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Friday February 29, 2008

Jewish GOP, Dems spar over Nader

Republican and Democratic Jews traded barbs this week over Ralph Nader’s characterization of Barack Obama’s Israel policy.

Nader, the consumer activist who recently announced another run for the presidency, said Obama was “pro-Palestinian when he was in Illinois before he ran for the state Senate. Now he’s supporting the Israeli destruction of the tiny section called Gaza with a million-and-a-half people … He’s not taking a leadership position in supporting the Israeli peace movement.”

The Republican Jewish Coalition said Nader’s remarks “added to the debate” about Obama’s views on Israel.

“When a longtime political activist like Ralph Nader, with a well-documented, anti-Israel bias, claims that Senator Obama shares this anti-Israel bias, that is alarming,” said RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks.

Jewish Democrats said Nader was unreliable; the National Jewish Democratic Council mocked Brooks for using Nader as a reliable source.

“They are basically saying, ‘Ignore this United States senator’s strong pro-Israel voting record, positions and rhetoric, and instead listen to Ralph Nader,’” an NJDC statement said “Since when did Ralph Nader become the arbiter of who is and is not pro-Israel?” — jta

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