Opinion: Selective memory

By Menashe Shapiro

Issue of Oct. 10, 2008

Jewish Republicans fell for it again. They continually fall for the patented Republican “bait and switch” act. When Sarah Palin made sure during her debate to mention moving the United States Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, no doubt Jewish Republicans across the nation smiled, probably thought of the Israeli flag in her Alaskan office and felt all warm and fuzzy about their new friend.

What they did not remember was that in October 2000, George W. Bush made the same promise. What they did not remember was that only a few months into the Bush administration in April of 2001, George Bush signed the first six-month waiver to the bill requiring the embassy’s move to Jerusalem. What they did not notice was that despite Bush’s promise, the U.S. Embassy remains in Tel Aviv eight years later, nary a hint of a moving truck.

Maybe Republicans simply have a selective memory. Republicans insist that they stand for not pressuring Israel into unilateral concessions, yet ignore how, at the conclusion of the 2006 Lebanon war, the United States virtually emasculated Israel by forcing a resolution that ended the war by allowing Hezbollah to rearm, with continued “generous” support from Iran.

Or maybe Republicans hear what they want to hear. They hear John McCain talk tough on Iran, but ignore the fact that he supports an energy policy that funds Iran ’s operations. Republicans hear John McCain promise a strong Israel unburdened by one-sided pressure, but ignore the fact that he has publicly stated that he will draw on the counsel and advice of “captain pressure” himself, James Baker, to handle the Middle East. Republicans embrace the tough talk and strong statements that John McCain has made about Hamas and their terrorists’ brethren, but ignore the fact that he was a steadfast supporter of premature elections in Gaza, ensuring Hamas’s rise to governmental power, and codifying their international credibility.

Now Republicans and their friends at the Republican Jewish Coalition wave rally placards over the political fiasco that resulted from a rally to protest Ahmadinejad’s visit to the UN. The RJC ignores the fact that only after Senator Hillary Clinton accepted her invitation did the organizers turn to the active McCain campaign, without turning to the other active Obama-Biden campaign. If Hillary Clinton attended the rally and created the optic of Sarah Palin standing next to her, you could bet your tax-cuts that the Republicans would be plastering that picture to everything that moves, captioning it with a witty comment like, “Where was Obama and/or Biden?”

The Obama-Biden campaign was only called, and extended a half-hearted invitation, after it was too late, schedules were set and the political invectives were being hurled in every direction. To suggest that Joe Biden won’t stand with Israel and the world against the Iranian threat is to simply ignore his record over the last eight years as being (sometimes alone, and certainly without John McCain) someone who sounded the alarm against the Iranian regime, Ahmadinejad and the Mullah’s, long before it was in vogue to do so.

Joe Biden stood as a concerned supporter of Israel and reminded us and the world that the war in Iraq was diverting resources and attention from the Afghanistan and Pakistan (already a nuclear power), while serving to embolden and strengthen Iran. Furthermore, it is simply bizarre to suggest that the politics of this rally besmirches Hillary Clinton’s stellar record of steadfast opposition to the Iranian regime.

Joe Biden, a Catholic man from middle-America, representing rural-America, has been unwavering in his support for Israel since day one, not because of political considerations, but because, as his middle-American (and Democratic) predecessor Harry Truman said, it is “the right thing to do.” When Joe Biden says he would not have joined the ticket if he doubted Obama’s commitment to Israel, he has the record behind the statement. This is the Democratic party. This is the party of Barack Obama. And Bill Clinton. And Harry Truman. This is the party of action, commitment and effective policy, not hollow promises, convention sound bites and pandering today, disregard tomorrow.

It’s time for Republicans to look at the facts. It’s time for the Republicans to study the repercussions of their statements, policies and actions. It’s time for the Republicans to stop using the future of Israel as a wedge issue to divide the Jewish community.”

Menashe Shapiro is an attorney and Democratic Activist living in New York City, and is an Executive Board Member New York, National Jewish Democratic Council.