I had the pleasure of attending the Republican Jewish Coalition 2008 Candidates Forum in Washington, DC.
This was not a pep rally. It was an ultra serious policy conference. It was also better than anything one will see on any debates.
Debates are set up so that candidates are prepared to give off snappy one liners and rehearsed jokes from the stump. This forum did not have the candidates on stage at the same time. Sam Brownback, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney, and Fred Thompson each addressed the crowd for about an hour. Mike Huckabee was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict. The empty threats of protests from the Rupaul supporters never materialized. He was not invited due to this being a Jewish audience, and his record on Jewish issues is what it is.
There was also a breakfast for all women attendees featuring the wives of the candidates. It was well attended and well received.
The one thing I want to emphasize is that this was not a crowd looking for slogans, or condescending pablum about Israel being important. Yes, Jewish audiences are concerned about Jewish issues, but unlike a liberal crowd, the Republican Jewish Coalition sees a direct parallel between the survival of Israel, and America’s greater Global War on Terror. This audience considered the War on Terror to be the primary issue of our time.
To condense each candidate’s remarks would cheapen them, and the event itself. Therefore, over the next few days I will break down each candidate’s appearance. In addition, several U.S. Senators attended a midday luncheon, and their remarks will be covered as well.
Lastly, I want to take a moment ona personal note to apologize to Sam Brownback. I was late attending the event due to taxicab problems, and when I arrived, I noticed others were late as well. I remarked that Sam Brownback was asked to speak first so that nobody would miss anything if they were late. I found out afterwards that Mr. Brownback was asked to speak first due to alphabetical order, and nothing more.
I have been very tough on the lower tier candidates, and I still belive at some point soon they should be banned from the debates. However, Sam Brownback was gracious and classy enough to attend this event, and what I did hear of his speech was passionate and sincere. He is a decent, thoughtful human being, and he deserved the respect of those that he addressed. I did not give him that respect, and for that I apologize to him.
Some of you after a few days will say, “Enough with the Republican Jewish Coalition.” People feeling that way should read my “about” page and see that my religious faith and my political beliefs comprise a large part of who I am. In addition, the RJC is an excellent example of a constituency that focuses on issues that matter to most Americans, not just narrow special interest group issues.
Lastly, the candidates did not pander to us. This is patently false. In fact, some of them said hard things we did not want to hear at all. Also, none of them advocated bombing Iran. They simply refused to rule it out.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071017/NATION/110170091/1002
The people who attended the event were an overwhelmingly diverse crowd, and they were also diverse in the one way that liberal crowds often are not…intellectually. There were sharp disagreements among the attendees on certain issues, but this was about an up close and personal look at several men, one of whom might be the next President of the United States.
The substance was overwhelming, and deeply relevant, and I look forward to the Tygrrrr Express bringing that to you over the next few days.
eric
You haven’t been in too many “liberal” crowds, have you?
JMJ
“and they were also diverse in the one way that liberal crowds often are not…intellectually.”
I agree. Liberal crowds have never failed me to be intellectual but in only one way.
Much like the Borg.
And Micky, I don’t think you’ve ever even sat next to a liberal! LOL!
JMJ
Was this held by the racist, religious bigots that excluded Dr. Ron Paul?
It is a disgrace that anyone pays attention to this filth.
That s right jersey,
you dont think.
“The empty threats of protests from the Rupaul supporters never materialized. He was not invited due to this being a Jewish audience, and his record on Jewish issues is what it is.”
err, Ron Paul is the leading advocate for seperation of Church and State, defending the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and 1st ammendment. He goes back in a tradition of defending religious freedom to James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and Voltaire.
In many societies, minority religions get stepped on, persecuted or worse, but because of people like Ron Paul that is not happening here in the USA.
Jews for Ron Paul 2008
http://www.jews4ronpaul.org/
Jews for Ron Paul: ‘Swap in Ron Paul for Huckabee at your GOP Forum?’
Tuesday, October 02, 2007 – FreeMarketNews.com
The increasingly high profile national organization, “Jews for Ron Paul,” is asking the Republican Jewish Coalition to swap in presidential candidate Ron Paul (R-Tex) for Mike Huckabee at its upcoming presidential forum. Huckabee has reportedly sent his regrets to the RJC, explaining that he cannot attend its upcoming forum and fund-raiser for certain “top tier” GOP candidates in Washington DC. The formal request is due to be made shortly, according to sources close to Jews for Ron Paul.
