Most Jewish Voters Would Pass on Romney

Originally published in Politico’s Arena

By David A. Harris, President and CEO of the National Jewish Democratic Council

While he may have already passed his “sell by” date with mainstream Republican primary voters, the average American Jewish voter would merely pass by brand Mitt on the shelf without thinking twice.

Romney’s overt pandering to the extremist wing of the Republican Party places him deeply out of sync with the vast majority of American Jews. His tacit support for the congressional Republicans’ budget and his declared support for repealing President Barack Obama’s health care reform legislation both show that he does not stand with America’s seniors, middle class, and those who need government assistance the most. Further, Romney’s patently false claims about President Obama’s lack of support for Israel send the incorrect message that the United States is anywhere but behind Israel on the global stage.

His sprint to the far right of the Republican Party in advance of his announcement today indicates that the GOP has become beholden to its radical activists and rigid ideologues. It is the latest demonstration that the Republican Party has moved far away from the values of most American Jews and that GOP leaders like Romney cannot be relied upon to fight for the issues of concern to the American Jewish community.