Seidemann: Boating and voting in November

From the other side of the bench

by David Seidemann

Issue of October 22/ 14 Cheshvan 5771

More than a few people misinterpreted my last column as my farewell article. No, I have no immediate plans to leave this newspaper, the place I have called home since 2007. Yes, I still get embarrassed when people recognize me as I walk down the streets of the Five Towns. One such reader stopped me on the street a few days ago and told me that I couldn’t stop writing because people like her and her friends read the articles to know what to do and what they should be thinking about. If that is true, then I have a unique platform to share what I think is important and invite you to  consider my point of view. It is a responsibility I do not take lightly. There is a lot in print these days that masquerades as responsible journalism. To the extent that my words are considered with some importance, I feel compelled to share with you my plans for November. On Nov. 2, I will be voting. On Nov. 16, I will be boating. Both are events I invite you to; both events share my common desire to send a message to Washington. Last January I declared my candidacy for the United States Congress. In February, events in my law firm compelled me to suspend my campaign. Since then, the Nassau County Republican Party endorsed Francis X. Becker as the Republican nominee to challenge the Democratic incumbent Carolyn McCarthy in the upcoming election. I have spent countless hours with Becker since his candidacy was launched and I can say, without any reservation, that he is the man we should all be voting for. If you put stock into anything I have written in the last three and a half years, please take these words to heart. Carolyn McCarthy needs to be voted out of office. You need to go to the polls and vote for Fran Becker because the status quo can’t change unless you change it. Becker believes in everything we believe in, from smaller government to private school tuition tax credits to fiscal responsibility at all levels of government. Most importantly, Becker is a fierce and staunch supporter of Israel and will not be silent as McCarthy has been when Israel was attacked for defending herself. McCarthy was conspicuously silent during the shameful condemnations against Israel after the Turkish flotilla incident. Becker rushed to Israel’s defense. The polls say that our 4th Congressional district is split almost 50-50 between Becker and McCarthy. Those same polls say that if the Jews of the Five Towns  vote, they will vote for Becker and he will win. If we stay home, Becker loses. His loss will be our loss. His victory will be our victory and will send a clear message to Washington that if you abandon Israel, we will abandon you. Please vote. Please vote. Our future and Israel’s future depends on it. If you stay home on  Nov. 2, we all lose. So much for voting. Now, let me talk about boating. On Nov. 16, my wife and I will be honored by the Hebron Fund at their annual dinner. This year’s dinner is unique: it will be held on a boat in tribute to the aforementioned flotilla incident. My wife and I accepted the honor because we believe that, like voting, boating sends the same message to our elected leaders in Washington. That is, if you want our vote, you must rise to Israel’s defense. Please join us on Nov. 16. My family and I invite you to join us in sending this message because Israel today is isolated not only by her foes, but also by those that once boasted of being her friend. Only Israel is singled out and vilified for defending herself. Only Israel is told to cede land that was once hers, lost and reclaimed in a defensive war. Only Israel is told to capitulate before she negotiates. It is not ironic that the enemy that wants to destroy Israel because she is a Jewish state will not commit to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Here is a little secret Mr. Abbas: we don’t need your stamp of approval, We don’t need Ahmadinejad’s stamp of approval, or Mr. Obama’s, or Ms. McCarthy’s. Israel’s future depends on our commitment to her future. So we will vote and we will boat until you get the message. We will talk to you until the Arab world agrees to our preconditions. Recognize us as a Jewish state, move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, release Shalit, stop teaching hatred and inciting violence and then we will talk. In the interim, we will build. We cannot wait till you change your mind. The boat on Nov. 16 can hold about 1200 people. Please be on it. The voting booth on Nov. 2 holds one person. Please be in it. David Seidemann is a partner with  the law firm of Seidemann & Mermelstein.  He can be reached at (718) 692-1013  and at ds@lawofficesm.com