Bloomfield: What Dems should think about McCain
In a column for the Jerusalem Post, pro-Israel analyst Douglas Bloomfield argues that Jewish Democrats have "good reason to be worried about" John McCain – but they also have "strong ammunition to muster against him."
Whereas McCain and [Joe] Lieberman are in lockstep in their support for the Iraq war and hardline toward Iranian nuclear ambitions, most Jewish voters strongly oppose the Iraq war and don't want one with Iran.Lieberman has said he and McCain are cool to the Bush administration's Mideast peace initiative, although polls indicate most American Jews would like to see a more activist American approach. Democrats can be counted upon to remind voters that McCain has said we could be in Iraq for another hundred years, while they want to start bringing home the troops in the first hundred days of the next presidency.
Even more upsetting to many Jews will be his promise to use Bush Supreme Court Justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito as his models for appointing 'strict interpretation' judges to federal bench. With the judiciary already tilting toward the far Right, that could have a dramatic impact on a range of issues most Jewish voters care about, including church-state separation, abortion and civil liberties.
On the flip side:
McCain, unlike recent Republican nominees, appeals to Jewish voters on issues that have earned him the enmity of his party's conservative base - immigration reform, campaign finance reform, stem cell research, climate control and torture.Those issues and his reputation for candor have identified him as a maverick and obscured his otherwise staunchly conservative record, which he has stressed in appearances before the party faithful. Once he locks up the nomination, that record will prove an inviting target for Democratic strategists – particularly Jewish Democrats.
And, if the Democrats settle on Barack Obama, Bloomfield says "look for right-wing Jews to step up their hate campaign against him and efforts to brand him the Muslim Manchurian candidate."
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John McCain,
Presidential Race
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George W. Bush is arguably one of the worse presidents in US history, re his policies on Iraq, the economy, the environment and much more. It is time for a change in parties. McCain would continue policies that would maintain the very low image of the US worldwide, enrich the wealthy at the expense of the poor, cut social programs that so many Jews depend on, appoint Supreme Court justices whose opinions are contrary to those of most Jews and promote dangerous energy policies like the increased use of nuclear power.
It would be preferable to be concerned about what really threatens the Jews, than be presented with the Dems’talking points.
Reference: “On The Present Danger Facing Israel And All Jews”
from http://www.americanthinker.com
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Bogeygolf
02/06/08 01:50 PM
there’s no need to attack obama as the ‘muslim’ candidate. there are multiple other reasons he does not pass muster as a
candidate whose commitments to israel are suspect. he has surrounded himself w/ former carterites whose antipathy to israel is well known. he has supported a contiguous palestinian state which would, by definition, split israel. his willingness to snatch a potential victory in our battles in iraq will do nothing but embolden israel’s other enemies. democrats cannot be trusted to protect our country and, by extension, help israel. while bush has made many mistakes let there be no mistake: he has not tried to force down israel’s throat a peace w/ the palestinians that was no peace for israel. during clinton’s administration arafat was hosted at the white house more than any foreign ‘dignitary’. obama will be no better than clinton (either one) and will, most likely, be far worse. our country was attacked throughout the world during clinton’s administration and the democratic response was woefully inadequate. obama would make clinton look strong when, in fact, clinton left our country vulnerable and set the table for 9-11.