The Jewish community is demanding political change because the agenda of Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress is fundamentally out of sync with our values.
In every US presidential election since 1980, an average of 70% of Jewish voters have supported the Democratic candidate. As we approach the midterm elections, Jewish voters will overwhelmingly vote for Democrats once again, and in record numbers. The Jewish community is demanding political change because the agenda of Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress is fundamentally out of sync with our values.
Since Trump has taken office, Republicans have sought to erode the separation of church and state, restrict access to affordable healthcare, forcibly separate migrant families, close our borders to those in need, attack a woman’s right to choose, and shift the ideological balance of the Supreme Court. This agenda is in stark opposition to the values of the American Jewish community, and it’s the primary reason Jews will overwhelmingly support Democrats this November.
Nonetheless, a well-financed Republican campaign is underway to grossly exaggerate differences of opinion within the Democratic Party on Israel. This campaign will fail, as it has in the past, for two reasons. First, bipartisan support for Israel remains strong. No members of Congress are advocating for a diminution of bilateral ties. Second, Jewish voters understand that the Democratic Party is not only pro-Israel, but that it also shares their concerns about a wide range of domestic issues. Most Jews are not one-issue voters.
The most important and reliable indicator of Democratic support for Israel is reflected in the congressional record. Democrats in Congress continue to support legislation that strengthens the US-Israel relationship, including military assistance to Israel. Congress recently authorized the memorandum of understanding signed during the Obama administration, which included unprecedented levels of US-Israel military assistance and missile-defense funding over 10 years. The measure passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.
Further, Democrats remain committed to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. It was Donald Trump who pulled the US out of the Iran nuclear deal with no Plan B for thwarting Iran’s nuclear ambitions. American Jews overwhelmingly supported the Iran Deal when it was debated in Congress in 2015. Of the handful of Democrats in Congress who opposed the deal at the time, all objected to Trump’s reckless withdrawal from it earlier this year, which left the US isolated and in a weaker position to defend our strategic interests, including those of Israel.
Just as disagreeing with the policies of the Trump administration does not make an American any less patriotic, there is no contradiction between questioning policies of the Israeli government and remaining supportive of Israel. If defining “pro- Israel” means deeming any critique of Israel unacceptable, then the term “pro-Israel” would exclude most Israelis and many American Jews.
INDEED, THOSE Democratic members of Congress who have questioned some of Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies have not called for reducing US support for Israel, nor have they advocated for any US policy that would leave Israel strategically or economically vulnerable. Democrats did not impose steel and aluminum tariffs on Israel – that was Donald Trump.
Democrats did not propose selling nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia – that was Donald Trump. Democrats have continued to emphasize the importance of maintaining the historically bipartisan nature of the US-Israel relationship, while Republicans have repeatedly sought to turn Israel into a political wedge issue. Donald Trump’s ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, has inappropriately used his diplomatic platform to peddle the false narrative of a partisan divide related to Israel. The good news is that American Jews largely see through this overtly political rhetoric. The bad news is that Republican attempts to politicize Israel are increasing, and it’s not in Israel’s interest to be treated as a political football.
Virtually all of the Democratic candidates running for Congress strongly support Israel. Some have been targets of smear campaigns by Republicans, and a few have expressed views that are on the fringe of our party. When Democratic candidates have espoused views of Israel that we found troubling, the Jewish Democratic Council of America has spoken out. We will not hesitate to continue to speak with – and, if necessary, against – Democrats whose views do not align with our positions and values. We aim to educate candidates about policy issues, including Israel.
By contrast, Republicans have not adequately confronted the numerous neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and Holocaust-deniers running for Congress as Republicans this election cycle. This growing phenomenon, coupled with a president who considers neo-Nazis “very fine people,” is a dangerous combination for the Jewish community and the country as a whole. We challenge the Republican Party to marginalize these candidates by endorsing their Democratic opponents. The onus is on Republicans to prevent neo-Nazis from becoming members of Congress, and they have a responsibility to act now.
Republicans have largely ignored the antisemitism infecting their ranks in the age of Trump. Similarly, they have supported the president in implementing policies that are antithetical to Jewish values. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party continues to represent those values in its domestic and foreign policy positions, including – but not limited to – its strong support of Israel. This is why American Jews will continue to support Democrats in overwhelming numbers in November.
The writer is the executive director of the Jewish Democratic Council of America.
It’s not what the “left” is saying , it’s what the hired Globalist propagandists have written. They have endless $$$$ resources for this, It’s wordfare, something like lawfare – makes you waste your intellectual resources.
@ Bigbandss:
Bigbandss,
I don’t expect the American Jewish voters to turn en masse against the Democratic Party; but I would not be surprized if many of them cross over and vote for the Republicans this Fall.
Life would be pretty dull, if we could predict all the elections, in the US or elsewhere. No matter who wins in the various races, I do not expect Armageddon to come in November, nor in January, nor if the Republicans win by a landslide nor if President Trump and his whole Cabinet are impeached. In all these scenarios, very much will stay the same: “Trump Anxiety Disorder” will continue, both in the US and abroad; because this isn’t about Donald Trump nor any other individual:
The “Anxiety” and “Derangement Syndrome” sufferers dread the end of the world. Specifically, they dread the end of THEIR CONTROL of the world. When Donald Trump, or Neil Gorsich, or Boris Johnson threaten that control, they respond — with all their heart — that Armageddon has arrived, and they go bananas.
