Month: September 2024

Why would any Jew who is cognizant of the current Administration’s attitude toward Israel and the Jews vote Democrat in the 2024 election? Unless said voter is devoid of compassion for Israel and his fellow Jews, totally indifferent to current events, not knowledgeable of the facts and/or a terminal sufferer of TDS it is beyond my comprehension. If you wonder why I feel that way, read on.

Jews, if you think you are safe and secure in America, think again. If you think you are insulated from the rampant antisemitism that has been ravaging throughout the world, think again. If you think a KK-TT Administration would safeguard your rights, think again. If you think this election doesn’t matter, think again. History tells you otherwise, and, more often than not, history repeats itself. See below for more details.

Throughout history, Jews have always been the whipping boy. In the Middle Ages rulers would often allow Jews to live in their country when times were good. However, they were quick to blame them whenever conditions deteriorated, for example if the crops failed, or if there was a drought, or a plague, or some other calamity. Then, blaming the Jews became a handy means of diverting the masses’ minds away from the root causes of their misery. They were told “blame the Jews.” It’s their fault. And, more often than not, the masses believed the rulers and reacted violently.

Why? I believe it was because Jews were (and are) different. Different God. Different method of worship. Different day of worship. Different appearance. Different customs. People tend to mistrust or even hate others who are different.

Hence, the Jews would be expelled from the country or victimized by pogroms or other means of violence with the tacit approval of the ruling class. It’s important for American Jews to be cognizant of that historical fact. American Jews must comprehend that even though they have enjoyed freedom, peace and prosperity in the US for some 250 years that can be taken away. For example, Jews lived in peace and prosperity in Germany for some 500 years before the Nazis came to power. Hitler’s rise to power was fueled by blaming the Jews for the post-WWI depression in Germany. The real causes were varied and complex, but the Jews were not one of them. Of course, that did not matter to Hitler who just wanted to seize control by any available means. We all know what happened afterwards. Jews cannot take the good life for granted. It can and generally has been transient.

So, we come to the present time in America. Traditionally, American Jews and the Dem Party have enjoyed a symbiotic relationship. Most Jews are liberal and have tended to support liberal candidates and liberal causes both monetarily and at the ballot box. According to a June 2024 survey by the Jewish Electorate Institute 67% of the respondents expressed support for Biden versus 24% for Trump. This was less of a margin than an exit poll after the 2020 election when Biden led 71% to 21%, but it is still sizeable.

Often, Jews vote Dem out of habit or because their parents did. Regardless, most of them have been loyal Dems their whole life. In return Dems have normally championed Jewish causes and, by extension, Israel. Since Israel’s founding in 1947 every administration, both GOP and Dem, has been a strong supporter, recognizing that it is our only true and enduring ally in the volatile and strategically vital ME. Every one, that is, until now.

Like any country that has been attacked Israel has a right and an obligation to defend itself. Moreover, it must defeat its attackers decisively and thoroughly in order to deter future attacks. This is an axiomatic concept. It has been true throughout all recorded history. More recently, it’s what we did after we were attacked by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor and the Islamic terrorists on 9/11. Furthermore, it is how Israel has reacted every other time it has been attacked with, I might add, the US’s unwavering support.

The Biden-Harris Administration and its allies in the Dem party acting in concert with their friends and allies in the media (“BHD”) have paid lip service by saying that “Israel has the right to defend itself (Thank you, “captain obvious.”), but their support has had limitations. They have not let Israel prosecute the war decisively to destroy Hamas and Hezbollah once and for all. Instead, they have placed restrictions on its military actions. They have advocated pursuing a negotiated cease fire and a two-state solution; they have threatened to withhold military aid; and they have undermined Netanyahu by criticizing his prosecution of the war and advocating new elections. This interference has actually prolonged the war and endangered the lives of the hostages still in captivity.

Hamas and Hezbollah don’t want to negotiate a peace or a cease fire. They don’t want a two-state solution. (For that matter, neither do the Israelis.) They have reiterated many times they want to destroy Israel and all the Jews in the region. That is the meaning of their mantra, “from the river to the sea.” One cannot negotiate with an enemy like that. BHD does not understand that.