Jews for Ron Paul has gained some prominence in the alternative press by calling on the Republican Jewish Coalition to cease its exclusion of the libertarian-constitutional scholar and presidential candidate Ron Paul (R-Tex). Jews for Ron Paul also attended a New England RJC chapter meeting and found significant support for Ron Paul, as reported by FMNN:
http://www.freemarketnews.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=49578
Now sources close to Jews for Ron Paul say that its leadership intends to approach the RJC with the suggestion that the RJC allow Ron Paul to join its forum and fund-raiser since Huckabee cannot attend. One reason that the RJC has used to exclude Ron Paul is that the forum can only accommodate a certain amount of GOP candidates. But Huckabee’s absence opens up an additional slot.
http://www.freemarketnews.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=49705
3. 9/28/2007 – 13:21:46PM
BY: Kevin Houston
Many Ron Paul supporters (like myself) are Jewish. AIPAC does not advance Jewish issues, nor even Israeli issues. AIPAC advances Likud issues. Ron Paul was one of the few to support Israel’s right to self-defense over the Osirak reactor in 1981.
Being anti AIPAC is not anti-semitism or even anti-Israel. Being anti-Israeli policies (on any topic) is not anti-semitism. There is also a downside to American aid that is not mentioned much – how the US constrains Israeli foreign and military policies. Ron Paul would not prevent Israel from defending herself.
What “Jewish interests” (if such a diverse people could be said to have interests in common) would Ron Paul advance as president?
+ Ron Paul would be very good to the cause of Religious Freedom.
+ Ron Paul would be very good to the cause of individual liberty and freedom.
+ Ron Paul would put mitzvahs (welfare, etc.) back where they belong, in our hearts and our hands, not in our tax code.
+ Ron Paul would get the USDA off the back of the OU and other rabbinical kashuring groups.
+ Ron Paul would reduce taxes (leaving you more money to implement our own ideas about saving the world) and stop the Federal government from trying to save the world.
+ Ron Paul would get the CIA out of the business of training Arab terrorists (google “Tim Osman CIA”.)
+ Ron Paul would stop supporting Israel’s enemies with foreign aid.
+ Ron Paul would keep our children from being drafted in a foreign war.
+ Ron Paul would keep “No child left behind” laws out of our religious schools.
+ Ron Paul would end the government’s intrusion into religion, via “faith-based” initiatives, that end up actually removing the faith from any of the funded initiatives.
+ Ron Paul would sign a tax break for parents who homeschool or send their children to religious schools.
+ Ron Paul would never allow the federal government to confiscate firearms as happened in New Orleans. “Never again” can only be meaningful when the intended victim is able to defend himself. http://www.jpfo.org/
As in the past, attempts to silence or marginalize Ron Paul will only backfire. It sure would be nice if a whole bunch of Ron Paul supporters could go daven outside the RJC event. I can’t imagine anything that would make the point clearer than to see a large group saying Mincah under signs supporting Ron Paul.
FMNN REPLY: Interesting post.
http://www.freemarketnews.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=49578
I can see Jewish folks for Ron Paul. Heck, when I was younger, I had a Jewsih buddy who loved Pat Buchanan! It just goes to show that Jews are not monolithic in thought by any stretch. If anything, Jewish tradition embraces as much diverse thought as possible. Maybe that’s why Eric tolerates a big ol’ lib like me! ;)
Micky – I would LOVE to have a drink with you.
JMJ
No you wouldnt
One of my best friends is Jewish, and works on Ron Paul’s congressional staff. He says it’s news to him that Ron Paul is an anti-semite.
Yeah I would. You’d be surprised, Micky. Unless, of course, you’re some kind of sociopathic lunatic that can’t bant about with people of differing opions.
I think most people know he’s not anti-semitic, Galileo. He’s just America-first. You can be that and sympathetic to today’s Jeiwsh world. These things aren’t mutaully exclusive. On the other hand – Ron Paul’s brand of capitalism isn’t fairing well in Israel these days. If Israel is smart, it’ll get back to it’s social-democratic roots.
JMJ
Whithin 5 minutes the fear would drive you to suicide.
Have you ever danced with the devil under the pale moonlight?
Micky, I’ve danced with the Devil more than once. In fact, I’ve taken lessons with Him. Never underestimate anyone, Micky. It’s a fool’s gamble.
JMJ
Oh your so bad. I’m trembling.
Iwould rather be stuck at the north pole with Al Gore and Tipper than have a drink with you.
Plus, I dont drink
You just had to get the RuPaulites here didn’t you Eric :(
I’m a liberal, Nazh. Aside from a few positions, I think Ron Paul (and Micky ;) is insane.
JMJ
Thank you Jersey.
Its always good to know that my logic confuses you to the point that it appears as insanity.
Jersey said;
“I’m a liberal, Nazh. Aside from a few positions,”
Would those positions have anything to do with cranial inversion ?
LOL!
No, I just agree with Ron Paul completely when it comes to the very unAmerican and unConstitutional military industrial complex, Executive wars, and the American empire. Our Founders strongly believed that America should be a strong but neutral state, not a far flung colonial empire the likes of which they fought against to form America in the first place. The military state, more than the welfare state or the police state, is going to drag us down to our doom. I, and many other libs, conservatives and libertarians believe this to our cores.
