Republicans Go Courting
| January 21, 2016
Jewish Republicans boo Trump back Bush and look hopefully to Cruz and Rubio.It’s like the Super Bowl — but even more competitive. Last week a block from the White House 700 Jewish Republicans paid at least $500 per seat to attend the Republican Jewish Coalition Forum an event that attracted the full roster of GOP presidential contenders. One by one over eight hours 13 candidates stepped up to the podium to make their case for the Jewish vote. The day did not go as planned especially for the top two candidates political outsiders Donald Trump and Ben Carson. The frontrunners did not impress leaving attendees wondering whom they’ll support come primary time.
Politically Incorrect
Introduced as a “mensch with chutzpah” who is “in the mishpachah” Trump opened his remarks by mentioning that his daughter Ivanka underwent an Orthodox conversion and married into an Orthodox family. “You just like me because my daughter happens to be Jewish right? …The only bad news is I can’t get her on Saturday. I call and call and can’t speak to her on Saturdays anymore but that’s okay.” After establishing some common ground Trump turned off many in the crowd (and even got some boos) when he offered comments about Jews that were at the very least offensive and some claimed anti-Semitic. “You are not going to support me even though you know I am the best thing that could happen for Israel ” he said. “I know why you are not going to support me. You’re not going to support me because I don’t want your money. You want to control your own politicians.” Then he upped the ante with this statement: “I’m a negotiator like you folks we’re negotiators. Is there anyone in this room who doesn’t negotiate deals? This room negotiates a lot. This room perhaps more than any room I’ve ever spoken to.” In the eyes of many establishment RJC members (not all of whom are deal makers) Trump is an unqualified interloper who’s harming Republican chances of taking the White House in 2016. Even on policy Trump fumbled. When asked by RJC executive director Matt Brooks whether he considers Jerusalem the undivided capital of Israel Trump demurred. “You know what I want to do? I want to wait until I meet with Bibi ” he said. “Trump refused to show substance ” said Ari Fleischer who served as press secretary for George W. Bush. “He’s an entertainer and he does things unlike anyone I’ve ever met.” According to Ezra Friedlander a public policy consultant who works both sides of the aisle Trump’s response shows he was unprepared for a tough foreign policy question a criticism that has dogged him in other forums. “Saying Jerusalem is Israel’s undivided capital is now mainstream in a Republican campaign. It’s like supporting motherhood and apple pie. And if Trump endorsed Netanyahu doesn’t that mean he supports his policies?” The other insurgent candidate retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson did not offend but also didn’t win over many hearts and minds. Reading stiffly from a scripted speech he reinforced concerns about his lack of government experience. Unlike other candidates he didn’t take questions and he repeatedly mispronounced the name of the terror group Hamas as “hummus.” “Trump and Carson both missed an opportunity here ” said Fleischer echoing the view of many in attendance.
Cruz Controls Rubio Rocks
Although Trump and Carson are currently leading in the polls the conventional wisdom is that both will eventually fade to give way to an establishment candidate with wider appeal. Longtime RJC members are looking hopefully toward Senator Ted Cruz and Senator Marco Rubio. Cruz pledged to “utterly destroy” ISIS and to “rip to shreds” the Iranian nuclear deal (which he compared to the 1938 Munich Agreement). He called for a genuine grassroots revolution to take back the White House similar to the one Ronald Reagan created to defeat Jimmy Carter in 1976. Ed Czuker a frum businessman from Beverly Hills introduced Cruz at the forum. He told Mishpacha that he’s hosted the senator for Shabbos and Purim meals and was particularly impressed when the senator hired a mashgiach to kasher a hotel kitchen at a Texas event. “Senator Cruz respects Jews as a people of faith ” Czuker said. “Not only is Senator Cruz unbelievably strong on Israel and Jewish values but he’s also got a high percentage of Jewish staff.” Czuker said he was surprised that Cruz hadn’t attracted more Jewish support but was confident the senator would eventually be able to connect beyond his political base. Like GOP voters across America some RJC attendees said they thought Cruz might be too conservative to win a presidential election. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida hit a number of points important to conservative Jewish voters. He vowed to aggressively fight ISIS which he described as an apocalyptic movement; curtail growing anti-Semitism in Europe as well as on college campuses; discard the Iran deal and re-impose sanctions; support defensible borders for Israel; and embrace an undivided Jerusalem as Israel’s “eternal capital.” Phil Rosen an attorney from New York called Rubio one of Israel’s “greatest friends” and believes the senator has the best chance of winning the White House for the Republican party. Rosen pushed back on concerns that Rubio is too inexperienced to be president. “Rubio is a fantastic leader in the Senate was a terrific leader in the Florida legislature and will be a great leader as president. I’m amazed that in an age in which so many parts of America are led by people in their 30s and 40s we would question the ability of a superstar like Marco Rubio to lead.”
