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Election 2004
Front Runner
Kerry appealing to both Jews and Arabs.
ing to learn."
James Zogby of the Arab
Jewish Telqraphic Agency
American Institute says Kerry's
experience with Massachusetts
Witshington
large Jewish and Lebanese
couple of weeks after eating lox and cream
American communities has
cheese at a synagogue in Des Moines, John
shown him that Jewish and Arab
Kerry took on Arab coffee and baklava
needs are not mutually exclusive.
among Muslims in Cedar Rapids.
Zogby cites President Clinton's
Both appearances had a salutary effect on Iowa 'cau-
Sen. John Kelly
cus night Jan. 19, when the majority of Iowa's Jews and dedication to bringing peace, and
the impression it left on both
Arabs helped the Massachusetts senator come out the
communities. "What made President Clinton work
clear winner. It's a pattern repeating itself nationwide.
was
that he left office and both sides said he was the
Kerry, emerging as the front-runner in the race for
best
American president Jews ever had, the best
the Democratic presidential nomination, appeals to
American
president Arabs ever had," Zogby says.
competing constituencies.
But Kerry's opponents say that a man who makes
He is a friend to Jews and Arabs; a storied veteran of
himself all things to all people adds up to nothing.
both the Vietnam War and of the movement that
A close examination of his speeches to Jews and
ended it; a fiscal conservative and an advocate of gov-
Arabs
shows they fall short on detail. Notably, in earn-
ernment spending for the disenfranchised; an oppo-
ing
Arab
American applause with his line about Israel's
nent of President Bush's handling of the Iraq War; and
security
fence,
Kerry never said he would suggest Israel
a supporter of an assertive U.S. posture in the Persian
remove
the
barrier.
Gulf.
Characterizing Kerry as a flip-flopper is unfair, say
Kerry's positions on the Israel-Palestinian conflict
Jewish
community professionals who work with him.
are a study in his facility for casting his speeches
They
say
it's an unsophisticated way of understanding
according to his audience.
a
man
who
carefully considers each position.
His Jewish stump speech cites the Roosevelt admin-
Still,
there
is an ambiguity that is stamped on his
istration's decision to turn away the SS St. Louis, filled
public life. He earned medals for his heroism as a lieu-
with Jews fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe, as a failure of
tenant in Vietnam, even as his opposition to the war
U.S. policy he would never repeat. He says he stood
solidified; he earned headlines for tossing the medals
atop Masada and felt the echoes of Jewish resistance
over a fence in front of the Capitol when joined the
call to him. He shouts, "Am Yisrael Civil'
antiwar movement.
One on one, Kerry, 60, exudes athletic energy, even
Kerry bristles at the charge that he wants to stake out
returning to play ice hockey since his treatment a year
both
sides of an issue. After his rivals made much of
ago for prostate cancer. On the campaign trail, he
contrasting Kerry's 2002 vote to give Bush war powers
often stoops over his interlocutors to look them
with his later outspoken criticism of how Bush prose-
straight in the eye. He never raises his voice.
cuted the war, Kerry told reporters to study.his Senate
Arab Americans thrill not just at his condemnation
speech when he made the vote.
of Israel's security barrier, but at how he says he arrived
In it, he makes clear his vote is predicated on Bush's
at his conclusion.
willingness
to work with the United Nations and the
Speaking at an Arab American Institute conference
United States' allies. "If he fails to do so, I will be
in Dearborn in October, he described how in the West
among the first to speak out," he said at the time.
Bank he witnessed how "Palestinian women, traveling
Kerry's grandfather, Frederick, took great pains to
on foot, were forced to stand in long lines at check-
hide
his Judaism. He changed his name from Kohn to
points with their children tugging at their sleeves and
Kerry.
After his business career fell apart, he committed
their arms loaded with groceries."
suicide
in a Boston hotel in 1921.
Newman Abuissa, who organized support for Kerry
Kerry had no way of uncovering his grandfather's
among American Arabs in Cedar Rapids and who is
origins — although he had tried over the years. He was
now a Kerry delegate from Iowa, says, "He dealt with
apparently stunned last year when the Boston Globe
the Arab issue on a personal level; he knows names and
uncovered that his grandfather was Jewish. Now he
events."
routinely mentions the fact when he campaigns among
In Des Moines, another Kerry delegate, Paulee
Jews.
Kerry's younger brother, Cameron, converted to
Lipsman, echos the same sentiment from the Jewish
Judaism
20 years ago after marrying a Boston Jewish
perspective: "He has a good grasp of Jewish history,
woman.
and understands the historical aspects of where we are
,,
Kerry is sensitive to Jewish issues, his supporters say.
today
Last
year, when an Arizona supporter derided Sen. Joe
"He's been very accessible to the Boston Jewish com-
Lieberman's
Sabbath observance, Kerry wasted no time
munity," says Nancy Kaufman, the director of the
in
cutting
off
the supporter.
Jewish Community Relations Council in Boston. "He's
His
key
Massachusetts
fund-raiser, Alan Solomont, a
been willing to engage and be challenging, always will-
RON KAMPEAS
A
leading Boston philanthropist, says he was drawn to
Kerry because of his Middle East policies. "He regards
the U.S. relationship with Israel as special ...
"At the same time, he believes the United States has
a very important role to play in trying to assist Israel in
ending the conflict, and the current administration is a
lot of talk, and not a lot of action."
That means, Kerry has said, that he would emulate
Clinton's intensely involved activism. In the first days -
of a Kerry administration, I will appoint a presidential
ambassador to the peace process."
But some pro-Israel activists worry that, like Clinton,
his determined bent to forge peace — even absent a
credible Palestinian partner — could lead to clashes
with Israel.
Kerry underscores his commitment to Israel, and has
made criticism of Saudi Arabia — and its closeness to
the Bush administration — a centerpiece of his cam-
paign among Jews. The Saudis cannot pick and
choose among terrorist groups, approving some while
claiming to oppose others," he has said.
Kerry's Jewish supporters note his staunch support
for domestic issues backed by the majority of American
Jews. He is pro-choice, he wants to extend health care
coverage and he is a strong supporter of the separation
of church and state.
Despite his mostly liberal voting record, Orthodox
activists appreciate the lead he has taken with the
Workplace Religious Freedom Act, which would
encourage employers to accommodate Workplace reli-
gious needs, including religious garb and flexible time
for holidays.
The Orthodox community also likes Kerry's chal-
lenges to teachers unions to promote greater parental
involvement. -
Critics say he has not been strong on _domestic
issues, such as health care, since his election to the
Senate in 1985. Defenders say that on such issues he
defers to the senior Massachusetts senator, Ted
Kennedy.
❑
This story has been condensed. For the full ver-
sion as well as more election andWashington
coverage,visit WWW. detroitjewislinews.corn
On Monday, Feb. 9, look for our online report
on Michigan's Feb. 7 Democratic Party caucuses.
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2004
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