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Jewish Groups Irked by Cross on Republican Podium
Reuters ^ | 09/01/2004 | Mark Egan

Posted on 09/01/2004 4:44:26 PM PDT by Spyder

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Speakers at this week's Republican convention make their remarks at a wooden podium that some Jewish groups find offensive because its decorative panels appear to form the shape of a Christian cross.

A cross is even more visible in a waist-high gavel stand adjacent to the podium, leading some to question whether the party is trying to send a subtle message to its base among conservative Christians.

"It is the very height of insensitivity for the Republican Party to feature a cross at the center of the podium of this convention," Ira Forman, executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council, said in a statement.

"This wooden cross must be at least three feet (one meter) tall, and it sends a signal of exclusivity loudly and clearly."

Two other Jewish groups interviewed by Reuters expressed similar sentiments.

A convention spokesman declined to comment about the podium flap, telling reporters he did not understand why people were asking questions on the issue.

President Bush's chief political strategist, Karl Rove, told CNN he did not think the podium's decorative woodwork looked like a cross.

"My God, where do they come up with this stuff?" he said. "Does it look to you like it's a cross? I don't think so."

The hall at the convention, where Bush on Thursday will accept the Republican nomination to a second White House term, is sparse.

Its three main components are a billowing stretch of red, white and blue to symbolize patriotism and the American flag, a New York skyline devoid of the World Trade Center, destroyed in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and the church-like podium.

Beside the podium is the gavel stand constructed of wood panels, with lighter shades in the center in the shape of a cross -- the Christian symbol of the crucifixion of Jesus.

CHURCH AND STATE "I'm a Roman Catholic myself, but I continue to be amazed about the inappropriate dissolution of the line between church and state," said Village Voice media critic Michael Musto, adding that he saw the cross as a "subliminal nod to the religious right."

Separation of church and state is a key issue for U.S. Jewish voters and among the reasons why they typically vote for Democrats. Bush, who will accept the nomination as the Republican presidential candidate on Thursday, refers regularly to God and his religion in his speeches.

With Bush neck-and-neck with his Democratic opponent Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, Republicans are keen to mobilize the religious right to vote for the Texan.

In the 2000 election against Al Gore, Bush took about one fifth of Jewish votes. But despite irritation among some Jews about the symbolism at the convention, his support among Jews could rise to about one third in November's election, said David Twersky, director of international affairs at the American Jewish Congress.

That increased Jewish vote will come from Bush's tough stand on terrorism, his assertion of Israel's right to defend itself and because his road map for Middle East peace demands that Palestinians must stop attacks on Israel, he said.

Twersky said that whether or not the image of a cross on the stage was a message to the religious right, much clearer signals were delivered by speakers at the podium.

"When Laura Bush said (the president) doesn't change his friends or his values and there was a thunderous roar from the delegates, that was a message that the president is with the Christian right on abortion and other issues," he said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: cross; gwb2004; njdc; paranoia; podium; rnc; rncconvention
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And in related news, Sesame Street's "The Count" wishes to now be known as "'He Coun'." Says 'Coun, "I've always been verrrry afraid of the letter T myself."
1 posted on 09/01/2004 4:44:27 PM PDT by Spyder
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To: Spyder

Cross? I looked like a pony to me.


2 posted on 09/01/2004 4:46:03 PM PDT by LuckyHat ("Kerry gave 1971 testimony with a Kennedy accent I didn't hear when I knew him as a boy nor since.")
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To: LuckyHat

Cross? It looked like a pony to me.


3 posted on 09/01/2004 4:46:40 PM PDT by LuckyHat ("Kerry gave 1971 testimony with a Kennedy accent I didn't hear when I knew him as a boy nor since.")
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To: Spyder
The pastor from the Riverside Baptist Church where the Billaries gave their sermon on anti-Bush on Sunday also is irked. Does not see any hypocrisy in his statement. LOL
4 posted on 09/01/2004 4:46:54 PM PDT by NavySEAL F-16 (Proud to be a Reagan Republican)
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To: Spyder

This reminds me of the "niggardly" flap somehow.


5 posted on 09/01/2004 4:46:54 PM PDT by jwalburg (Hatriots for Kerry)
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To: Spyder

WTF?

The LLL (Looney Liberal Left) newest motto:

"All Whine All the Time"


6 posted on 09/01/2004 4:46:57 PM PDT by vrwcagent0498 (Be afraid, Hillary. Be very afraid. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!)
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To: Spyder

Victims......always victims.


7 posted on 09/01/2004 4:47:10 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion: The Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Spyder
President Bush's chief political strategist, Karl Rove, told CNN he did not think the podium's decorative woodwork looked like a cross.

"My God, where do they come up with this stuff?" he said.

WHAT GOD IS ROVE REFERRING TO??? IS HE TRYING TO MIX POLITICS AND RELIGION???

8 posted on 09/01/2004 4:47:53 PM PDT by JohnnyZ (Indians 22, Yankees 0)
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To: Spyder

Got a pic?


9 posted on 09/01/2004 4:47:57 PM PDT by jwalburg (Hatriots for Kerry)
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To: Spyder
The true loonies are oozing out of the woodwork now. Next thing they'll be complaining because Kix Brooks is wearing a (gasp) black hat and Ronnie Dunn's hair is red. These people really need to take a deep breath, give each other a hug and STFU.
10 posted on 09/01/2004 4:48:00 PM PDT by Use It Or Lose It (Swift Boat Veterans for TRUTH...www.swiftvets.com...Donate now!)
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To: Spyder

I don't know, I suppose we could find out if its really a cross by bringing in a few dems and making them look at it. If they recoil and fly out the window, guess it is.


11 posted on 09/01/2004 4:48:09 PM PDT by Kay Syrah (nice finish)
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To: Spyder

These people are lunatics.


12 posted on 09/01/2004 4:48:31 PM PDT by MisterRepublican
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To: Spyder
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Speakers at this week's Republican convention make their remarks at a wooden podium that some Jewish groups find offensive because its decorative panels appear to form the shape of a Christian cross.

Geez, too f***kin' bad. Of all the things to complain about...

13 posted on 09/01/2004 4:48:49 PM PDT by Hacksaw
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To: Spyder
Cross?

I'm as paranoid antichristian nutcase as they come and I didn't notice this.

I must be off my game.

14 posted on 09/01/2004 4:48:52 PM PDT by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: Spyder
You'd think Reuters would provide a pic so pipples could decide for themselves what the think looks like.

Oh, well. I guess I'll just have to watch the Convention.

15 posted on 09/01/2004 4:49:05 PM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all)
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To: Spyder
A bunch of suicidal effin' leftist Jews. I dated one years ago, and I'm sure she was typical of them - insecure, self-righteous, and emotionally unbalanced. None of these a-holes were going to vote for Bush anyway, so let 'em bitch.


16 posted on 09/01/2004 4:49:05 PM PDT by Viking2002
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To: Spyder
You have to really squint to see it...


17 posted on 09/01/2004 4:49:22 PM PDT by socal_parrot (Just win baby!)
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To: Spyder
Maybe they tuned to the wrong channel...


18 posted on 09/01/2004 4:49:25 PM PDT by COBOL2Java (Kerry lied while courageous veterans died.)
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To: jwalburg

19 posted on 09/01/2004 4:50:10 PM PDT by Spackidagoosh
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To: Spyder
"This wooden cross must be at least three feet (one meter) tall, and it sends a signal of exclusivity loudly and clearly."

Yeah? Well, just wait until Thursday night, when we crucify a dwarf on it.

20 posted on 09/01/2004 4:50:10 PM PDT by hellinahandcart
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