NJDC's Blog

We Moved....

This is the end of NJDC's Blog on typepad. We have moved our blog directly into our redesigned website at www.njdc.org/blog.

> RSS our new blog at http://www.njdc.org/rss/blog.xml

This blog will stay live and you will still be able to view all posts from the start of our blog in 2006 - September 12, 2008.

THE FACTS FOR JEWISH VOTERS: Governor Sarah Palin

There is a great deal of information and rumors circulating throughout the Internet and the mainstream media concerning Governor Sarah Palin. The Jewish community deserves to know the facts. Is Senator John McCain’s pick for Vice President a reformer or a pork barrel spender? Is Palin a maverick or a right wing conservative? Is Palin an extremist or does she share our values?

PALIN - BRIDGE TO NOWHERE

Question: “Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges?”
Palin: “Yes. I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now--while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist.”
-    “Did Palin Really Fight The “Bridge To Nowhere”?” The New Republic, 8/29/08

“A new ad from John McCain's presidential campaign contends his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, “stopped the Bridge to Nowhere.” In fact, Palin was for the infamous bridge before she was against it.”
–    “Fact Check: Palin and the Bridge to Nowhere,” Associated Press, 9/8/08

PALIN - CREATIONISM BEING TAUGHT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

“Healthy debate is so important and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both. And you know, I say this too as the daughter of a science teacher. Growing up with being so privileged and blessed to be given a lot of information on, on both sides of the subject--creationism and evolution. It’s been a healthy foundation for me. But don't be afraid of information and let kids debate both sides.”
-    “Palin in Her Own Words,” The New Republic, 8/29/08

PALIN - VIRTUALLY ALL ABORTIONS ILLEGAL

“Veteran leaders in the anti-abortion camp say they have never before seen the degree of enthusiasm that greeted Palin's selection as John McCain's Republican running mate. She opposes abortion even in cases of rape or incest.”
- “Palin’s nomination adds fuel to abortion debate,” Associated Press, 9/9/08

PALIN - BANNING BOOKS

“It’s true that Palin did raise the issue [of removing books from the library] with Mary Ellen Emmons, Wasilla’s librarian... Emmons reported that Palin pressed the issue...Wasilla resident Anne Kilkenny, who was at the meeting, corroborates Emmons' story, telling the Chicago Tribune that "Sarah said to Mary Ellen, “What would your response be if I asked you to remove some books from the collection?”… According to the Chicago Tribune, Palin did not list censorship as a reason for Emmons’ firing, but said she didn’t feel she had Emmons’ support.”
- “Sliming Palin,” FactCheck.org, 9/8/08

PALIN - GLOBAL WARNING NOT MAN MADE

““A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location,” [Palin] said. “I'm not one though who would attribute it to being man-made.””
- “Palin Not Convinced on Global Warming,” The Washington Post, 8/29/08

PALIN - PAT BUCHANAN, RON PAUL, AND JEWS FOR JESUS

Numerous observers correctly draw attention to Palin’s associations with former Presidential candidate Pat Buchanan, her praise of anti-Israel Congressman Ron Paul, and her attendance at a Jews for Jesus speech in her church as indications that she supports their viewpoints. To be objective, NJDC has no reason to believe that Palin shares the values of Jews for Jesus or the opinions of Buchanan or Paul when it comes to the subject of the Jewish community or Israel.

To download the factsheet in PDF form please click here.

Beliefnet on "Palin's Christian Heritage Week"

Beliefnet's editor in chief, Steven Waldman, take a close look a proclamation Governor Sarah palin signed to declare a "Christian Heritage Week" in Alaska. The pieces is aptly titled, "Palin's Christian Heritage Week" explores the implications and importance of such a proclamation.

Technically, it speaks of the Christian heritage much as Irish citizens might talk about a state's Irish heritage.

But the resolution plucks Founding Father quotes out of context to give misleading impressions about their views on the role of religion in society. James Madison would roll in his grave if he saw that Memorial and Remonstrance was quoted as part of a Christian Heritage resolution. He was a hard-core advocate of separation of church and state who even advocated against well-meaning government efforts to aid religion. Ben Franklin did make that comment about God's intervention during the Constitutional convention but he also declared that he doubted the divinity of Christ. George Washington refused to take communion.

I encourage you to take a look at the article which also includes the actual text of the proclamation by clicking here.

