One of Only Two Jewish House Republicans Weighs Switch to Democratic Party

National Jewish Democratic Council/USA Today/AP ^ | 6/05/02 | Staffs

[LarryLied]

National Jewish Democratic Council press release:

Washington, DC: According to the Associated Press and CNN.com’s Internet site, Representative Benjamin Gilman – a former chairman of the House International Relations Committee, and one of only two Jewish Republicans in the House of Representatives – is considering a switch to the Democratic Party.

Under the leading New York redistricting plan currently under consideration by the GOP leadership in Albany, Rep. Gilman may be thrown into the same congressional district as Republican Rep. Sue Kelly. To pass, such a plan would ultimately require the support of the Republican State Senate and Republican Governor George Pataki.

And according to the New York Times Internet site, “Republican lawmakers have long made clear that their first choice for departure is Mr. Gilman, because of his age and his relatively liberal politics.”

In a swipe at President Bush, CNN.com reports that Rep. Gilman noted, “Hopefully the White House will take some interest in our problem.”

“While of course we would very happily welcome Representative Gilman into the Democratic family with open arms, it is simply a shanda – a disgrace – that Republican leaders in New York and Washington would not be more supportive of one of only two Jewish House Republicans,” said Ira N. Forman, Executive Director of the National Jewish Democratic Council.

“Where are the supportive voices of President Bush, RNC Chairman Racicot, and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Davis? For that matter, where are the supportive voices of New York’s Governor Pataki and New York Republican Senate President Bruno?

“Rep. Gilman is one of the all-too-few Republican moderates, being pro-choice and supportive of the separation of church and state.

But aside from that, he is a vaunted leader, having served in the House for 30 years and having chaired the House International Relations Committee – where he worked in a bipartisan spirit on behalf of Israel. And then, to add insult to injury, he is one of only two Jewish House Republicans.

Is it that the Republicans do not value the diversity of having two Jews among their ranks of 222 Republicans in the House?

Or is it that they do not need his political moderation, or his decades of experience?

Why is it that out of only a handful of incumbent House Republicans across the country who have been abandoned in the redistricting process by the Republican leadership, it appears that one is the pro-Israel former Chairman of the House International Relations Committee and the senior Jewish Republican in Congress?”

---

USA Today, 5625/02:

New York redistricting plan gets tentative OK

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has tentatively cleared the New York legislature's redistricting plan, which would eliminate two of the state's 31 seats and could throw several longtime House members into election fights with each other .

The plan threatens the career of veteran GOP Rep. Benjamin Gilman, the 79-year-old former chairman of the House International Relations Committee. . .(snip)

Gilman has said he might switch parties so that he would have a better chance in the upcoming election.

Most Republican insiders do not think he will actually jump ship. State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, a Republican, has said Gilman chuckled about such a move with him.
FULL USA TODAY ARTICLE

[Holden Magroin]

I wish a change were occurring. But I don't see it. I see history repeating itself. One wrong word or move on Israel and the "new" Jewish support Bush has now will turn into fundraising efforts to defeat him in 2004.

Yes, there they go again: those dirty Jews and their money. Sheesh, give it a rest.

[LarryLied]

Why don't you give it a rest? Why the ad hominem? We talk about Jesse Jackson raising money for Democrats all the time. We talk about Christians raising money. We talk about Buddhists giving money to Democrats. Nobody thinks a thing about it. No one suggests a freeper is a racist or hates Buddhists. But mention anything about Jewish influence in politics and the smears start.

Did you read reply #33? Nonstatist says: "Jewish Dems provide about half the soft money coming from individuals to the Democrat Party."

It is OK for Nonstatist to say that but if I do, I'm an antisemite right?

[Leclair10]

There is one x factor in all this larry ariel sharon plans on making Bush an honorary member of the Lekud party next month something not even Joe Lieberman can brag about.

[Leclair10]

Good point Rome not to mention the black caucus being in bed with the arabs.

