In his latest entry for Politico’s Arena, contributing RP Jeff Smith answers the question as to whether President Obama’s support among the Jewish community is slipping:
It will probably depend on the alternative.
If, say, Huntsman is nominated and runs on a secular domestic platform that includes a strong pro-Israel plank, he could garner 35 percent or more of the Jewish vote.
If, on the other hand, Republicans choose a bombastic conservative like Rick Perry – someone with a history of appointing creationist state school board candidates and pushing other reactionary social causes – then Republican Jewish support will remain around 20 percent. A far-right evangelical Christian like Perry with a social agenda that is anathema to Jews will only attract those Jews who are already part of the Republican base.
On a side note, the choice of Debbie Wasserman-Schultz as DNC chair should help prevent some defections.
By Sandra Moon, RP Staff, on Mon Jun 27, 2011 at 1:30 PM ET
New York’s same-sex marriage law protects religious organizations from lawsuits and government penalties for refusing to provide their buildings or services for same-sex marriage ceremonies. The New York Civil Liberties Union accepts the exemptions–its executive director says the legislation “respects the right of clergy, churches and religious organizations to decide for themselves which marriages they will or will not solemnize or celebrate in keeping with our country’s principles of religious freedom.” [NY Times]
92% of people surveyed in a recent gallup poll say they believe in God or a universal spirit. [Salon.com]
U.S. engages in talks with Afghan Taliban to discuss future negotiations. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton describes this action as “not a pleasant business, but a necessary one.” [Washington Post]
Check out this blog on religion and American political culture from Trinity College’s Leonard E. Greenberg Center for the Study of Religion in Public Life. [SpiritualPolitics]
Within the past hour, the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) issued a release that strongly denounced the anti-Semitic language used by former Kentucky GOP gubernatorial candidate, Larry Forgy, in a TV interview that was discussed earlier today at The Recovering Politician.
[T]his incident is deeply troubling and deserves condemnation from all who believe that anti-Semitic language and canards have no place in our political discourse.
By Jonathan Miller, on Thu Jun 23, 2011 at 12:15 PM ET
Earlier this week, I wrote a piece for The Huffington Post that shared some absurd and offensive comments made by Larry Forgy — a former Kentucky GOP gubernatorial nominee and a prominent supporter of GOP State Senator David Williams’s 2011 campaign for Governor — regarding the Jewish faith of Governor Steve Beshear’s running mate, former Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson:
The “only reason” Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear picked former Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson to be his running mate was “to attract New York and Hollywood Jewish money” for the campaign.
See the interview with Insight’s CN2 “Pure Politics” below.
Of course, in typical Williams style, he blamed a Democrat for starting the controversy.
Me:
Unfortunately, Larry Forgy stood his ground in another interview with Insight. Forgy claimed that Jews such as George Soros, Barbra Streisand and Steve Spielberg would be pumping in significant loads of cash to support their co-religionist’s bid for Lt. Governor. Of course, the reporter followed the interview by noting that none of the those famous names had contributed; and in fact, the Beashear campaign had raised only a tiny fraction of his campaign war chest in New York and Los Angeles.
I share the video interview below with a little hesitation. I want to assure my out-of-state readers that this is not a reflection of the significant majority of Kentucky citizens who have embraced their Jewish brothers and sisters and do not believe in a Jewish conspiracy led by Soros, Streisand and Spielberg that dominates national politics. With that caveat, check out the video below:
Within the past hour, the National Jewish Democratic Council weighed in on the controversy:
Former Kentucky Republican gubernatorial candidate Larry Forgy inappropriately injected anti-Semitic language into the Kentucky gubernatorial race on behalf of current Republican candidate David Williams. Williams is challenging current Governor Steve Beshear and his running mate, former Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, is Jewish…
Forgy’s comment is deeply troubling and has absolutely no place in our political discourse. His statement should be condemned by all who believe that candidates should refrain from using religious innuendo, especially anti-Semitic canards.
By Sandra Moon, RP Staff, on Mon Jun 20, 2011 at 1:30 PM ET
The Politics of Faith
Ministers in the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church write an open letter to Governor Robert Bentley, Senator Scott Beason, and Representative Micky Hammon protesting what they describe as “the meanest immigrant legislation bill in the nation” and “an embarrassment to our state” that “does not represent the spirit of hospitality of our churches.” [North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church Blog]
While public protests in Saudi Arabia are rare, women are challenging a religious edict that prohibits them from driving. [Sky News]
The United Nations Human Rights Council has adopted a resolution that seeks equal rights for gays and lesbians. The resolution states “no one should be subject to discrimination or violence due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.” In response, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe said “the right to choose, who we love and to share life with those we love is sacred.” [VOA News]
GOP candidates and their Simpsons character look a-likes. [Huffington Post]
By Jonathan Miller, on Mon Jun 20, 2011 at 8:30 AM ET
Veteran political reporter Jack Brammer revealed in this morning’s Lexington Herald-Leader that Larry Forgy, the 1995 GOP nominee for Governor in Kentucky and a leading supporter of State Senate President David Williams’ 2011 bid for that same office, made the following statement:
The “only reason” Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear picked former Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson to be his running mate was “to attract New York and Hollywood Jewish money” for the campaign.