JMJ
Oh my God ! Its not cranial inversion !
Its cranial insertion !
The war we fought to form America is completely different from the dynamics, reasons, and aspects of this war.
If you honestly feel this way I have a bridge I can sell you.
Before you move to New Guinea
Hi, Eric.
Liberals do have a way of changing the intent of the post, don’t they? At any rate, I won’t be bored with your subject and will return to read more. I couldn’t figure out why you were apologizing to Sam Brownbeck for though. Being late?
It’s not just “this war” Micky. It’s the whole post-WWII military expansion. We lost our great American way of life. We succumbed to fear and handed our lives, liberty and money over to a vast military state, with troops in 140 countries. We don’t need it. When you study history, you’ll note that all the great modern Western military powers evenetually collapsed under the weight of their vast miliitaries and the debt of war. You can say whatever you want about me being a “liberal” or whatever, but I am far from alone in this concern. There was a time when most conservatives agreed with what I’m saying. Unfortunately, they too succumbed to fear. We are the strongest nation on Earth. We should fear no one.
JMJ
Thanks Eric.
I look forward to adding your candidate profiles to what information I have. Then again, in a way it’s moot. Unfortunately, the importance of defeating Hillary (or whoever else, by some aberration, ends up as the Dem front-runner), trumps everything else. Any one of the Republican hopefuls (yes, even Dr. Paul) would be better than 4 terms of Clinton.
Oh yea right, what a bunch of crap.
We are living the great American way of life. And that will always have its problems as it always has.
The great western military powers collpased under moonbat regimes and laws, not from supporting the military alone. They had no free market to ebable a decent ratio of revenue to both support the infrastructure, commerce and a military.
You’re best and most recent example would be Communist Russia.
Every freeking dime went to the military.
We dont do that here, plain and simple.
You say stupid things just because its right up your alley and it stirs controversy but has nothing to do with the post.
I’m going to give Erics fans a break from watching me kick your ass again and turn this thread over to the subject posted.
“We dont fear anyone because we are the strongest nation on earth, “that the way its properly phrased from a realistic and popular view.
Not your doom and gloom approach to everything this country does.
I’ll see you soon, you can talk to yourself if you want today.
AS Bill would say; ” I’ll give you last word”
Micky, it you ever bring up constructionism or the intent of the Founding Fathers, I will remember how you conveniently ignored them today.
JMJ
Galileo,
Tim Osmond?
Go take your meds.
This has got to be the biggest and clearest exmple of the kind of lunacy that Ron Paul and his supporters attracts.
So Galileo, is this kind of thing below the norm for Ron Paul supporters ?
And the boneheads that put out these ridiculous misrepresentations?
The same folks that stand behind this Tim Osmond fairy tale are the same ones who take one liners and simple verbal errors from the presidents speeches and statements and totally distort them.
This is the crap that you and the looney left believe?
http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/binladen_cia.html
Tim Osman (Ossman) has recently become better known as Osama Bin Ladin. “Tim Osman” was the name assigned to him by the CIA for his tour of the U.S. and U.S. military bases, in search of political support and armaments. ( and they rented Bin Laden the Lincoln bedroom)
http://www.freedomunderground.org/homes.php?pid=289
George W. Bush in His Own Words ( that were twisted by delusional moonbats)
He wants to arm the enemy:
“We resolved to arm the terrorist enemy.” (July 4, 2004)
He wants the enemy to attack America:
“Bring ’em on.” (7/3/03)
He wants to harm our country:
“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.” (August 5, 2004)
He thinks he is the mouthpiece of God:
“I trust God speaks through me.” (July 16, 2004)
He thinks God tells him to attack people:
“God told me to strike at al Qaida and I struck them, and then he instructed me to strike at Saddam, which I did”. (6/20/04)
He thinks we are too free in America:
“There ought to be limits to freedom.” (5/21/99)
He prefers dictatorship, and wants to be our dictator:
“If this were a dictatorship, it’d be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I’m the dictator.” (12/18/00)
He doesn’t care about Osama:
“I don’t know where he is and I really don’t care. It’s not that important. It’s not our priority.” (4/28/2003)
Anyone who has only slightly watched the news in the last 6 years knows that all these statements were either mispoken or verbal slips, which I have to admit Bush is famous for.
These interpretations and edits are clearly that of some folks with a serious case of BDS.
And they are incredibly stupid to think that more that ten people would believe this.
(that would be the totall Ron Paul supporters)
i’m eric. joining a couple boards and looking
forward to participating. hehe unless i get
too distracted!
eric
Hey,
I’m Gerry.
Just saying hello – I’m new.
Hi
Just stopping in to say hi to y’all as a new member.
Aaron
How many Americans must Due for Israel’s Wars??
How much money should America tax payers have to send to Israel each year??