“Romney's appeal includes hard line on Iran, bipartisan record in Mass.”
“Mitt Romney's pitch to Jewish voters breaks down into three components: His tough line on Iran; his record as a Republican governor who worked well with Democrats; and his belonging to an oft-misunderstood religious minority...
“As the governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007, he worked with a Democratic Legislature and an overwhelmingly liberal Jewish community to enact a groundbreaking "Health Care for All" law...
“Romney outlined a multi-tiered plan for dealing with Iran in a statement last June to The Israel Project. It included strategies to expand divestment efforts against the Islamic Republic, diplomatic isolation, indicting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for incitement to genocide under the Geneva Conventions, and pressing Arab nations and NATO to create an alliance that would force Iran to give up its nuclear aspirations.
“One of President Bush's former Jewish liaisons, speechwriter Noam Neusner, worked for Romney's Commonwealth PAC last year...
“Romney did draw some criticism from other GOP candidates after saying at a debate in October, in response to a question, that if Iran acquired nuclear weapons he would consult with his lawyers.
“But that same month, Romney was talking tough at the Republican Jewish Coalition's candidates' forum in October. When it comes to the spread of terrorism, he said there, the Democrats "are in the most serious case of denial since Neville Chamberlain." ...
“He championed Israel's security barrier, which the Palestinians oppose because it cuts through the West Bank...
“At the forum, Romney voiced skepticism over the renewed Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that ultimately were launched in Annapolis, Md., in November.
“ "How could you possibly have a peace conference at this stage?" he asked, noting that Hamas terrorists were now controlling the Gaza Strip. "Who would you talk to?" ...
“In a Dec. 6, 2007 speech in College Park, Texas, Romney said that God "should remain on our currency, in our pledge, in the teaching of our history, and during the holiday season, nativity scenes and menorahs should be welcome in our public places."
“He added that he would "take care to separate the affairs of government from any religion, but I will not separate us from the 'God who gave us liberty.' "
“Rabbi David Saperstein, who directs the Reform movement's Religious Action Center, praised Romney's candor... In a statement responding to the speech, the director of the Anti-Defamation League, Abraham Foxman, said that "we agree that there is no place in our society for bigotry, and that one's religion should never be a test for political office." ...
“Romney's Mormonism should not be an issue, says one of his Jewish backers, Michael Menis, an oral surgeon in Crystal Lake, Ill.
“ "Jews throughout history have been persecuted for their religious beliefs," Menis recently told the Chicago Jewish News. "If any one religious group should be supportive of someone's right to believe in what they wish and not be persecuted for it or excluded from political office for it, it should be the Jewish people."
“Menis, the chairman of the RJC's Chicago chapter and a declared Romney delegate, cited the former governor's competence as why he favored him.
“ "When he took the helm of the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, he turned an almost $400 million operating deficit into one of the most successful Olympics in history," Menis told the Chicago Jewish News. He also praised Romney's performance as a Republican governor in a Democratic state, where he "worked both sides of the aisle."
“Nancy Kaufman, the director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, said she worked extensively with Romney during his time as governor, particularly on services for seniors and faith-based assistance after Hurricane Katrina.
“She also lobbied for Romney's health-care plan, which provided assistance for low-income families but levied a tax penalty on those who did not get insurance.
“ "He's backing away from that now, but it's very important," Kaufman said of the health-care plan...
“Kaufman sounded a note of disappointment in how Romney appears to be tamping down his reputation as a consensus-building moderate as he appeals to Christian conservatives that make up a key segment of the Republican base.
“ "I haven't heard him talk about working across faith groups," Kaufman said. "I worked closely with him and his wife, and they were very appreciative of the role faith-based groups played. He valued the Jewish community and our input." ”
“The Republican Party in the United States has a very serious potential presidential candidate in former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. This is a man who has been incredibly successful in both his private business enterprises and in his public service.
“There is however one catch: Mr. Romney is a Mormon. It seems that most Americans know very little about The Church of LDS and its beliefs....
