Jewish Dems on State of the Union: “A Ringing Endorsement of Jewish Values”

NJDC — January 24, 2012 – 10:20 pm | Barack Obama | Domestic Policy | Economy | Foreign Policy | Iran | Israel Comments (0) Add a comment

National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) Chair Marc R. Stanley and President and CEO David A. Harris issued the following statement in response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address delivered this evening:

We thank President Barack Obama for the clear and positive vision he laid out this evening in his State of the Union address-an address that showcased a ringing endorsement of Jewish values.

American Jews are as concerned as all other Americans with our economy and jobs; the President’s plan to ensure that America’s is an ‘economy built to last,’ and the steps he’s proposed regarding making taxes less regressive and ensuring shared responsibility, will ring true to the vast majority of American Jews. Similarly his direct discussion of wanting to sign comprehensive immigration reform, helping students to afford higher education and broadly prioritizing education speaks to the priorities of American Jews-and to most Americans. This President’s commitment to continue keeping Americans safe through common-sense regulations-be it in the field of health, safety, on Wall Street or elsewhere-is more crucial now than ever before as well.

On two foreign policy issues of special concern to the American Jewish community-Israel and Iran-President Obama’s words tonight speak volumes. The President rightly observed that ‘a world that was once divided about how to deal with Iran’s nuclear program now stands as one.’ Indeed Iran’s leaders are more isolated than ever before, and this President’s leadership on isolating Iran is already achieving results. His clarion words on this core issue of our day-‘Let there be no doubt: America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and I will take no options off the table to achieve that goal’-was a powerful statement on the world’s stage. Similarly, his reminder regarding his strong leadership surrounding the U.S.-Israel relationship, in which he noted that ‘Our iron-clad commitment to Israel’s security has meant the closest military cooperation between our two countries in history,’ was both important and deeply appreciated in this address.

Throughout this State of the Union, one common thread was consistent; the reflection of the policy concerns of the vast majority of American Jews. We thank and congratulate the President for this positive, proactive approach to addressing those concerns in tonight’s State of the Union Address.

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