Drumming Up Votes

Democrats say Kerry's the man on Israel and domestic issues.

RON KAMPEAS
Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Boston

candidates, added Sudalsky's friend Ivy
Cohen. "Separation of church and state, a
pluralistic society, making education avail-
able to all, equality and human rights.
The Democratic Party plans to take
that fight to swing states where Jews can
make a difference in what is shaping up as
a nip-and-tuck election. The party espe-
cially values Jewish voters, who are known
for voting in greater numbers than the
national average, for getting others out to
vote — and for donating generously to
campaigns.
Kerry proxies are poised to blitz Florida
in the period between Labor Day and
Rosh Hashanah, with the message that
Kerry is much closer to the Jews on
domestic policy than is Bush.
The 2,500 people attending the event
got a taste of the arguments to come.
"In my state of Texas, the other party
says Christian prayer is the only prayer
heard by God," Arthur Schechter, national
chairman of the National Jewish
Democratic Council, told the crowd.
Schechter earned cheers when he said
Kerry would appoint "judges who will not
destroy a woman's right to choose."

3)

B

ill Richardson talked about how
John Kerry would salvage a health
care system he said President Bush
Show t`p.
had ruined, how Kerry would preserve abor-
Sundt p,
tion rights he said Bush had eroded and
Tell The ‘‘. odd.
about how Kerry would crush the terrorist
threat he claimed Bush had mishandled.
Then the popular New Mexico governor
and chairman of the Democratic Conven-
tion got around to Israel.
This is what he told his Jewish audience
on the eve of the Democratic National
Convention: "The Bush administration poli-
cy toward Israel has been OK."
Richardson didn't let it go there — never
has a candidate been "more committed to
Israel's security than John Kerry," he said —
More than 1,000 Jews gathered on Boston's waterfront on July 25 to remand
but the pass he gave Bush on Israel was all
Democratic Convention participants about victims of terrorism in Israel and
the more remarkable for being addressed to
Argentina.
the July 25 convention-launching event
sponsored by the American Israel Public
Affairs Committee. Co-sponsors included
the United Jewish Communities federation
umbrella organization, the National Jewish
Washington/JTA — Following are excerpts from the Democratic
Party platform.
Democratic Council and Boston Jewish
groups.
Post-Holocaust-
The platform includes these points on foreign policy:
Democratic officials who deal with the
• The Middle East. "The Democratic Party is fundamentally com-
Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., suggest-
Jewish community say they've done all they
mitted to the security of our ally Israel and the creation of a corn-
ed Jews and Democrats share a "post-
can to highlight Kerry's bona fides on Israel,
prehensive, just and lasting peace between Israel and her neighbors.
Shoah" ethos reflected in Clinton's inter-
such as his sterling voting record on Israel
Our special relationship with Israel is based on the unshakable foun-
vention in the Balkans and the party's state-
issues during 19 years in the Senate, his
dation of shared values and a mutual commitment to democracy
ments about ending ethnic cleansing in
recognition of some Israeli claims to the
and we will ensure that under all circumstances Israel retains the
Sudan.
West Bank and his repudiation of a
qualitative edge for its national security and its right to self-defense.
"This community believes in social jus-
Palestinian refugee "right of return," and his
"Under a Democratic administration, the United States will
tice," Lieberman told the crowd, repeating
swift condemnation of the International
demonstrate the kind of resolve to end the Israeli-Palestinian con-
what he tells Jews who ask why they should
Court of Justice's ruling against Israel's West
flict that President Clinton showed. We will work to transform the
support Kerry.
Bank security barrier.
Palestinian Authority to promote new and responsible leadership,
Such emphases are new after months of a
The implication is that those Jews who
committed to fighting terror and promoting democracy.
coordinated campaign to shore up Kerry's
insist on voting for Bush because of his
"We support the creation of a democratic Palestinian state dedi-
credentials as a friend of the Jewish state:
extraordinarily warm relations are beyond
cated to living in peace and security side by side with the Jewish
Look for a major Middle East policy speech
the Democratic pale — but that the time
state of Israel. The creation of a Palestinian state should resolve the
on Israel in the next month, insiders say.
has come to remind voters that from the
issue of Palestinian refugees by allowing them to settle there, rather
Additionally, Democrats hope to per-
than in Israel.
Democratic Party's perspective, Kerry's posi-
suade Jewish voters that one domestic issue
tions are much closer to Jewish voters on
"Furthermore, all understand that it is unrealistic to expect that
— preparedness for terrorism — dovetails
every issue Jews care about aside from the
the outcome of final-status negotiations will be a full and complete
with support for Israel. Kerry and his prox-
Israel-Palestinian conflict.
return to the armistice lines of 1949. And we understand that all
ies have been saying that he would do more
"There's no difference between George
final-status negotiations must be mutually agreed."
than Bush to secure the United States,
Bush and John Kerry when it comes to a
especially in light of criticism of the admin-
strong U.S.-Israel alliance," said Ann Lewis,
istration in the Sept. 11 commission report
a communications director in President
released last week.
"Many women don't realize the Supreme Court's
Clinton's White House and an adviser to the Kerry
"We will, after November, have a president who
role in reproductive choice," said Marcia Sudalsky,
campaign. "On every other issue, Kerry will fight
will
actively implement what we need to do,"
the New York director of the National Jewish
much harder for issues supported by the Jewish
Clinton
said to cheers. "And there is no state that
Democratic Council.
community, whether it's housing for the elderly,
understands
that more than Israel." I I
"There's such a stark difference" between the two
education, or church-and-state."

The Platform

7/30
2004

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