The National Jewish Democratic Coalition may play up the fact that New Hampshire Congressman Paul Hodes, now a candidate for Senate, is pro-choice but this organization exists for one reason. This was expressed in the first sentence in a letter to its subscribers:
In 2010, we have the unique opportunity to elect a strong progressive, guitar strumming, Israel supporting, New Hampshire congressman who comes from a Hungarian and Russian Jewish immigrant family to be Senator of the State of New Hampshire.
Times have changed. In "Jews and American Politics," the very revealing book by Stephen Issacs, published in 1974, and, according to Isaacs, the first written on the subject, the dust jacket asked three questions, one of which was, "Why do Jews seldom run for office,and why do so many work behind the scenes as strategists?"
In 1974, there were three Jewish Senators, today there are 13– not enough, per the NJDC. There is one Black senator, Roland Burris, who is not long for his office and not a single Latino. One would think that those in the Democratic Party who decide such things would see something wrong with this picture. As for those who say that religious affiliation shouldn’t make a difference, I would agree– and I’m Jewish– were it not for the dominant role that Jewish Americans in Congress have played in maintaining America’s unconditional support for Israel’s continuing dispossession and repression of the Palestinians and for its war against them and the people of Lebanon. Even the nominally Independent Bernie Sanders has, unfortunately, contributed his share to that.
Depressing. How many Muslim members of Congress are there? Keith Ellison and . . . anyone else? Bueller? Bueller?
The most amazing part is not simply that 12% of the Senate is Jewish (over-representing the 2% of the population by sixfold), it’s that these members always happen to wind up running the Foreign Relations Committee, or Armed Services Committee, or Intelligence Committee.
Jane Harman running House Intelligence — you go, girl!
Contrast that with African Americans having one senator from their minority, which is at least 12% of the African American population — a twelvefold under-representation.
Incidentally, didn’t there used to be 15 Jewish senators at one point?
Jane Harman running House intelligence even after the wire tapping scandal?
God help America.
Blame Pelosi
.
Here’s another one, running for Congress in Illinois’ 10th.
How many of these do we need?
Where are the Arab-American candidates who kick off their campaign in the mosque or church and promise to be “a passionate advocate for Palestine?”
A good liberal Senator is just what the world needs.
To realize a change within conservative New Hampshire, is good news.
A good liberal Senator who will stand up against the Israel Lobby is just what the world needs. Another Zionist tool – a dime a dozen.
Call me when we have one.
Correction: a good liberal Senator when it comes to USA domestic politics who simultaneously is far right wing when it comes to foreign policy affecting Israel. In short just another Jewish senator (or house rep).
There are too many Jewish senators. What a brilliant organizing strategy.
There are too many Zionist Senators. A real progressive Jewish Senator who isn’t afraid of the Lobby – that’s what is needed.
Now that would be the real messiah we have all been waiting for.
An anti-Zionist Russ Feingold.
According to Mr. Blankfort, there are too many Jews in the Senate and too many Jews in Israel. Too many rights for Jews, Mr. Blankfort? Too many Jews in general, perhaps?
You’re in great company:
Jean-Marie Le Pen: there are too many Jews in the press
Octavian Goga, Romanian PM most know for stripping Romanian Jews of their citizenship:
“The Jewish problem is an old one here, and it is a Rumanian tragedy. Briefly, we have far too many Jews.”
If you’re so upset about the representation of other minorities, no one’s stopping you from promoting them and encouraging them to run for office.
Carnas, the litmus test is, do you rubber stamp Israel’s whims? And fund them evermore? It’s not a question of too many, but the observation that they all campaign and enforce Israel’s interests as Israel perceives them, regardless of the cost to the USA financially and in world opinion, something the USA actually needs since military and (failing) economic might does not quite control everything.
You can always count on carnas to have his shovel around, ready to exhume the victims of the Holocaust and put them on parade as human (posthumous?) shields against any sort of argument.
Yes, Carnas, sorry to have to say it. Given their importance in maintaining US unconditional support for Israel, there ARE too many Jews in the Senate. Saluting the Israeli flag, for example was the only thing that Al Franken and Norm Coleman seem to have been agreed upon!) If there is one thing to be said in their favor, none need to be bought off ir intimidated like all the rest of their non-Jewish colleagues (with the SINGLE exception of Robert Byrd). They support Israel’s bloody handiwork as part of what they evidently perceive to be tribal loyalty.
The reason there are so many Jews and no Blacks or Latinos is that it is Jewish money that funds the Democratic Party and it has been that way for years.