JPost: "Sarah Palin may be hurting McCain among Jewish voters"

In a Jerusalem Post article titled, "Sarah Palin may be hurting McCain among Jewish voters," Hilary Krieger reports on how the addition of Governor Sarah Palin impacts the Jewish vote. In the story Krieger mentions how Palin's selection has energized the Jewish community against the Republican ticket.

[T]he National Jewish Democratic Council has seized on to raise money from supporters.

"Palin is totally out of step with public opinion in the Jewish community" on domestic issues and has "zero foreign policy experience," the organization wrote in a fund-raising letter sent out last week. It also started an on-line petition asking: "McCain: What were you thinking when you selected Palin?"

At the same time, the Obama campaign has increased its Florida outreach efforts, announcing that it formed six Jewish Community Leadership Committees throughout the state comprised of backers involved in Jewish non-profits, schools, synagogues and other facets of the community. They also count several rabbis among their members, some of upwards of 400 who have joined the campaign effort as part of the group "Rabbis for Obama."

Kriger's article is well worth reading, please click here to read the entire piece.

Click here to sign our petition to McCain asking him what he was thinking when he chose Palin.

Biden is Keynote for NJDC Conference 9/23-924

Senator Joe Bide is set to be the keynote for our NJDC Washington Conference.

There are already a couple of posts on our annoucnement:

In an article titled, "Biden to Headline Jewish Democrats’ Conference," The Forward reports that, "NJDC’s September 23-24 program at the Washington Hilton includes sessions on handicapping the 2008 elections, how new media changes the way voters can be reached, and common issues facing the Jewish and African American communities."

The always obesrvant JTA pointed out that, "The speech will be the first time Biden has spoken in front of a meeting of a national Jewish organization since his selection last month as Barack Obama’s running mate."

Politco: "Koch backs Obama, calls Palin 'scary'"

Today, in an article titled, "Koch backs Obama, calls Palin 'scary,'" Ben Smith of the Politico reports that "Former New York Mayor Ed Koch, who endorsed and worked for George W. Bush in 2004, is endorsing Obama today."

The article also points out that,"Koch is a member of a set of secular, swing-voting Jewish Democrats who may have been pushed away by the selection of Palin, and his endorsement may be a marker of an opportunity for Obama to strengthen his campaign among older Jewish voters in Florida."

To read the entire article please click here.

Here's an excerpt from Koch's statement:

I have concluded that the country is safer in the hands of Barack Obama, leader of the Democratic Party and protector of the philosophy of that party. Protecting and defending the U.S. means more than defending us from foreign attacks. It includes defending the public with respect to their civil rights, civil liberties and other needs, e.g., national health insurance, the right of abortion, the continuation of Social Security, gay rights, other rights of privacy, fair progressive taxation and a host of other needs and rights.

If the vice president were ever called on to lead the country, there is no question in my mind that the experience and demonstrated judgment of Joe Biden is superior to that of Sarah Palin. Sarah Palin is a plucky, exciting candidate, but when her record is examined, she fails miserably with respect to her views on the domestic issues that are so important to the people of the U.S., and to me. Frankly, it would scare me if she were to succeed John McCain in the presidency.

For Koch's entire statement please take a look at the JTA Election Central Blog by clicking here.

 

Neurotic Democrat: "McCain's Israel Omission"

Josh Rolinck of "Neurotic Democrat" has another great post. In his post titled, "McCain's Israel Omission."In his post, Rolnick writes about McCain's lack of attention to our closest ally in the Middle East. Here's an excerpt, but I encourage you to read his entire post by clicking here.

A party convention speech is an important thing. It gives us a sense of a candidate's priorities. So what are we to make of the fact that, after allowing his convention to be used as a platform to batter Barack Obama on Israel (see, for example, Rudy Giuliani's speech), John McCain took to the stage on the most important political night of his life and didn't mention Israel, even once?

More than 4,400 words, by my count, and no mention of the Jewish State.

I know McCain supports Israel. And I suppose I might be feeling more charitable -- more willing to overlook his unfortunate omission -- were it not for groups like the Republican Jewish Coalition, which consistently seeks to use Israel as a wedge issue against Democrats. (Its home page states: "A Risky Choice Just Got Riskier: Obama-Biden," claiming the Democrats have a poor record on Israel; it features articles like "Why Sarah Palin Will Likely Be Better For Israel Than Joe Biden.") Likely? They do this, despite the fact that it's ultimately detrimental to Israel, the very cause they espouse. (As even AIPAC notes, the best thing for Israel is strong, bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress.)

