Didn’t they lose?
As I write this, we are just 19 days away from the official expiration of the Bush tax cuts. Not only would taxes go up for all income earners above the quarter million dollar threshold, but taxes would ALSO go up for the middle class. Yet here we are, less than 3 weeks away from a potential economic Armageddon, and it’s politics as usual in Washington. President Obama, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell managed to come to a compromise to extend the Bush tax cuts for a period of 2 years (mighty convenient that that just so happens to be when Obama is up for reelection, hmm?), in exchange for a Republican concession to extend unemployment benefits by 13 additional months. This has angered BOTH sides of the aisle, as Republicans who campaigned on gutting the deficit now have to chose between breaking from party ranks, and breaking from their campaign promises. But in addition, the Progressive wing of the Democrat party is up in arms over Obama’s acceptance of breaking HIS 2008 campaign pledge to only give tax cuts to 98% of Americans; in other words, those earning under the $250,000 cap. And so, Washington is in a state of flux, and no one can confidently say what way is up, and what way is down. But wait just a moment….which side won the argument on November 2nd?
One would think, based off the tone coming from the left, that the historic election we witnessed last month overthrew the supply-siders. The reality of the situation is, however, that the exact opposite resulted. When was the last time that a party in power lost nearly 70 Congressional seats, 6 Governorships, and hundreds of state seats, and acted as though they still had the winning message? As Congressman Paul Ryan, the incoming chair of the House Budget Committee put it, only in Washington could maintaining the current tax rate be considered a tax cut; yet here we are, having to defend our position as Republicans that an extension of the current rates is merely avoiding the largest tax HIKE in United States history, and is NOT a tax cut. The Progressives in Congress (as last I knew, a total of 53 current Representatives) signed a letter essentially demanding that this compromise bill NOT be brought to a vote on the House floor. Congressman Anthony Weiner, Senator Bernie Sanders, Congressman Charlie Rangel, and Senator Richard Durbin all have decried the compromise, using the American people as a defense for such action. Apparently, these folks believe that what’s best for the American people, is NOT giving a tax cut to the wealthy. First of all, as Congressman Ryan correctly points out, this IS NOT a tax cut! Secondly, what have the Progressives done to prove that they have any idea what the American people want? They rammed health care reform down our throats, when every poll showed we didn’t want it, they rammed stimulus down our throats, they tried (and thanks to the Senate, they failed) to force cap and tax down our throats, they have been repudiated on EVERY overreach they’ve made in the last 2 years, and they STILL think they know what we want? And, in their haste to buck the rich, they are leading us down a path that would, as I said, lead to a tax hike for EVERYONE; but we’re to believe that the Progressives are for the middle class, even though they are willing to throw US under the bus, to maintain their class warfare.
In the face of growing adversity, our president went before the White House press after a secret meeting with former President Clinton, and managed to weasel his way out the door, and left Mr. Clinton at the podium to fight Obama’s battle for him. Now, maybe it’s me, but if you need a president that hasn’t been in power for 10 years to fight your battles for you, don’t you think MAYBE you’re not fighting the correct one? The sad reality is, as I watched the video of Clinton gesticulating at that podium, it reminded me of what true leadership is…and I don’t say that lightly, as I was NOT a fan of Clinton’s during his 8 years in office, OR his post presidency. I guess that’s what happens when you’ve experienced 2 years of a political novice wrecking everything good about the country you love. But enough of the bloviating. We need to get something through to the left wing - accept the fact that you lost the mid-terms, accept the fact that you were embarrassed and repudiated, and deal with it. Stop bickering and whining over the fact that you have to extend tax cuts to the rich. The Republicans don’t HAVE TO accept adding in an extension of unemployment benefits for 13 more months (something I don’t support); I’m certain that with the message we the people sent to Washington last month, it’s a safe assumption that there is more than requisite political capital on our side that it’s not a risky venture to just say “NO!”. Sure, taxes will go up for everyone on January 1, but once Pelosi hands Boehner the gavel, the Democrats will be powerless to stop us from cutting taxes, BACK to the Bush level. There is far more at stake by adding to the deficit by extending unemployment benefits backed by 0 dollars, than there is by temporarily letting taxes lapse.
