Bush vs. Kerry on Israel

NewsMax ^ | 8/12/04 | Edward I. Koch

[wagglebee]

My decision to vote for the re-election of President George W. Bush, despite the fact that I am a lifelong Democrat, has caused some to call me a turncoat. But am I really? Or am I moving in a direction the Democratic Party itself should be going?

As mayor of New York City, I described myself as "a liberal with sanity." It troubled me that over the years, the Democratic Party had drifted toward the radical left. The vast majority of registered Democrats, and those who identify with that party, were and are moderates. As mayor and in the years since I left public office, I made it my mission to strengthen the Democratic Party by moving it closer to the center.

I supported and admired President Bill Clinton, who followed the same course on the national level. For the same reasons, I applauded the success of Prime Minister Tony Blair, who recreated the Labour Party in Great Britain, calling it the "New" Labour Party and getting rid of some of its obsolete socialist programs so that it now appealed to moderates. As a result, its majorities became enormous.

During my mayoralty, I occasionally endorsed Republicans in the Albany Legislature. I didn’t always agree with many of their positions, particularly their opposition to a woman's right to an abortion. (I am for the rights provided under Roe vs. Wade.) But I believed those individuals had demonstrated a willingness to lend financial support to the City of New York, which was then on the verge of bankruptcy.

Over the years, I have crossed party lines in mayoral elections because I believed that John Lindsay, Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg, for whom I campaigned and voted, would be far better for the City of New York than the Democratic candidates running against them. Party affiliation is an important consideration but should never be dispositive when casting a vote.

Now, for the first time in my life, I am going to vote for a Republican candidate for president, the incumbent, George W. Bush. I voted for Al Gore in 2000. I was one of the few Democratic leaders who supported Gore in the 1988 presidential Democratic primary when Michael Dukakis received 45 percent of the primary vote in New York City, Gore 7 percent, and Jesse Jackson carried the City with 46 percent.

With his endorsement of Howard Dean in this year’s primary and his strident speeches calling President Bush a liar, Gore has certainly demonstrated that he has moved considerably to the left since his defeat.

Why have I endorsed George W. Bush when I don't agree with him on a single domestic issue? Because I believe the issue of international terrorism trumps all other issues. I don't believe the Democratic Party has the stomach and commitment to deliver on this issue.

I believe terrorism will be with us for many years to come. So long as Senators Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd are considered major leaders of the Democratic Party, and so long as we have radical candidates like Howard Dean, whose radical-left supporters have been described by the press as "Deaniacs," the Democratic Party will be limited in its ability to serve the country well in times of crisis.

Everyone familiar with my political career knows that, along with my deep love for and gratitude to the United States and the City of New York for giving me extraordinary opportunities to serve the public, I am a Jew proud of my people's history and accomplishments.

Over the years, I have expressed my anxieties at the escalating worldwide anti-Semitism that now abounds in Western European countries such as France, England, Germany, Belgium, Holland and throughout Eastern Europe, including Russia. We haven't seen the likes of this rising tide of hatred directed at Jews since the 1930s. So, of course, I am interested in the views of the two presidential candidates toward Israel and its security.

President George W. Bush has amazed me. Bush 41, the father, was not particularly good on this issue. I do not believe that he is anti-Semitic, but his secretary of state, James Baker, perhaps summed up the attitude prevailing in that administration when he said: "F--- the Jews. They don't vote for us anyway."

Bush 43, the son, has fallen far from that tree. I believe most Jewish leaders will concede that of all U.S. presidents, Bush 43 has been the most supportive and protective of the security of the State of Israel.

Correspondence on Israel

Among the condemnations I have received for supporting President Bush was the following letter, on July 18, 2004:

"Mr. Koch. I am Jewish. I had the displeasure of hearing you say you will vote for Dubya Bush in November. I turned off the program after that because of Israel. I'd like to remind you this election is for President of the U.S. not for the leaders of Israel. I could give you 100's of reasons to not vote for Bush, but you've already become a turncoat."

I responded on Aug. 2, 2004, as follows:

"I received your note of July 18.

