Jews should NOT join the Republicans: a statement from the NJDC

The (presumably small) Republican Jewish Coalition is apparantly suggesting that Jews, particularly Orthodox Jews, join the Repub party in protest of Lieberman's defeat.

The National Jewish Democratic Council has this to say regarding orthodox Jews defecting to the Republican Party because of Lieberman's defeat:

"I'm absolutely astonished by the RJC ad campaign. American Jews need to know that the Republican Jewish Coalition is no friend of Joe Lieberman, and it certainly isn't an advocate for the issues of importance to the mainstream of the Jewish community.

"For years, the RJC has criticized Joe Lieberman. Now they want to use his good name for their own political purposes. These guys have no shame.

"The Connecticut Senate primary was not about Israel or the Jewish community. Joe Lieberman's record on Israel is impeccable. Ned Lamont's pro-Israel position is commendable. Connecticut will have a pro-Israel senator if either Democrat is elected. Any suggestion otherwise is a distortion of the truth."

A History of Heavy Criticism: The Republican Jewish Coalition is No Friend of Joe Lieberman

1) Running a Full-Page Anti-Joe Lieberman Attack Ad in The New York Times

In October 2000, the RJC took out a full page ad in The New York Times attacking Joe Lieberman and attempting to link his views with those of Louis Farrakhan.

Source: The New York Times. October 5, 2000.

2) Questioning Joe Lieberman's Commitment to his Religious Beliefs and Political Affiliation

In an August 7, 2000 release, the RJC questioned Senator Lieberman's commitment to the Jewish community, his religious beliefs, and his political affiliation. In a press release on this date, they ask how an " honorable, sincere, and devout Orthodox Jew" can be a member of the Democratic Party.

Source: Republican Jewish Coalition website. Press Release of August 7, 2000.

3) Suggesting that Joe Lieberman Opposes Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem

A September 1, 2000 article in the San Diego Jewish Press-Heritage includes the following:

"Mathew Brooks and Seth Leibsohn of the Republican Jewish Coalition recently penned a commentary in which they said: '?We wonder how comfortable an observant Jew is on the ticket of a Vice President whose administration has actively appeased Yasser Arafat and that refuses to move to U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.... Already on Larry King Live, Joe Lieberman has withdrawn his support for moving the Embassy at this time.'"

Source: "GOP, Democrats aren't taking Jewish vote for granted." San Diego Jewish Press-Heritage, Sept. 1, 2000

4) Using Joe Lieberman's Name Without his Permission and to Misrepresent his Views

Following the election of Governor Howard Dean as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, the RJC took out ads in Jewish newspapers falsely suggesting that Howard Dean's position on Israel is not consistent with the views of the mainstream of the Jewish community. The initial RJC ad featured a quote from Senator Lieberman, which was later removed following a demand that his name not be associated with the ad and that the RJC " fails to complete the story."

Source: Office of U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman. Press Release. February 15, 2005.

Furthermore, according to The Jewish Week, "An initial draft of the RJC ad that went to potential signers included a quote from Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT)? But the Lieberman quote was removed in the final version. Lieberman’s office requested that the quote include proper attribution to a Wall Street Journal op-ed he wrote last week. The RJC decided to pull the quote."

Source: "Republicans vs. Reform" by James D. Besser. The Jewish Week. December 16, 2005.

I am proud to be a member of the National Jewish Democratic Council and I urge all Jews to join it and to join the Democratic Party. Why? Simple. I remember that it is the Republican Party that calls America a "Christian Nation." It was the Republican Party that prevented CLinton from getting bin Laden long before 9/11. It was the Republican Party that armed the groups that became the Taliban and al Qaeda. It is the Republican Party that is tightly linked to terrorist supporting Saudi Arabia. It is the Republican Party that associates with Bill O'Reilly, the man who told a Jewish caller to "move to Israel" if he didn't like America being a "Christian nation." It is the Republican Party that in Indiana declared that Jews don't matter because they are only 2% of the population. It is the Republican Party that represents the part of Delaware that was the site of the Delaware Pogrom. And it is the Republican Party that is completely bungling the war against terrorism.

And let us not forget the long tradition of Jewish support for labor and civil rights, something we can be very proud of. The Republicans oppose labor and civil rights.

So, for all these reasons I say the party that Jews should reject the failed, pro-terrorist policies of Bush and stick with the Democratic Party.

But I suspect most Jews already know that.

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