Cross Posted at The Progressive Zionist
Last night the Democratic National Convention of 2012 got off to a rousing start. Reminiscent of the All-Star game in Baseball, speaker after speaker hit rhetorical home run after home run. Honestly, as a Democratic partisan, I have to say that some of the great speeches (not in order) from Deval Patrick to Julian Castro to Ted Strickland, to Michelle Obama all struck a strong cord with me and gave me hope for this election season.
But even more than the speeches, I was so impressed with the diversity of the crowd. I was impressed with how ALL Americans were represented at this convention, not just White Christian Americans. Looking at the crowd I felt heartened by the fact that there people of all races and creeds participating and supporting the candidates and the party. More than that... as Howard Fineman observed on MSNBC with Chris Matthews, Democrats didn't have to try to show they were with the Middle Class, it was obvious that they WERE from the Middle Class. They didn't have to try to be something they weren't.
All in all it was a great night.
As part of that night I got a chance to hear former House Member and President of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace Robert Wexler speak in an outreach to Jewish voters with regards to President Obama's friendship and America's strong alliance to one of our greatest friends in the world, Israel. As many here who read my diaries are aware that American Jewish politics and our friendship with Israel are two of my strong issues. SO... I thought that addressing this issue on the first night of the convention was telling particularly as the Republican LIE Machine is working overtime in key states like Florida and Pennsylvania to sway Jewish voters away from the President.
Anyway, here are some of Wexlers words:
Over the past four years, the president has proven this commitment time and again, in both word and deed. And the Democratic platform reflects the president's unflinching commitment to Israel's security and future as a Jewish state.
To strengthen Israel's qualitative military advantage, the president has increased security assistance to Israel to record levels-- more than any other president.
When he visited Sderot in 2008—an Israeli town along the Gaza border besieged by constant rocket attacks, President Obama saw for himself the toll terrorism takes on Israelis. And that's why he secured the funds to deploy the iron dome anti-rocket defense system which has already saved countless Israeli lives.
And under President Obama, the U.S. and Israel are firmly committed to stopping one of the gravest threats to international security: Iran's quest for nuclear weapons. The president has explicitly stated that an Iranian nuclear weapon is "unacceptable" And that He will mobilize all instruments of U.S. power-- economic, diplomatic, Intelligence, And military-- to prevent, not contain, a nuclear Iran.
While the Republicans dither about whether or not the Democratic Platform should call Jerusalem, Israel's capital, the President shows his true friendship to the Jewish people through concrete actions.He doesn't need to rely on distortion or deception to make his point, he simply shows his friendship through his actions.
Moreover (and Wexler left this out), the President shows his friendship everyday whether it is creating a Kosher Kitchen for staffers during Pesach or actually hosting a Seder at the White House, or affirming Jewish History month, or actually having strong Jewish advisers (including his Chief of Staff), or showing his friendship at the many Jewish Political functions around the U.S.
And how are Jewish Americans responding to the President? Well, as of the last Gallup poll, Jewish American voters were committed 64%-29 % for the President (which when matched up to the same time in 2008 represents a stronger margin). That margin is only increasing and as of late July, a survey of Jewish voters showed the President leading 68%-25%.
The Republicans are serious about trying for the "Jewish vote" this time around. Mitt Romney is specifically focused on it:
Next week, the Republican Jewish Coalition will conduct a voter outreach drive in South Florida, Cleveland and Philadelphia. The blitz, part of an overall $6.5 million RJC effort to sway Jewish voters, will be based on prior polling that will “micro-target” Jewish undecideds.
So to have a guy like Wexler taking "a swing" at this issue on the first night of the convention shows just how important the President thinks this is.
I too think it is important and it is important that as supporters of the President we are out there countering the Republican lies and distortions about the Presidents statements and actions. Moreover, we should demand from them (the Republicans) what they would do differently and how that would make a positive difference, because for all their bullshit... they can't (or won't) articulate their own plan.
Most important however is working within the community and spreading the word that President Obama really is a one of the best friends Israel and the Jewish people have had in the White House. We don't have to lie, distort, or deceive to do it. We simply have to tell the truth and as Wexler so aptly did, show the record.