Chicagoland Pro-Israel Political Update

A newsletter for people willing to think for themselves



September 9, 2018

L’Shana Tova! If you care about America and Israel, you should support Democratic candidates in 2018. Speak up civilly and respond with the facts on Trump’s abysmal record on Israel and the reality of strong Democratic support for Israel. Details below.

We have some important and fun events coming up: Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) on September 20 in Highland Park, Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) with Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) in Lincoln Park on October 3, and the fifth in the wildly successful series of candidate events that Dana Gordon and I have been hosting, with Abby Finkenauer (D-Iowa) on October 14.

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Friends,

L’Shana Tova! Rosh Hashanah begins tonight. I hope 5779 is a year of peace and health for everyone, but thoughts and prayers are not enough. We need to make it happen, and even if we cannot fully succeed, we need to try. So ignore the etiquette experts and talk about religion and politics with your family and friends. Talk civilly, but speak up.

Don’t get disillusioned and cynical about religion and politics because their practitioners and institutions so often fall short of their ideals. The answer is not to give up, but to learn more, get involved, and make it better. Herman Wouk wrote in This Is My God that “Sir Thomas Beecham once said that Don Giovanni has never had an adequate performance--that is, a troupe of singers capable of singing it, and an audience equipped to hear it.” But that doesn’t lessen the genius of Mozart, nor should it dissuade us from trying to get what we can out of Mozart. Similarly, the imperfections of our politics should not discourage us from engaging and making a difference.

If you're pressed for time and have to choose between reading the rest of this newsletter or President Obama's speech from Friday, read President Obama's speech to remind yourself of what America is really all about.

If you care about America and Israel, you should support Democratic candidates in 2018 . How much more evidence do we need that Trump is “ an ignorant, impulsive and dishonest narcissist ”? Michael Gerson points out that “ We are a superpower run by a simpleton. From a foreign policy perspective, this is far worse than being run by a skilled liar. It is an invitation to manipulation and contempt.” The U.S. is Israel’s primary, and sometimes only, supporter. How can this possibly be good for Israel, let alone America?

Yet Republicans in Congress, even those who talk a good game, have utterly failed their responsibility to provide a check on the presidency, most recently in the Kavanaugh hearings . Whether they are afraid of their base or whether they really like where Trump is taking us is immaterial. They have all failed.

Does that sound partisan? Well, guess what: Our system is partisan. That’s what elections are all about. We have two major parties in this country, and they are as different as ever. There is no single better predictor of how a member of the House and Senate will vote than party affiliation. With very few exceptions, you will find that no matter where you are on any issue, members of only one party will agree with you. Ignoring party affiliation, or pretending to be “independent” (as if you are somehow more thoughtful because you are thoughtless enough to ignore the role parties play in our politics), is irresponsible.

Trump’s record on Israel is abysmal . Trump ran a campaign laced with anti-Semitic tropes and anti-Jewish stereotypes . Since taking office, Trump has threatened that Israel would “ have to pay a higher price ” in return for moving the embassy to Jerusalem (a move that made Israel not one whit safer). Trump proposed arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that would erode Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge. Trump proposed providing nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia (a regime that still beheads people). Trump has several times gone behind Israel's back to negotiate with Russia about Syria. Trump imposed steel and aluminum tariffs on Israel .

Trump compromised Israeli intelligence by sharing information with Russia. Trump endangered Israeli lives by reckless aid cuts that will destabilize the Palestinian Authority and increase volatility in the West Bank and Gaza--we know now that Bibi did not consult with Israel’s security chiefs before reversing long-standing Israeli opposition to these cuts. Trump exited the Iran Deal with no Plan B and nothing but a sham Iran Action Group . All in less than two years. And Trump has still not filled the position of Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism , which has been vacant since he took office, nor has he appointed a White House Jewish liaison.

But instead of calling out Trump, Republicans are attacking Democrats on Israel . The need for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship is one of the few areas of bipartisan agreement. Why would any true friend of Israel want to erode bipartisan support for Israel? Yet instead of worrying about the anti-Semites in their own midst , Republicans would have us believe that certain isolated cases--out of about 450 Democrats who will be on the November ballot for House and Senate-- are representative of a Democratic Party that remains firmly pro-Israel.

The only poll that matters, the only poll that can be verified and is unambiguous, is votes in Congress. The record shows that Democratic support for Israel remains strong and unabated. In fact, this past summer, the only Senate opposition to the codification of President Obama’s record-breaking aid package to Israel came from Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. In May, the House Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously (that means all Democrats and all Republicans) voted for the U.S.-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018.

Let's concede that Democratic members of Congress are politicians. By definition, if they are in Congress, they are successful politicians. Successful politicians don’t ignore their base. Maybe all these Democrats don’t know their base as well as the rabid Republicans who tell us otherwise.

Or maybe Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is right : “The overwhelming majority of Jews are Democrats. I think they’re progressive Democrats who understand that sometimes the overly conservative politics of Israel don’t represent them, but it is a core part of who we are that Israel should be defended and she should be uplifted and our loyalty should be about improving her, not about abandoning her.”

Indeed, as Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) Executive Director Halie Soifer pointed out in her must-read op-ed , “those Democratic members of Congress who have questioned some of Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies have not called for reducing US support for Israel, nor have they advocated for any US policy that would leave Israel strategically or economically vulnerable.”

And as I pointed out in my op-ed, pro-Israel is not the same as pro-Bibi .

Upcoming Events/Save the Dates : In all of our Blue Wave excitement, let’s not forget our own Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), one of Israel’s best friends in Congress on either side of the aisle. Join me on September 20 in Highland Park for an evening reception in support of Brad. RSVP here or by replying to this email.

On October 3, join me in Lincoln Park for a reception featuring Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) in support of Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) . Mikie is endorsed by the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) and is a former Navy helicopter pilot, former federal prosecutor, and a supporter of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, which she calls “ instrumental to global security .” Details to come.

The fifth in the wildly successful series of candidate events that Dana Gordon and I have been hosting will feature Abby Finkenauer (D-Iowa) on October 14. No woman younger than Abby has ever been elected to Congress, and she is very supportive of Israel . Details to come. Our previous events featured Dan Kohl (WI), Elissa Slotkin (MI), Ken Harbaugh (OH), and Sean Casten (IL).

Did you miss last week’s newsletter? Here it is .

ICYMI . There is zero chance that a confederation between Jordan and the West Bank will work.

Tweet of the Week . Jess Dweck .


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The Fine Print (in regular type) : This newsletter usually runs on Sunday mornings. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, my views do not necessarily reflect the views of any candidates or organizations that I support or am associated with. My views might not even be my views tomorrow; I reserve the right to change my mind as I learn more, and sometimes I make myself mad too. Intelligent, well-informed people may disagree with me; seek out opposing views and decide for yourself. When I link to an article, it doesn't mean I agree with everything the author of that article has ever said or even that I agree with everything in that article; it means that the article supports or elaborates on the point I was making. Advertisements reflect the views of the advertisers, not necessarily of me, and advertisers are solely responsible for the content of their advertisements. I read, value, and encourage replies to my newsletters, but I don't always have time to acknowledge replies or to engage in one-on-one discussion.