Will the Tea Party Back Israel?
One of the more interesting events at AIPAC this week was the session titled “The Tea Party and Pro-Israel Politics,” which featured tea party regular Dick Armey, Gary Bauer (president of American Values) and Representative Tim Scott from South Carolina.
The three discussed the fear of some, including a UCLA professor present at another session, that the tea party movement’s focus on dramatically reducing the federal budget might threaten the three billion dollars per year America gives to Israel. This is a legitimate concern to anyone who is not familiar with the tea party movement. Though the tea party movement is determined to reduce the budget, it is conservative enough in political ideology to believe in a robust national defense. According to Bauer, Ron and Rand Paul are outliers who do not represent the mainstream of the tea party movement on foreign affairs. As it happens, when Rand Paul made public his wish to cut off all of American foreign aid, including to Israel, Bauer mobilized twenty thousand emails asking for reconsideration. And Bauer declared that in addition to current levels of aid, “we should take money we’re giving to the Palestinians, and give it to Israel” too, in response to the new unity agreement between Hamas and Fatah.
Dick Armey told the audience he believes America’s investment in Israel is in our vital national security interest because both countries are on the front lines in the war against radical Islam. The tea party movement supports Israel, he said, because it is an “island of freedom” in a sea of despotism. Plus, Americans and Israelis share the same fundamental values: liberty, democracy, and justice.
There is, Armey continued, an even more fundamental reason as to why the tea party — like conservatives in general — is so forthright in its support of Israel: the overwhelming majority of new tea party members in Congress are evangelical Christians. And, as anyone who is familiar with the Old Testament knows, God instructs the Israelites that “I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curses thee.” Christians support Israel, said Armey, because “God gave this land [of Israel] to Abraham and the Jews.” For Armey, it doesn’t go too far to say that the tea party movement believes supporting Israel is a moral imperative, a command from God.
Sure enough, this is why support for Israel among the Christian right is so rock solid and reliable. This is also why there is so much more support for Israel on the right side of the political spectrum than the left. Conservatives, as is well known, are generally more religious than liberals.
This is also why it such a great tragedy that the majority of Jews in America are Democrats. Every poll decisively shows that conservatives are more supportive of Israel than Democrats. Barack Obama, meanwhile, is clearly one of the most hostile presidents toward Israel in recent memory, yet he received nearly eighty percent of the Jewish vote. How does a liberal Jew explain all of this? Tim Scott, who is black, told the audience that “black conservatives and Jewish conservatives have something in common”: their outcast status for straying from the politically correct ideology that dominates both groups.
Self-righteous liberals are dismissive of the genuine support Israel receives from the right. A few months ago, Chris Matthews sniveled to his audience:
This coalition between the right and Israel […] is not founded on personal friendships or anything like that, or even values. Its founded on some sort of right-wing thing, where you just high-five each other over there at the Western Wall.
Pathetic.
The hate for the right harbored among the left, and especially liberal Jews, is shameful. Dick Armey told us he has been called “an evangelical Zionist and an anti-Semite in the same day.”
Glenn Beck is one of the most hated media figures among liberal Jews, and yet he is, without question, cable news’ most ardent supporter of Israel. During the last few months Beck has devoted large segments of his programs to educating his audience about the significance of Israel and why America must stand by her. On April 19, he had a seder on his set to commemorate Passover and exhorted his audience:
Israel must have our support, and I’m not talking about military support; I’m saying they must have our support as a people. They have a right to survive, and to be free from extermination, and the people who want to vaporize them. They have a right to defend themselves. Will Americans stand up and say that? [Israel has] a right to hold on to the land taken as a buffer zone between them and the people who want to kill them […]. That’s the support they deserve, the support they have earned and the support that is required.
You wont see this type of rhetoric on MSNBC or from the president. Despite this, four hundred rabbis recently wrote a letter criticizing Glenn Beck. Do these rabbis support Israel?
Taking all this into account, AIPAC’s session on tea partiers and the Christian right makes it apparent that the tea party movement can be counted on to vigorously defend and support the state of Israel.
“For Armey, it doesn’t go too far to say that the tea party movement believes supporting Israel is a moral imperative, a command from God.”
Oh good grief.
It’s also a command in the Bible to assist the poor and widows, and according to James, the consequences of inaction on this issue is damnation in hell. Should government be forcing people to involve themselves in this behavior?