“And to be frank I am thrilled with the prospect of a Mormon in the White House—that is if Romney really still is a Mormon.
“The reason is simple. In common with Judaism, Mormonism is a tolerant religion and the eleventh of their Articles of Faith states: "We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."
“Thus, a true Mormon does not believe in a 'one size fits all' religion where all unbelievers are condemned to hell and damnation or to a life as second class citizens. Like Judaism the Mormon Church of LDS respects the mode of worship of others different to their own. They would thus never compel others to accept their religion.
“In essence this ideology makes me extremely comfortable with a president of Mormon faith. For the Mormon the separation of Church and State which allows freedom of religion for all is inbuilt into their doctrine.
“Thus, the fear some on the Left have regarding George W. Bush and his Evangelical supporters that he is trying to break down the separation between church and state and Christianize America would not apply to Romney. So Romney’s Mormonism is a crucial factor and logically one which should add to his support not detract from it.”
Rabbi Levi Brackman was a senior rabbi at a London synagogue before coming to America. He now heads Judaism in the Foothills in the west Denver metro area. He also is a founding member of Movement for a Tolerant World.
"Brackman's weekly column, which is distributed over the Internet to thousands globally, is also published on Israeli daily Yedioth Achronoth's English-language website "YNetNews.com". His writings, which cover pertinent social and political issues of the day, have been published on many other popular websites such as "chabad.org", "algemeiner.com", "isralert.com", "Persianrabbi.com", "freerepublic.com" and "thecoloradoadvocate.com", among others. They can also be found on his website.
"Brackman’s writings have been published in, among others, The Denver Post, The Intermountain Jewish News (Colorado), Torah Studies (New York), Etehaad (California), and The Canyon Courier. They have also appeared in the Australian Jewish News and in the UK, in The Jewish Chronicle and Hamodia. He has also appeared on TV and his work has been featured in newspapers both in the USA and in the UK."
This article appeared in The Jewish Journal on Jan 31, 2008. Mark Paredes is the Outreach Director of a national Jewish organization.
“Like many voters, I am thrilled that viable candidates this year include a Mormon, a biracial man, and a woman...
“Why am I a fervent supporter of Mitt Romney? For goodness sake, look at the man's life. Unlike many voters interviewed on TV, I don't want to elect someone who's like me; I want someone to lead the free world who is a better person than I am...
“Mitt's record of public service shows that he is a moderate, pragmatic Republican in the mold of his father, former Michigan Governor George Romney...
“Mitt's attention-getting speech at last year's Herzliya Conference highlighted his love and support for Israel. He was raised in Bloomfield Hills, a Detroit suburb with a large Jewish population, and belongs to a church that has an incomparable record of continuous support for Israel and the Jewish people over the last two centuries. The first two Jewish governors in the U.S. were elected in Idaho and Utah (1914 and 1916, respectively), the two states with the highest percentage of Mormons. Salt Lake City had a Jewish mayor by 1932, 42 years before New York City. This year Mormons will celebrate not only the 60th independence anniversary of Israel, a country their church has supported since its creation, but also the 40th anniversary of BYU's study abroad program in Israel.
“While Romney's success in the private and public sectors is undeniable, he clearly struggles sometimes as a politician. I have come to realize over the last year that a great president may not be a great candidate or even a great politician... This time America needs to elect a proven leader with a stellar record. After viewing the debates and studying the position papers of the major candidates, both my head and my heart have led me to support Mitt Romney for president. Mitt has successfully led his family, his church, his firm, an international Olympics committee, and a state over three decades. We have every reason to believe that his Midas touch will continue in the White House, allowing this nation to go from strength to strength in a marvelous way.”
This article appeared in the Jewish News of Greater Phoenix. Mel Sembler is the former U.S. ambassador to Italy and former honorary chairman of the Republican Jewish Coalition.