The Williams campaign has not issued a comment on Forgy’s statement.
I have.
The Huffington Post published my response — as well as my analysis of the state of anti-Semitism in Bible Belt politics. Here’s an excerpt:
Seven years ago, when former GOP U.S. Senator Jim Bunning’s huge re-election lead was in free fall due to a series of missteps made by the cantankerous Baseball Hall of Famer, State Senate President David Williams rode to the rescue, armed with a slew of gay-baiting innuendos about Bunning’s then-single, heterosexual opponent.
It worked. Bunning’s numbers steadied, and he squeaked out a 1 point victory.
Alas, gay-baiting won’t stick this time: The Governor’s been happily married for more than four decades.
Instead, at least one of Williams’ most high-profile supporters appears poised to try a much older strategy, one that’s been used successfully for centuries: highlighting the Jewish faith of Beshear’s running mate, former Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson.
O Lord, deliver me from the man of excellent intention and impure heart: for the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.
T.S. Eliot
Until the news conference of Congressman Anthony Weiner on June 6, 2011, I had not followed the story concerning his twitter account closely. As I watched Congressman Weiner explain his personal failings, I was struck by how many times he was asked by the media why he had done what he had done. To his credit, Congressman Weiner did not blame anyone else and made clear that his conduct was a result of his own poor personal choices. He must have been asked why he had done what he done at least five times.
The question seemed extraordinarily silly to me. From my perspective, the answer of why Congressman Weiner did what he did is very simple –the body of sin. There can be no “rational” reason why a person in Congressman Weiner’s position would take such reckless actions.
The same lack of “rational” reasoning applies to John Edwards’ actions. How could have either man done something so stupid? Quite simply, man is a depraved sinner.
The conduct of these men goes a long way in proving that their own liberal philosophy is built upon sinking sand. A philosophy that eschews tradition and God and instead looks to the “reasoning” of men is doomed. Man is far from perfect and we are not quite as smart as we think we are. When a society throws tradition and God aside and takes its cue from man’s “enlightened” views, society ends up where Congressman Weiner finds himself today: lost, shattered and embarrassed. I find it bewildering that liberals and many so-called conservatives fail to learn this obvious lesson when man’s shortcomings are on full display.
Read the rest of… John Roach: Anthony Weiner & The Depravity of Man
By Sandra Moon, RP Staff, on Mon Jun 13, 2011 at 1:30 PM ET
The Politics of Faith
This week’s theme: Quote, unquote.
“Scripture tells you that all things shall pass,” said Mike Ditka after was fired from his Chicago Bears coaching job. That passage, however, is nowhere to be found in the Bible. Ignorance and confusion often lead those who profess a deep faith rooted in this book to misquote it, sometimes with theologically and socially harmful results. [CNN Belief Blog]
A young, Catholic U.S. President once said, “I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute.” Texas Governor and likely Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry, along with several other GOP candidates, don’t seem to agree. [LA Times Op-Ed]
There is a saying in the Talmud that “a liar’s punishment is that he is not believed even when he tells the truth.” In response to Congressman Weiner’s sexting scandal and the subsequent lies that followed, four rabbis offer him faith-based advice. [Religion News Service]
Unitarian Universality minister Marilyn Sewell often hears people say “You can believe anything and be a Unitarian Universalist.” What do Unitarian Universalists actually believe? Sewell gives a summary of the religion’s theology. [Huffington Post]
By Sandra Moon, RP Staff, on Mon Jun 6, 2011 at 1:30 PM ET
The Politics of Faith
Paul Ryan, Congressman from Wisconsin, draws criticism from a broad coalition of religious voices for his praise of Ayn Rand, the philosopher who once said she “promote[d] the ethic of selfishness.” The coalition questions the morality of the choices reflected in budget cuts and tax policy supported by the GOP. [Time]
Progressive Muslim-American feminist Amanda Quraishi creates 365muslim, an app providing daily facts about Islam, passages from the Quran, sayings from the prophet Muhammad, and other information about Islam. [Statesman.com]
Issues concerning the separation between Church and State were hot last week– In Texas, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held that prayer at a public high school graduation is not unconstitutional. Supporters of the previous prayer ban argue that “[a]ll children should feel welcome at this important event in their lives regardless of their opinions about religion.” [Huffington Post]
Up north, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held that New York City can keep religious services out of its schools without violating worshippers’ free speech or free exercise of religion rights. [International Business Times]
Who says faith can’t be fun? Check out this blog–Food, Faith and Being Fabulous: A Foodie’s Guide to Life, or A Seminarian’s Guide to Food, and Other Things. [www.reverendchef.com]
