Ciao again tkas,
Well the problem is solved by dint of the fact that the Jewish Republican Coalition can invite whomever they want.
“Republican” and “Democrat” are a bit different than parties in other countries, more like big tents. As we see there are NeoCon Republicans, Social Republicans, Non-Interventionist Republicans, RINO Republicans, Constitutionalist Republicans, etc. etc.
My view is that 1) there are many Jews for Ron Paul. I doubt they’re worried about his supposed anti-semitism, which from what I’ve seen and read is a canard.
http://www.facebook.com/JewsForRonPaul
2) The Mid-East situation is a logic-defying mess full of unintended consequences. Over here we have a saying “God protect me from my friends, my enemies I’ll take care of on my own.” A cogent argument can unfortunately be made, and therefore deserves to be heard, that a certain type of interventionism has unwittingly played into the hands of the Islamists.
3) Okay this is hypothetical, but if a Republican Party debate were ever held in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, I doubt Ron Paul would be excluded. Jews as I’ve always known them, are not afraid of opinions. In fact, as the saying goes: “arguing is the National Israeli sport” - or - even more famously - “2 Jews, 3 opinions”. In this, Italy (where I live) is quite similar.
4) Frankly much of the debate has generated into character assassination minutia and away from the important issues.
5) Allowing a view to be aired is NOT an endorsement. In fact it’s an opportunity for refutation.
BTW, so far I’m for Newt Gingrich. I came to that conclusion freely, listening to him and comparing. I saw one of his speeches at Harvard University, surely not a “safe” place for Republicans on any issues. I was pleasantly surprised that they invited him.
I admired David Horowitz who went on a campaign to end political correctness on American campuses. I admired Ann Coulter (no longer well beloved here because she’s a Romneyite) for doing the same.
I find the decision of the RJC un-American, un-Republican and even un-Jewish... in other words, a bad, ill-liberal (old sense of the term) and slightly paranoid decision.
I happen to think a non-interventionist position would be preferable to Obama’s position, but I think RP’s position comes from a “not good” place. Besides, on a political level, and with the POV of a patriotic American, I do think we should have close allies with countries with similar values and national goals. I know lots of conservative Jews, but have yet to meet a Jew who supports Ron Paul.