U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer (D-NY) , left, and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) spoke to reporters Aug. 26 as the Democratic National Convention got under way in Denver this week.
Photo by Ron Kampeas/JTA
August 28, 2008
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) joined six Jewish Democratic colleagues in praising their party’s presidential nominee as the Democratic National Convention got under way in Denver this week.
Speaking to reporters on a conference call Tuesday, Lautenberg called Sen. Barack Obama a stronger supporter of Israel than his Republican rival, Sen. John McCain.
“I would not support anybody for president if I had any doubts about their commitment to Israel’s existence. I have no such doubts” about Obama, said Lautenberg, who reminded his listeners that he had been national chair of the United Jewish Appeal in 1972, years before he entered electoral politics.
But, Lautenberg said, he did have doubts about whether McCain was as firmly committed to Israel as Obama, arguing that the Republican candidate opposed tough sanctions against American corporations doing business in Iran.
Through that action, said the senator, “John McCain showed his true colors.”
Lautenberg said McCain “supported a loophole that allows foreign subsidiaries of American companies to do business with Iran,” providing “cash flow for terrorist training camps and terrorist activity in Iraq against our troops.”
(The Republican Jewish Coalition, meanwhile, said Obama’s vice-presidential pick, Delaware’s Sen. Joseph Biden, was soft on Iran because he opposed the 2007 Kyl-Lieberman Amendment labeling the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. [See story, page 21.])
‘Flawless record’
Leading off the 45-minute teleconference was New York Sen. Charles Schumer, who said that “on the issues of the Middle East, Sen. Obama’s record is flawless.”
‘I would not support anybody for president if I had any doubts about their commitment to Israel’s existence.’
Schumer said he and Obama “became close friends” long before the presidential campaign and would discuss issues centering on Israel in depth.
“Barack Obama believes the strength of Israel is paramount. If you left things up to the winds, Israel’s right to exist would be threatened,” he said.
Schumer next turned to domestic issues.
“John McCain is pro-life. Most people in the Jewish community are pro-choice,” said the NY legislator. “John McCain is anti-gun control. The majority of people in the Jewish community are pro-gun control. John McCain has policies on so many issues that don’t fit with the vast majority of Jews.”
Rep. Adam Schiff of California, here addressing a conference on global warming in February, said young Jewish voters “have the desire to strengthen the bonds with the African-American community” and will “turn out in phenomenally high numbers” to vote for Barack Obama.
Photo courtesy office of Rep. Adam Schiff
Also taking part in the call were Reps. Howard Berman of California, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Robert Wexler of Florida; Shelley Berkley of Nevada; and Adam Schiff of California.
Fielding a question about reports that Obama would perform poorly with Jewish senior citizens, particularly in his Florida district, Wexler disagreed.
“The Jewish community’s disapproval of Bush-McCain policies is even greater than the general population’s disapproval,” he said.
Schiff predicted that a younger generation of Jewish voters would overwhelmingly support the Democrats.
“I sense, particularly in talking with younger Jewish people, the enthusiasm for Obama is enhanced among the Jewish community,” he said. “They have the desire to strengthen the bonds with the African-American community once again, and Jewish young people are going to turn out in phenomenally high numbers.
“I think that will add to historic levels of support. We are going to see a turnout we’ve never seen before in the community.”
--TOP--
Comment: comments@njjewishnews.com
