Posted on 08/28/2004 6:43:20 PM PDT by Cincinna
Jewish groups gear up for NYC GOP convention --------------------------------------------------------- Janine Zacharia, THE JERUSALEM POST Aug. 29, 2004
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The American Jewish community kicks off a week of events around the Republican national convention on Sunday with a community celebration that will feature, among others, Bush-Cheney '04 campaign manager Ken Mehlman and former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is cosponsoring the event with the Republican Jewish Coalition and the United Jewish Communities.
AIPAC, which will host a series of events throughout the week for members, was suddenly thrust into the spotlight by news reports that two staffers were questioned by the FBI about their contacts with a Defense Department employee suspected of providing them with information about secret internal administration deliberations on Iran, which was then allegedly passed to Israel. AIPAC has denied any wrongdoing. AIPAC and UJC, both bipartisan groups, cosponsored a similar kick-off event at the Democratic national convention in July in Boston.
Earlier on Sunday, Jewish groups are cosponsoring a rally at Baruch College that one of the organizers, the Israel Project, says will convey "the tragic personal toll of terrorism" and call "for education for peace on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."
Nearly 1,000 people are expected to hold poster-size photographs of Israeli victims of recent terrorist attacks, whose names will be read aloud, and parents of victims are to speak.
Anti-Israeli rallies are also expected throughout the week. A group called the Free Palestine Alliance has publicized a hunger strike this weekend to protest Israel's security fence. The ANSWER Coalition has also urged its members to demonstrate in solidarity with the Palestinian people outside the Israeli Mission to the UN on Thursday, the last day of the convention.
Among the other events scheduled throughout the week are a Monday "Salute to the Republican Congress" featuring GOP luminaries from the House and Senate sponsored by the Republican Jewish Coalition. The Bush campaign itself will host an outreach event early in the week. The American Jewish Committee has organized a series of policy discussions including one on the Republican Party and the Jewish community.
The Bush campaign hopes to boost the numbers of American Jews who will vote for President George W. Bush. In 2000, he won only 18 percent of the Jewish vote. A recent poll commissioned by the National Democratic Jewish Council showed him garnering 25% of the community's support. Republican Jewish leaders anticipate the percentage will be higher this time because of Bush's support for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and rejection of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.
Beyond the exclusively Jewish events, a major march past Madison Square Garden, the convention site, and a rally expected to draw 250,000 people, is scheduled for Sunday. The protest's sponsor, United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ), said last week that protesters could gather in Central Park – their desired location – despite a judge's ruling that the group may not formally stage a rally there.
The Anti-Defamation League expressed concern that while UFPJ has a "more moderate stance on Israel than other protest groups," its rally could draw elements with an extremist anti-Israel view.
Security at the convention will be an enormous, expensive undertaking that will cost, in the end, more than $50 million in federal and state dollars. New York police are setting up checkpoints around Madison Square Garden and transportation officials will be closely monitoring, and in some ways restricting, Manhattan-bound traffic. More than one million people travel New York City's bridges and tunnels daily.
Republicans hope the convention will sway undecided voters to cast their ballot for Bush. In its appeal to the center, the convention will feature many speakers considered to be moderate and will include sharp criticism of Democratic opponent John Kerry.
On Monday, the opening night of the convention, Giuliani is expected to reflect on the September 11 tragedy. Arizona Republican Senator John McCain is expected to praise veterans and the president's Iraq policy.
Tuesday will feature First Lady Laura Bush and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Vice President Dick Cheney will speak on Wednesday, along with Democratic Senator Zell Miller of Georgia who is popular with independents. Bush wraps up the convention with his speech Thursday night.
This article can also be read at http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1093674511168&p=1078113566627
--------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 1995-2004 The Jerusalem Post - http://www.jpost.com/
Who cares.
All countries spy on each other.
Glad to see this. I hope it doesn't get too ugly with the protest groups. They can be pretty hateful.
So "United for Peace and Justice" says that the group can demonstrate in Central Park in defiance of a judge's order? I'd say they are unclear at best on the subject of Justice, let's hope for their sake that they understand Peace, 'cause the NYPD will be happy to provide them with a few "lessons" if they don't;)
They aren't.
That was a story planted by those who want to smear Jews in the Pentagon, especially Wolfowitz and Feith and by extension: Bush, Rumsfeld and the US policy in the ME. Geopolitically, it was designed to rally Muslim outrage and US/Israeli co-operation and alliance.
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Holy smoke! Is that a FR record?
A group called the Free Palestine Alliance has publicized a hunger strike this weekend to protest Israel's security fence.
GREAT more food for me.
That's not the way things are done.
Well I guess everybody has to have a hobby. And it appears shadowtoo's is making a ass of himself
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