Unlike McCain, Obama did choose to mention the Jewish State during his moment in the international spotlight. (My wife was the one who pointed this out to me -- it meant something to her.)

"Guilt by Association" and Palin

Since Senator John McCain selected Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate some reports have surfaced that Palin attended a session in her church, Wasilla Bible Church, at which a representative of Jews for Jesus spoke. A recent NJDC communication asked why Palin did not condemn the speaker. NJDC would like to apologize for our statement and we continue to argue against the tactic of “guilt by association.” We have no reason to believe that Palin shares the views of Jews for Jesus.

We continue to judge Palin by her positions and public statements – for supporting teaching creationism in public schools, being against reproductive rights, and believing that climate change is not man made. By these measures she is clearly out of step with the vast majority of the American Jewish community.

Op-Ed: "Reflections on a Momentous Political Week"

Michael Adler, immediate past Chair of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) and National Finance Chair of Senator Joe Biden’s last Presidential campaign, has an op-ed that has been published in a number of local Jewish newspapers throughout the country titled,  "Reflections on a Momentous Political Week." In this op-ed he discusses both candidates for Vice President, focusing mainly on Senator Joe biden. Please click here to read the entire piece.

A New Blog by a Fellow Jewish Democrat - "Neurotic Democrat"

On the "Neurotic Democrat" you will find posts about Jewish Democratic politics and even some NJDC events. Please check it out. "Neurotic Democrat" blog, authored by Josh Rolnick, has many great insights and much to say.

There are a few posts on the NJDC's events in Denver for the Democratic Convention including, the event honoring Jewish members of congress, the panel on the Jewish vote, and the square table discussion on Jewish values and politics.

Yesterday, after a talk by Susannah Heschel Rolnick put up terrific post and in a post today "Neurotic Democrat" directly criticized the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC).

Glad to see more people joining the cause.

"Jon Stewart Annihilates Sarah Palin's Media Surrogates"

Better than any mainstream reporter I've seen, Jon Stewart takes top Republican media surrogates to task for their flip-flopping double standard. I'd go on, but you should really take the time to watch this 5:43 minute clip.

Country First, if You Pray for it

The Jewish community has traditionally judged candidates based on a golden standard, their voting record and public statements. As executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC), Ira N. Forman, said, “As a young lobbyist for AIPAC, my boss, the executive director, taught me that the way to assess a candidate for higher political office is to ‘go to the pro-Israel voting record.’ My boss was Morris Amitay.” The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) and other Republican groups have ignored this rule as of late, threatening the strong bipartisan support and very safety of Israel.

Enter Sarah Palin.

Palin's only record on anything resembling a substantive stance on Israel is signing a resolution supporting Israel and Alaska’s friendship. Well, Israel needs more than friends, it needs allies willing to fight and defend her. Her public record on Israel, or any foreign policy for that matter, is virtually non-existent..

Look here for NJDC’s statement on the choice of Sarah Palin and here for Marc Stanley’s, Chairman of the NJDC, Op-Ed that was featured in the Jerusalem Post yesterday.

Petition - "McCain: What were you thinking when you selected Palin?"

To tell Senator John McCain what you think of his selection of Governor Sarah Palin please click here.

Today, Ira N. Forman, NJDC Executive Director, sent out the following call to action:

Senator John McCain made a poor choice in his first critical presidential decision with his vice presidential selection of Governor Sarah Palin.  We, in the Jewish community, have to question McCain’s judgment for choosing a right-wing religious conservative with absolutely no foreign policy experience and a brewing scandal which is being investigated by the Alaska state legislature.

It is ironic that McCain, who turned 72 last week, has said, “The fundamental principle behind any selection of a running mate would be whether that person is fully prepared to take over.” And then McCain selected Palin???

On a broad range of issues, Palin is totally out of step with Jewish public opinion:

- Palin believes that creationism should be taught in our public schools.

- Palin is against reproductive choice and is against abortion even in cases of rape and incest.

- Palin does not believe climate change is man-made.

- Palin says she is against wasteful government spending, yet she endorsed the “bridge to nowhere” and then flip-flopped when it became a political liability.

Do we really want Palin to be one heartbeat away from the presidency?

Please sign the letter to McCain, and tell him how disappointed you are in his selection of Palin.

This is information that the Jewish community needs to know; please send this information to your friends and family.

