For years, Democrats have been on the defensive about the not inconsiderable portion of their party that was hostile to the State of Israel. But the attention and support being given Ron Paul in the Republican presidential race is giving them an opportunity to roast members of the GOP for refusing to treat the libertarian extremist as being beyond the pale of American politics. Thus, it was no surprise to read that the National Jewish Democratic Council condemned Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum for saying they would vote for Paul if he turned out to be the Republican nominee.
But to say this stance is hypocritical is an understatement. Did Jewish Democrats denounce their mainstream candidates for cozying up to racial hucksters and foes of Israel such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and pretending, as Romney and Santorum now do for Paul, that these persons were preferable to any Republican? Did they denounce their party for treating Jimmy Carter as a respected elder statesman? Of course not. Though it is troubling to see the other GOP candidates treat Paul as if he were a reasonable presidential choice, that is the way the game is played. Democrats are no more righteous in this respect than Republicans.
In truth, much of the Republican Party has rightly treated Paul as anathema. The Republican Jewish Coalition rightly refused to invite him to their presidential forum. It is also reassuring to see that the other candidates are finally shifting from a strategy of ignoring Paul’s radical approach to foreign policy and instead pointing out just how dangerous he and his ideas are.
But to expect the leading candidates to go out of their way to snub Paul or to declare him unfit for the presidency is unrealistic. Just as Walter Mondale, Michael Dukakis and John Kerry held their noses and pretended that Jackson and Sharpton were reasonable alternatives for the presidency because they wanted their supporters’ votes in the fall, so, too, do Republicans pander to Paul.
The emergence of Paul is a worrisome sign not just for Republicans but all Americans. The limited success he has enjoyed so far illustrates that despite the overwhelming support of most Americans across the political spectrum for Israel, there is still a good-sized minority on the margins of both the left and the right that must be confronted. It is to be hoped Paul’s numbers will decline as his connections with racist and extremist forces get more exposure.
It is some consolation to Republicans that Paul does far better in the polls with Democrats and independents than he does with Republicans, a point that should give partisans like the NJDC pause before they speak too loudly about the libertarian’s source of support. Given that polls also show Republicans to be even more devoted to Israel than most Democrats, there is no chance he will be the nominee.
But it takes an extra helping of chutzpah for the NJDC, a group that has relentlessly defended every swipe at Israel on the part of the Obama administration, to start demanding Republicans take loyalty tests to the Jewish state. Though the NJDC claims Republicans who refuse to condemn Paul are putting party above principle, their endless apologias for Obama and other liberal Democrats who have distanced themselves from Israel are no different than the trimming being done by Romney and Santorum about Paul.
This isn't about Dems vs. GOP. No it isn't unreasonable to expect GOP P-r-e-s-i-d-e-n-t-i-a-l candidates to say a neo-Nazi collaborationist nutjob is not Presidential timber. Oh, so now tolerating anti-Semitism is OK and the way the game is played if the GOP does it? This guy is running for President and is now a competitive front runner. Say what you will about Obama he doesn't personally go on Carto Institute Holocaust denial radio shows or hang out with Alex Jones, or flounce around Tehran calling Gaza a concentration camp and proclaiming that Hamas has the right to make suicide bombs. n nForget about polled self-identification of Ron Paul's base: by not explicitly shunning Paul and his anti-New Order conspiracy supporting base, the GOP is including it and enabling his competitive rise. Romney has a long-term strategy of not alienating anti-Jewish or neutral libertarian supporters of Paul while isolating and draining his suppport, deferring direct confrontation as long as possible. I don't know that Jews have that excuse.
Mr. Tobin, n nI hear you but your song is weak. n nThe GOP is the party of Lincoln. What else is there to say? Think of the GOP as the Catholic Church. Difference being its claim on our respect and esteem is not of the sort that needs Councils to shatter or Councils to build. More is expected of the GOP because it was and has been a source of protection for those a Nation would conscript but despise. n nThe game is still played with bare hands and not disposable gloves. We will never know, unless a courageous man or woman tries us, whether we, as a Nation, can handle the truth. I think we can. What's more, I think that's what we desire. n nNewt, for all his defects, didn't pander. That's to his everlasting credit. n nOne advantage of Ron Paul and his Third Party run is that it will help gather together and isolate the anti-semites, racists, loons and Return of the Articles of Confederation enthusiasts. n nHappy New Year to all here at Contentions.
No one should pander for Ron Paul voters except for Gary Johnson, and then solely for real Libertarians. nThe far left + far right + addled conspiracy theorists can form their own Fifth Column Party and relocate to Norway, taking Ron Paul with them. n nRomney and Santorum should be ashamed of themselves if they really said they would vote for Ron Paul as the GOP nominee. nNo excuses.
Newt Gingrich came out and said that Ron Paul was out of the mainstream of thought of every decent American. isn't that enough for them? n nRomney is a pragmatist. he knows very well he's going to be the nominee, and yes, he's going to need the Paul-ites' votes. and he's got Newt doing the attacking. why should he say anything? n