Christian Right is watching Bush on Israel

Jerusalem Post ^ | 7/11/03 | Herb Keinon

[tripod]

US President George W. Bush is mistaken to believe the Christian Right - which strongly supports Israel - is in his pocket for the 2004 election, Gary Bauer, a leading voice for this constituency, said Thursday.

Bauer, on a four-day visit to Israel, admitted that this constituency - which he said makes up the bulk of the Republican Party - is not going to leave the Bush camp and vote instead for one of the Democratic contenders. However, if it appears that the Bush Administration is "browbeating" Israel into making concessions to terrorists, Bauer said a large number of these people may just sit out the elections.

Bauer, a Presidential candidate in 2000 and head of American Values, a conservative advocacy group, said the idea that Bush has a "captive audience" in the Christian Right is "one of the big misunderstandings of American politics."

"No, they would not vote for Howard Dean," he said, referring to the liberal Vermont governor who has emerged as one of the leading Democratic contenders. "But Christian conservatives have been uncomfortable with politics for years, and they only became more involved in politics when they concluded they could make a difference in the country. If they are repeatedly disappointed, some percentage will just stay home; they will change their focus back to their churches and away from politics."

Bauer said that Bush's top political advisor, Karl Rove, understands this well. "He has said publicly that the last election was close because not enough of that vote got out. So it would be very unwise for any politician to take that vote for granted."

Moreover, Bauer said that this constituency makes up a bulk of the party's activists at the state and local level who ring doorbells, lick envelopes and solicit funds during election campaigns. He said that undo pressure on Israel could dampen their passion, and if their passion for the Republican Party becomes tepid, it could hurt the party.

The Christian Right is "a great asset for Israel to have in American politics," Bauer said, adding that there is a tendency in Israel to forget that this large independent force stands with it.

In the 2000 elections, some 14 percent of the electorate questioned in exit polls aligned themselves with the religious Right.

Bauer attributed the Bush Administration's change of tone after Israel's failed assassination of Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantissi to anger at a perceived double standard that was articulated by the Christian Right.

He said that after the Bush Administration's initial condemnation of the assassination attempt of Rantissi, he received copies of 1,000 e-mails sent to the White House on the issue.

"Even I was surprised by the tone of the e-mails," he said. "They were very respectful of the president, said they prayed for the president every day, but said universally that if they conclude that undo pressure is being placed on Israel, or that Israel is being held to a double standard, they will stay home on election day."

Bauer said he believes this "contributed a great deal" to the Bush Administration's change of tone in the 24 hours that followed the initial condemnation.

Concerned that the US not "browbeat Israel into making concessions that are unwise or inappropriate for its security," Bauer said he doesn't understand the Administration's opposition - articulated recently by National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice - to the construction of the security fence.

"It is hard to understand why Israel is being told it cannot take overt actions, like going after terrorist leaders, nor passive actions, like continuing the building of the security fence," Bauer said.

Bauer attributed the US pressure on the fence, as well as stepped up pressure on the road map after the conclusion of the war in Iraq, to the State Department getting an upper hand in the Oval Office.

"The State Department, unfortunately, has had its own foreign policy for 40 years, and that foreign policy tends to reassert itself in the oval office," Bauer said. "We want to help the president fight to make sure that his very clear moral views about terrorism are what prevails, not the bureaucracy of the State Department."

Bauer said he is "concerned" there is "evidence of a drift right now away from the clear standards that the president has previously outlined. We want to do everything we can to get the Bush Doctrine back into the driver's seat, and to remind everybody in Washington that the Bush Doctrine is universal, and that these principles apply not only to the right of the US to contest terrorism, but to Israel as well."

Bauer said in recent years there has been a marked decrease in the wariness of American Jews to team up with the Christian Right. According to Bauer, one the signs of this change is the number of invitations he now receives to address mainstream Jewish organizations. This, he said, wouldn't have happened two and a half years ago.

"I think there is a tremendous movement taking place, and a growing comfort level between Jewish and Christian leaders," Bauer said.