@ Bigbandss:This is impossible. People with fixed opinions cannot see the error of their ways. Man is not a rational animal. The only solution is too totally discredit the “hard core” Obamist-Clintonian partisans in the eyes of ordinary Jewish, Democratic, and independent voters who still have open minds about Israel, Trump, and other allies of Israel . This requires rhetoric that is just as tough as that used by the other side. This is a propaganda-ideological war, not an (English-style) tea party.
@ Max Hessenthal: I couldn’t agree more, Max.
Many Jews seem to feel they must give “equal time” to both friends and enemies in their publications. Enemy publications do not give Israel and Jewish interests equal time.
Jews have got to realize that there is a massive propaganda war against Israel . And in a war, the side that is under attack cannot afford to be “even-handed” or “fair” towards the enemy . This is a recipe for total defeat. I don’t understand why even patriotic Jews can’t grasp this obvious fact.
Why did Israpundit print this commie poppycock?
For bigbandSS:
@ oldjerry: I have been wondering the same thing for some time. I notice that Arutz Sheva has started to publish a lot of anti-Israel and anti-Trump propaganda as well , taken mainly from NPR or the Atlantic.
Many Jews seem to feel they must give “equal time” to both friends and enemies in their publications. Enemy publications do not give Israel and Jewish interests equal time.
Jews have got to realize that there is a massive propaganda war against Israel . And in a war, the side that is under attack cannot afford to be “even-handed” or “fair” towards the enemy . This is a recipe for total defeat. I don’t understand why even patriotic Jews can’t grasp this obvious fact.
@ nfarbstein:
I agree! How do we get the Dems to see the error of their ways?
I agree! How do we get the Dems to see the error of their ways?
Bigbandss Said:
It’s not arguments, its LIES.
And it’s sickening as usual
Jpost is Globalist propaganda .
I suppose the sheeple have forgotten that Hillary won the election by 99 percent margin…whatever.
Lies lies and more lies.
Those who live by the MSN die by the MSN.
The MSN is dead news. No one of any intelligence cares about the legacy media any more.
In other words an another immoral fascist nutbar.
@ nfarbstein:
I agree but what about American Jews,. Do you think they will wake up as the blacks are waking up?
This is garbage.
Take it from a Jew who votes in the USA.
TRUMP is the best thing that has happened to the country in a long time & the best president EVER!
He is the best friend Israel has ever had.
The wako Democrats are an enemy of the Jews & Israel.
@ mrzee:
Because they give them some horse-droppings, like mentioning Mr. Mayer Goldswartzunkopfberger (Mr. Morton Gallagher) at the tops of donor lists, and put them as patrons of Women”s Rights (nobody for fetus’ rights, not headline catching), elect them to useless positions on committees, and so on. ……Shmooze them….That raises idiots like Lauder. More intelligent ones, like Soros and Sanders, gave it up long ago and now devote themselves to doing as much damage as they can. I’m only guessing.
I don’t know any more. If they were really Jewish I’m know why, but they are so diluted that it’s too hard to trace.
@ broseman:
Compared to Trump, Truman was a rabid Democrat. He didn’t like Jews anyway, and had to be strongly persuaded by old, sick Chaim Weitzman to recognoise Israel. ALL Goyim were some form of Jew despisers or Haters, except that a miraculous few, who had, self-admittedly begun as Anti-Semites, like Meinertzhagen for instance, and then got to know some Jew they/he respected and got to know more and then really found out what a Jew was all about.
If most Israelis oppose a centre-right government, they why do they keep electing them?
Ha,ha,ha. Our PREZ is the most Pro Israel since Truman. Obama was the most Anti Israel since ever. The Democratic Party is growing more Anti Israel by the hour. The Iran deal was awful. Most Dem Jews quietly voted for it or very very quietly voted against it( only with permission). The Dem Party has 100% of American Muslims, Socialists and assorted Leftists all hostile to Israel. Ha,ha,ha. Finally are there any Jews out there that are happy Blacks, Women, Hispanics, and teens unemployment is at an all time low. Any Jews out there enjoying booming business climate, booming stock market. Any Jews enjoy being so much richer. Ha,ha,ha.
A really sleazy, lying hit piece. When did Trump ever call Neo Nazi’s “very fine people”…(obviously taken out of context and then twisted to serve a miserable deception). .. Every single fringe Republican would-be candidate has been, when identified, repulsed, de-funded and removed from the Party promptly. At least according to what I read in the news outlets.
These Jews have been too comfortable in their beds of roses, in the “Goldine Medina”…….. And of course the writer’s Jews are mainly hardly Jews any more. their “Jewish” conscience relying on the bipartisan Congressional support for Israel, and proudly more or less taking credit for it, along with the Democratic party, of course…
American Values according to these blinkered cows, are Liberal Democrat |values. They are more worried about having free illegal immigration, encouraging the murder of helpless babies in the womb or just on the way to being born, (these are the fat-cats of course who would employ illegals cheaply) and difficulty of getting medical attention…All seemingly since Trump took office. When the Democrats ruled, corruption was rampant, but these Jews are at home with that.
And then…the Iran deal…What the hell goes on in their stupid minds, has their fat travelled from their bellies to their heads…..?? Making Israel into a “wedge”..Israel should have made itself into that same wedge 50 years ago. They make out Israel as merely a pawn to be used whenever and wherever Trump decides.
They are totally lost to clear positive thinking. brains rotted by too many Presidential handshakes and teas on the White House Lawn.
I wonder why did didn’t attack the Nationality Law…..???
It’s always good to hear the arguments of the opposing side. If anything, conservatives, and especially Jewish conservatives, which I am one of, should take these views and use them to help them fight back. It will be an uphill battle. Conservatives need to learn how to fight words with words and actions with actions.
Why did Israpundit print this commie poppycock?