If I were a Jewish liberal, I would have to think long and hard what it is about the modern left that is causing a principled liberal, civil libertarian, and ardent Israel supporter like Alan Dershowitz to consider leaving the Democratic Party.
Recently, Alan Dershowitz stated:
First of all, [Media Matters] are not liberals. They are radical Stalinists, for the most part. … They’re radical extremists….And any association with the Obama administration is going to hurt the Obama administration. There’s not enough room under a big tent for both me, and people who are like me-support Israel, I’m a centrist in support of Israel, I’m in favor of the two-state solution-there’s not enough room for me and the bigots of Media Matters. The Obama administration is going to have to choose….I could not vote for any candidate who had anything to do with Media Matters. That’s clear. That’s as clear as can be. I will not-I will take an oath here that I will not vote for a candidate who has any direct association with Media Matters.
To Alan Dershowitz, I would like to formally invite you to join the pro-Israel party, the Republican Party.
Ok, Sammy. The flying pigs are gassed up and ready to take off.
“If I were a Jewish liberal, I would have to think long and hard….”
But many of them won’t. For many decades, they’ve had many good reasons to think long and hard, and to reject the Democratic Party, and yet they haven’t.
You’re dreaming!
Dershowitz is so liberal as to make the idea of him joining the Republican Party a true horror. And in fact he also best serves the purpose of promoting American support for Israel by remaining in the Democrat/liberal ranks where his allegiance actually lies and dissenting from the increasingly overt anti-Israel bias which holds sway there.
And, let’s face it — by late summer or early fall Dershowitz will be all in for Obama, regardless of what happens re: Media Matters and regardless of all the other ways Obama and his administration have and will continue to undercut the security and safety of Israel. Do you honestly believe someone like Dershowitz, who accommodated himself with little apparent effort to the last three years of Obama’s anti-Israel policies and the previous 20 years of Obama’s common cause with Israel (and Jew) haters, is likely now to abandon Obama because of ties to an organization with which Dershowitz himself supports on probably 99% of issues?
Never happen.
The “liberal” is far more important to someone like Dershowitz than the “Jewish” part.
“who? Oh Media Matters! Yeah well I was talking about Media Matters Back In February Twenytwelve. Media Matters These Days (April 2012) are a totally different story… so yeah I still support Obama…”
“I’m shocked,I tell you, shocked! At the belief that Dershowitz would turn and vote for Democrats after that statement….” Is there a betting pool up yet for when he’ll turn and geek? Is he angling for a job or a favor and if so what could it be?
Dershowitz is a man of character, I’ll give him that and I wouldn’t be surprised if he votes republican. D may have reached the point that he considers the current democrat party as the enemy of Israel and old “enemy of my enemy if my friend” concept will kick in.
I disagree with many of the positions of announced by the Republican candidates for President, but those are all minor when compared with Obamas actions and policies whichI believe will lead to the destruction of our country, Israel, and ultimately the world.
Almmost all the Obama supporters I speak to are uninfluenced by facts,are willing to excuse or gloss over uncomfortable findings, and stubbornly cling to destructive beliefs. They proclaim, “I’m a liberal,” and nothing is going to change that. If Dershowitz is able to overcome that mindset, it is a good sign.
Harvey Rogers
This is a surprisingly strong statement, considering that the connection between Media Matters and the administratiion is clear.
Of course, Dershowitz is a lawyer, which means he can rationalize anything and deny anything, even something he plainly said. He will just redefine the meaining of “not”, if it suits his fancy.
This comment by proreason is contra reason. It’s outrageously unfair to a man of principle. I may not share all of Dershowitz’s principles (I believe less strongly than he does in certain Constitutional principles) but he will not “redefine the meaning of ‘not’ if it suits his fancy.”
You’re thinking of Bill Clinton, not Alan Dershowitz.
Dershowitz is one of the few liberals that I have enjoyed listening to and reading for many years. I have disagreed with his positions a lot more than I have agreed with him over the years, but I alway knew that Dershowitz’s positions were principled. I would like to now welcome Alan to the Republican Party — the party that supports Israel and Zionism.
The idea that Dershowitz could/would vote for one of the current Republican candidates is wishful thinking. The best one could hope is that he’d sit this election out. If my more liberal co-religionists would do likewise, closing their wallets at the same time to Democratic fundraisers, that would be enough. But that too is wishful thinking. If my family is anything to go by, even those troubled by Obama express an “Are Romney/Gingrich/Santorum any better” mindset.
Ever watch “The Case for Israel”, the movie narrated by Dershowitz? It’s painful to watch. It’s pitched by a hard-core prog to hard-core progs. The movie can be summed up with:
1. Israel has gay rights.
2. Israel’s legal system is superior to the US because they have no constitution.
3. Israel has gay rights.
Don’t hold your breath.
Accept this for what it is – a condemnation of Media Matters and criticism of the President for associating with them. Dershowitz is not saying he will vote Republican, he is saying he won’t vote.
They can keep him.
Most of you are missing the point – the Democrat Party is no longer “liberal” in any sense of the word. They gave up on economic liberty in the 19th Century and concentrated on personal liberty through the 20th Century (with the massive lapses of Wilson’s Jim Crow policies and FDR locking up an entire race of immigrants).
With Obama, they have become the party of authoritarianism – both economic and personal.
While the Republicans talk a good game about economic freedom (and rarely deliver at the Federal level), they are a mixed bag on personal freedom. Our current front-runner has his own authoritarian tendencies.
Sadly, the Libertarian Party is where people desiring freedom are probably going to land.