"Jews have priorities and are entitled to them just like every other ethnic group in America. Mexican-Americans are especially interested in the position of the presidential candidates on amnesty for illegal aliens. African-Americans are understandably interested in the safety of Africans in the Sudan who are subject to genocide at the hands of the Arab-dominated Sudanese government. Christians surely will be very concerned about the murders and injuries of Christians attending Mass in Iraq at five churches by Islamic terrorists. I could list many more. All Americans should be concerned about these outrages. Having such priorities does not make you less American, but more American.

"For Jews, it is the security of the State of Israel. When 200 French Jews recently left France out of fear of persecution by Muslim toughs in that country, they knew that Israel would take them without condition, which was not the case when Jews were fleeing Germany before World War II.

"However, you are misinformed on my position as to why I support President Bush for reelection. I support him because of the Bush Doctrine, "we will go after the terrorists and the countries that harbor them." He has demonstrated that he means it by invading Afghanistan and Iraq, both threats to their regions and to the U.S. I do not believe that the Democratic Party, which is now dominated by those who preferred Governor Dean for president, but decided he could not win, has the stomach to take on worldwide terrorism. Indeed, a New York Times-CBS poll of the delegates at the Boston Convention demonstrated their opposition to John Kerry's position which is not to get out of Iraq now. It is the party activists who the candidate has to rely on to get elected and whose positions generally prevail.

"I have held public office for 23 years. I was elected five times as Congressman and three times as Mayor with super majorities after the first election for each office. New Yorkers trusted my insights and common sense, and I believe they still do. The Islamic terrorists, in the words of Lee Hamilton, "want to kill us," and there are hundreds of millions of them. I want a President who is willing to go after them before they have the chance to kill us.

"There is nothing wrong with American Jews, concerned for the safety of all Americans, to be grateful that President Bush supports the State of Israel when European states in fear of terrorism capitulate to the demands of the terrorists and are hostile to Israel.

"I do not expect to convince you, but I do hope that you will respect my opinion and experience.

"All the best."

For those who say that John Kerry would be just as good as George Bush on the issue of Israel, let me cite an article from The New York Sun dated Aug. 4, 2004.

"In a speech he made last December at the Council on Foreign Relations, Mr. Kerry said he would consider sending Mr. Carter or Mr. Baker as his personal envoy to make peace between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs. Both men are associated with using America's special relationship with Israel to pressure the nation into untenable concessions."

It went on: "Mr. Levine told The Sun yesterday that Mr. Kerry instantly regretted making those comments. 'The truth on the envoy issue is that his staff got out ahead of him and released a statement he had not seen; when he saw it he was extremely upset about it and it did not reflect his views. Rather than withdraw at that moment, he allowed it to stay in the speech. He regretted it before he said it, but made the decision that taking it out of the speech at that time would call more attention than leaving it in. He has subsequently made abundantly and repeatedly clear he would not appoint an envoy that does not have the trust of both sides.'"

Does anyone seriously believe that Kerry saw the offending reference for the first time when he delivered that major speech? A major speech on foreign policy would have been vetted and practiced by the candidate and his advisers a dozen times before delivery. Does anyone believe that if he disagreed with a statement in that speech, he would not have deleted it? Does anyone believe that while disagreeing with the statement, he delivered it anyway, thinking there would be less damage than if he removed it?

I found it both interesting and disturbing that Kerry omitted any reference to Israel during his acceptance speech at the Democratic convention. To his credit, vice presidential candidate John Edwards thought it important to mention the need to protect the security of the State of Israel. I am convinced that President Bush will never trade Israel's special relationship with the U.S. in exchange for political support, be it domestic or international. I doubt that John Kerry and the "Deaniacs" who now embrace him would have the same resolve.

[wagglebee]

I believe terrorism will be with us for many years to come. So long as Senators Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd are considered major leaders of the Democratic Party, and so long as we have radical candidates like Howard Dean, whose radical-left supporters have been described by the press as "Deaniacs," the Democratic Party will be limited in its ability to serve the country well in times of crisis.

I guess I can give Koch a pass on the term "limited in its ability", but the bottom line is that the 'rats will do nothing to protect this country. If they thought they could, they would be out there bragging about when they had done it.

[Sola Veritas]

Whoa! Sounds like it is time for cyanide coolaid for the folks at the DNC!