Governors Come Out Fighting
When Jeb Bush joined the race earlier this year many predicted he’d win the Republican nomination an establishment candidate with good name recognition who isn’t likely to scare anyone off with his views. But Bush has faded hindered initially by a poor debate performance and lately by the sense that he doesn’t really want the job. As it happens the former Florida governor has a number of key supporters among the RJC hierarchy including former US ambassador Mel Sembler and oil and gas industry executive Fred Zeidman. Sporting lapel pins with “Jeb” written in Hebrew the big names are remaining loyal claiming there’s a big difference between polls and the election. Frum supporters in the Bush camp include attorney Jay Lefkowitz and New York hedge fund manager Sander Gerber. The two sitting governors of politically important states John Kasich of Ohio and Chris Christie of New Jersey are also stuck in the single digits in polling. Both men were warmly welcomed by the RJC audience but didn’t seem to have many backers at the forum. Once considered the GOP’s best bet to win the White House Governor Christie told Mishpacha that no matter who the nominee is more Jews will vote Republican in 2016. “They know Republicans are friends of Israel and a strong America around the world. And a strong America is good for everyone. America will be safe.” Governor Kasich told Mishpacha that the American political class can learn an important lesson from the Jewish People one he initially learned from his mother. “[S]he said ‘Johnny… if you want to look for a really good friend get somebody who’s Jewish.’ And you know why she said that? She said ‘No matter what happens to you your friend your Jewish friend will stick by your side and fight right with you and stand by you.’…As a Jew you’re supposed to live a life greater than yourself.”
Courting the Jewish Vote
Even though most Jews vote Democratic (70 percent to 30 percent in 2012) the RJC with its combination of major donors and grassroots organizers is gaining momentum. The RJC’s primary mission is to attract Jewish voters to the GOP but it’s not easy. Most Jewish Americans are liberal and still support President Obama by wide margins. The stakes are high in this election. “I’m supporting anybody but Hillary Clinton ” declared Ronn Torossian CEO of 5WPR public relations company. “If an Obama clone ends up in the White House there will be damage to the country for years to come.” Underlying the day was a core question left largely unanswered: How will the RJC persuade more Jews to vote for the GOP? Congressman Lee Zeldin of New York the only Jewish Republican member in the US House of Representatives said the GOP should emphasize its strength on security issues with Jewish voters. “The Republican Party has consistently strong foreign policy and unwavering support for allies like Israel ” said Zeldin. “We treat enemies like enemies. We are fully committed to be an effective leader of the free world. The GOP should be the choice for any Jewish voter concerned about national security foreign affairs a strong economy improving education and health care.” Torossian believes that Jewish voters mistakenly emphasize slogans over political realities. “Many of our Jewish brethren unfortunately pray at the altar of liberalism and they believe that tikkun olam means help the whole world but don’t stand by the Jews. “There are simple litmus tests ” he said. “Do you stand with the Jewish state? Do you stand against a madman who wants to destroy your people? It’s a simple yes or no. If you believe in the Torah and Jewish values then our brethren in Israel need to live in safety.” If focusing on Jewish values is a key strategy for attracting more Jews to the GOP few leaders are talking about it. In fact one national problem largely ignored in this campaign and of concern to many Jewish voters is the decline of family values. Presidential candidate Rick Santorum a former US Senator who won Ohio in the 2012 primaries but is now struggling to gain traction told Mishpacha that he sees promotion of family values as an urgent task for the next president. “I always talk about the importance of the bully pulpit talking about the centrality of the family and fatherhood taking responsibility for marriage and children. We haven’t had that in this country for a long time. “I think it’s an important element to understand that without strong stable families the dream of limited government and freedom is unreachable. I know your readers know that and many in the Jewish community do. Unfortunately many do not and see government as an alternative to the family.”
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