At first glance, it seems an oxymoron: Jewish Democrats for Bush. But in these unusual times, when Greenpeace, the ecology group, has been seen to be promoting ecological damage and when it's no longer politically correct to be different, Jewish Democrats for Bush actually makes sense.



To understand how such a group could come about, one must backtrack nearly 35 years. It was the height of the Vietnam war and both main political parties in America -- the Republicans and the Democrats -- had opposite and clearly defined agendas. The Democrats were all for getting out of a war that we were dragged into by the French and our treaty with them. The Democrats also gave the impression of being the champion of human rights, as well as equal rights and equal pay. And most importantly to many Jews, the Democratic Party was a staunch supporter of Israel.



Also at that time, religion was not as prominent an issue unless one was discussing separation of church and state. For many Jews who still had the fresh memory of the Holocaust, the Republicans were 'too Christianity-oriented' for comfort. At that time, the emphasis of the Christian political movement was not the inclusive, accepting, morals-promoting movement it is today. At that time, many Jews (whether rightly or wrongly) felt that the Christian right was out to exclude and convert the Hebrew people.



Fast forward a few years and times changed, presidents changed and the world had new troubles. For many Jewish Democrats, President Carter was considered an aberration and a fluke. His election by many was a backlash against the Watergate scandal. His brother Billy's embrace of, and shady financial dealings with, fascist Islamist leaders was alarming, but as short-lived as his brother's presidency. Most Jewish Democrats continued to vote Democratic in subsequent elections.



After another few presidents, the Jews had a new threat called 'The Oslo Peace Process.' Oslo was a maneuver the first President George Bush helped Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin push through to force Israel into giving over part of her land, as well as most of the holiest Jewish sites, to people bent upon her destruction. Therefore, when it came time to reelect Bush, most Jews continued to vote Democratic and President Bill Clinton won the election.



But Clinton destroyed some of the support the Democrats had among Jews. To understand how this could happen, one must first understand the Jewish people themselves. While Judaism is one religion, it has several different sects based upon the degree of religious observance. Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Humanist are the most modern of the sects, and traditionally consist of Democratic voters. Orthodox and Chassidic are the most traditionally observant. (Jews for Jesus are not considered Jewish by any of the sects and do not qualify as Jews according to Jewish law.)



While there are many differences between the Jewish sects and much debate amongst them, certain philosophies are intrinsic to all groups. Morality, ethics, education and freedom are synonymous with Judaism, no matter what form of it is practiced. And so is the desire to return to the homeland, Israel. No matter what the sect, there is one prayer that is part of everyone's Holy Days prayers: "Next year in Jerusalem." Support of Israel, the aboriginal homeland of the Jewish people, is as common to Judaism as support of Vatican City is to Catholics or Medina and Mecca is to Muslims.



All of this brings us nearly to the point when many Jews became Jewish Democrats for Bush. Before I discuss my interview with the founder of this movement, I must tell you of my own experience. I registered as a Democratic back when the Democrats supported Israel, as well as freedom of thought and freedom for those oppressed. I even voted for Clinton. (When Carter ran, I did a write-in for Jean Kirkpatrick.)



But Clinton's sexual shenanigans and outright lies began souring me on the Democratic Party. So, too, did Hillary's all-to-public, physically warm embrace of master terrorist Yasser Arafat's wife. That Hillary, as a representative of the White House, could embrace the wife of the biggest genocidal monster outside of Hitler, was appalling. What ever happened to the values of the Democrats? My politics had not changed; instead, the party had changed around me.



Then, there was the whole genesis of political correctness. While I have always agreed that people who are different than I am shouldn't be given negative labels, the Democrats took it way too far. The Democrats, like some Orwellian nightmare, stressed sameness as being the politically correct mode. What ever happened to diversity and individuality? These are the qualities that made our country great, and yet the Democrats wanted to change everyone to be not merely equal, but indistinguishable.



I remember not long ago when some school district in California decided that playing tag was unfair to the slower children because they might lose. If I remember correctly, they banned the game. What will they ban next, superior intellect and a desire to succeed? Or beauty? Or talent? The Democrats have turned this into very scary times that endanger our country into losing that which made us great: our uniqueness, respect for individuality and drive.