“On Jan. 20, 2007, I had the great pleasure of accompanying Gov. Mitt Romney on his most recent trip to Israel. Gov. Romney met with key senior Israeli economic, political and military officials in order to assess the unique challenges facing America's closest ally in the region.
“The time I spent with Mitt in Israel allowed me to see firsthand his pragmatic approach to problem solving coupled with his tireless motivation. I found the combination refreshing and inspiring. His respect for differing points of view and ways of life is compassion at its best. Now, more than ever, I think we need this kind of leadership for America.
“With a leadership style developed over decades in the private sector, Gov. Romney has been successful throughout his career... As the CEO of Bain Capital, Romney invested in more than 150 companies like Domino's Pizza, Staples and Sports Authority, and helped develop business plans to run these enterprises successfully...
“At the peak of his business career, Mitt was asked to take over the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. At that time, the Olympics were beset by scandal and had fallen deeply into debt. Mitt took over, and, as he had done with so many companies, he went to work turning things around.
“The result was one of the most successful and profitable Olympics in history, even in the face of security concerns after 9/11.
“After the Olympics, Mitt brought needed leadership to Massachusetts. I have long been impressed by what he accomplished during his term as governor - strengthening education, laying the foundation for private, market-based health insurance for all and cutting the size and cost of government.
“Without raising taxes or increasing debt, Gov. Romney closed a nearly $3 billion deficit. Each year he filed a balanced budget without raising taxes.
“By eliminating waste, streamlining government and enacting comprehensive economic reforms to stimulate growth in Massachusetts, Gov. Romney got the economy moving again and transformed deficits into surpluses.
“As president, Mitt will govern by emphasizing his core principles: faith in free enterprise and free trade, accountability in education, personal responsibility, tolerance, strong families and a strong national defense. Our country faces what could be a defining moment in shaping its history, and I believe Mitt Romney can provide the kind of leadership that is sorely needed...”
“Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney made a stop in Boca... He made a speech before the Republican Jewish Coalition of Florida on Tuesday, emphasizing one of the main themes of his campaign - the need to combat what he calls "violent global jihad." ...
“"It’s nice to see all these Jewish Republicans here," said RJC board member Marc Goldman, getting a big laugh from the crowd of more than 200. "Tell your friends, those Democrats. You know who they are." ”
Charles Krauthammer: “I think Romney's was a very good speech. But I agree with Fred Thompson that its a pity that he actually had to give it.
You would imagine that this is a country in which a man running for the presidency doesn't have to give a speech defending his faith and explaining it the way that he had to.
We had that 50 years ago as he said with Kennedy in Houston, and you would have thought in half a century we'd be beyond that.”
“Look, Romney's dad ran for the presidency in 1968, his Mormonism was not an issue. In 1976...
I'm not sure it would have been an issue at all [had he got the nomination or had a closer race] because eight years later Mo Udall was a very strong candidate for the democratic nomination and his religion was so irrelevant that nobody today even remembers that Udall was a Mormon.
Five of the senators in the U.S. Senate are Mormons and I defy anybody to name them because it is an irrelevancy in how they conduct office.
I think it would be a better country if a man did not have to give a speech explaining his religion.”
Jackie Mason - "A Chanukah Message in Romney's Speech"
"Watching Mitt Romney's speech on religious tolerance in America inspired me to give this message to close the eight day celebration of Chanukah."
Brit Hume: “How much ground did he gain with that?”
Charles Krauthammer: “He gained a lot because he did exactly what he had to do. He explained the common values he has with other people of faith.
He says he's animated by those, that's whats important, not the theological superstructure above it. That was Kennedy's theme as well, and that's why it works.”
"Charles Krauthammer, winner of the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary, writes an internationally syndicated column for The Washington Post Writers Group.
Krauthammer, named by the Financial Times as America's most influential commentator, began writing the weekly column for The Washington Post in January 1985.
It now appears in more than 180 newspapers... he has been honored from every part of the political spectrum ... from the famously liberal People for the American Way (First Amendment Award) to the staunchly conservative American Enterprise Institute (Irving Kristol Award)."
