by Nathan Guttman, Haaretz
A community defined by its quest for social justice and known for its disproportionate support for the Democratic Party, is waking up to a new reality, dominated by a clear message from voters who chose Republicans over Democrats.
For Jewish politicos and communal activists, the upcoming weeks and months will be dedicated to adjusting, both to the new faces — many of them Tea Party candidates previously unknown to the Jewish community — and to the new conservative anti-spending spirit.
“If some of them are committed to no government expenditures, then it will be hard,” said Rabbi Steve Gutow, president of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, a group whose domestic agenda focuses on helping the needy in society, “but my guess is that once people actually get into office and have the responsibility to do something, their views could change.”
The new Republican majority in the House of Representatives is likely to cause the Jewish community to re-examine its domestic priorities, focusing on fighting cuts, not expanding entitlements or introducing new social legislation. Several Jewish activists have already spoken about putting aside key issues from their agenda, including immigration reform and energy legislation, since chances for passage were all but eliminated by the congressional upset. Instead, they will concentrate on the looming budget cuts facing the key entitlement programs: Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
While the Jewish community’s domestic agenda, closely aligned with that of the Democrats, has taken a hit, communal leaders feel assured about the direction Congress will take on issues relating to Israel and the Middle East.
The Jews in America, should be more concerrned about what we do in Israel , than trying to pay everybody’s bills, with other people’s money.
This is one area that I cannot make sense of. Why does the Jewish majority in America along with Black America vote mostly for the democratic party. I understand that many people actual believe it is the government that has to give out handouts. But as a believer in the Father of Abram, Isaac and Jacob I have not found any scripture that will back up spending more than you make to help people who will not work or have put themselves in harm’s way by making poor choices. Most programs are for people who went against the word of GOD on how to live. We as a people have always taken care of our disabled and elderly. But the democrats have taken money from them and now give it to drug uses, teenage girls that are with child and no husband, other programs for groups of people who have made choices that are contrary to GOD’s law and the list goes on. I am not perfect in the law by no means and I know if I get hurt or cost my family money because I have done things wrong, the finical is less painful the act of not doing the Will of our Father. However I am still reasonable for all finical and healing of the pain that I may have caused. Example, If I cheat on my wife and the other women is with child. I can walk away, the democrats will make all of us pay for the mother and child. This is wrong on all levels, first I just destroyed a marriage, now there is a new life in this world in a broken family. The man must pay with the women period. If they will not raise the child with their own money or the help of their family the child should go to family that will. Concerning Israel, it is clear that it will get way more support from the Republican party. I have been to DC for CUFI many times and one party is strong for Israel all the time.
Larry