And then there's Israel. Yasser Arafat, the father of modern day terror, was an honored guest more times at the Clinton White House than any other leader. And this is a man who has openly, repeatedly called for genocide of the Jewish people. Meanwhile, at the end of Clinton's last term, he rammed through 'Camp David', whereby Israel was arm-wrestled into giving up territory and exposing herself to becoming an Islamist-majority state with no guarantees of safety, security or acceptance in the international, as well as Arab, arenas. Nor was Clinton a maverick in this Camp David Accord. He had party support, with Carter championing the murderers of Jewish children and families: the Arabs who follow Arafat. I blame the last four years of the Intifada and its thousand-plus dead children, mothers, babies, families and elderly directly on Camp David and the Democratic stance towards Israel.



Lastly, from my personal viewpoint as an American, a Democrat and a Jew, is John-Kerry-the-candidate himself. The very leaders who advocate the destruction of Israel and who praise the homicide bombers whenever they kill Americans or Jews have come out for Kerry. Not that Kerry is responsible for those who endorse him; however, he is responsible for accepting or denouncing such support. I have waited for Kerry to denounce the support of Islamists and those who praised 9-11, but it has not been forthcoming. So, I quietly decided to throw my support behind Bush, almost feeling embarrassed to announce it.



Enter Heshy Friedman. He is my opposite number. Being an Orthodox Jew, he is strictly observant. Mr. Friedman and many of the Orthodox consider me secular, even though I practice Reform Judaism. But Mr. Friedman and I have two things in common although our religious practices are quite different. We are both Democrats and we both support Bush.



Mr. Friedman started the Democrats for Bush movement. His reasons come from a moral and religious standpoint, as well as a political one. As an Orthodox Jew, he wants a president who conducts himself morally both in and out of office. As an Orthodox Jew, he is against abortion and views homosexuality as morally wrong since it is denounced in the Bible. And as an Orthodox Jew living in Brooklyn, Mr. Friedman learned that a strong defense is necessary to maintain not merely one's freedom, but one's life.



When asked about Kerry, Mr. Friedman first mentioned Kerry's stance on defense issues. He reminded me that Kerry was against the Patriot Missile, which has been so important to Israel's defense. He also cited Kerry's opposition to the B-1 bomber. And most important to current events, Mr. Friedman reminded me that there has not been a foreign terrorist attack on American soil since 9-11. He attributes this to Bush's strong leadership in the face of liberal opposition to the Patriot Act, as well as his policies abroad. Mr. Friedman is also a staunch supporter of Israel and sees President Bush as Israel's best friend in a long, long time.



On the next to last day of the Republican National Convention, Mr. Friedman came into Manhattan with an enormous sign that read "Jewish Democrats For Bush." I went with him and some of his people to observe public reaction. For several hours, Mr. Friedman and other like-minded people paraded their sign in the areas around Madison Square Garden where the Republican National convention was being held. The reactions were surprising.



Many people stopped to take pictures, all the while commending him and his people on their bravery. The detractors, for the most part, were, frankly, fanatical-looking. Most of them seemed stuck in the hippie style of dress, and a few appeared downright crazy, with odd costumes and handmade crayon or magic marker signs.



Perhaps the most interesting thing was the supporters. Many business people (judging by their clothes and their desire to move on through) passing the Herald Square area told him in conspiratorial whispers that they were Jewish Democrats who planned to vote for Bush. A group of Chinese Falun Gong, there to publicize the fate of their brethren at the hands of the Communist Chinese government, also gave Mr. Friedman a thumbs-up. Even the police, being union members and notoriously Democratic, quietly gave him words of support as he and the others walked by with their huge banner.



But most remarkable of all were Mr. Friedman's defenders. At one point, a group of Arabs and Muslims surrounded Mr. Friedman and his people with shouts of "Hitler was right!" and "You Jews are Nazis!" Rallying around Mr. Friedman, protecting him and shouting down the attackers, were not a few Blacks, all of whom had stopped to help.



Mr. Friedman's movement seems to be growing legs. Meanwhile, there is another group whose representatives I have interviewed in recent weeks - the Global Israel Alliance, made up of a coalition of Christians and Jews of all sects, who also support Bush. During the RNC, some of them met Mr. Friedman's group informally on the streets. They recognized a common goal in one other and this emerging political trend may very well spell Kerry's demise.



[Anyone interested in 'Jewish Democrats for Bush' may contact Mr. Friedman at 917-468-4840.]