Minority relationships highlighted at DNC events

September 4, 2012 Leave a comment

Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)

Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)

By Lauren Appelbaum and Melissa Weiss

Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 4 – The Jewish population is small in America – approximately two percent of the U.S. population. However, Jewish Americans remain a key electoral demographic for both parties.

And the American Jewish Committee (AJC) – a nonpartisan organization hosting educational events during both conventions – is putting the spotlight on coalitions between the Jewish community and other communities including Mormons, African Americans, Indians and Latinos.

During the Republican National Convention, Mormon and faith leaders said Israel ties are valued as part of Mormon-Jewish cooperation. Today, as AJC focused on both Black-Jewish and Indian-Jewish relations, both panels stressed that each community has much in common with Jewish Americans, and that each constituency has support – in most cases – for Israel.

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Middle East experts focus on U.S.-Israel relationship during RNC

August 30, 2012 Leave a comment

By Lauren Appelbaum and Ashley Gold

AJC Panel on U.S. Values and Interests in a Changing Middle East with Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), AJC's Jason Isaacson, Amb. Mark Green, Amb. Barukh Binah

AJC Panel on U.S. Values and Interests in a Changing Middle East with Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), AJC’s Jason Isaacson, Amb. Mark Green, Amb. Barukh Binah

Tampa, Fla., Aug. 30 – While the Middle East is shifting, Israel needs to remain a stronghold, Israeli Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy in Washington, Amb. Barukh Binah, said Thursday.

Speaking on the final day of the Republican National Convention during a panel titled “U.S. Values and Interests in a Changing Region,” Binah focused on two concerns to the security of both Israel and the U.S. – Iran and Syria.

“Iran is a huge obstacle, a huge hurdle,” Binah said. “It is not just a threat beyond the horizon; it is a day to day nuisance.”

Regarding the U.S.-Israel relationship, the Israeli Ambassador said, “Israel does not have a better ally than the United States, and the United States does not have a better ally than Israel.”

“There is no more important value for the U.S. in the Middle East than maintaining alliances,” Binah added.

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Israel ties valued as part of Mormon-Jewish cooperation

August 28, 2012 1 Comment

AJC's Richard Foltin, St. Leo University's Dr. Abraham Peck, AIPAC's Gregory Smith

AJC’s Richard Foltin, St. Leo University’s Dr. Abraham Peck, AIPAC’s Gregory Smith

By Lauren Appelbaum and Ashley Gold

Tampa, Fla., Aug. 28 – “Why should Jews and Mormons sit and talk?” Dr. Abraham Peck asked during a panel organized by the American Jewish Committee at the Republican National Convention.

Peck, executive director of the Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies at St. Leo University in Florida, said both Jews and Mormons need to be included in interfaith dialogue which is taking on greater importance in the United States.

The two groups have a strong basis for friendship, stemming from the fact that that Mormons see Jews as biblically-related cousins and that both religions place a high value on primacy of the family.

Fellow panelist Gregory Smith, who is Mormon and now works for the pro-Israel lobbying organization AIPAC, expressed the same sentiment when describing his journey to become an Israel advocate.

“It’s an American value to support a strong U.S.-Israel relationship,” Smith said – something Mormons and Jews both believe very strongly.

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Filed under Israel, Mitt Romney Tagged with , , , , , ,

Obama for America announces Rabbis for Obama

August 21, 2012 3 Comments

President Obama at ‪Jewish‬ American Heritage Month reception, May 30, 2012 - Photo by William Daroff

President Obama at ‪Jewish‬ American Heritage Month reception, May 30, 2012 – Photo by William Daroff

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Washington, Aug. 21 – The Obama for America campaign has launched “Rabbis for Obama,” a group of rabbis from various denominations and from around the country whose goal is to “engage and mobilize grassroots supporters.”

“These rabbis mirror the diversity of American Jewry,” said Ira Forman who is the Jewish Outreach Director for the campaign.  ”Their ringing endorsement of President Obama speaks volumes about the President’s deep commitment to the security of the state of Israel and his dedication to a policy agenda that represents the values of the overwhelming majority of the American Jewish community.”

The three co-chairs include Rabbis Steven Bob and Sam Gordon, both of  Illinois and both founding co-chairs of Rabbis for Obama in 2008, and Rabbi Burt Visotzky of New York, who was a vice chair in 2008. More than 600 rabbis have signed on to be part of Rabbis for America; this number is double the number from the 2008 Rabbis for Obama group.

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Filed under Barack Obama, Israel Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Romney announces Jewish Americans for Romney coalition

August 1, 2012 4 Comments

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Mitt Romney and Benjamin Netanyahu meeting at the Prime Minister's residence on July 29, 2012

Mitt Romney and Benjamin Netanyahu meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence on July 29, 2012

Washington, Aug. 1 – Fresh off his trip to Israel, Mitt Romney announced his Jewish Americans for Romney coalition.

“I am proud to have the support of so many distinguished Jewish Americans,” the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said in a statement. “The Jewish community has made contributions to American society that stand in amazing disproportion to its numbers, and I am genuinely honored to have so many of its leading thinkers, diplomats, and political leaders support my campaign.  Having just visited Israel at a critical juncture in the history of the Middle East, I am persuaded that now, more than ever, America needs to stand with Israel. I will extend the hand of friendship because our partnership is not merely a strategic alliance but a force for good in the world.”

Honorary chairmen include Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), former Gov. Linda Lingle (R-Hawaii), former Sens. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) and Rudy Boschwitz (R-Minn) and Adam Hasner of Florida.

Cantor, the House majority leader, called for all American Jews regardless of political affiliation to seriously consider Romney’s candidacy.

“Throughout his life, Gov. Romney has been an unwavering supporter of the state of Israel,” Cantor said in a statement. “Gov. Romney understands that peace in the Middle East will only be achieved when Israel is secure within its borders and not the target of violence fueled by senseless hatred. He will leave no stone unturned in the effort to keep Israel secure.”

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New Poll Shows Conflicted American Jewish Electorate

April 30, 2012 12 Comments

By Ari Bildner, Staff Writer

Washington, April 30 – A new poll shows the mixed political mind of the American Jewish community as the nation heads into general election season.

Jewish Americans largely approve of President Obama’s handling of U.S.-Israel relations even as his overall support from the demographic has fallen, the new online poll by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) found.

When asked if the election was being held today, in a match-up between Obama and the likely Republican nominee Mitt Romney, 61 percent of those surveyed said they are more likely to vote for Obama, compared with 28 percent for Romney.

4. If the presidential election was being held today, and the candidates were [ORDER ROTATED] Mitt Romney, Republican, or Barack Obama, Democrat, for whom would you most likely vote?
28% Mitt Romney, Republican
61% Barack Obama, Democrat
11% Undecided
*% No Response

The number is a significant drop from the 78 percent the president received in exit polls in the 2008 election. But it is an improvement for Obama since AJC’s most recent survey in September 2011, when Obama received 50 percent of the support and Romney received 32 percent.

The survey also showed American Jews were more positive than negative on Obama’s handling of the U.S.-Israel relations, with 58 percent strongly or somewhat approving, against 40 percent strongly or somewhat disapproving.

9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Obama is handling each of these issues: U.S-Israel Relations?
15% Approve Strongly
43% Approve Somewhat
22% Disapprove Somewhat
18% Disapprove Strongly
1% No Response

The questionnaire responses also showed the economy remaining the top issue for Jewish Americans.

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Filed under Barack Obama, Iran, Israel, Mitt Romney Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

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