Also, all of your quotes are from the Old Testament. Should we go into Leviticus and adopt various rules for food, sanitation, law, and discipline and make them formal U.S. legal policy as well? Should we bring back stoning laws? How about mandatory headscarves for women, as that’s in the Old Testament and New Testament as well?
There is nowhere in the New Testament that even implies monetary assistance to a Jewish nation. I’m very pro-Israel, but trying to shoehorn a political ideology into Christianity is to me, quite frankly, profane. Justify your arguments on a political basis instead of creating what is in effect political idolatry.
I think you are taking Armey’s statement too literally. He didn’t mean that there are verses in the Bible that mandate support of Israel; his point was that when you have a country, a nation, and a group of people so hated, so reviled, dispersed throughout the world over centuries after being chased from their ancestral home, that any moral person would be in support of Israel’s rights as a country and as a people. Obviously, that doesn’t mean blanket, unconditional support, either; when Israel is wrong, they should be called to account just as anyone else should be. But they have been staunch supporters of world peace and regional stability despite being continually attacked by their neighbours, and disrespected by the world at large – except for a few friends and the United States. Armey’s point was that we should continue that support and relationship with Israel, and our present President’s obvious bias against Israel isn’t moral, and also isn’t in America’s best interest.
Sorry, I responded to you in post 4.
Aaron,
I’m trying to figure out why you are so prickly on this matter. You seem to say that the Old testament is not worth quoting (???). Point of fact: God gave this promise of blessing before he handed down the law to which you refer:
“Should we bring back stoning laws? How about mandatory headscarves for women, as that’s in the Old Testament and New Testament as well?”
Several passages in the NEW testament explain why those laws are no longer needed,(Romans 9-11; Hebrews, and to a lesser extent, Revelation) but the blessings do not go away. What are your issues with that? God does not say that He will only bless PEOPLE, not nations!! The Jews are STILL His chosen people and there is no reason we should not support them for political and spiritual reasons. The government should represent our views, and Dick Armey is right to describe these views in the fashion that he has. There is no need to talk about stoning, Hebrews tells the reader that while God is just, His son took the penalty for the things He used to demand stoning for. That’s what we who take the Bible literally believe, and that is what this article is saying.
We sent hundreds of millions to Hamas and several billion to Brazil, (to drill for oil!!) and Lord knows how much to the UN. I think that our funds are wisely spent on Israel given the other venues to spend our tax dollars. So don’t try to invoke Old Testament rules not needed, and don’t throw away the Old Testament, either.
And the passages from James regarding giving money to widows, orphans, and the poor stand in the New Testament too. (The author did not quote the New Testament btw). But I bet every single person on this thread would have a problem with using religious arguments for government fostered quasi-socialism.
We could just as easily (and as flippantly as this author) quote all the passages in Acts about the disciples giving all of their money to each other and Annias and Sapphira being killed because they didn’t.
Just because something is a Biblical commandment, doesn’t make it a commandment to use government or the military to make it happen. The State is not God, and I seriously wonder about people who try to do God’s work through the State.
You make the same mistake that GW did, in that James is NOT talking to governments! He is talking to individuals, and ultimately the church. The government is not the church and never will be. I don’t think anyone said we have to give money to Israel, but given where the money is going, I think it is much better spent when it goes to Israel.
Giving to widows, etc. is a good thing, and if the money is there, I support that action here in this country, (our money is gone, however!!). You misread and thus misinterpret the Acts passage. It said they gave their money to each other, as needed. They also did not last very long if history is to be believed!! Paul and/or Jesus never tells us to do that, BTW. And even if they did, it would not be a governmental admonition. It sounds like you have a rather bad take on this whole issue. It sounds like you resent any funds being sent to Israel. What’s your real problem???
Acts 2:44-45 (New International Version)
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
.
The Puritans came to America and tried to model their government on this passage, and that unfortunate period of time is known as “The Winter of Starving.” Their rejection of the concept afterwards led to a type of private property, capitalism, and the celebration of Thanksgiving.
As to your question about doing “good” things if we can through government, would you enforce anti-idolatry laws through government? How about anti-infidelity laws? Would we force a National Sabbath? How about a law against lying, or coveting, or parental disrespect? Our Constitution is legally constructed in stark contrast to things demanded by believers in the ten commandments in the Old Testament, yet it allows them the freedom to act upon those things themselves.