Republicans Attack Obama for having the same position as McCain

Today, Eric Fingergut of the JTA wrote a piece titled, "Attacking Obama for having the same position as McCain." In this article Eric details how the attacks of Mayor Rudy Giuliani and the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) seem to miss the fact that their own candidate, Senator John McCain, holds virtually the same position as the candidate they attack, Senator Barack Obama. Take a look at the excerpt below. The ignorance of Giuliani and the RJC of their own candidate's position on the important issue of Jerusalem is quite remarkable.

McCain was asked for his thoughts on Jerusalem. After criticizing the Democrat for changing his mind, he said, “The point is Jerusalem is undivided … Jerusalem is the capital.” McCain then qualified his comments by emphasizing that regardless of his position, the status of the city is still subject to negotiation. “The subject of Jerusalem itself will be addressed in negotiations by the Israeli government and people,” he said.

One candidate says “Jerusalem will be a part of … negotiations.” Another candidate says “Jerusalem … will be addressed in negotiations.” Sounds remarkably similar — but not to Republicans.

Wednesday night in his keynote speech, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani told the crowd in St. Paul, “When speaking to a pro-Israel group, Obama favored an undivided Jerusalem, like I favor and John McCain favors. Well, he favored an undivided Jerusalem — don’t get too excited — for one day until he changed his mind.” He didn’t add “to the same position John McCain actually has taken.”

On Tuesday afternoon, Republican Jewish Coalition Matt Brooks also criticized Obama for changing his mind on Jerusalem, but when asked whether the candidates’ position on the division of Jerusalem were identical, said he didn’t think so but would check it out.

Please take a look at the full article by clicking here.

"RNC Speaker Tied to Slimy Campaign Tactics"

Today Ira Forman released the following statement:

Why is the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the John McCain campaign giving a privileged speaking position at tonight’s RNC proceedings to former U.S. Senate candidate, Michael Steele? Less than two years ago, Steele and his supporters engaged in remarkably offensive campaign tactics.

First, the campaign itself printed and circulated a patently false voter guide to mislead African American voters. Moreover, on Election Day, Steele’s supporters distributed blatantly anti-Semitic literature to attack Steele’s Jewish opponent titled, “Ben Cardin EXPOSED! Ben Cardin Promises to Attack Jesus Christ, Pastors, Churches and Christians and to Take Away Blacks' Freedom If He Is Elected."

Steele knew of these scurrilous attacks by his supporters on election day, yet failed to denounce them. Only weeks after the election, after Jewish leaders pressured him, did Steele finally denounce these filthy attacks by his supporters.

If the Republicans are curious why they do so poorly among African American and Jewish voters, they might ponder the wisdom of highlighting Steele at their convention tonight.

Click here to see our blog post at the time titled, "Steele Supporter Resorts to Thinly Veiled Anti-Semitic Attack Against Cardin," and below you can find a few articles on the subject:

• Democrats Denounce Flier Mailed by GOP, Washington Post, November 7, 2006
• Ehrlich Campaign Funds Flier Campaign, Associated Press, November 7, 2006
• Steele finally condemns flier, Washington Jewish Week, November 11, 2008

HuffPost: "Jewish Dem Breaks Silence, Rips Lieberman: 'Not His Finest Hour'"

Today the Huffington Post wrote a piece titled, "Jewish Dem Breaks Silence, Rips Lieberman: 'Not His Finest Hour.'" In this article Ira Forman says, referring to Senator Joseph Lieberman's (I-CT) speech to the Republican National Convention last night, that this is 'not his finest hour.'

On Lieberman's comment about Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) Forman said that they were not 'the most honorable."

"At one point he said colleagues like Sen. Obama have cut off funds for our troops while on the battlefield. This attack is not the most honorable. He has said he has wants to go positive and that's what his persona has always been. 'I don't play negative politics.' That's who he professes to be and for a long time we believed it. As we look back upon this in the future this will not be Joe Lieberman's finest hour.

On Palin, Forman said that it must have been difficult for Lieberman to give her his endorsement.

"The phrases that must have stuck in his throat were those when he criticized Obama's lack of experience," said the NJDC head. "'Gov Palin like McCain is a reformer we can believe in and count on.' He knows as well as the rest of us, the reform façade is a Potemkin Village. She was for the bridge to nowhere until it was politically untenable. She has lobbied for pork... If I were him that would be a hard line to force out."

To read the full post please click here.

Biden is a Zadie?

Yesterday, Senator Joe Biden visit South Florida and spoke at the retirement community of Century Village in Deerfield Beach.

Biden used some Yiddish and called himself a "zadie" and emphasized the importance of "mishpuchah" (Yiddish for family).

