Responsibilities
of Delegates
Assembling at
Republican
National Convention
Jerusalem Remains
Non-Negotiable
Despite the
Sensationalism
Emerging from
Misleading
Criticism
THE JEWISH NEWS
Commentary, Page 2
A Week1N Review
Editorial, Page 4
of Jewish Events
Commentary, Page 2
VOL. LXXVII, No. 19
17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075
424-8833
$15 Per Year: This Issue 35c
July 11, 1980
Special Salute
Republican National Convention
The Detroit Jewish News joins in greeting the delegates to the Republican
National Convention and in welcoming them to Detroit.
(
DETROIT
The selections due to be made of candidates for the highest official positions
in this land, the framing of a platform setting policies to be pursued by an
administration that may govern this land during the approaching four years,
lend seriousness to the responsibilities affecting the coming week's deliberations.
Citizens of all faiths, all racial and nationality backgrounds, regardless of
party affiliations, share the hope that the deliberations during the Republican
Party's national convention will redound to the benefit and glory of the American
people.
May all who share in these deliberations be guided by wisdom and by the
recognition of the duties imposed upon them as spokesmen of a major political
entity speaking for many millions of Americans.
The Three-Party Angling for Crucial 'Jewish Vote'
Sentiments on Candidates, Reagan vs. Carter in the
Polls, Tested on Eve of the Republican Convention
Special Political Analysis
for - The Detroit Jewish News
By JOSEPH POLAKOFF
Washington Correspondent of the
Jewish Telegraphic Agency and
The Jewisdi News
In'this Presidential election year of widespread disdain for the three major
candidates, bewilderment over shifts in the moods of the electorate, talk of a
brokered Democratic Convention, and possibility of a decision coming in the
Electoral College or in the Congress, the only certainty upon which political
pundits seem to agree is that the Jewish vote is crucial" to every aspirant.
The observation by columnists Jack Germond and Jules Witcover that "the
contest for the Jewish vote is going to be even more intense than usual this fall"
exemplifies the general view. A principal reason appears to be that President
Carter has far less strength among Jews in the traditional Democratic stron-
gholds and liberal circles in the big industrial states than Democratic candi-
dates usually have. Another is a discernible drift towards Ronald Reagan
reportedly in almost direct relation to the apathy towards Carter. Another
fa ctor is the tendency at this stage to view John. Anderson' with considerable
crest.
A Harris poll indicates 31 percent of the Jews could not vote for Carter, 40
-cent could not for Reagan, while -56 percent preferred Anderson. This was at
„ie end of June. Today, support for Carter is said to be even lower among Jews
because of the U.S. failure to fight determinedly for Israel in the United Nations
and other international forums. What the outlooks will be in September and
more importantly in November are beyond calculation, political observers
agree. But how the Republican cam-
paign will fare among Jewish voters
Greetings to
with Reagan at the helm may Well be
determined in Detroit next week
Republican Delegates
when the Republican Party discloses
from Governor Milliken, Mayor its
philosophy and pragmatism in its
Young, Senators Javits- and
platform and the speeches of its lead-
Boschwitz, and Max Fisher are
ers, including Reagan and his yet-
unknown vice presidential running
on
mate.
Pages 5, 6, 14 and 64
Although Carter and Reagan
have the lowest ratings for major party candidates since 1924 when
Republican Calvin Coolidge and liberal Robert LaFollette were known
as the gold dust twins," there is no evidence Anderson is a Senator
LaFollette or that Carter could not refurbish his record by the events he
could initiate. Although he already has _made a profoundly favorable
impression by his stand on Israel's strategic value to America and his
support of Israel's concepts of Jerusalem, a comprehensive and appro-
priate articulation by Reagan to general audiences of his positions on
issues of Jewish interest and concern could turn the tide strongly in his
favor.
It would be a mistake for any candidate to consider the Jewish vote as
monolithic on issues or concerned about Israel alone. Jews vote their conscience
and interests like other Americans. Jewish women are deeply involved in the
Equal Rights Amendment and abortion legislation. Anyone who listened to
Jewish women at the State Department's conference in mid-June in preparation
for the Copenhagen Conference on Women later this month would find their zeal
as feminists is primary. The country's econpmy, unemployment particularly
among minorities, inflation, federal subsidies for religious schools, population
and industrial movement to the Sunbelt that is leaving northern states poorer
and troubled, and a host of other subjects concern Jews deeply.
Nonetheless, the fate of Israel that is constantly hounded by the Soviet-
Arab bloc and its allies is uppermost in the minds of American friends of Israel,
including most Jews. How the Republicans and particularly Reagan meet this
anxiety will go far towards determining whether fol- the first time in more than a
half-century a majority of U.S. Jews leave their Democratic moorings and give a
Republican the highest vote since Richard Nixon garnered 40 percent in 1972.
What the Republican platform writers present to the convention in Detroit
will be a major test of the party's intentions but not necessarily a guarantee. In
the past few days two of Reagan's
former rivals disagreed about its
Muskie Statement
meaning to a Presidential candidate.
Congressman Philip Crane of Il-
on PLO Recognition
linois, in the House of Representa-
draws an angry U.S. Embassy
tives, quoted President Truman that
denial and demand for clarifica-
party platforms are contracts with
tion
from Israel.
the people" and an "agreement that
had to be carried out." But Senator
Howard Baker of Tennessee said on
See Story on Page 11
(Continued on Page 7)