The author goes to great pains to marginalize those who don’t feel like supporting Israel militarily (which I actually do btw) and then tries to associate Christian theology to this point. It’s dishonest and low, and from my examples it should be clear why it’s a ridiculously dangerous and weak position from which to argue.
“You make the same mistake that GW did, in that James is NOT talking to governments!”
You’re the one that wants the government to help the poor, but yet you say it’s not demanded that government help the poor by Christianity.
So then why is my statement that governmental/military action in support of Israel is not demanded by a faithful interpretation of Christianity so confusing to you?
Aaron,
You are putting words in my mouth, (just check the post!!) And you are not making sense. No need to continue this. Hint: “can” doesn’t = must. I did not take issue with the passage, only your interpretation. Your disagreement with this author is not clear from your post and I don’t think it will be come any clearer. Thanks, though.
“Your disagreement with this author is not clear from your post and I don’t think it will be come any clearer. Thanks, though.”
My disagreement with the author is very clear, and you’re the one running in circles. He’s politicizing Christianity, and I take offense to that because I care about Christianity more than politics. So do many other believers. He’s also using shamefully disengenuous tactics to place his worldview in line with the Christian faith.
You make a false equivalence here. The Bible says to do these other things, too, yes. The difference is in the role of government. People can do charity individually. Defense REQUIRES nations. The job of government is to do those things for us that are essential, like defense and roads, that we cannot do as individuals.
The article states that these Congressional Tea-Partiers are Evangelical Christians, and as such, they feel a religious personal feeling of a moral imperative from God. As such a person, I agree completely. God specifically states we will be blessed when we support the Jews and Israel. Sounds like a good investment to me. I kinda like the idea of God being on my country’s side.
Besides, it is the moral thing to do, anyway. We had a hand in the establishment of Israel as a home for the persecuted Jews. We destroyed Nazi Germany, and we found the extermination camps. We were horrified. We resolved to never let that happen again. It is a moral mission of this government, one we took up decades ago.
The threat to Jews, the possibility of this pogrom happening again is very real still. The Arabs would do it in a heartbeat, if they get the chance. They say so. It is part of the charter of the PLO. They require the destruction of Israel. Other peoples in the area say the same thing. That is the real issue. That is why we support them.
The Holocaust was real, and could happen again, if we let it. Nie Wieder!
I am Jewish and I support Israel all the way. My whole family is to the left of me and can’t understand why I am a consevative. I have seen the people on the left and their is a lot of hatred for Jews and ISrael in General. Read the Progressive magazine by Matt Rothschild and you will see all the anti-semitic venom on there. God gave the land of Canaan to Abraham, Issac, and Jacob forever and ever. If you try to divide the land up then God himself will punish you. J street is run by George Soros and is very anti Israel in general. The people on the right support Israel because they want her to be free. The people on the left hate Israel because it represnts everything they hate about the USA.
David, one has to go back and look at the Zionist-Socialist divide that occurred in the Jewish communities in the late 1800′s. One side believed that Marxism provided the answer for the Jews and the other believed that only restoration to the land was the answer. The battle continues to this day.
Mike has the basic divide exactly right.
It was muted during the decades of Labour Party control of Israel but in 1977 when Likud beat Labour the divide reappeared and the Democ-rat Party scum of Jewish origin is on the left side of the divide.
Notice how silent they are after their president’s speech and how silent they were during the Carter administration when most or the Democ-rat congressmen of Jewish origin, including now Senator Laut Lausenberg and Skeevey Steevie Solarz supported Carter against Teddy Kennedy, admitedly no great shakes.
Any rank and fil Jew who votes Democ-rat is selling out the Jewish People.
Guys, I agree with you on this. I was once pro democrat and pro liberal at one time. My viewpoints changed once I started to listen to Michael Savage. The more I would try to disagree with him, the more I would find myself agreeing with him. I could never go back to voting democrat again. I am proud of being Jewish and I will always support Israel. Many of the people on the left who are Jewish are ashamed of who they are. They just want to give into the enmeies who want to destroy them and say to them: You Win and we give you everything since we have lost the chutzpah to fight for ourselves. It is in the U.S. best interest to support her since she is the only free country in the middle east.
It is pretty goddamn hard to help someone who are in turn trying to move you down with a machine gun while you’re trying to help them. That’s what it feels like for conservatives with Israel and Jews.
