At the Aug. 27 Hollywood Event of the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County are, from left, event cochair David Portman, committee member Vicki Portman, guest speaker Dan Cohen, cochair Maddy Seeman, federation president Elise Feldman, and Hollywood Golf Club treasurer Saul Greenspan.
Photo by Jill Huber
September 9, 2008
A onetime pro-Israel lobbyist says both presidential candidates are saying the right things about Israel, although many Jewish voters are seeking signs that Democrat Barack Obama has the experience to become commander in chief.
Dan Cohen, a senior legislative liaison for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee from 1986 to 1993, was the guest speaker at the annual Hollywood Event of the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County, held Aug. 27 at Hollywood Golf Club in Deal.
The event, a fund-raiser for the federation, honored 36 women club members who have earned “Lion of Judah” recognition for making a personal pledge to the annual community campaign of $5,000 or more.
In 2007, Hollywood members contributed almost $900,000 to the federation’s annual campaign; this year, the members have contributed approximately $400,000 to the campaign, which ends in December, according to federation executive director Howard Gases.
“I’m proud that this event honored my fellow Lions of Judah,” said federation president Elise Feldman, who has earned “Ruby Lion” honors for contributing a minimum of $10,000 and an Endowment Star of David for having created an endowment of $200,000 or more. “Hollywood has one of the largest single contingents of Lions of Judah in our community.”
Cohen, currently senior vice president of government relations and public policy for U.S. Oncology in Washington, DC, offered an overview of the 2008 campaign.
“Both candidates are saying the right things,” Cohen told NJ Jewish News before his address to the audience. “Obama gives great speeches, but the nationwide Jewish community is worried about his lack of experience. McCain has established a solid record from his years in the House of Representatives and the Senate as a friend of Israel.
“But Obama is a superb politician, or else he couldn’t have gotten this far,” Cohen continued. “And there’s no question that Obama wants to reach out to members of the Jewish community and get them involved in his campaign. If he can show a sense of depth and experience to the Jewish and general communities, he could be the next commander in chief.”
On a national level, the Jewish community had traditionally voted in the 24 to 29 percent range for the Republican candidate, said Cohen.
“It would take something of great significance to change those percentages,” said Cohen, who attended the Democratic National Convention on the night of Sen. Hillary Clinton’s speech to the attendees. “There’s the issue of voters obtaining a comfort level that Obama will have the answers regarding how to handle Hamas and Hizbullah, especially if there is another attack by either of these groups. But if Obama can produce a specific strategy that addresses these issues, he can win the election.”
This year’s presidential race presents an interesting dynamic, Cohen said.
“Historically, it has always been a close election when non-incumbents are running for president,” he said. “This could be a close race, right up to the very end. George W. Bush is not very popular at the moment, the economy is floundering, and the war in Iraq is very divisive.
“If the voters equate McCain with Bush, Obama comes out ahead. His greatest challenge is to convince people he knows where he’s going and how he will get there.”
Federations across the United States are to be commended for their interest in the November election, Cohen told the audience.
“The support of your federation, by being active and involved, is critical,” he said. “You support Israel and what it stands for and that message travels to Washington. It’s because of the Jewish community that we have two candidates who profess to support Israel. We live in an era with Hamas, Hizbullah, Iraq, and Iran, and this is a huge threat to Israel’s existence.
“The question is, What will these two candidates do about this issue? Jewish votes will have a great impact on the outcome of this election.”
The U.S. presidential election has created a sense of unease in Israel, said Cohen, who recently spent two weeks in the Jewish state.
“Israel won’t come out with an official position on the candidates, but editorials in Israeli newspapers reflect their concern,” he said. “They are watching how both candidates respond to the challenges during the campaign and upcoming debates. The Jewish community throughout the U.S. is watching right along with them.”
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