NJDC's Blog

Super Jews!

We can be proud that this August, more than 70 Jewish superdelegates will go to the Democratic National Convention. 26 of the Jewish superdelegates are still up in the air. According to a Gallup Poll published yesterday, Jewish voters are split roughly down the middle. 48% prefer Senator Clinton, and 43% prefer Senator Obama; this 5-point lead for Senator Clinton is within the margin of error. With the race as close as it is, these Jewish superdelegates could play a pivotal role in determining the Democratic presidential nominee.

For exit polling on Jewish voters from Super Tuesday, see Jewish Primary Vote Analysis.

Happy Purim!

JOHN MCCAIN OUTPROMISES EVERYBODY; GUARANTEES U.S. EMBASSY MOVE TO JERUSALEM
NJDC: How can we compete?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                   CONTACT: Queen Esther
14 Adar II, 5768                                                 Office: (202) 555-5555
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SHUSHAN - Today, the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) officially gave up trying to argue that Democrats are as good as Republicans on Israel. NJDC conceded defeat on this issue when presumptive GOP presidential nominee John McCain pledged that on his first day in office, he will RETROACTIVELY move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

"It's past time to move our embassy. I recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, so I am going to make sure that on my first day in office I will ensure that the move is ancient history," McCain said.

In 2000, then Governor George W. Bush promised to move the embassy to Jerusalem on his first day in the White House. Instead, he has subsequently signed national security waivers every six months, deferring the move and using Congressional money to fund the embassy in Tel Aviv, rather than Jerusalem.

"We totally give up here," said Ira N. Forman, NJDC Executive Director. "We were going to  suggest to Senator Clinton or Obama that they permanently kasher the White House kitchen. But how do you compete with the Republicans when they can actually turn back the hands of time to help Israel?"

Senator John McCain: Foreign Policy Buff or Foreign Policy Bluff?

For a man who's running on a platform of foreign policy expertise, Senator John McCain certainly hasn't shown it recently. Two articles this week presented interesting McCain inconsistencies and a faux pas that beg the question: just how polished is this presidential candidate's foreign policy judgment?

John McCain: Foreign Policy Maven

Oh, really????

From John McCain’s website: 

John McCain understands national security and the threats facing our nation. He recognizes the dangers posed by … violent Islamist extremists and their terrorist tactics, and the ever present threat of regional conflict that can spill into broader wars that endanger allies and destabilize areas of the world vital to American security   

Yesterday, in Amman, Jordan, John McCain asserted that Iran is training al-Quaeda in Iraq.  Can’t he get his violent Islamist extremists straight?  It took a nudge and whisper from Senator Lieberman for Senator McCain to correct himself and state that the Iranians aren’t training al-Quaeda, but training extremists.

Now, this is a confusing part of the world – but the lynchpin of McCain’s campaign is his supposed foreign policy expertise. What other dubious assumptions underlie McCain’s assertion that we might have to stay in Iraq another 100 years?

NJDC Mourns the Loss of Former Ohio Senator

NJDC mourns the loss of Ohio's first Jewish Senator. Howard Metzenbaum died last night at the age of 90.

A staunch supporter of causes important to Jewish Democrats, Metzenbaum "advocated for positions taken by the Jewish community on many domestic issues, including civil rights, hate crimes laws, religious freedom and voting rights. He also voted consistently with supporters of Israel."

Senator Obama Stands With Israel

Senator Obama released the following statement yesterday, following the horrific shootings at Jerusalem yeshiva, Mercaz Harav, showing his condemnation of the attack and his stalwart stance with Israel:

I strongly condemn this cowardly and outrageous attack. The United States must strongly support Israel's right and capability to defend itself. Today, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, and with the Israeli people who defeat these terrorists every single day that they go about their daily lives.

Senator Clinton Stands With Israel

Following yesterday's horrific attack on students in Jerusalem yeshiva, Mercaz Harav, Senator Clinton released the following statement condemning the shootings and standing strongly with Israel:

My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and families who are suffering the loss and horror of this despicable act of terrorism. The United States and the international community must make clear that such deplorable acts of terrorism will not be tolerated and we must continue to stand with Israel in its fight against terror.

SPEAKER PELOSI: ON ISRAEL'S SIDE

The Speaker's Office put out the following statement:

Pelosi Condemns Terrorist Attack on Jewish Seminary in Jerusalem

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement this evening on the terrorist attack at a Jewish seminary in Jerusalem that killed at least eight people and wounded many others:

“The senseless attack on Mercaz Harav Yeshiva should shock civilized people everywhere.  I send my deepest condolences to those whose lives have been shattered by this act of senseless and unprovoked violence.

“This terrorist act must reinforce the commitment of the international community to bring peace to the Middle East.  The people of Israel know that the United States stands with them not only in this time of sorrow, but in their pursuit of a peaceful future for their children.”

 

Majority Leader Hoyer Stands with Israel

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (click here to see video of him speaking at our 2007 conference) issued this strong statement in support of Israel today:

WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today after the House passed H.Res. 951 (condemning the ongoing Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli civilians) by a vote of 404 to 1:

"This resolution is a very strong statement of support by this House for our nation’s one true ally in the Middle East, the State of Israel, which has faced clearly criminal rocket attacks by Palestinian terrorists against Israeli civilians over the last three years.

"The international media has focused great attention on Israel’s action in Gaza over the last week to combat these attacks. But the truth is that Israel’s actions constitute nothing less than justifiable self-defense.

"This Congress – and the American people – will not succumb to propaganda which labels Israel’s actions ‘unjustified’ or an ‘over-reaction.’ Since Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, Hamas and other terrorists organizations have fired more than 4,000 rockets or mortar shells at Israel.

More on McCain/Hagee ...

Yesterday, NJDC condemnded John McCain for sticking by his endorsement of Pastor Hagee.  Yesterday, Hagee tried to claim his views had been misconstrued, saying in a statement:  "I am shocked and saddened to learn of the mischaracterization of my views on Catholics that has spread ..."

Yet, those who have followed Hagee's career and history of anti-Catholic rhetoric are not buying his spin. The progressive group, Catholics United, for instance, wrote a letter to John McCain saying that "Hagee has a long history of criticizing the Catholic Church. In his book, Jerusalem Countdown, Hagee has a chapter entitled 'Centuries of Mistreatment' where he makes derisive claims against the Catholic Church. In one alarming and unsubstantiated passage, Hagee suggests that Hitler’s attendance at a Catholic grade school produced Hitler’s anti-Semitic world view. This rhetoric is part of a pattern of behavior employed by Pastor Hagee to discredit the Catholic faith." 

The conservative Catholic League has also criticized McCain for failing to renounce Hagee, saying the Pastor "has waged an unrelenting war against the Catholic Church."  The Huffington Post has video footage of the Pastor comparing Catholicism to a Cult.