David, and everyone,
As a Christian I personally support Israel as a nation, and her people as people with whom I have a shared history. My savior came from the Jewish people, and for that I am eternally grateful.
I believe we must separate politics from theology. It never works to combine the two together and try to create policy that is based on Christian Scripture. I do believe that Godly politicians are essential because the integrity (character and morality) that our republic demands can best be found and upheld in people of faith.
So when I say that politically it is advantageous for America to stand with Israel against all her enemies, it is because it is in America’s best interests to have a Jewish democratic nation in that region of the world. We do well to have a friend in that part of the world, and we do well to fight for her interests in the region and in the world. This is a political decision, not a theological one.
i’m not jewish and was once a catholic
i support israel because we are grounded in the same belief/value system
on a more selfish note i support israel because they are a valuable ally
they are the beachhead/beacon surrounded by a world that has been trying to exterminate them for thousands of years– definitely in one’s interest to maintain a relationship with such a tenacious and cunning ally at the vanguard of our shared struggle against islamojihaddo’s
Don’t Tread On Me in Hebrew???!!!! Okay, where can I get that graphic???!!! It will sell like latkes – er, hotcakes!!!
Seriously, I really would like a t-shirt of that if the graphics are available. Please advise.
Mega Dittos concerning this graphic… where can I buy it?
I would love it as a flag, on a T-shirt and even on coffee mugs!!
I would also love such a t-shirt. If it doesn’t exist we should design one!
Actually, it’s a poor translation, messing up with the message. It picks up a word more commonly used in modern language for “march”, not for “step on”. It sounds awkward and pretty ridiculous for a native Hebrew speaker.
A more correct version should be “Al tidrokh alai”, not “Al tits’ad alai”.
A more general point: I am Jewish; I live in Israel, and while I understand it’s existence’s importance for waking up the Arabs around to the harsh reality of their failed lives due to their primitive, 12th century culture, I can’t understand all the saccharine flattery heaped on it: Israel is a semi-failed police state, with over-sized government, huge bureaucracy, nepotist court system and corrupted, oligopolistic market.
Unfortunately, it also has no future, as Orthodox religious zealots got a monopoly on defining “who is a Jew”, and are driving away those Jews who are not willing to become fanatic worshipers. They are cloning themselves at enormous speed, have disproportional representation at the Knesset, eat off the hand of the state (whose clerks are happy to perpetuate the dependency, as in every socialist country), and have other, “shabes-goy” Jews to serve and defend them in the IDF – while their “sacrifice is in Tora’s tent”.
Above all, Jewish identity – which is essentially tribal – contradicts free will, free markets and equal treatment for other nationals. Thus, it ruins prosperity and, sadly, is bound to lead to eventual collapse, exactly as happened in Soviet Union, the mentality of which is shared by most Israelis (hundreds of thousands have dual citizenship, so they don’t care to vote for communist pipe-dreams).
I was about to say the same thing about the translation -
אל תדרוך עלי
Is much better.
I was in Cairo doing research for my dissertation (on extremism versus moderation in the Arab/Islamic world). One of my interviews was with a prominent pro-democracy activist – Abu al-Aela Mady. In the course of our discussion, he began to complain (as did many of the people I spoke to) about US foreign policy under President GW Bush. His complaint (a valid one), was that US support for tyrants in the Middle East was a major factor thwarting the development of democracy in the region.
Rather than arguing with him (since I felt that the point had validity), I simply stated that US foreign policy was (at times) rather short-sighted. Getting on a roll, I then went on to say that our democracy was not only short-sighted, it was selfish – and stupid, and sloppy and slow.
He then asked me (somewhat aghast) ‘I’m telling people that we have to become a democracy – how can I if all of those bad things are true?’. I replied – because it beats the alternative. I also told him that he was better off knowing the shortcomings of democracy, rather than seeing it through rose-colored glasses.
Interestingly, he became one of the foremost people in Egypt during and right after the Tahrir demonstrations and Mubarak’s ouster to push for a relatively secular, constitutional democracy. (Too bad those forces have been eclipsed by the new military autocrats and the Islamists.)
In any case, I’m sure your criticisms of Israel are quite true – consider the critique leveled (Churchill?) at the US – that we do the right thing ‘after all other options have been exhausted’… Nonetheless – the US support of Israel is based on the fact that a free democracy like Israel – with (like the US) all its faults – definitely beats the alternative.