[Diogenesis]

Kerry spoke strongly about Israel in his acceptance speech --- NOT.
He was warned by France that he had to pick, either America's ally or evil France.
and he did.

[wagglebee]

Nah, I think its more a case of minimally disguised Arkancide.

[tomnbeverly]

Totally agree, This is a serious political point that needs to be made to the Public. If Kerry and his kindler gentler on terrorist band get in the White House this will fuel the resolve of all the radical Islamic Terrorists. Israel will not stand a chance, and when Israel retaliates it is going to spark something extreme. Is this how WWIII will start? I wonder.

[PhilipFreneau]

Mayor Koch, you have my deepest respect.

[Zack Nguyen]

The vast majority of registered Democrats, and those who identify with that party, were and are moderates.

If this were actually true, the Democratic Party would be moderate, not leftist.

[no dems]

You go Eddie! Too bad he doesn't have a speaking slot at the GOP Convention.

[wagglebee]

Ed Koch is a classic "New Deal" liberal democrat, but he has enough integrity to do what he knows to be right and support Bush. I am willing to cut him a break on his personal politics. Remember he is still very popular in New York and with a lot of retired New Yorkers in south Florida.

[dj_animal_2000]

Israelis believe Bush better for them than Kerry: poll

Wed Aug 11, 2:43 PM ET

JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli Jews overwhelmingly want President George W. Bush (news - web sites) to beat his Democrat challenger John Kerry (news - web sites) in the US presidential election on November 2, according to an opinion poll.

A total of 49 percent of people questioned said they preferred Bush, with just 18 percent wanting Kerry to win.

Seven percent believed the two candidates were equally good for Israel, while two percent said they were equally bad for the Jewish state. The rest offered no opinion.

At the same time, 42 percent of those questioned believed Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites) should avoid supporting Bush, while 33 percent thought he should openly back the incumbent.

Tel Aviv university carried out the poll, questioning a representative range of 577 adult Israelis. The poll had a margin of error of 4.5 percent.

The poll confirmed that a clear majority of Israelis, Jewish and Arab, continue to back Sharon's plan to pull out of the Gaza Strip (news - web sites) -- with 60 percent for, and 34 percent against. The remainder expressed no opinion.

Link

[Salem]

The Democrat Party hemmorraging Jewish voters 'Ping!'

Ya'all come on over to Free Republic and we have Doc Alouette here will fix you up real good!  


And a ping for those on Alouette's list, till she is back on her own machine.

If you'd like to be on or off this
Christian Supporters of Israel ping list,
please FR mail me. ~
    
MikeFromFR ~
There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had
spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. (Joshua 21:45)
Letter To The President In Support Of Israel ~
'Final Solution,' Phase 2 ~
Warnings ~

[Salem]

.

"They don't need an excuse for their hatred, and it is wrong to blame America for the anger and evil of the killers ... We don't create terrorists by fighting back, we defeat the terrorists by fighting back." - American President George Bush.

[SirLurkedalot]

bump,thanks for the ping

[Mr.Atos]

Bravo, Mr. Koch. He 'get's it!' If, out of pathologic disappointment at a forgone election, extreme (if not comparatively trivial) political disagreement, and irrational rage of a juvenile tantrum, the fringe Left manages to succeed by spending untold millions of sympathetic (and quite socialist) Western Capital electing John Kerry, the War will be lost forever. Am I speaking hyberbole? I don't think so, and neither does Mr. Koch. I think that We all understand this... but, Western Leftists choose to ignore it. If George Bush is defeated (politically in November), the Monsters will pull back into hiding, feigning capitulation on the basis that the 'West' made a better choice. Then, learning from the lessons of this battle, and reinvesting the millions of new emboldened recruits into the effort, the tendrils of Islamacists terror will spread into every facet of civilization. When they emerge again in the form of violence, the West will be unable (and unwilling) to fight all over again. The cancer will be too acute and the damage too mortal. There will not be a political will, no popular committment, no world support, and NO PLACE TO HIDE.

Atos

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

And a ping for those on Alouette's list, she's away from her computor.

[Salem]

G-d for bid this should happen, Atos, but indeed there will be a test taken on the lessons learned over the last three years....

And it will be on November 2.