Could one ever imagine the African-American community saying “No matter where candidates stand on Affirmative action, we will stand by politicians on both sides of the fence?”
Would one expect, say Latinos on immigration to say “the Latino community should take care not to let immigration” become a political football?
As one who has run political campaigns and owns a major US PR Agency I’d call them foolish and politically naïve if they did such a thing.
Yet, this week, the Jewish community “leadership”, in the form of The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the American Jewish Committee (AJC) issued a “National Pledge for Unity on Israel,” which was posted on both organizations websites.
They declared that with all the “new dangers and challenges” facing Israel in a “fast changing Middle East,” it’s more important than ever for America to “project to the world” that US support for Israel is wall-to-wall and rock solid.
Right now, they continue, as we enter what’s shaping up as an ugly election season, the Jewish community should take care not to let Israel become a political football [between presidential candidates, ed.]. Let’s have “American voices raised together in unshakeable support for our friend and ally.” If you agree, they say, click here, add your name and take the pledge.
President Obama – perhaps the most Anti-Israel President Israel has ever faced should not be challenged by the Jewish community? Only 70 years after the Holocaust, with enemies surrounding her, the Jewish community should simply accept the President of the United States – whoever he is and say “We, the Jews stand with you no matter what ?”
This is the same Jewish establishment who didn’t criticize FDR during the Holocaust – and condemned those who did speak out.
The Jewish establishment generally seems to view “unity” and bi-partisanship through their unique rose-colored glasses – In 2008, for example, the ADL urged both political parties to adopt a pro-choice stance in their presidential platforms – Do all Jews support the ADL’s pro-choice position ? Seems that their unity may be a conveniently liberal “unity”.
And lets pretend Herman Cain receives the GOP nomination and sticks to his opinion that Muslims cannot join his cabinet, as “They are not dedicated to our Constitution. Many of them are trying to force Sharia law on the people of this country.” I highly doubt they would stand by Cain.
Say a Rabbi Kahane supporter was elected to Congress and spoke of expelling Arabs from Israel – Will ADL and AJC still stand by their “pledge for unity on Israel” ?
Seems to me this is a clear bias to stifle debate and discussion on the danger of a second term for Obama.
While unity is a nice buzzword that makes sense, as Jonathan Tobin of Commentary Magazine said, the “pledge doesn’t pass the smell test” — parts of it seem “aimed more at silencing any effort to hold the Obama administration accountable.”
There’s also the vast problem with “support for Israel” – Is the Zionist Organization of America and Orthodox Union the judge on what constitutes “support for Israel” or is it going to be J Street and Hadassah? Vastly different views on “support for Israel.”
This effort to stifle debate on U.S. policy toward Israel runs counter to all American values and traditions – and its politically naïve, bad political judgment and bad for the Jewish community.