After obtaining his M.D. from Harvard, he became "chief resident in psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. In 1978, he quit medical practice, came to Washington to direct planning in psychiatric research for the Carter administration, and began contributing articles to The New Republic." (Post Writers Group)
Mr. Krauthammer's view was echoed by another well known person who is of the Jewish faith:
“It's too early to tell how voters will react, but this Romney supporter--also of the Jewish faith--thought Romney did just right. "When we're talking about someone who wants to be president of the United States, the issues are character and capability, not how you worship, whether you worship," David Nierenberg said.”
“Nierenberg calls Romney "the most competent person I have ever met in my business career, and Lord knows there is a crying need for competency in the White House." ”
“ "David's Dirty Dogs" -- D3 for short -- may sound more like a World Wrestling Entertainment trio than an investment fund, but D3 Family Funds' returns speak for themselves. $10,000 invested in the fund in 1999 would now be worth well more than $36,000 (despite the bursting of the Internet bubble). That amounts to an impressive annualized return greater than 24%, over a time period (1999 to the present) in which the S&P 500 has been in the red.
“Renowned investor David Nierenberg, who heads up the Dirty Dogs, searches for unloved stocks in out-of-favor industries.”
Dennis Prager - Before the Florida Primary, Jan 22, 2008
''To the extent that I understand how most Republicans think, it would seem that former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani comes closer to the Republican ideal than any of the other viable Republican candidates. They are all good and decent men who would be better for America than either of the Democratic front-runners...
''But between Rudy Giuliani (and, for that matter, Mitt Romney) on the one hand and John McCain on the other, there is little question as to who more embodies mainstream conservative and Republican principles.''
“In August of 2003, Simon and Schuster reissued Dennis' totally revised seminal work on anti-Semitism, Why the Jews, co-written with Joseph Telushkin...
“The Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism, Simon and Schuster, co-written with Joseph Telushkin has been translated into nearly a dozen languages, and is the most widely used introduction to Judaism in the world. It is still a best-seller in paperback over 20 years after it's release...
“New York's Jewish Week described Dennis Prager as "one of the three most interesting minds in American Jewish Life."
“Since 1992, he has been teaching the Bible verse-by- verse at the University of Judaism...
“In 2002 Dennis produced a documentary Israel in a Time of Terror, a compelling look at how the average Israeli deals with the daily threat of terror. It has been shown at colleges, universities, churches and synagogues across the country.”
“When people find out that I won't broadcast on a Jewish holiday or -- in fact, it was a very powerful thing -- the night of the O.J. Simpson verdict, I was invited to be one of only two people on "Nightline," and I had so much passion about that verdict and I was so dying to talk, essentially, to a country. But it was Yom Kippur night, the holiest night of the Jewish calendar, and I turned it down. I don't broadcast on Jewish holidays or Saturday...
“I'm quite observant but I always announce that I am not Orthodox because I never want to mislead anybody. Many Orthodox institutions have used some of my writings on Judaism, particularly my first book 'The Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism.' But I will drive to synagogue on the Sabbath for example...
“I am proud to say that I have brought a lot of Jews to Judaism. And they know, as my own children know, that I do not give a hoot if my children or any Jew I influence expresses a serious Judaism as an Orthodox, Conservative, Reform or Hasidic Jew. I am just as happy. I have zero preference.”
“Romney financial backers include JCRC board member Lee Cowen and lobbyist Mark Isakowitz. Ron Kaufman, a lobbyist who splits his time between Washington and Boston and served as political director in the first Bush White House, is a key man for Romney in the Jewish community.
“Cowen noted that Romney is the only candidate who has "run something" in the private sector, and believes the contender's religion may help him among Jewish voters.
“ "The fact that he's a Mormon is positive for the Jewish community," said Cowen. "He's a minority religion like we are [and] we as Jews have sympathy for other groups suffered from persecution." ”