P.S., Say what you want, but (having traveled throughout the Middle East), the place where I found Arabs/Muslims living the most happy, relaxed and free, was as citizens in Israel. Again – not to minimize their complaints of discrimination and difficulty, but comparing their lives to the alternatives that I observed.
P.S., Say what you want, but (having traveled throughout the Middle East), the place where I found Arabs/Muslims living the most happy, relaxed and free, was as citizens in Israel. Again – not to minimize their complaints of discrimination and difficulty, but comparing their lives to the alternatives that I observed.
Well, maybe I am misreading Armey’s tone and taking it out of context. However, I don’t believe I’m misreading the tone of this article which is that there’s an inherent support of pro-Israel governmental policies, “rooted in our national security interest,” that is similarly rooted in evangelical Christianity. It is unfair to suggest that somehow these two concepts are related.
The quoting of Scripture which reinforces Armey’s point indicates the context I am complaining about.
“The tea party movement’s focus on dramatically reducing the federal budget might threaten the three billion dollars per year America gives to Israel.”
Oh good Lord, how silly. I don’t think anyone in the Tea Party movement is saying to get rid of ALL foreign aid. But we should give it to countries that A) Have a Democratic Form of Government; B) Are not total economic basket cases; and (C) Not filled with people who want to kill us. Israel is a thriving democracy and we get a LOT back for our investment in that country. Compare that to Afghanistan, which has NEVER had a democratic form of government (even today their democracy is a joke, with Karzai pretty much a dictator there), they have ALWAYS been an economic basket case, and it is filled with people who hate and want to kill Americans. So we are giving tons of money to Afghanistan why? Afghanistan will NEVER become as successful as Israel and it will NEVER be as good an ally as Israel. We just need to be sensible about how our foreign aid is spent, not get rid of all of it at the cost of losing one of our best allies, Israel.
The graphic is the real reason I clicked on the link. I already have a lapel pin with the US/Israeli flag and I have a US and Israeli flag on my desk; I want this flag!
Oh, BTW, I am TEA Party extraordinaire, pro-Israel, and not even Jewish … I am an extreme, right-wing, Catholic. I support Israel because, after the US, they are the best country in the world for freedom, justice, and truth (up until Obama became President, anyway – we gotta get rid of that jerk in 2012!).
Another point that was not made at the conference (or in the article) Is that Israeli exceptionalism echoes American exceptionalism.
Israel is the only real democracy in a region of corruption, aggression, and insanity. To protect herself Israel has to be very strong, but at the same time Israel is willing to be friendly and make peace with people who are ready to accept her, and even send people to help in Haiti etc.
America is the same way – we are exceptional on a world scale, and while our military is the strongest we are also the first to respond to help people all over the world.
I think this is an unspoken drive behind Tea Party support for Israel.
There is nothing wrong with American exceptionalism or Israel exceptionalism. This is what makes the two countries great. We should be proud of who we are as a nation. If the rest of the world does not like this. then they go shove it. America and Israel are wonderful because the have embraced bibical principles and God has blessed both these countries.
i am active in the tea party movement as part of tea party ft. lauderdale and i have found the tea party to be VERY supportive of israel. and please don’t let the the anti semitic, left wing viewpoints of ron ”the nutjob” paul and his tiny but obnoxiously group of paulbots fool anyone into thinking the tea party is anything but 100% committed to our long term loyal ally israel.
Anyone resisting Muslims gets my support. Jews, Hindus, Eastern Orthodox….anyone.
The fact is that the support of Israel runs so deeply in the American psyche that more than one stream feeds it. The religious stream is obvious. But we also have an identity with a nation that affirms our democratic values. One has to perform mental contortions to choose a culture that promotes child suicide over Israel. But the Left has a great deal of practice in performing mental contortions.
“And Bauer declared that in addition to current levels of aid, “we should take money we’re giving to the Palestinians, and give it to Israel” too …”
Israel doesn’t really need that aid anymore except to the extent that it helps balance the threats to Israel the US is unwittingly funding. The billions in military aid going to Egypt which still trains against an “enemy to the east” while not lifting a finger in the operation against Libya that the Arab League itself called for. The billions funneled via the PA to support Hamas-led Gaza, the billions funneled through the UN which promotes the Palestinian “return” to Israel. The hundreds of millions given to Lebanon which seems to find its way to Hizbullah, and yet more to Jordan which still maintains a cold peace with israel. (These are cumulative figures, but they still collectively get more annually than Israel does.)
