Meet the first Jewish governor of Missouri, a former Navy SEAL

Europe-Israel News ^ | Nov 17, 2016 | Europe Israel News

[zlando]

Eric Greitens, a former Navy SEAL whose seven military awards include the Bronze Star, has become the first Jewish governor of Missouri.

Greitens, 42, a Republican, also is a former Rhodes scholar and the founder of The Mission Continues, a nonprofit that helps veterans integrate themselves back into their communities through volunteer work.

On Tuesday, Greitens — who emphasized he would rid the state capital, Jefferson City, of “bad ethics” — defeated Democrat Chris Koster with 51 percent of the vote. His opponent, the state’s attorney general, received 45 percent.

“Tonight, we did more than win an election; we restored power to the people and we took our state back!” Greitens told supporters at a hotel in Chesterfield, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. A former Democrat, Greitens positioned himself as a conservative who wasn’t a “career politician.” It was his first run for office.

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[DoughtyOne]

I can’t believe a paper is actually addressing his race.

Remember, these are the people who abhor racism.

Pointing out his race, is in essence racial profiling.

[Alberta's Child]

This was an odd race. Wasn’t the Democrat the more conservative candidate? I think he got the endorsement of the NRA.

[ExTexasRedhead]

FYI!

[Blennos]

This was an odd race. Wasn’t the Democrat the more conservative candidate? I think he got the endorsement of the NRA.

Really? It's hard to believe that a former Navy seal wouldn't get NRA endorsement.

[JamesP81]

This was an odd race. Wasn’t the Democrat the more conservative candidate? I think he got the endorsement of the NRA.

He was not more conservative overall, IMO. Koster did receive the NRA's endorsement. My understanding is that Koster supported permitless carry and Greitens did not, thus the endorsement.

That said, Koster also favored expanding Obamacare, so the man had plenty of liberal tendencies.

I am nearly a single issue voter on 2nd Amendment issues, but even though Koster got the NRA endorsement, both candidates are Pro-2A. And while Koster was slightly more Pro-2A, the legislature already passed the permitless carry bill by over-riding the current Rat governor's veto. So with that kind of support in the state house, Greitens became the better overall choice.

[Gay State Conservative]

As Martin Luther King once suggested it;s not his religion that’s important...it’s the content of his character.And that,it would appear,is very much “squared away” and “wired tight”!

[Alberta's Child]

The Republican is a former Democrat and the Democrat is a former Republican. I was out in Missouri in October and the campaign ads made it sound like a bizarre race.

[Gay State Conservative]

My understanding is that Koster supported permitless carry and Greitens did not, thus the endorsement.

But you can bet your bottom dollar that Koster would have "grown" and "evolved" once in office to the point where even Gabby Giffords would have called him a gun grabber.

[Augie]

Speaking as a native Missourian, with regard to Greitens, I will simply say “Show Me”.

[Fido969]

This can’t be right. All Republicans are racist anti-semitites.

[HarleyLady27]

Well way to go!!! This is good...

[longfellow]

Good for Missouri.

[ari-freedom]

Hillary was a Goldwater girl

[Repealthe17thAmendment]

The NRA clarified their endorsement by saying that Greitens has no official record, and Koster did, as Missouri AG.

This was a very odd race, though, because the Democrat, Chris Koster, was a Republican who switched parties to run for Attorney General a while back; and Greitens went to the 2008 Democrat National Convention, and switched to the GOP to run for governor.

In reality, we have no idea what we're going to get!

[ladyellen]

No, the Democrat was Not more conservative in any way. He was going to expand Obamacare in MO. I am very glad Greitens won.

[JamesP81]

But you can bet your bottom dollar that Koster would have "grown" and "evolved" once in office to the point where even Gabby Giffords would have called him a gun grabber.

Always a risk with allegedly "conservative" Rats. Thus why Greitens was the safer choice. With state house being rabidly Pro-2A at the moment, I didn't feel a need to vote for someone who would likely be otherwise a liberal, even if he kept his 2A promises...which as you point out, is not assured.

It's not assured with Greitens either, but the calculus says it's far more likely.

[zlando]

This is a great change. I expect great things from him. While the Jewish American community seems not only more and more detached from Israel - it seems that many are detached from reality. I hope my brothers in the USA will change, and see his election as a hopeful light.

[pabianice]

“former democrat” Yeah, there’s a lot of that going around.

[DiogenesLamp]

Meet the first Jewish governor of Missouri, a former Navy SEAL

Good for him. Good for Missouri too.