Biden noted that he and Senator Barack Obama are strong allies of Israel and the American Jewish community, and stated, "I want to remind those of you who don't know me -- and those of you who do know me -- what my record has been. It has been unstinting in the defense and support of Israel."

Biden continued, "Not enough people know about Barack. I promise you, Barack Obama, this man understands what is the driving energy in our community."

Politico: Jewish Voters May Be Wary of Palin

Ben Smith of the Politico looked at the impact of the Jewish vote with Senator John McCain's selection of Governor Sarah Palin noting:

Barack Obama has struggled for 18 months to lock down the support of a traditionally Democratic group, Jewish voters.

In the past week, John McCain may have helped Obama with his Jewish problem by choosing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

McCain and Obama are battling over a portion of the Jewish community: older, conservative Democrats, largely in South Florida, some of whom backed Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary. McCain’s secular, hawkish credentials appeal to many in that group, who are skeptical of Obama’s relatively short record and have been deluged with rumors about his pro-Palestinian leanings.

But Democrats hope Palin’s social conservatism, her paper-thin record on Israel, and — perhaps most importantly — her cultural roots in evangelical Christianity may be a major turnoff to Jewish voters, just as Republicans have tried to reach women disappointed that Obama didn’t choose Hillary Clinton.

Democrats have already begun to to capitalize on the choice of Palin — over Jewish Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman — in South Florida and elsewhere. A prominent Obama backer, Florida Rep. Robert Wexler, has attacked Palin for appearing at a 1999 event with Pat Buchanan — who has attacked the influence of the Israeli lobby in America. And the same factors that are rallying the evangelical base to Palin may push away the Jews.

"Republican Attacks Against Biden: Baseless and Shameful"

Today the NJDC issued the following press release:

It is astonishing that Republicans continue to attack Senator Joe Biden on his stance towards Israel.  According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), Biden has a “sterling” pro-Israel voting record in his more than 35 years in the Senate and has been a great friend to the Jewish community.

Ira N. Forman, Executive Director of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) today said, “Personally, as a Democrat, I understand that the Republicans disagree with Biden on some partisan issues, but as a member of the Jewish and pro-Israel community, I find it hard to believe that Republicans have so quickly turned their back on such a good and close friend. Republican attacks on Joe Biden are baseless and shameful.”

Here are a few quick points on why Biden is respected by the American Jewish community:

•    Biden has taken numerous trips to Israel, including his very first trip as a Senator in 1973 – when he met with Prime Minister Golda Meir and then Ambassador Yitzhak Rabin – and most recently in January 2006. He has met with the past nine Israeli Prime Ministers, from Meir to Ehud Olmert and innumerable Israeli politicians and opinion leaders.
•    Biden is a strong supporter of continuing U.S. military and economic assistance for Israel. Over his career he has an over 90% pro-Israel voting record.
•    Even Biden’s critics agree that he has an unsurpassed knowledge of the region.
•    Biden has been a leading opponent of proposed sales of advanced weapons systems to Saudi Arabia and other Arab states in the 1970s and 1980s, such as F-15 fighters and AWACS radar aircraft.
•    Biden proudly calls himself a Zionist. He said, “You don't have to be Jewish to be a Zionist, and I'm a Zionist.”
•    Biden knows that an Iran armed with nuclear weapons would pose a grave threat. In July, Biden said, "Iran's acquisition of a nuclear weapon would dramatically destabilize an already unstable region and probably fuel a nuclear arms race in the region. It is profoundly in our interest to prevent that from happening." 
•    Biden cosponsored, with Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 which banned direct U.S. assistance to the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority. The Act was enacted into law in December 2006 as P.L. 109-446.
•    Biden is a strong supporter of the separation of church and state and has opposed Republican attempts to return prayer to public schools.  He is also a supporter of reproductive rights.

NJDC Vice-Chair Sunita Leeds on the Colbert Report

In addition to being NJDC's Vice-Chair, Sunita Leeds co-chaired the Democratic Convention Rules Committee. In that role she spoke at the Rules Committee on Saturday and gave the Rules Committee Report to the entire convention on Monday.  She was great and you can see a photo of her delivering her remarks below.

A cameo with a phrase from Sunita's remarks at the Rules Committee Meeting was picked-up by the Colbert Report as part of "The 'Word". Please click here to watch the clip.

