viewpoints » S end letters to: letters@thejewishnews.com

How the GOP Meets A Jewish
Millennial Woman’s Standard

Who Can You Be Proud Of?

I

’m Jewish. I’m a woman. I’m a millen-
nizer had little experience in the art of action.
nial. And I’m incredibly proud to be a
As they say, you get what you pay for.
Republican supporting conservative candi-
Supporters of Mr. Trump’s opponent tout
dates in November.
her former roles as if the titles alone represent
For many of us around the country,
action and qualify her for the job of
the media culture has made coming
president of the United States: first
out as a Republican supporter feel
lady, senator and secretary of state.
as nerve wrenching as introducing
As a people, we should not stand for
yourself at a support group meeting,
insulting the office of president by
like one has a problem instead of an
making titles alone the prerequisite.
opportunity.
During the first debate in New
Rather than focusing on what
York, Mrs. Clinton alleged that Mr.
matters in this election — America’s Lena Epstein
Trump’s father gave him a $14 million
economy, Israel’s security, borders
loan. It was offered as a way to dis-
and education — there has been too
count Mr. Trump’s success.
much focus on the Republican nominee for
Although Mr. Trump objects to the validity
president’s ineloquent sound bites. Clearly,
of that amount, let’s assume for a moment that
he’s not the most “politically correct” person
she’s correct. Mrs. Clinton attempts to use this
in the room. Admittedly, when I have children loan as a negative and, in doing so, she only
one day, he would not be my first choice for
paints half the picture.
my child’s temple Sunday school teacher.
What Mrs. Clinton fails to point out is the
But based on the two candidates in this
fact that, even with a conservative estimate of
election, Donald Trump is the best person
Mr. Trump’s present net worth — let’s say $4.5
for what matters most: our economy, border
billion — he would be responsible for a 32,143
protection, the securing of Israel’s future,
percent return on that initial investment.
improvements in our education system, pro-
That level of success comes from action. It
tecting our children and delivering our great
comes from being infected with the success
nation a more promising collective future.
gene — from never stopping at any obstacle —
Most important, Mr. Trump is the best per- from never quitting.
son for action.
It comes from the type of action America
That’s the key — action. That’s what people needs to get our economy back on track — to
seem to forget. There’s plenty of talk about
get our roads paved, our schools fixed and our
sound bites, but little about action.
borders safe.
Didn’t our parents all teach us that actions
In the words of Mr. Trump’s own father, Fred
speak louder than words? I know mine did.
C. Trump, “Some of my best deals were made
As co-owner of a business, I see my share
by my son, Donald. Everything he touches
of resumes. When I look at a resume, it’s not
seems to turn to gold.”
the applicant’s titles in previous positions that
Without question, some of the words and
stand out to me. Rather, when hiring someone messages coming out of Mr. Trump’s mouth
for a job, it is the substance of the accomplish- are completely wrong and unacceptable — the
ments that were achieved while those titles
Republican Party was founded on principles of
were held that stand out.
equality, dignity and respect for all. But we only
If our country has learned one thing over
have two options in this election, and as cringe-
the last eight years, it’s that a successful
worthy as Mr. Trump’s sound bites can be, they
resume for president of the United States must pale in comparison to the cringe-worthy future
go deeper than a list of titles. The former
of a Clinton presidency.
senator from Illinois and community orga-
In the last eight years, the Democratic Party
has helped America
lose sight of its gold
standard. Donald
Trump is the only
candidate in this elec-
tion that can bring it
back.

*

Lena Epstein is the state co-
chair for the Donald Trump
presidential campaign in
Michigan and a longtime
Republican activist. She is
the third-generation owner
and general manager of
Southfield-based Vesco Oil
Corporation.