Jews, wake up! BHD has demonstrated repeatedly and emphatically that it is no friend of either Israel or the Jews. I have included all Dems in this category because very few have dared to contradict BHD. Incidentally, I have a particularly strong utter contempt for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (the “Chameleon”). He is one of the most powerful and influential Jewish politicians in America. Not only has he not been supportive of Israel during the current crisis as he has in the past, he has consistently toed the BHD party line. He was especially critical of Prime Minister Netanyahu in “The Speech.”

BHD has uttered meaningless platitudes such “we stand behind Israel,” however, their actions and non-actions have exposed their true feelings. Remember the old expression, “actions speak louder than words.” I have blogged about this several times in the past year, but apparently a brief review is required. For example:

1. Recently, BHD has not been as supportive as prior Administrations. Since October 7 its support for Israel has been tepid, at best.
2. BHD have forgotten, or never learned, two of the primary lessons of warfare history. (1) Never negotiate with terrorists, and (2) appeasement never works. The world now views the US as an easy touch, a weakling, an appeaser, and the reincarnation of Britain’s late Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain. KK with her pro-Hamas, anti-Israel, antisemitic bent has exacerbated matters. For example, recently she hired a consultant named Brenda Abdelall, to head up an outreach program to the Arab community who is blatantly pro-Arab/anti-Israel. Abdelall has been quoted as stating the “Zionists control much of American politics.”
3. BHD has continually urged Israel to “show restraint” in retaliating against Hamas.
4. BHD has repeatedly criticized and undermined Prime Minister Netanyahu’s prosecution of the war. It has urged him to pursue conciliation and negotiation rather than full-bore aggression.
5. BHD has never condemned Hamas for the brutality of its attack and its murder and torture of the victims. Remember, at least four of the 60 or so hostages thought to be still alive are American citizens. BHD has abandoned them as it did the Americans in Afghanistan.
6. BHD has tried to pressure Israel into holding new elections with an eye to replacing Netanyahu. This constituted blatant interference in a nation’s internal affairs, a tactic which might be appropriate for a banana republic, not an ally.
7. BHD has slow-walked aid and has threatened to suspend aid if Israel were too aggressive.
8. At one point BHD sent Secretary of State Tony Blinken to attend a meeting of the Israeli War Cabinet to “advise” them which courses of action would and would not be acceptable to BHD. To use a Yiddish expression, what Chutzpah!
9. BHD has avoided blaming Iran, which, as Hamas’ sponsor, is ultimately responsible.
10. In general, BHD has been trying to steer a middle-of-the-road policy, which has not pleased either side, because it is afraid of offending the Arab states in the region such as Iran, its sponsored terrorists like Hamas and Hezbollah, and its supporters in the US. In short, BHD is selling out Israel and American Jews in order to win an election.
11. KK has been even more extreme than Biden. Recently, speaking on ABC’s “This Week” GOP Senator Lindsey Graham characterized her as a “wrecking ball.” Harris has vowed to “defend Israel and help it defend itself,” but even though she has professed to have been “the last person in the room” whenever Biden discussed policy, she has neither advocated nor implemented any specific actions consistent with those words. Actions speak louder than words. Talk is cheap; play the game.
12. Latent antisemitism has exploded in the last few years. It was always there lurking just below the surface, but now it is out in the open. A prime example is the recent massive anti-Israel, pro-Hamas, pro-Palestinian rioting. Many, if not most, of these rioters have no conception of the issues, which are very complex. They probably couldn’t even find Gaza on a map. They don’t care. They just want to riot and incite violence. A goodly portion of them are probably outside professional agitators.

BHD has abetted and exacerbated these conditions by their failure to stand up to the rioters. They have allowed the violence to proceed and metastasize unchecked. There has been violence in the streets and in the colleges.

It’s apparent that antisemitism on college campuses has become pervasive. It has been reported consistently that many Jewish students are uncomfortable and afraid. My research disclosed several surveys supporting this. I have included a few below to illustrate the point.

