Frost Moves Up

Speculation over this week's vote-for
the Republican congressional leader-
ship overshadowed the leadership vote
among Democrats. But Jewish
activists were paying attention — in
part because of the ascension of Rep.
Martin Frost (D-Texas.)
This week Frost, a 20-year House
veteran, became the first Jewish mem-
ber ever elected to the post of chair of
the House Democratic Caucus, the
third-ranking leadership position.
In the last Congress, Frost was
head of the Democratic Congressional
Campaign Committee, the group that
develops strategies and raises money
for Democratic candidates around the
country. In that job, he helped raise
some $75 million for his colleagues, a
significant factor in the Democrats'
Nov. 3 gains — and in Frost's popu-
larity among his colleagues.
As expected, the Democrats
reelected Rep. Richard Gephardt as
Minority leader and Rep. David
Bonior (D-Mich.) as Democratic
Whip. In the past, Bonior often
found himself in conflict with pro-
Israel groups, but in recent years he
has steered clear of the entire Mideast
debate.
Over at the State Department,
Morton Halperin has been named
chief of policy planning — a job
once held by special Mideast envoy
Dennis Ross. Halperin, a former
director of the American Civil
Liberties Union, is widely respected
for his strong advocacy for human
rights around the world. But that
same concern has made him a red
flag to right-wingers.

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Letter to Schroeder

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) and a hand-
ful of colleagues are pressing the new
German chancellor, Gerhard
Schroeder, to reaffirm his govern-
ment's commitment to build a memo-
rial to Holocaust victims in Berlin.
In a letter to the new German
leader, Engel referred to the successful
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in
downtown Washington, and said that
"it is equally if not more important
for Berlin, the home of the Nazi
regime and the new capital of
Germany, to be home to a site which
recalls the Holocaust and helps teach
future generations why such horrors
must never recur."
Engel went on to say that "ir
would be truly unfortunate if your
country did not take this crucial step
of healing and remembrance." Li

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1998

Detroit Jewish News

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