RJC Misquotes Democrats

By Josh Pasek

The Republican Jewish Coalition has released a new set of ads repeating claims that we have debunked in this blog and pulling selected sections of quotes where Democrats praised particular actions by McCain [1].  The Forward, however, takes many of these claims apart, noting that the quote used were all taken out of context and that some (including supposed praise by the head of the NJDC), could not be found [2].  What does it say when the RJC needs to resort to misquotes to make their point?

RJC Conducts Unethical Polling

The Republican Jewish Coalition sunk to a new low yesterday when they paid for a poll of Jewish voters in swing states insinuating that Obama supported and has support from radical Palestinian groups including Hamas [1].  The RJC declined to have their name publicly associated with the poll, but media outlets discovered the source nonetheless [2][3].  The RJC used the poll for two purposes — message testing and push polling.  They were able to find out what misleading statements worked and spread rumors [4].  It should be noted that Central Marketing Research is not a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (at least was not in 2007 [5]) and thus has not abided by the agreement not to engage in misleading and push polling [6].  If McCain is really doing as well as the RJC claims among Jewish voters, it should be a surprise that they would need to sink so low.

Joe Biden vs. Sarah Palin?

By Josh Pasek

The RJC was quick to call Joe Biden, a man with one of the most extensive pro-Israel records in the US Senate, a “risky choice” with regard to Israel.  Biden gave this interview last year to Shalom TV.  And, with the lone exception of the RJC, Biden has been considered outstanding on Jewish and Israel issues even by those who disagree with him on the specifics.  Where did the RJC get their ammunition?  They found a smattering of votes over Biden’s full 35-year record where bills included both a vote relating to Israel and an alternative objectionable piece of legislation.  An example, the Kyl-Lieberman Amendment which was designed to put Democrats in an awkward position by simultaneously denouncing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (a good thing) and insisting that a US military presence in Iraq was necessary to counter Iranian ambitions (not at all clear).

Governor Sarah Palin, on the other hand, has no record whatsoever. While the RJC was quick to laud the choice, she was not deemed “risky” at all.  This is despite the fact that her name does not appearin a search of the AIPAC website, that she was willing to associate with Pat Buchanan, a noted anti-semite, and that her biggest Jewish credential was signing a bill (written by others) for Israel’s 60th Anniversary.  Indeed, her first AIPAC meeting came after she was added to the Republican ticket and AIPAC refrained from significant comment.

Is there more risk in the yiddish-speaking long-time supporter of Israel or the completely unknown quantity?  The RJC just can’t have it both ways.