According to a survey conducted by the Anti-Defamation League in November 2023 73% of college students reported they had experienced or witnessed an antisemitic incident. According to a recent survey by the IDF some 63% of Jewish students have either been the victim of or know someone who has been the victim of an antisemitic attack. A recent survey of major universities conducted by US News and World Report disclosed that some 2/3 of the students responded that antisemitism was a “problem” on their respective campuses. Some 44% of these students reported that they “rarely” or “never” feel safe “identifying” as Jews. A recent survey conducted by Alums for Campus Fairness disclosed that 81% of college students and 69% of alumni tried to “avoid certain places, events and situations.” Moreover, 60% reported witnessing faculty making an “offensive antisemitic remark” either to them or an acquaintance.

As a consequence, parents of many of these students have recommended they transfer to a college with a “safer” environment, but where would it be safer? Hard to know. And why should these students be forced to transfer from their choice of college by the actions of others? Tough decision.

GOP NJ Rep. Jeff Van Drew observed that “there’s little difference between the ideology of the protesters and the top of the [Dem] ticket.” To illustrate this point, BHD has continued to take no action. Neither they nor the various local governments have activated police to control and/or arrest the rioters. They have not deported those that are in the US illegally. They have not even condemned the violence. They are either indifferent or, worse, supportive of the mob.

Similarly, college administrators have failed miserably to quell the antisemitism on their respective campuses. Unfortunately, antisemitism is well-embedded on many campuses, so I wouldn’t expect significant improvements any time soon.

If any other ethnic or religious group were being victimized in this manner you can be sure there would have been an uproar and a flurry of action. Now that a new school year has commenced the violence of last year will likely be repeated. What will BHD and the college administrators do about it? My guess would be lots of words, but no actions. We need action. Actions speak louder than words.

Expressions of antisemitism have not been limited to college campuses. Various media outlets have reported a plethora of antisemitic incidents. For example, the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force reported it had investigated 45 such incidents directed at Jews in the month of June and 30 more in July. Donald Trump has observed that there has “never been a more dangerous time since the Holocaust to be Jewish in the US.” I would concur.

Despite her protestations to the contrary, many observers have opined that KK selected MN Governor Tim Walz as her running mate instead of PA Governor Josh Shapiro to placate the far left/pro-Hamas/antisemitic wing of the Dem Party because Shapiro is Jewish. I agree. Otherwise, her choice made little sense since MN is solidly blue, and PA is a large swing state.

Various GOP politicians have weighed in regarding KK’s anti-Jewish bias. For instance, former NYS gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin warned that if KK were to be elected Jewish Americans would be among the biggest losers.”

CONCLUSION

With respect to the Israel-Hamas War the best and only logical course of action, in my opinion, would be to provide Israel with the means for total victory. Let them eliminate Hamas, Hezbollah and the various other terrorist groups as effective fighting forces once and for all. The US should eliminate Iran’s ability to support terrorism in the region. It won’t be easy, but Trump managed to do it during his tenure. That would be the only way to achieve a lasting peace in the region. Otherwise, we are just fooling ourselves and sowing the seeds for another war, and another, and another.

With respect to America’s antisemitism problem, we need forceful, decisive action from the federal level on down. That will also be difficult as antisemitism is heavily engrained. The federal government has the means to do it, but I don’t think BHD has the ability or the willingness. They are all about winning elections so as to retain their power and control, and they are too heavily reliant on the support of the far-left antisemitic wing of the Party.

Trump could do it. He has the requisite motivation, desire and strength of character to do it. More significantly, he already has done it once in his prior administration.

Which brings me back to my original question. Why would any intelligent, knowledgeable and objective Jewish Democrat who cares about Israel and his fellow Jews in America and around the world vote for the Dems? I think it is time for Jewish Dem voters to reevaluate the benefits of the above-mentioned symbiotic relationship with the Dem Party. Jews must realize that the present-day Dems are not the Dems of FDR and JFK. They were strong supporters of the middle class, the working class, and the downtrodden. The present-day Dem Party is the party of the coastal elites. It doesn’t have the same values. It is not loyal to you; therefore, you do not need to be loyal to it.

Actions speak louder than words. Talk is cheap. Play the game.