8 October 20 • 2016

T

hree weeks ago, Israel lost the
Semitism and a pro-Russian consultant
last of its Founding Fathers. The
who used to work for Putin’s stooge in
last of a generation to make the
Ukraine?
desert bloom out of nothing, to bring
• Can we be proud of a man whose
Israel into the community of nations.
responses to powerful women are to
From the time he served
blame their problems on men-
in the Ministry of Defense,
struation?
creating and mending stra-
• Could we take pride in a
tegic alliances for the State
president who believes that all
of Israel, Shimon Peres
Muslims, whether they come
conducted business with a
from Bosnia or Indonesia, should
sense of decorum, honor and
be banned from immigrating to
dignity, even though he was
America? Or do we want a presi-
just 29 years old when he was Jordan Acker
dent who would accept those like
honored with that position.
our parents and grandparents,
His supporters and oppo-
who fled persecution and mass
nents alike would describe Peres with
murder?
respect, and Peres gave respect he gave
• Can we be proud of a man whose
to all of his adversaries. For American
response to his political opponents is
Jews, we could be so proud of not just
to threaten to jail them? Or do we, like
what he did — the raid at Entebbe,
most Americans, respect our ability to
of course, ranks as one of his greatest
disagree and settle political disputes at
successes —but who he was: a leader
the ballot box?
worthy of the titles he earned. As Israel’s
• Can we be proud of a man who
ninth president, he traveled throughout
claims that people of certain ethnicities
the world, representing Israel in the
are rapists and murders?
same dignified manner that he did as its
• Can we be proud of a man who
prime minister.
thinks preparing to becoming president
In a couple of weeks, American
involves not reading policy papers or
Jews have a choice to make: electing a
learning about issues, but watching
president that will be representing us
cable news?
throughout the world. Which of the two
Or would America be better with
candidates can we be proud of?
a president who is perhaps one of the
• Can we be proud of a man running
most prepared candidates ever, spend-
for president who refers to women as
ing decades understanding policy and
fat, pigs, dogs and ugly?
listening to different viewpoints on
• Can we be proud of the same man
issues?
who, at the age of 59, feels the need to
At Peres’ funeral, President Barack
brag about groping a married woman?
Obama told the mourners that one of
• Can we be proud of someone who
Peres’ favorite sayings is that “the mes-
would ask our soldiers to commit war
sage of the Jewish people to mankind is
crimes, punishing children for the
that faith and moral vision can triumph
alleged sins of their parents without
over all adversity.”
trial? Or are we a nation that accepts the
Indeed, one of the most important
agreements that came after the destruc- parts of being president is having that
tion of World War II?
faith and moral vision. From her time
• Can we be proud of a man who
as an attorney for the Children’s Defense
aligns himself with Vladimir Putin? Or
Fund, to creating the Children’s Health
do we want an America that extends its
Insurance Program, which provides
hands to our allies in NATO, Australia
more than 9 million American children
and Israel?
with insurance, to standing up for the
• Can we be proud of a man who,
rights of women at a U.N. conference
even before the Republican Jewish
in Beijing, to her role in the hunt for
Coalition, dabbles in offensive, anti-
Osama bin Laden, Hillary Clinton has
Semitic stereotypes? Who is endorsed
possessed that faith and moral vision.
by anti-Semites and racists like David
Her priorities: updating Obamacare,
Duke? Or do we want a president who
ensuring the right to vote for all and
celebrates our diversity, including the
protecting the right to marry who you
importance of the Jewish community?
love. Donald Trump would roll back
• Can we be proud of a man who
the progress of the last eight years while
cannot help but argue with a war hero,
pushing some Americans back into the
a Gold Star family, a beauty pageant
shadows.
contestant and veterans battling PTSD
On Nov. 8, American Jews who desire
in disturbing, undignified fashion?
a president who represents our country
• Can we be proud of a man who
with dignity and honor have one option:
believes it is right to attack a wife for the Secretary Hillary Clinton.
sins of her husband?
Jordan Acker is an attorney and director of busi-
• Can we be proud of a man that
claims to hire “only the best people,” but ness development at Southfield-based Goodman
Acker. He previously worked in the Department of
instead hires a serial sexual harasser, a
Homeland Security, appointed by President Obama.
publisher of a website known for anti-

*

