RJC Elevates Desperate & Isolated Gingrich Despite His Abandonment of the Jewish Community

NJDC — June 10, 2011 – 12:38 pm | Abusive Holocaust Rhetoric | Domestic Policy | Economy | Election 2012 | Environment | Health Care | Israel | Reproductive Rights | Republicans Comments (0) Add a comment

The National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) today chided the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) for hosting Newt Gingrich as its keynote speaker this Sunday during its Summer Bash in Beverly Hills, CA because of Gingrich’s outright abandonment of the mainstream of American Jews both in his words and his actions.

“The sad irony of the RJC’s decision to have Gingrich attend their Summer Bash is that he abandoned American Jews years before his campaign staff decided to abandon him,” said David A.  Harris, President and CEO of the NJDC. “The fact that they are sticking with Gingrich shows just how far removed from the mainstream of American Jews the RJC   has become and how desperate Gingrich is to promote his badly damaged   brand.” 

The majority of American Jews expect a candidate to adhere to high standards of integrity and civility.  Gingrich has repeatedly demonstrated that he does not meet those basic criteria.  The Jewish Week even reported that “many Jewish GOPers aren’t betting on [Gingrich]”  to increase the GOP’s share of the Jewish vote because of Gingrich’s   extreme positions and outrageous behavior. [The Jewish Week, May 10, 2011]

If Gingrich emerges victoriously from the Republican primary season,  the RJC is likely to find that no amount of whitewashing can cover up Gingrich’s abandonment of the American Jewish community.

Gingrich’s abandonment of the American Jewish community includes:

Gingrich has a history of making statements that politicize the U.S.-Israel relationship and send the false message to Israel’s adversaries that the Obama Administration is anywhere but behind Israel. Most recently,  Gingrich urged both houses of Congress to incorrectly condemn President Obama for a position that he does not hold. [TPM, May 20, 2011]

Gingrich wrongfully and disturbingly claimed that America is run by an “anti-Jewish elite.” [JTA, March 28, 2011]

Gingrich   frequently invokes the Holocaust to make political points,  demonstrating a lack of respect for the memories of those who perished.  Two notable instances include him comparing the proposed mosque near ground zero to “neo-Nazis protesting outside the Holocaust museum” [Politico, August 16, 2010],  and writing in his most recent book that “The secular-socialist machine represents as great a threat to America as Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union once did.” [NJDC Blog, May 21, 2010]

Gingrich   stridently opposed President Obama’s health care reform plan and has pledged to repeal it should he become president [WMUR, May 25, 2011].

Gingrich is staunchly anti-choice and is only one of many Republican contenders who is out of step with the vast majority of American Jews when in comes to women’s rights.  [Life News, May 11, 2011]

Gingrich   renounced his support for environmental protection and now claims ignorance on climate change in order to beef up his credentials among the Republican base.  [Fox News, May 12, 2011]

Gingrich   opposes equal rights for all Americans, including gays and lesbians.  Gingrich said that “there is a gay and secular fascism in this country that wants to impose its will on the rest of us.” [Media Matters, November 17, 2008]

Gingrich   lacked the political courage to take on his party over the congressional Republicans’ budget that slashes much of the funding for essential social safety net programs and reduces Medicare to a voucher system. [USA Today, May 22, 2011]

Gingrich   orchestrated a shutdown of the Federal Government during his tenure as Speaker of the House and encouraged another government shutdown this year over spending negotiations. [The Huffington Post, February 25, 2011]

Gingrich   offensively pandered to conspiracy theorists when he accused President Obama of having “Kenyan, anti-colonial” views. [TPM, September 13, 2010]

Last year,  the RJC Summer Bash featured “special guest” Orly Taitz - who had been labeled the “Birther Queen” for her leadership within the Birther movement.

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