Romney’s campaign is a strategy of exclusion
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September 11, 2012
The Republican National Convention was marked by speakers deliberately alienating important constituencies (in part, with lies and misdemeanors), and largely ignoring their nominee. Yet, with it all, some polls show Mitt Romney leading President Obama by two percentage points. Can the GOP win without blacks and the majority of Latinos, union members, gays, women, and Jews?
No one expected Romney to attract the African-American vote. The symbolic value of an African-American president and Democratic policies are central to that community’s identity. Romney had nothing to lose in harshly confronting the NAACP when he spoke at their convention; if anything, he hoped to make points with his Tea Party followers.
There are other significant constituencies, however, who received curt treatment by the GOP. Foremost among them, perhaps, are Latinos. During the Republican primaries, Romney made both Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry look like bleeding heart liberals with his inflexible stance concerning immigration and finding a way for at least some of the Latinos who are in the United States illegally to remain. He advocated making their lives so miserable that they would hightail it back to those countries from which they came, taking their U.S.-born children with them. He opposed the Dream Act as well as Obama’s recent executive order that allows young undocumented immigrants to continue working or studying in the United States.
The Hispanic community is not monolithic; the large Cuban community, thanks to Castro, are legal immigrants, while Puerto Ricans are American citizens by birth. Yet Mexicans and Latin Americans are severely affected by the GOP platform and Romney’s stated position.
Realizing the importance of the Latino and African-American vote for Democratic fortunes, Republican legislatures in 22 states have passed so-called “voter ID” laws with the barely disguised intention (or, by their measure, happily coincidental outcome) of making it difficult for those minorities to vote. One court after another has struck down these “anti-fraud” laws as the frauds they are.
Meanwhile, the governor of our great state, in his keynote to the GOP convention, spent more time attacking teachers and their unions than in praising Romney and Ryan. Teachers and their families won’t forget Chris Christie’s ad hominum attack when they enter the voting booth. Though unions don’t have the numbers they once had, there are millions of dues-paying union members.
The GOP is also on track to alienate gays and women, with its opposition to same-sex marriage and a party platform that calls for a ban on abortion without mentioning exceptions for victims of rape or incest. Similarly, a much larger constituency of seniors, previously friendly, feel threatened by Ryan’s plan to turn Medicare into a voucher system and make health care more expensive for seniors who opt for traditional Medicare over private insurance plans.
In fact, the only “minority” Romney appears eager to court is the Jews, and even there he is trailing Obama 68 to 25 percent.
How can a candidate alienate so many constituencies and still be in a dead heat for the election, particularly a candidate with uninspiring oratorical skills, who refuses to reveal his tax returns, and who by his own admission pays a lower tax rate than those whose income is less than five percent of his?
We’ll find out in November. In Talmudic terms, I predict the Republicans who have based their campaign not so much on “ahavat Mordecai” (Romney) but on “sinat Haman” (Obama) will see their candidate wearing Haman’s three-cornered hat.
Comments
RABBI DR. BERNHARD ROSENBERG
September 13, 2012
To my fellow Rabbis and all American Jews, democrats, republicans and independents:
I am extremely angry regarding the recent world incidents against Americans and will be on several media outlets expressing my outrage. The United States must not apologize; our ambassador to Lybia and three other Americans were ruthlessly slaughtered by Muslim extremists. They are the new Nazis who will use a video as an excuse to murder innocent people. Both President Obama and Mr. Romney must stand strong and not compromise. The United States of American and its ally, Israel are standing on a precipice. The voice of my father and mother, of blessed memory survivors of Auschwitz and BUCHENWALD
compels me SPEAK OUT.WITH VIGOR. The Obama administration response is weak and seems
connected to an alternate reality. Obama has repeatedly said that AL Kayda is
not a worry because Bin Laden is dead. The Muslim Brotherhood have for years
said that their goal is to complete what Hitler started. Our US administration
took Muslim Brotherhood and Chamas off the “terrorist organzation” list. On
9/11 they tested the USA by hoisting the Al Kayda flag on the US Embassy with
violence that is a declaration of War and yelled “we are all Bin Laden.”
Another group killed 4 Americans in Libya at the US Embassy in another act of
war. Remember that the present Al Kayda
leader is with the Muslim Brotherhood. Ironically, the tax money we send to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt may help
them murder Christians and Jews. Roosevelt thought Americans would be safe if
America ignored Nazi actions in his
time. It didn’t work. I’m afraid
the Obama administration is trivialzing acts of war, minimizing present and growing dangers and showing disrespect for Israel
and Netanyahu in the process.
What has the United States done or said regarding the daily denigration of Jews, and Christians by Imams around the world, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank? We know the answer: nothing
What the leaders of our country should state is that we uphold freedom of speech, as every democratic country should do. We cannot apologize to avoid inflaming radical Muslims. Apologies have not worked as we can see from the most recent incidents.