Bauer attributed this to an understanding among many Jews that he doesn't have a hidden agenda. On domestic issues, where organized American Jewish leadership and the Christian Right are often on opposite sides of the issues, Bauer said, "We can agree to disagree, but most of these issues are at the end of the day not as important as Israel's peace and security.

Bauer's trip, his second to Israel, was sponsored by a group of Orthodox Republicans called the Jerusalem Coalition, headed by Michael Landau, a real-estate developer from New York. Among the officials he met or will be meeting during his visit are Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Education Minister Limor Livnat, Ministers-without- Portfolio Natan Sharansky and Uzi Landau, Likud MK Omri Sharon, and Tourism Minister Benny Elon, considered to be close to the Christian Right.

Landau said a meeting with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, whom Bauer met during his visit here last year, did not take place because of scheduling problems.

[af_vet_1981]

I learned from her example and used the same standard that she introduced on the thread in referring to Gary Bauer. If that standard is not appropriate, than it is incumbent on her to set a different standard. If that standard is appropriate, it applies to her as easily as to Mr. Bauer.

Or is it that because he is an evangelical Christian he is a legitimate target ?

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Thank you for helping to illustrate how foolish you really are.

[Consort]

Gary Bauer got into an argument with a pancake a few years ago — and he lost.

[Courier]

I know this.

From after 9/11 until Bush started being hypocritical on Israel, the war went well, his standing was high.

Then he began to screw Israel with a Road Map and everything deteriorated.

All without a single vote from anyone.

[tripod]

Bush has let the State Department drag him into something that is over his head with respect to the Roadmap. Further, no one has asked, and the Administration has not said, whether the proposed "Palestinian State" can or will be viable once it is declared to exist. My bet is that Bush will at best have wound up creating a little more than a leech of a state. For example to name just a few: Can the Palestinian State (PS) generate its own electricity? Does it have energy resources, oil, coal, hydroelectric, nuclear? Does it have adequate water supplies - ground water, surface water, reservoirs, etc? Does it have enough arable land to feed itself? What other natural resources does it have to sustain an economy - gold, minerals, diamonds, forests, precious or semi-precious stones? Does it have adequate limestone for making concrete? Does it have an educated and/or skilled workforce? If the PS is in trouble with respect to having insufficient quantities of the above can it develop an economy sufficient to import basics? Will its economy be a legitimate one or will it need to resort to mafia like activities to sustain itself such as gun running, drug running, prostitution, moving illegals across borders, gambling, money laundering the list goes on?

My bet is that no one in the Administration at the top levels have looked at these basic questions to insure that the whole process of creating a state is in accord with a concept that once done, it can or will be able to function as a contributing member of the world community. I'd love to see someone do a study on these issues and present it to the public at large. I for one don't want my tax dollars subsidizing an economically unviable and unsustainable Palestinian State.

[Princeliberty]

The fact that Keyes has not won, does not prove
that he can not win.

Big government loving Bush is nothing like
Reagan.
Reagan was not a Blue Blood Brat.

[Courier]

The Palestinians are Arabs. There is no difference between them and other Arabs. Not in language, beliefs, religion, anything important.

There is no reason for another Arab state, particularly in the heart of Israel.

Just in Israel, you could more readily justify a separate State for distinct non Jewish groups of people like the Druze, Samaritans, Bahis.

This Road Map is the latest rung in a 50 plus year plan to destroy Israel. It is a poisonous Saudi confection served by the toadies they have always had at State and some powerful people tied to this Administration

[tripod]

I agree completely, my point in discussing the issues I raised is they may be a way to bring additional attention to the folly of what is happening!

[onyx]

Keyes is not electable! FLASH TO YOU: EVEN Alan Keyes knows he's unelectable! He lost his only bid for elected office. Was it the US Senate from Maryland? I don't care.

Keyes is an ORATOR. He feeds his followers (dare I say disciples?) an ample serving of red meat, right along with Patrick J. and his brigade. Pat's still on TV, where's Alan?

We're not a dictatorship. If we were, I might choose Keyes, but then again, were we a dictatorship, we wouldn't have a choice in the matter, now would we?