Israel is now deemed a “developed” country and has achieved OECD status. It no longer takes economic aid from the US, nor is it tapping the loan guarantees once needed. It takes now only military assistance, most of which is recycled back to the US. Even with the strengthening shekel its exports are strong (and mostly high-tech). And if one looks at what it costs to maintain a major foreign base or carrier group, the US gets a lot of “value” for the $3 billion it gives Israel.
“Israel…we get a LOT back for our investment in that country.”
What do we get back? I understand that they send a large percentage back to the U.S. in the form of military purchases. Anything else?
Marko, Isreal is the largest of supplier of bullets to the U.S. Military. The first cell phone was invented in Israel, Intel invests in Israel as well as MicroSoft. The computer you use was made with Israeli technology. I could go on and on for what the U.S. gets back in its return on Investment from Israel. The investment has indeed paid dividends back to the U.S. Taxpayer. Now this is why we should continue to invest in Israel since we are infact getting value for our investment.
I don’t understand why Israel needs money from the US government. It’s seems so dependent and weak. Like a 3′rd world development country. Israel is a country with mainly Jews. Which means that they have probably the highest concentration of smart and ambitious people of any country. As you said they invented crucial computer technology. My guess is they most likely has the highest number of new patents per capita also. Why do they need handouts?
You look for an answer? It’s pretty obvious: see my comment above.
How about a reliable outpost of democracy and a stalwart ally in that volatile and repressive region?
Israel is not supporting the Tea Party movement.
Aipac puts Israel first and wants even handouts from American taxpayers.
The Tea Party puts fundamental American interests first and the interests of American taxpayers—no more handouts to Pakistan, Israel, Egypt.
Their is no alignment between American fundamental interests and the Israel first movement.
At this point Israel is a liability to US interest–and it does not look like that will change.
I wish writers on the right would stop using the terms “liberal Jews” or “Jewish Democrats.” Call The Scum what they are–”Democ-rats of Jewish origin,” because, as Dennis Prager put is so will, their religion is not Judaism but liberalism!
The Tea Party should support America, not Israel.
By supporting Israel, the Tea Party IS supporting America!
When did Israel become the 51st state?
When did Israel become the 51st state?
When Congress became “Israeli-occupied territory,” as Pat Buchanan so succinctly (and accurately) put it. They should just hoist the Israeli flag over the Capitol permanently and be done with it. That $3B in handouts to Israel, besides propping up the Israeli socialist welfare state, gets “recycled” here in the form of AIPACpurchasing Congresscritters.
“The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations is, in extending our commercial relations to have with them as little political connections as possible. It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances, with any portion of the foreign world.” — George Washington
The Tea Party can multi-task.
As long as Israel can count on support from outside its borders, it does not stand alone in waiting for the day when the Amalekites are relegated to the margins.
Take a look at who rejoiced when Sadat was assassinated, or when 9-11 took place, and ask why they shouldn’t be called “Amalekites”?
For a more biblically literate people is closer to showing what is humane, than
a less biblically literate people.
“the tea party movement’s focus on dramatically reducing the federal budget might threaten the three billion dollars per year America gives to Israel.”
Anybody else find it offensive that Israel & AIPAC consider themselves entitled to American tax dollars?
Instead of sending $3 billion in welfare to Tel Aviv, why not send it to Joplin, Missouri? You know, actual Americans who need help?
AIPAC does not get any tax dollars. Do you know what a PAC is?
As far as Israel, well because the people we elected to congress voted to do that. That is how democracy works. Personally I think it is a much better investment than the much larger amount we have flushed down the hole in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Egypt but I get the same vote you do.
Just realize that all aid to Israel is Military and around 80% must be spent buying US equipment. So good for American jobs. Not only that but Israelis excel at military technology and we benefit from shared technology. Also we can decide who they can or cannot sell their advanced weapons to.
Much as I wish other DEms and libs would ungergo the same mental journey that took me from their side to this side, I see this will never happen in my lifetime.
After reading the disgusting, slobbering praise for OBumbler on ADL and seeing AIPAC applaud instead of spit at him, I know that my fellow USA Jews will vote DEM no matter what.