To quote Stephen Isaacs from his landmark book, ,”Jews and American Politics,” Doubleday,1974:
“The first Jewish fundraiser for national politics (and one makes the distinction here between those who give and those who go out and raise money) was banker Abe Feinberg, according to veteran politician Alex Rose. ‘In 1948, when Truman was regarded as a losing candidate, Abe Feinberg stood up for him and raised money for him,’ said Rose. ‘When Truman won, Truman’s triumph to some extent was also lAbe Feinberg’s. Everybody knew that Feinberg raised money for Truman’s campaign. As far as I know, that was the first time a Jew did that, prominently.’ Feinberg’s activities started a process of systematic fund raising for politics that has made Jews the most conspicuous fund raisers and contributors to the Democratic Party. As one non-Jewish strategist told this writer (Issacs), ‘You can’t hope to go anywhere in national politics if you’re a Democrat, without Jewish money.’
That’s the way it still is, Carnas, and that’s one of the reasons what little is left of our democracy has become so perverted.
I think we’re missing the point. Jews in America aren’t the same as Jews in Israel. Or maybe to be more precise, Jews in American “POLITICS” are not really Jews, or to say, give a damn about Judaism, Israel, peace or anything we’re focused on.
American Jews in politics are pro Israel not because they give a damn about Israel or what is happening in the Mid-East, but as typical American politicians, they’re in it for themselves. Power, money, influence and selfish motives.
American politicians have made Israel a tool they can use for their own purposes and are simply waving the Israel flag to get their own interests served, and damn be anyone in the Mid East if they get in the way. American politicians and special interests groups have turned Israel into the biggest propaganda and marketing tool to help achieve their own goals using the Israel banner as a way to smooth many obstacles. No need to remind everyone how the Health Care coalitions is shmoozing to AIPAC to achieve their own goals. Anyone in American politics who is trying to achieve an agenda realizes that by courting the Jewish marketing machines (AIPAC, AJC, etc…) is half way home. Do you really think any of these people give a damn about what happens to a few thousand Palestinians who have absolutuely no power or representation in the US political establishment. How do you achieve your goals with this weak group.
Let’s face it, politicians are worse than whores, their only motivation is to get their own projects and agendas and if this means sleeping with the devil, then why not, most have done worse. And most would NEVER, NEVER want to see peace in the Mid East, why lose your marketing edge, for what?. Even Bill Clinton can tell you this, “get over it”. Many so called Christian Zionists groups, whose real end goal is the destruction of Judaism also court this group for the same reason, POWER and Influence.
Think about it. What if peace by some miracle actually takes a hold in the Mid East, would AIPAC survive? would the power of American Jewish group continue to carry a big schtik. Of course not, no reason or motive left. And that is why American politicians support this group and will continue to court it because as whores, you don’t cut off the hand that feeds you, you keep licking it. The sad thing, is Jewish American politicians who for generations avoided this establishment are now realizing, the key to their success and achieving their “American” agendas is through waving the same marketing flag. The star of David has become the biggest marketing tool in the US.
Sad, but true. If there were to be ANY kind of a resolution of the I-P conflict in which Israel could no longer be portrayed as being under siege or vulnerable, it would generate such a sea change in American politics as to make the current situation unrecognizable. The Democratic Party wouldn’t be voting for food stamps, it would be waiting in line to collect them and the organized Jewish establishment would lose the single thread that holds it together, supporting embattled Israel. This is why there will be so justice for Palestine and, in fact, no resolution of the issues in any manner while there is a Democrat in the White House and wealthy Jews control the purse strings of the party.
It is sadder than you think. I firmly believe there is a large group of politicians, in Israel, who really would like to see peace and are willing to go a long way to get it. Counter that, there is also a large group of politicians, special interest groups, businessmen and of course radicals and religious extremists who want the opposite. Radicals, extremist religious groups and idiots you can deal with, the others are more dangerous than any weapon ever created.
A case in point, even the Israel army chief of staff, Ashkenazi has on many occasions pushed for withdrawl from the Golan, talking to Hamas and Hizballah etc… to get a peace deal in place. He along with many other Israelis see the need for peace, however the cost to the other side a is far to high and peace would achieve the opposite.
There now exists a cohesion between several groups in Israel and the US, (along with several other western countries), where the Mid East conflict has been transformed into a tool to achieve many other goals along with feeding the Weapons industry, Political influence, Economic deals and for many others achieving goals, like PNAC. A war in Iran is a must to keep this monster alive, pity the pawns in the mid east.
Well, I’m not the religious sort, but you know what they say in Christianity: the meek shall inherit the Earth. And the world can see pretty painfully clearly now which side has been straining itself for the sake of peace, and which side has been indulging in unmitigated bloodshed against civilians.