Opinion

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Editorial

Obama For President

I

n this historic presidential election
campaign, Jewish voters seem less
inclined to follow comfortable, famil-
iar patterns.
The overwhelming support usually
given to Democratic candidates has been
tracking as less substantial in several
states with large Jewish populations.
Uncertainty about Sen. Barack Obama's
commitment to Israel has been fueled by
Internet rumors and the candidate's ties
to individuals who have expressed doubts
about that commitment in the past. That
concerns Jewish voters, and rightfully so.
Both Obama, D-111., and Sen. John McCain,
R-Ariz., have said all the right things about
standing by Israel. They both recognize the
threats posed by Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah.
Congress can also be counted on as a solid,
bipartisan source of support.
McCain has the longer record, however,
and speaks from the heart about never
allowing a second Holocaust to occur. If
Israel is your only litmus test, then McCain
is the better choice.
However, the fundamental issues impact-

ing America's strength and its standing in
the world present several core challenges in
this election. Among these are:
• The global economy and the implosion
of America's financial system.
• Our dependence on imported oil and a
solid plan for energy independence.
• The crumbling infrastructure of roads,
power grids and ports.
• Our shrinking industrial and manu-
facturing base.
• Erosion of the public school system and
its impact on a knowledge-based economy.
There are also issues that speak directly
to tikkun olam, healing the world. These
include accessibility to affordable health
care, fairness in our tax code and a safety
net for downtrodden Americans.
For all these reasons, and his solid sup-
port for Israel, we believe the better candi-
date is Sen. Obama.
Both candidates are worthy. Sen. McCain's
record of service to his country and his
willingness to buck his own party to vote
for what he believes is right and admi-
rable. However, his shakiness on economic

Dry Bones

BETWEEN THE
WEST BANK'S
TROUBLES

issues at a time when this is
the main concern of most
Americans undercuts his
domestic credentials.
Moreover, at a defining
moment in his campaign, his
unfortunate choice of Sarah
Palin as the vice presidential
candidate indicated that,
despite his promise to always
put America first, in the
crunch he chose politics over
the greater national interest.
Obama has set forth an
appealing vision of return-
ing America to greatness.
His belief that as a society
we can come together and
effect change that addresses
many of the problems out-
lined above is set firmly
within this country's historic
and unshakable belief in progress.
We believe he possesses the right blend
of leadership, vision and collaborative
spirit. We believe that it is essential for

EXPOSURE

AND THE WEST'S
TROUBLED BANKS

www.drybonesblog.com

America to regain its footing as an inter-
national leader, which will also be the sur-
est guarantee of security for Israel.
We believe Barack Obama is the best
choice for the American presidency. 10

Economic Pain, Domestic Violence

Washington

A

s we enter the final stretch
before this historic election, the
economy and the war in Iraq
are at the forefront of our minds, and for
good reason.
The seriousness of these issues for all
Americans cannot be overstated, but I'd
like to take a moment to focus on those for
whom our current crisis literally will hit
too close to home.
October is more than just the month
before November: It's also Domestic
Violence Awareness Month. Domestic vio-
lence is the American epidemic we don't
want to talk about, hear about or know
about. But in my 30 years as an advocate
for women and children, I've never been
more concerned about the victims of
domestic violence than I am right now.
Families already buckling under the
weight of domestic violence in the best of
times can collapse in times of economic
downturn and war.
As Jews, we don't get to take a vacation
from tikkun olam and tzedakah because
we find an issue disturbing or because
something is affecting our bottom line.
We are commanded to repair the world, to
help those less fortunate because it's the

right thing to do. And when
more likely to be abused.
our pocketbooks fail us, we still
A spike in cases will be devas-
have our conscience and our
tating for a system where supply
voice.
is already not keeping up with
If we don't focus our atten-
demand: According to the 2007
tion on vulnerable families now
National Census of Domestic
— if we don't encourage our
Violence Services, 7,707 requests
leaders and future president to
for services went unmet due to
do the same — we very likely
shortage of funds and staff in
will see increases in the already
one 24-hour period.
Loribeth
too costly human price of this
Let's wake up to what is really
Weinstein
national scourge.
going on in families of all races,
Special
The statistics are stagger-
religions and economic levels
Commentary
ing for this equal-opportu-
behind the closed doors of our
nity destroyer. One in four U.S.
apartments and starter homes,
women will experience domestic violence
mansions and military bases. The recent
in her lifetime; one in six will be the vic-
tragic stabbing death of 29-year-old Sgt.
tim of an attempted or actual rape; one in
Christina E. Smith was the third off-post
12 will be stalked. Nearly 5.3 million acts
domestic violence murder of a Fort Bragg
of intimate-partner violence occur each
servicewoman in four months. Sgt. Richard
year among U.S. women aged 18 and older, Smith, 26, was charged, along with a friend,
resulting in 2 million injuries and nearly
with first-degree murder and conspiracy to
1,300 deaths.
commit murder of his wife. A local police
A poor economic prognosis matters in
spokesperson responded: "No, gosh, not
a uniquely grave way to women and chil-
another one."
dren in families where abuse happens.
The war matters enormously to our lead-
According to a 2004 study by the
ers, to our citizens and to the parents and
National Institute of justice, women whose
spouses of soldiers who pay the ultimate
male partners experienced two or more
sacrifice. But it also matters to families of
periods of unemployment over the five-
military women like Christina E. Smith.
year course of the study were three times
Families already under strain become

another, rarely talked about, casualty.
So we've got to keep doing what we
know makes a difference, such as running
domestic violence prevention programs
that model and teach healthy relationships
for teens, and we need to maintain part-
nerships aimed at ensuring full funding
of the Violence Against Women Act and
Family Violence Prevention and Services
Act and appropriate funding of the
Victims of Crime Act.
Only two years ago, the Lifetime Women's
Pulse Poll, conducted by the Roper Poll,
revealed the degree to which domestic
violence informed the voting decisions of
women and men over 18. Ninety-seven per-
cent felt that the issue of domestic violence
and sexual assault against women and girls
was important and would impact whom
they voted for in the election.
Jewish Americans are compassionate
and the more we know about an issue, the
more we care about an issue. Let's come
together as one voice and let our leaders
know that in the best and worst of times
we are not going to let domestic violence
continue. That we hold them, and our-
selves, accountable for making it stop.

❑

Loribeth Weinstein is executive director of

Jewish Women International.

October 30 2008

A37