[Twodees]

This is cute. You're using a stereotype of Jews as liberals after accusing everyone who disagrees with you on Southern issues of being KKK members. Funny you present Jews as liberals and insinuate that they're evil on that account while fervently supporting outright communist Jews like Morris Dees. It appears that you want Jews to be liberal democrats and only when they aren't do you really dislike what they stand for.

[Twodees]

Republicans in large numbers still write off Southerners while relying on the South for a solid conservative base. Look at people like Illbay here for an example of what I mean.

[Wrigley]

More proof that our politicians put their personal power first.

[Illbay]

I'm not "writing off" the Jewish vote. I'm simply trying to inject a bit of reality.

Perhaps in the wake of the Left's unbridled support for the PLO, and their coddling of the "poor, defenseless" terrorist prisoners and hand-wringing about their "right," things WILL change.

But Leftist political sentiment is ingrained in that community, just as it is among blacks. It's not going to happen overnight.

And I do understand--and am now educated--about the 40% of the Jewish vote for Reagan. But Torie posted a link to an interesting article at Reply No. 24. Read it.

It shows that the "Jewish vote" is completely enamoured of the Clinton-Gore era. They voted for Clinton and Gore like they were the Messiah.

Go figure.

[Illbay]

"Latest thing," huh? That's an interesting analysis of the above statistics. Let's see: from 1972 through 1988, the Jewish GOP vote was averaging about 34%. Then came Clinton-Gore, and the best GWB could do was 20%.

So how the h*ll do you come up with your "fad"? If the trend continues, the GOP MIGHT be up to MAYBE 25% in the next election.

But--UH-OH!--Bush has called for a Palestinian state.

Too bad.

[Illbay]

That's one thing that might help, but I doubt Bush is considered a "staunch friend" of Israel OTOH. Especially with Colin Powell in the mix.

[Illbay]

What was said about "dirty Jews"? And one of YOUR cheerleaders was the one who pointed out that although the Jewish vote itself is small in numbers, the money's the thing.

Sounds like YOU think your argument is a bit weak. That's what you people do every time: Pull out the "race card."

[elcaudillo]

I hope congressrat Gilman doesn't let the door hit him in his "moderate" posterior. Too bad he can't take the rest of the moderates with him in order that all our enemies are on the same identifiable side.

The Republican party is in dire need of a cleansing laxative!

[Illbay]

I am sincerely hoping that the black Left is harmed by their support for the terrorists, but IMO that will ONLY siphon away the white vote from black candidates (as happened in Alabama last week with Earl Hillyard).

But every little bit helps--and I'd take the 40% of the Jewish vote (and support) in a second if I thought I could get it.

I simply think it's foolish to count on it.

[Illbay]

You are living in a fantasy world.

I have NO IDEA how you derived ANY of your clap-trap from what I have said.

[Illbay]

The vast majority of southerners are like me: They're conservatives. They're not "neo-Confederate" old-style Democrats like you, Twodees. I know that you have this fever-dream of a south risen again, but the south is just another region of the country, populated half by people who were born there, and half born elsewhere--just like the rest of the country.

Meanwhile, you fiddle while Rome (Georgia) burns. Silly you.

[Illbay]

If they didn't have that attitude, they would not be politicians.

[StockAyatollah]

I'm glad you said it!

[nicmarlo]

This is obviously a propaganda piece to win back jewish votes from Bush. Why else would they say the Republicans have abandoned Jews

My thoughts, exactly.....and the previous one you made....he's a liberal and wants to keep his job.

[aristeides]

It's not so much Jewish votes that matter, think fundraising. I happened to discuss the other day with a liberal Jewish coworker the danger to Dem fundraising among Jews present circumstances, especially in the war and the Middle East, created. He agreed that it was threatened, and volunteered the statement that Bush is the friendliest president to Israel we have had since Truman.

[LarryLied]

Clinton is still making regular fundraising pilgrimages to South Florida. He was three hours late to a Ladies Zionist benefit this spring but his tardiness did not damper the ardor of his fans.