Continuing the discussion with attendees at the Jewish women’s presidential forum are Suzanne Israel Tufts, left foreground, representing the Republican ticket, and state Sen. Loretta Weinberg, second from left, representing Sen. Barack Obama.
Photos by Debra Rubin
September 25, 2008
Presidential campaign surrogates outlined their candidates’ positions on the war, economy, abortion, and Israel at a Jewish women’s voters forum in New Brunswick.
Sponsored by a coalition of Jewish groups, the Sept. 21 program at the Cook Campus Center of Rutgers University featured state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Dist. 37) representing Democrat Barack Obama and attorney Suzanne Israel Tufts representing Republican John McCain.
“I believe all of us as women want to make sure the choices we make will be good for our families and communities,” said Weinberg. “The war in Iraq and the terrible loss of our sons and daughters, our civil liberties, the separation of church and state, our right to make choices about our own bodies, the safety of Israel — these are the issues and why I support Sens. Obama and Joe Biden.”
Tufts, a New Yorker active in Jewish and small business coalitions, said she supports McCain because of his experience and leadership skills.
“He went to Vietnam and shook the hand of his former captors,” Tufts said in reference to the Arizona senator’s experience as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam.
She added McCain would help keep America strong and has “the right temperament” to deal with allies and foes alike as well as help rebuild the economy.”
Speaking at a Sept. 21 Jewish women’s voting forum at Rutgers University are, from left, Suzanne Israel Tufts, supporting Sen. John McCain; and Sen. Loretta Weinberg, a backer of Sen. Barack Obama.
Weinberg, who is from Bergen County, received one of the biggest rounds of applause when she pledged that she and Tufts would not only lay out the issues, but “as women tend to do, we will not be as nasty as the two men at the top of the ticket.”
Weinberg said Obama is “a strong friend to Israel” and is committed to keeping Iran free of nuclear weapons. She said he was committed to providing “comprehensive, affordable” health care to all Americans.
“John McCain wants an employer-based health plan,” said Weinberg, who contended that a study by several major universities found that such a plan would cause 20 million more Americans to lose health coverage. (The same study, published in the journal Health Affairs, also said that 21 million people would gain coverage — a statistical wash, according to the authors.)
Tufts said she did not have to agree with all a candidate’s positions to support him or her.
“I do not support every stance of any candidate,” she acknowledged. “If I only voted for those with whom I agreed on everything, I’d be voting for myself.”
Tufts stressed McCain’s longtime support of Israel and said the “number one right-to-life issue was Israel’s right to live.”
“We have a madman coming to the UN tomorrow,” she said of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
She said McCain would not be afraid to stand up to both America’s and Israel’s enemies and could work “both sides of the aisle.”
“He’s not afraid to stand up for the Jewish community,” said Tufts. “He has stood up for them for a long time…. Today I believe a vote for Barack Obama is a vote for the UN. If you like the way the United Nations votes on Israel, vote for Barack Obama.”
A discussion of the issue of reproductive rights also showcased differences. While Tufts said McCain would nominate judges to the Supreme Court who “would not legislate from the bench,” there would also “not be a litmus test on abortion.”
Weinberg disagreed and said court nominees reflect the philosophy of those who nominate them. In reference to McCain’s opposition to abortion rights (except when the life of the mother is in danger and in cases of rape or incest) she added, “We know what that philosophy is.”
“Unfortunately, Sen. McCain, the maverick, capitulated to the right wing of his party,” said Weinberg, who claimed McCain’s court choices “would set the clock back years.”
Those court appointees likely would reintroduce creationism and prayer in school and may deny women the right to a safe, legal abortion, Weinberg added.
In speaking of her young granddaughter, Weinberg said, “Who is on the Supreme Court will influence her life for many years to come. I’m not willing to risk that.”
Although most attendees seemed to favor Obama, both candidates had their supporters.
Felice Schrager of Highland Park said she appreciated the opportunity to hear both sides but “as far as I’m concerned, it didn’t change my position for Obama.”
Raisa Glazazmah of Edison, who immigrated to the United States from Ukraine, said she was concerned about Obama’s stance on Iran and feared Israel and the Jewish people were not a priority for him.
The program was moderated by Dr. Susan Carroll, a Rutgers professor and senior scholar at the Center for American Women and Politics at the university’s Eagleton Institute of Politics.
The forum was sponsored by the Women’s Philanthropy and Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County in partnership with the NJ State Association of Jewish Federations, National Council of Jewish Women, Rutgers Hillel, ORT America, and other statewide Jewish women’s groups.
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