During Sunday's Dent-Bennett debate at Allentown's JCC, two Gentiles stumbled over each other to prove they are the better friend to the Jew. Charlie Dent touted trips to Israel, while Sam Bennett actually mangled a "LeChaim" when speaking about health care.It's the thought that counts.
A former chugalug, I've heard and uttered that phrase many times, which I've always pronounced something like this - "lick hind." (I'll let you guess what I would say after a few drinks.) Obviously no boozehound, Sam said something more like "Cain," which really threw me off.
I was waiting for her to mention Abel.
A Jewish friend who also attended Sunday's debate and read my translation, straightened me out. He thought Sam was just trying to fit in.
Well, Charlie didn't try to say "LeChaim," but he did say this. "I'm a strong friend of Israel and I find it amazing that my opponent talks about supporting Israel when she lists on her web page the support of a group called J Street, whose stated purpose is to undermine AIPAC, which is the preeminent bipartisan pro-Israel group in America."
So who's behind J Street? Iranian supporters? America's Arab communities?
Worse. It's apparently a group of Jewish liberals who think AIPAC has tilted too far to the right. Its stated purpose, as it appears on its webpage, is to act as the "political arm of the pro-Israel, pro-peace movement."
Representatives Bob Filner (D-CA) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) issued statements praising Bennett's "strong belief in increased American diplomacy throughout the Middle East and a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians." In a news release, JStreet also condemns "hawkish, hard-line positions expressed by many established Jewish organizations and leaders."
In fact, according to JStreetPAC Executive Director Jeremy Ben-Ami, the whole damn country's behind her. Sam Bennett is supported by "the vast majority of American Jews and Americans as a whole.”
Game over. I guess we can cancel the elections. Maybe she should run for President!
Mazel tov!
AIPAC and JStreet are just two different groups of Jews squabbling with each other.
Just like Gentiles.
I hear LaMont McClure us going to run.
ReplyDeleteThis is the major problem with politicians - of both parties. They pretend to be what they are not.
ReplyDeleteNo level of "coaching" will substitute enough to allow you to pretend what you are not as a person.
There is a simple answer. Be who you are. Now this doesn't mean you can't identify with issues that relate to a particular group that your are talking to/ dealing with/important issues with a particular identity group.
But be yourself. So many politicians screw this up, it is unbelievably stupid.
I was at the WW2 Roundtable tonight. It was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen who talked. You don't pretend to be "black" or pretend to understand why they did what they did.
You simply say "thank you" and understand that they served their country. And you ask questions to understand. These guys were awesome to serve and fight for a country that basically spit on them.
Our country would be better served by real people who deal with other real people instead of BS posturing.
"the vast majority of American Jews and Americans as a whole.”
ReplyDeleteWhen these people can vote in a Pennsylvania election let me know.
"I hear LaMont McClure us going to run."
ReplyDeleteNo, I think he's going to run for the Senate.
"This is the major problem with politicians - of both parties. They pretend to be what they are not."
ReplyDeleteI find nothing wrong with either Sam or Charlie's conduct. Really, they were both trying to empathize with a grup that has undergone a lot of suffering over the centuries, mostly due to people like me.
I think Bennett's attempt to say "Lechaim" was noble. I just didn't know that was what she was trying to do.
I learned a little about AIPAC and JStreet. I don't think JStreet is quite as bad as I originally thought. It is out to undermine AIPAC, as Charlie Dent says, but it's a mostly Jewish group out to undermine another mostly Jewish group.
I'm not familar with either JStreet or AIPAC. Are they like Sunni and Shiite?
ReplyDeleteAJ, I've linked to them both in my post. AIPAC and JStreet are both primarily (not exclusively) Jewish groups. JStreet believes AIPAC is a little too hard line. JStreet is a PAC that will contribute to candidates. AIPAC is a bipartissan group. So far as I know, it makes no endorsements and no contributions.
ReplyDeletebernie, i did not attend, nor have i watched the bennett/dent debate. if sam dwelled on Jstreet and their peace now position, she made a hugh mistake in front of a jewish audience. although most jews want nothing more than peace for israel, few would tell israeli's how to proceed with their peace efforts. it is israeli jews who must endure the missiles and terrorists bombers, most of us realize that.
ReplyDeleteMM, Bennett briefly mentioned the support from JStreet and Dent said what I quoted above.
ReplyDelete