Most are non religious and do not (despite accusations they control USA by lobby) care one whit what happens to Israel or like the Gnome, are openly hostile, as they bought the ISM propaganda and whole heartedly believe the “both sides are equal”, the same “all people just want peace” crap they have been sold even by most (REFORM) rabbis.
In many cases their own history of being discriminated makes them “sensitive” to criticism of Muslims- (I know b/c after 9-11 I feared Americans would haul them into the streets and kill them, I warned my Muslim neighbors to be careful and my fears never materialized) Other Jews fear to trust right evangelical Christians or side with them on any issue, due to past experience at their hands.And the stupid accusation that they are trying to make USA a religious-ruled nation, a concept not supported by any candidate I know, based upon one issue -abortion- that many non faith people also are against.
Even the cool pot smoker hipster JEws are not impressed by Sarah Palin willingness to legalize pot, or her pro Israel stance or her insistence upon upholding the Constitution inluding no govt religion.
I must say it is odd to be here on this side, yes I am the Uncle Tom Jew now, the enemy of what they think is “fair and nice”. I am a racist now for decrying the abuses of ISLAM to JEWS and USA and not standing up for them b/c they are a brown minority.THey think they are being good to support the brown PREZ, Jews were on the front lines of civil rights and they for the most part think REPS do not support those rights.
No facts, no attacks, nothing I can say has moved them one inch from these assumptions and fantasies about conservatives or REP party-
What changed for me was that, one day I saw what GWB was doing and I understood it was right despite my prejudicial view of him. I started to value common sense over wishing and a hopin my enemy would just change.
I am sickened bythe people who callthemsleves human rights advocates or peaceniks- they think they are doing the right thing butr by not opposing evil they allow it to grow stronger andone day they will see they enabled theirown enemy and it will cost us all more than if we faced up tothe facts early.
oh and a big PS- the jewhaters on here who hide behind- stop giving money to ISRAEL- you are the PRIMARY reason JEWS will again vote OBUMMER- you continually prove to the LEFT JEWs they are right about the right being jewhaters
I can see by this post, you are still liberal. A conservative would never accuse someone of anti-semitism, because they are against handouts. It’s called empowerment and it’s the furthest from racism you can get. And please learn this: There is no such thing as indirect racism. Unless you directly state your prejudice, it’s not racism. At best it’s paranoia. A court of law would call it mind reading. By the way the other post was excellent.
No. He is right. He is not saying, however, that all who oppose it are Jew-haters, but some distinctly are. See the reply by Strider to post #16. Ugly. He quotes Pat Buchanan, and it is an ugly quote.
Some right-wingers ARE Jew-haters, but they are a minority, and should be called out. We should clean up our own house.
The Tea Party calls for AIPAC to register with FARA—-ASAP
The Foreign Agents Registration Act(FARA) was enacted in 1938.
FARA is a disclosure statute that requires persons acting as agents of foreign principals in a political or quasi-political capacity to make periodic public disclosure of their relationship with the foreign principal,
as well as activities, receipts and disbursements in support of those activities.
Disclosure of the required information facilitates evaluation by the government and the American people of the statements and activities of such persons in light of their function as foreign agents.
The FARA Registration Unit of the Counterespionage Section (CES) in the National Security Division (NSD) is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Act.
http://www.fara.gov/
The T.P. supports American fundamental interests first.
That means an end to handouts of $ Billion of US taxpayers money to Pakistan, Israel and Egypt.
Not this Tea Partier! You wouldn’t happen to be a Alex Jones or Ron Paul follower?
‘The Tea Party..’
Victor, the Tea Party is not a monolith.
There is some sort of disconnect between Israeli Jews and American Jews…politically. American Jews have a blind loyalty to the Democrat Party…which takes Israel for granted, regularly. In fact, they throw Israel under the bus…..alot. Conservatives and Republicans are taken for granted by Israel. There needs to be a realignment of legitimate loyalties here. American Jews have enjoyed the liberal ride….and screw the Conservatives who support their homeland. Enough is enough. Conservatives need to tie support for Israel to their recipical support for conservative America. Selfish? No…just had enough.
I think American Jews will directly and indirectly play a major role in the eventual evaporation of American support for Israel. Many of us pro-Israel conservatives are beginning to ask ourselves, “if American Jews don’t give a crap about Israel, why the hell should I?”
“if American Jews don’t give a crap about Israel, why the hell should I?”