Keyes made election 2000 somewhat amusing. Who doesn't enjoy hearing him speak?

You're unhappy with GWB and maybe you hate him. I don't know you. Bush doesn't love big government. Your gripe should be with Byrd and the Courts that declared the line-item-veto invalid, i.e. unconstitutional.

Help elect GOP US Senators and see what happens. Obviously we need 60 stalwart souls to override the demonic democrats' parlimentary hi-jinks.


So Bush is a blue blood brat? ROFLMBO!!!!!!! Dodger blue, Navy blue or Royal blue?

Class envy. Sure you're not a democrat?

[jagrmeister]

America is more important than Israel. I will always vote for what serves America, first and foremost. And do you really think voting against Bush will do wonders for Israel? A Democrat in office would NEVER have demanded that a terrorist-supporter like Arafat step aside and that a more moderate Palestinian leader step up as PM. I can't tell you how many times in my discussions with Democrats when I said peace cannot be done with Arafat they would get outright indignant and tell me Arafat was the only hope for peace. That mindset does not bode well for Israel.

[jagrmeister]

>You choose the terrorists. Genuine Christians choose Israel. It doesn't get much simpler.

You sick, unprincipled degenerate. You must find great satisfaction lobbing those grenades from your keyboard. And let me remind you that my position is the same as Bush's, so if you're saying I "choose the terrorists", you are saying the same of the President. The President has fought terrorism tooth and nail, has removed terrorist-supporting Arafat from power, and has single-handedly got Hamas to put down their arms. So if you still think Bush "chooses terrorists", I suggest you get your name on a waiting list for a lobotomy like your hero, little-man Gary Bauer.

[billbears]

Let's make a list of how many people care what Gary Bauer thinks.

Well let's see, I care more about what Gary Bauer thinks more than I do the RNC. Mind you, I'm not saying I agree with Bauer all the time. How's that?

[Howlin]

Gee, bill, I'm stunned.

[af_vet_1981]

You sick, unprincipled degenerate.

This is an example of a "personal attack." It is an indication you have lost the debate.

You must find great satisfaction lobbing those grenades from your keyboard. ... And let me remind you that my position is the same as
Abu Mazen's

I would find satisfaction if President Bush would not give money to a PA headed by terrorists.

1. The President has fought terrorism tooth and nail,
2. has removed terrorist-supporting Arafat from power,
3. and has single-handedly got Hamas to put down their arms.

1. See 2 & 3
2. You say he removed Arafat from power. Last I checked he was still President, receiving dignitaries, supervising security forces, and making decisions. Last I heard, President Bush's State Department warned Israel against touching him, as they warn Israel against fighting terrorism tooth and nail.
3. You say Hamas put down their arms. That claim is false. They have large stockpiles and they will use them again to murder more Jews. Abu Mazen refuses to fight them. The only power with the will to fight them is Israel, which is restrained from doing so by the Quartet that includes the U.S.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Bauer now a member of the Christian Wrong.

[af_vet_1981]

At least he is a genuine Christian.

[jagrmeister]

>It is an indication you have lost the debate.

You're right, I lost the debate. I'll let you be the participant AND the judge of this "debate". Why not?

As for your other comments, you are simply not a realist. You complain that Arafat still has power. Guess what, if Bush could snap his fingers and Arafat would vanish, it would be done by know. Geopolitics is not that easy, my friend. Politics is the art of the possible. As for Bush protecting Arafat, that is simply a stretch. Arafat is under house arrest and may even be deported. Lastly, Hamas has abided by their truce; something made possible only by Bush's warnings against Israel to refrain from assasinations.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Genuine? Is that like 90 proof, or Certified Grade A? How about "Holy Ghost Stamp of Approval"? Or maybe "Ya got the righteous one baby, yea!"

What a joke.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

3 so far. 4 if you count Bauers wife.

[Tiger_eye]

I guess I am part of the Christian Right and I am watching Bush on the homosexual issue. He better get out of bed with the LOG cabin homos.