JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People

RJC: Facts do matter

By Ami Eden · July 15, 2008

As promised... here is the Republican Jewish Coalition's statement acknowledging its inaccurate press release from yesterday:

RJC Statement on Yesterday's Press Release

Washington, D.C. (July 15, 2008) – Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) Executive Director Matt Brooks issued the followed statement today:

"In a press release issued yesterday by the Republican Jewish Coalition, we called on Senator Obama to drop anti-Israel Senator Chuck Hagel as a participant on Obama's upcoming trip to Israel. Despite information from multiple sources, both in the U.S. and abroad, that Hagel would be accompanying Obama to Israel - as well as on the additional stops of the trip, including Iraq and Afghanistan - we have been made aware that Hagel will not be a part of the Israel leg of the trip. However, while Hagel is not going to Israel with Obama, it does not change the fact that we remain concerned about the ongoing outreach by Senator Obama to Senator Hagel," said Brooks. "We remain deeply troubled that Senator Obama has called Hagel one of the 'good guys' and that Hagel is often cited as a possible vice presidential candidate or as a future cabinet member in a possible Obama administration. That Obama is looking to Hagel for advise and counsel on foreign policy matters should be a real cause of concern to the American Jewish community. It highlights, once again, why Obama continues to have problems among Jewish voters," said Brooks.

The National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC), cited clear examples of Sen. Hagel's abysmal record on Israel.

* In August 2006, Hagel was one of only 12 senators who refused to write the EU asking them to declare Hezbollah a terrorist organization. * In December 2005, Hagel was one of only 27 who refused to sign a letter to President Bush to pressure the Palestinian Authority to ban terrorist groups from participating in Palestinian legislative elections. * In June 2004, Hagel refused to sign a letter urging President Bush to highlight Iran's nuclear program at the G-8 summit. * In November 2001, Hagel was one of only 11 senators who refused to sign a letter urging President Bush not to meet with the late Yassir Arafat until his forces ended the violence against Israel. * In October 2000, Hagel was one of only four senators who refused to sign a Senate letter in support of Israel.

"By aligning himself with Chuck Hagel, Barack Obama continues to send every wrong signal to the Jewish community about who he is and where he stands on issues important to Israel and the American Jewish community," Brooks concluded.