Because these liberal, self loathing, Jews of convenience are Judenräte to the core. The very fact that they hate Israel should be reason enough for any conservative minded person to support the Jewish state. They give lip service to Israel but many would just as soon Israel gave up its solidarity to the Arabs in the name of “peace.”
While I know that the Tea Party is far from homogenous, I don’t like that every time there is a straw poll, Ron Paul wins easily. He is as dangerouson the right as Obama is on the left.
I may not agree with everything RP says but I hardly think he is that. why do you think that?
I am a tea party member and I back Israel!
I support any nation, group of persons, or individuals who value (r)epublican ideals. The right and protection of property, respect for the individual and individual rights, the right of self defense, and the right of self determination through fair elections. (Yes I know that last part is a pipe dream, but it’s what we value). I know foreigners like Oleg Atbashian who love this country, and the ideal of the Americanism, more than many of her own citizens. And there are plenty of places on the globe were people are trying to squirm out from under the boot of stateism. As long as Israel represents the things that we are supposed to represent, I will back them.
Conservatives of the world unite!
There seems to be confusion on this thread about general Tea Party Principles and the role of religion in American political discourse.
Guiding Tea Party Principles are:
1) Constitional originalism
2) Limited government
3) Fiscal responsibility
4) Strong national defense
The Tea Party also understands that the Founding Fathers studied Ancient Israel and God’s Chosen People to model a Constitution based on the precepts of God’s revealed law [inalienable rights] so as to create a moral and ethical foundation that would inform a free people with the virtues necessary for self government. Details of this Biblical influence can be found in The 5000 Year Leap, David Barton’s American Heritage Series, and Skousen’s The Making of America. The latter is complete with many supporting historical primary source materials. This knowledge will help the skeptic to better understand the common ideals that forge a strong emotional bond between America and Israel.
Finally, the Founding Fathers desired a separation of church and state, but not a separation of state and religion. The historical distortion of this understanding began with the rise of Progressivism after The Communist Manifesto and Origin of Species were published in the mid-late 19thC. The nail in the coffin was driven by the 1947 Supreme Court in a case called Everson vs Board of Education.
Ahhhhh yes, another attempt to conflate the TEA Party (a non-existent, totally grassroots or unofficial organization opposed to Big Gubmint, and its intrusion into our lives) into a “political organization” (e.g. Teaparty Patriots) that has a broader political agenda.
Sorry Bras, but
starts correctly with: “reducing the federal budget might threaten the three billion dollars per year America gives to Israel,” and finishes with the big spin: “conservative enough… to believe in a robust national defense.” The military expenditures are no sacred cow for immediate reprieve for budgetary examination.
IMO, Crony Capitalist Countries, even staunch allies like Israel, need to realize that the US budget can no longer afford to pay for:
1) Rent to the Host Country for the land our military base(s) sit on
2) An increase in our Defense Budget so that the host country can have a corresponding reduction in their own defense budgets
3) A flow of US monies towards these “host” countries in that our servicepeople, and their families and dependents, spend the salaries earned in-country
4) The major boost to the local farming communities from all the commissary purchases of fresh products
5) Infrastructure improvements as the US Servicepeople construct schools, hospitals and water/sewage systems among others
I believe in a strong national defense, but that does not account for possibly hundreds of billions so that we can be the world’s policemen AND “good ol’ Uncle Sam”, the man with the financial largess.
I wish the tea party would more vigorously embrace issues of national security. My impression is the focus is too imbalanced, with enormous focus on our rising debt and the size of government and often not a word about defense. It’s ridiculous.
I live in NYC on the (very Jewish) Upper West Side. Part of me wants to wear a button that says ‘Support Israel – Vote Republican’
But part of me is chicken…
- A NY (jewish) conservative
I wouldn’t wear a kippah if my life had depended on it. Then I moved to a yishuv (settlement) where all the men wore kippahs, the knitted colored kind. One day, in Jerusalem, I saw a kippah stand, went over and, looking through the owners’ goods, I saw a numbered of knitted kippahs. He said his wife knitted them. He and his family resided in a Yishuv in Gush Etzion. So, on the spur of the moment, I bought one and placed it on my head. It was a very liberating act for me. Now I wear it all the time back here in Canada. It simply feels right and expresses who I am.
Kippahs on the UWS are ubiquitous. Politically conservative (secular) Jews are not.