote, Mike Barnicle? It isn't like a vote like, for example, if you're a Jewish voter probably you care about Israel, that's a safe bet. You have one key concern. I can't think of other groups that would make it that simple. But clearly, if you're African-American, you care about civil rights. You care about certain programs of the federal government. That's a generalization, but probably true. You're more progressive. But Catholics -- where would you put them? Is there a squirrel box or a rabbit hole you can put them in politically?

What a simplistic view of Jewish and African American voters!  We would suggest that neither vote is monolithic and should not be pigeonholed into "squirrel boxes" or "rabbit holes".

The RJC Knows Better

Yesterday, Matt Brooks, Executive Director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, made the following preposterous statement:

Now more than ever, Senator Barack Obama must explain why he will not join the growing chorus of U.S. lawmakers demanding that President Carter stop undermining the Middle East peace process.

Doesn't he know better?  As soon as it was announced that President Carter was planning to meet with Hamas, Senator Obama's campaign released the following statement:

Barack Obama views Hamas as a terrorist organization dedicated to Israel's destruction, and believes they cannot be treated as a legitimate actor until they recognize Israel, renounce violence, and abide by past agreements.  That has been his position consistently, and it places him squarely at odds with former President Carter's plan to meet with Hamas leaders.

So, what exactly would the RJC want Senator Obama to do?  Should he stand on his head while denouncing Carter's visit?  Of course the RJC knew about the Obama statement (as well as Senator Clinton's strong statement against the proposed meeting).   The only possible purpose of a statement like this was to try to sow the seeds of doubt in Jewish voters' minds about Senator Obama's commitment to Israel.

Let the political games continue...

Clinton and Obama Would Extend Deterrence to Israel

Last week, in his Washington Post column, conservative journalist Charles Krauthammer proposed that President Bush issue a "Holocaust Declaration" in the context of Iran's nuclear threat to Israel. This assertion would mirror President Kennedy's policy of deterrence during the Cuban missile crisis, and look something like this:

It shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear attack upon Israel by Iran, or originating in Iran, as an attack by Iran on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response upon Iran.

In last night's Democratic presidential debate, George Stephanopoulos asked the candidates if it should be U.S. policy to extend our deterrence to Israel. Both Senators Clinton and Obama definitively stated that they would see an Iranian attack on Israel as an attack on the United States and retaliate accordingly.

Beyond stating their concurrence with such a declaration, both candidates laid out their policies for preventing Iran from achieving nuclear capabilities and attaining hegemony in the Middle East.

Senator Obama said:

Our first step should be to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of the Iranians. [...] And I will make it one of our top priorities when I am president of the United States. I have said I will do whatever is required to prevent the Iranians from obtaining nuclear weapons. [...] I think it is very important that Iran understands that an attack on Israel is an attack on our strongest ally in the region, one whose security we consider paramount. That would be an act of aggression that I would consider an attack that is unacceptable and the Untied States would take appropriate action.

Senator Clinton stated:

I think that we should be looking to create an umbrella of deterrence that goes much further than just Israel. Of course I would make it clear to the Iranians that an attack on Israel would incur massive retaliation from the United States. [...] We are at a very dangerous point with Iran.

Despite the right-wing smear machine's baseless attacks on the Democratic Party's Israel stance, the Democratic presidential candidates have clearly set the standard for strong commitment to Israel's security.

To read more about this issue in last night's debate, click here, here, and here.

For more on the candidates' views on Israel, click here.