Here is a photo of Sunita speaking to the Democratic National Committee's Convention:

Selection of Palin is a Bizarre Choice

Ira N. Forman, Executive Director of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) today released the following statement:

Today, Senator John McCain made his first critical presidential decision with his selection of his Vice Presidential running mate. McCain’s judgment appears lacking.

In Governor Sarah Palin McCain chooses a running mate with zero foreign policy experience and a brewing scandal which is being investigated by the Alaska state legislature. The contrast with Senator Joe Biden could not be starker and more unfavorable for the soon to be Republican nominee.

For a party which claims it is trying to reach out to the Jewish community McCain’s pick is particularly strange. Prior to today’s selection Palin apparently has never spoken publicly about Israel. Moreover, on a broad range of issues— most strikingly on the issue of women’s reproductive freedom— she is totally out of step with Jewish public opinion. The gulf between Palin’s public policy positions and the American Jewish community is best illustrated by the fact that the Christian Coalition of America was one of the strongest advocates of her selection.

New Website, JewsVote.org, Wants to Get the "Real" Facts Out About Obama

JewsVote.org, a new website with a high-tech approach, has launched at the Democratic Convention to fight the rumors and misinformation in the Jewish Community about Senator Barack Obama.

"The goal of this website is to provide a series of powerful tools to Jews who are supportive of Obama and dismayed at the rumors that have made a lot of Jews question whether or not they can support Obama in the election," said Mik Moore, one of the group's founders told the Politico."These rumors were spread through the community using the closed networks that exist in the Jewish community, and what these tools do is allow folks to communicate through these very networks."

Reflecting on King's "I a Have Dream" Speech

Today marks the 45th anniversary of the Dr. Martin Luther King's March on Washington and his historic "I Have a Dream" speech.

It is exciting that tonight, Senator Barack Obama, the first American American nominated by a major political party as President, will be accepting the Democratic nomination for president 45 years to the day from King's speech.

Rabbi David Saperstein to Give Invocation Tonight Before Obama’s Acceptance Speech

Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, will deliver the invocation tonight at the Democratic National Convention in Denver before Barack Obama’s acceptance speech.

The invocation will be in front of an expected crowd of 70,000 at Invesco Field and millions of television viewers.

"I am deeply honored to have been invited to offer a religious voice at this celebration of American democracy; the opportunity to do so at an evening of such historic significance to our nation is especially meaningful," Saperstein said in a press statement.

Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, will deliver the invocation tonight at the Democratic National Convention in Denver before Barack Obama’s acceptance speech.

The invocation will be in front of an expected crowd of 70,000 at Invesco Field and millions of television viewers.

"I am deeply honored to have been invited to offer a religious voice at this celebration of American democracy; the opportunity to do so at an evening of such historic significance to our nation is especially meaningful," Saperstein said in a press statement.

Night with Kanye West...From Afar

This evening and early morning some of us were able to see a passionate and genuine performance by Kanye West. The concert was well received and we were able to learn more about a great organization called the ONE campaign.

Here's part of the ONE campaign's mission, but I encourage you to take a look at their website.

ONE is Americans of all beliefs and every walk of life - united as ONE - to help make poverty history. We are a campaign of over 2.4 million people and growing from all 50 states and over 100 of America's most well-known and respected non-profit, advocacy and humanitarian organizations. As ONE, we are raising public awareness about the issues of global poverty, hunger, disease and efforts to fight such problems in the world's poorest countries. As ONE, we are asking our leaders to do more to fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty. ONE believes that allocating more of the U.S. budget toward providing basic needs like health, education, clean water and food would transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation in the world's poorest countries.

Here's a photo from the event (sorry for the quality, I took it with my blackberry):

HuffPost: "Biden is Strongly Pro-Israel, Republican Attacks Ridiculous"

Yesterday, Ira Forman posted a Huffington Post piece in response to the smear campaign being waged against Joe Biden titled, "Biden is Strongly Pro-Israel, Republican Attacks Ridiculous."

Here's an excerpt:

"These nattering nabobs of negativism injure the long standing bi-partisan consensus on Israel for pure political gain. You would think that these fear mongerers would feel some degree of shame over their ridiculous charges about the most experienced foreign policy expert in the U.S. Senate -- but you would be wrong. Even if the Democrats nominated Golda Meir for the Presidential ticket they would charge that she was insufficiently pro-Israel."

To read the entire post please click here.

Using Yiddish in Politics

The National Journal reports today about NJDC's reception honoring Jewish members of Congress and asked some of members in attendance to describe the democratic ticket with Yiddish words.

Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) described Barack Obama as a  "mensch," meaning a "fine human being."

While, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) said Joe Biden was a "mishbucha," which translates as "member of the family."

NJDC's Vice Chair Big Convention Role

Sunita Leeds, Co-Chair of the Rules Committee for the Democratic Convention and Vice Chair of the NJDC spoke on Monday at the podium of the Democratic Convention in Denver's Pepsi Center. The Rules Committee for the DNC Convention establishes the procedural rules under which the Convention will operate, and nominates the permanent officers of the Convention.

JTA blogged about Leeds role in the convention in a posting entitled, "Jews and Arabs Rule the Rules," noting:

Jews and Arabs can work out a few rules for getting along, at least when it comes to the Democratic convention.

Sunita Leeds, a member of the National Jewish Democratic Council’s executive committee, co-chaired the party’s Rules Committee with Mary Rose Oakar, the former Ohio congresswoman who is now president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

At the launch of the business part of the Denver convention on Monday, Leeds’ job was to note efforts by the committee to address difficulties surrounding the role of unpledged delegates – the thousand or so folks that under current rules can throw the popular vote out the window.

NJDC's Jewish Vote Seminar in Denver

Yesterday, NJDC hosted a Jewish Vote seminar that included Richard Baehr, chief political correspondent for the American Thinker, Anna Greenberg, Senior Vice President of Greenberg Quinland Rosner Research, Mark Mellman, CEO of The Mellman Group, and Stu Rothenberg, editor and publisher of The Rothenberg Political Report.

It was a lively and substantive discussion that was a thorough look at the Jewish vote this year. Eric Fingerhut from the JTA give a good run down of the seminar. Click here to read his post titled, "Is it really all about McCain in the Jewish community?"

Countrycat reported from the event in her post on Left in Alabama and the Daily Kos. From our panel she found that the seminar, "was a wide-ranging discussion whose implications for the 2008 election went far beyond the concerns of the Jewish community."

For more of Countrycat's observations please click here. 

With over 150 attendees the crowd included Jewish Democratic veterans and people exploring the details of the Jewish vote for the first time. Everyone was able to walk away with something.

NJDC Honors Jewish Members Congress at Democratic Convention

NJDC hosted a reception last night in Denver to honor Jewish Members of Congress.

The Dallas Morning News called the event, "lots of schmoozing. Lots of noshing. Such a spread."

Many members of Congress and several candidates who are seeking congressional seats attended the event.

JTA reported about former Representative Charlie Wilson who attended our event (of Charlie Wilson's War fame).

Wilson told the JTA regarding Iran and Russia, "I don’t think we should invade Iran tomorrow. I don’t think we should invade Russia. I’m a little concerned that the administration…"

But JTA also noted that Wilson was a "happy retiree in Texas all this war talk wasn’t his business anymore."

Republican Jewish Coalition's Ridiculous Biden Rhetoric

Ira N. Forman, Executive Director of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) today released the following statement:

The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) and their allies have already gone on the attack with their fear and smear campaign against Joe Biden.

Biden's record is clear; he is great friend of the American Jewish Community with extensive foreign policy experience and a strong pro-Israel record.

Even if Democrats had picked David Ben-Gurion to run as Vice President, the RJC would be charging that he was anti-Israel.

This reflexive negativism is symptomatic of the bigger problem the GOP has this year. Their own ideas and candidates are so discredited that the only thing McCain's allies know how to do is attack pro-Israel
Democrats as being anti-Israel.

Don't they ever worry about looking ridiculous and losing allcredibility? We guess not.

NJDC Commends the Selection of Biden for Obama’s Vice President

Ira N. Forman, Executive Director of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) today released the following statement:

Barack Obama made an outstanding selection in choosing Joe Biden as his running mate. Biden is a strong leader and great friend of the American Jewish Community with extensive foreign policy experience and a solid pro-Israel record.

At NJDC’s 2007 Washington conference, Biden addressed the conference and noted, “We should be using our leadership to press the Arab countries to begin taking steps to normalize relations with Israel, now! .... Show up in Jerusalem and talk about it. Normalize. Give me something other than rhetoric to demonstrate that you are prepared for a process that has to take place.”

 (Read Biden’s full speech please click here)

Biden embodies the Jewish ideal of practicing Tikkun Olam – repairing the world and has a strong commitment to issues important to the Jewish community including, civil liberties, civil liberties, reproductive rights for women, education, health care, the environment, opposition to radical right wing judicial appointees, combating violence against women, and maintaining a strong wall between church and state. 