Israel warned America of an imminent attack on their embassies . It was ignored, just like Obama is ignoring Netanyahu. The media is also playing a game of ignorance; the attack on the embassies was planned before the movie came out. It is a reminder of how President Carter dealt with Iran; this does not bode well for our future. All of a sudden the administration is changing their tune and saying they never issued an apolgy.
President Obama should issue a warning that anyone who tries to enter the confines of a US embassy illegally or through force will be fired upon, since now we know their intent is murder.
We have videos of those who perpetrated these acts. The president must demand that Egypt arrest those individuals within 30 days or Congress will cut off financial and military aid to Egypt and close our embassy.
We should give Iran 30 days to open their nuclear facilities to inspection and if we find anything that can lead to nuclear weapons, demand they immediately stop or we will destroy those facilities within 90 days.
We should issue a directive to all police in America to provide extra protection to Muslim schools and Mosques to show the world we stand by our beliefs.
The Israelis warned us and we ignored them. Shame on this administration. American blood is on their hands. rabbi dr. bernhard rosenberg
RABBI DR. BERNHARD ROSENBERG
September 14, 2012
I say this with all my heart. I cannot keep silent any longer. The voices of my father and my mother, survivors of Auschwitz and Buchenwald, compel me to speak out—with zeal.
I urge you to consider the following:
- Silence did not work in the 1930s, when the looming evils of Nazism could have been stopped in their tracks. Nor will it work today when Islamists, who deny the Holocaust, threaten another one in Israel.
- Why does the United States say nothing about the daily denigration of Jews and Christians by imams worldwide?
- Why do we tolerate an American media that continues to play dumb when our real interests, and our very lives, are at stake?
- Why does America continue to send money (and excuse outstanding loans) to Morsi’s Egypt?
- Why doesn’t America compel Morsi to uphold the peace treaty with Israel? To rein in Hamas? To act like a responsible, civil government?
- And of utmost importance, why don’t we rabbis come together and insist that the Obama administration express—in words and in deeds—their unequivocal support for Israel during this most challenging of times?
I started “Rabbis for Romney” as a counterweight to “Rabbis for Obama.” My message at first was not political. But the situation has evolved—or devolved—into one where the danger to Israel is more paramount than ever. Don’t kid yourselves. We are nearing the 11th hour.
Please join me in my quest to see that America and Israel stay safe from the growing danger that’s all around us.
We can no longer afford to stay silent. Let us make sure that “Never again” means “NEVER again.”
Respectfully,
Rabbi Bernhard Rosenberg
RABBI DR. BERNHARD ROSENBERG
September 19, 2012
Governor Romney will be talking to rabbis across America in between the High Holidays – and you’re invited to join. The call will occur this Thursday, September 20th, at 6.45 PM ET. You can dial into 800-454-2777 and the passcode is 110658. I was among the people who suggested the call and was invited on by the campaign . RABBI DR. BERNHARD ROSENBERG
Ben Revaine
September 27, 2012
I as a Jew believe Rabbi Rosenberg speaks for himself and has a following of one being himself. This poor fellow needs some classes in sensitivity training and is acting like Al Sharpton. These times call for level headed thinking and not talking like a lunatic. Rabbi Rosenberg you should stick to being a Rabbi for politics and religion are a bad mix.
RABBI DR. BERNHARD ROSENBERG
September 27, 2012
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I doubt that Ben Ravine IS A REAL PERSON. if you are real please give me your address and telephone number and e mail and the police will visit you for harassment.
I started “Rabbis for Romney” as a counterweight to “Rabbis for Obama.” My message at first was not political. But the situation has evolved—or devolved—into one where the danger to Israel is more paramount than ever. Don’t kid yourselves. We are nearing the 11th hour.
Please join me in my quest to see that America and Israel stay safe from the growing danger that’s all around us.
Note: To join “Rabbis for Romney,” please contact Rabbi Bernhard Rosenberg at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
rabbi dr. bernhard rosenberg
September 27, 2012
A letter to America’s rabbis—
from Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND IN ISRAEL AND EUROPE. THANKS TO THE ASSISTANCE OF A MILLIONAIRE WHO WISHES TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS. ANYONE WISHING TO JOIN RABBIS FOR ROMNEY PLEASE SEND A CONFIRMATION IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO. THE NAMES FOR THE TIME BEING ARE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL AND WILL NOT BE RELEASED WITHOUT THE CONSENSUS OF ALL ON THE LIST. PAID ADS IN NEWSPAPERS WILL SOON APPEAR WITH THIS MESSAGE. IF I would share the e mails from some Rabbis to me , you would underestand the need for being anonymous. I do not care what they send me but I will protect those Rabbis who have concerns. I have also taped many T.V. shows and radio spots. This election is not over by a long shot. rabbi dr. bernhard ROSENBERG