Biden is an excellent choice for Vice President and we are confident that both Obama and Biden share the priorities of the clear majority of the American Jewish community.

 

NJDC: Blogging from the Democratic National Convention

The National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) will be at the 2008 Democratic National Convention and will be live blogging, giving you an insiders view from Denver next week. If you use a RSS feeder to view blogs, click here to add NJDC's blog.

NJDC Mourns the Loss of Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones

Ira N. Forman, Executive Director of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC); Morton Mandel, founder of NJDC and Cleveland Jewish leader; and Steven Dettelbach, Chairman of the Cleveland Chapter of NJDC; released the following statement:

All of us are saddened to hear of the passing of Representative Stephanie Tubb Jones (D-OH).

An outstanding advocate for Cleveland and issues important to the Jewish community, Tubbs Jones will be deeply missed.

We hope that her many friends and family will be comforted by her memory and her lifetime of passion and activism that left a lasting mark on Cleveland and on U.S politics. 

McCain Picking on Jewish Supreme Court Justices?

When Pastor Rick Warren asked Senator John McCain to name his least favorite current U.S. Supreme Court justices it seemed that he was picking on the Jewish members of our highest court.

Eric Fingerhut of JTA summed up the situation well in his article titled, "Presidential forum highlights divergent views on Supreme Court."

When Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was asked Saturday night which member of the U.S. Supreme Court he would not have nominated, the Republican presidential candidate didn't just name his least favorite justice.

He picked four -- the group commonly identified as the more liberal wing of the court, including the two Jewish justices, Ruth Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer -- citing their "legislating from the bench."

McCain's answer at the Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency -- an event in a Lake Forest, Calif., church aimed at evangelicals -- bothered some Jewish activists.

The issue isn’t that McCain would have wiped out Jewish representation on the court, but rather that he would have eliminated a whole worldview from the justices' deliberations. And, Jewish communal observers say, the clear contrast the candidates drew on judicial nominees could lead to the issue taking on a higher profile in the campaign.

Please click here to read the entire article and see how top Jewish community leaders respond, including our own Executive Director, Ira N. Forman.

Jewish Democrats are promising to play up McCain’s answer about the justices.

"It summarizes the stakes of the election," said Ira Forman, executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council.

McCain Supporters Continue Fear and Smear Campaign

Earlier this month JTA reported that, "Natan Sharansky said an Obama presidency  would be a 'risk' to Israel." This is a continuation of the fear and smear campaign against Senator Barack Obama being perpetrated by many of Senator John McCain's supporters. The record is clear, Obama has a pro-Israel record and will be a pro-Israel president. Are innuendos, rumors and lies surrounding Obama's support for Israel the only tactics the right has to court Jewish support?

New Full Time Role for Shapiro with Obama Campaign

Eric Fingerhut of JTA reports that, "Dan Shapiro joins Obama full-time." In Fingerhut's JTA Election Central blog he writes that, "Dan Shapiro, who’s been advising Barack Obama on Middle East issues for most of the campaign, is now officially joining the campaign. The former Clinton administration National Security Council official will serve as senior policy adviser and Jewish outreach coordinator, according to a press release from the Obama campaign."

For the entire post click here.

New Website: "Oilmen for Garrett"

A new group and website titled "Oilmen for Garrett" was just launched by Democrat Dennis Shulman who is challenging incumbent Congressman Scott Garrett (NJ-5). "Oilmen for Garrett" states that "Republican Congressman Scott Garrett (NJ-5), one of two members of the entire House to be given a lifetime rating of 100% by the American Conservative Union in 2006, has further distinguished himself by accepting over $69,000 in donations from the oil & gas industries and consistently voting in favor of Big Oil's interests."

They have also created a creative video to illustrate their point.

Leading Rabbi Picked to Deliver the Invocation Before Obama’s Acceptance Speech

Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, will deliver the invocation at the Democratic National Convention in Denver before Senator Barack Obama’s acceptance speech.

The invocation will be in front of an expected crowd of 70,000 at Invesco Field and millions of television viewers.

According to the Forward:

The decision to choose Saperstein for the key invocation at the convention was made by party officials both at the Obama campaign headquarters in Chicago and by convention organizers on the ground in Denver."

Saperstein is the right person to talk about the intersection of faith and politics,” said a Democratic official, who added that the choice will also serve as recognition of the centrality of the Jewish community in the campaign.