As long as Republicans hold Obama and Harry Reid’s feet to the fire, we won’t risk losing favor with the American people. We know that the deficit is a mess. We know that the economic climate is toxic. We know that raising taxes on the highest income earners will hurt economic growth. But at a time where the deficit is a far greater crux than economic growth, and when we KNOW who will be calling the shots for the next 2 years, we can trust the House to fix the tax problem later. And perhaps in another 2 years, when the 2nd likely wave against the progressive movement hits, and we get rid of President Obama, put an end to Harry Reid’s reign as Majority Leader, and give the Progressives a taste of what being in the minority is REALLY like, the left will actually figure it out - YOU LOST! Deal with it.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Why the Republican Party struggles with securing the Jewish vote
Why the Republican Party struggles with securing the Jewish vote
About a month ago, I had a conversation on Facebook with an individual whom I had met at an election night party I attended at my county’s Republican headquarters. This was not the first conversation I had with him, but it was the most contentious. He was visiting his sick, dying father back home in Vermont. He asked for me to pray for his father, which I was more than happy to oblige. The tide of the conversation turned significantly, however, when he said he needed me to help Jesus do his will onto his father. As I may or may not have mentioned in the past, I am Jewish. I politely told this man that that was something I could not do, but that I wished him and his family all the best. Unfortunately, it didn’t end there; he proceeded to quote bible verses in an attempt to convince me to abandon a lifetime of counter beliefs (in a brief flashback, for added context, let me add in that at the Hernando County First Republican Club meeting in November, I revealed to the chairman of the Hernando County Republican Executive Committee that I am Jewish, and this man was within earshot). I asked him on several occasions to cease, to which he neglected to renege. I eventually was forced to delete him from my page, and came very close to having to block him. I was told that he became a Republican because the Democrats “say you can believe whatever you want”, and the Republicans “believe in Jesus as our savior”.
Recently, I have found myself having more and more battles with Christian conservatives. It seems less and less likely to have a political discussion in any social network, without religion being injected into the conversation. A now former friend of mine on Facebook posted a link to a story detailing that 51% of registered voters polled (the name of the polling firm escapes me, at the moment) say they are now worse off than they were before Obama was inaugurated, compared to 35% who say their lives have improved. The dialogue was non-abrasive for the first portion, but turned when someone started quoting bible verses to explain our current state of affairs. As is typical of me, I chimed in with my thoughts, which led to, as usual, a controversy. I was asked what my religious beliefs were, and I revealed them. What ensued got me to really thinking deeply about the schism between the Jewish community, and the Republican party.
Prominent conservatives who I have had the pleasure of meeting, and who are aware of my religious affiliation, always ask me “Jason, why are almost all Jews Democrats?”. All I have been able to do, up until now, is stand there, look them straight in the face, and say “I don’t know”. The realities are quite evident - the Republican party has always stood for a strong national defense, a tough stance against terrorism, and a strong defense of Israel. Conversely, the Democrats have long stood for appeasement, tolerance, and strong criticism against Israel for it’s treatment of the Palestinian people. So naturally, one would think that Jewish Americans would be, by nature, supportive of the Republican party. But for generations, the Jewish vote has ALWAYS been a reliable base for the Democrats. My maternal grandparents voted Democrat all their lives, and my paternal grandmother was a bleeding heart liberal for as long as I knew her. Several other members of my family share these beliefs, and with nary an exception, my friends of the Jewish faith are no different. So, the question remains - WHY does the GOP struggle so greatly to appeal to the Jewish community?
As long as I have struggled to understand, I think it’s finally starting to dawn on me what the real answer is; Christian conservatives are all too happy to proselytize. Not one single time in my 26 years have I ever uttered the following words to a non-Jew “the only way to heaven is to accept the Torah, and to live a Jewish life”. Yet the older I get, and the more people I meet, the more I’m being subject to the opposite “the only way to heaven, the only way to be saved, is to accept Jesus Christ as your lord and savior”. This is not a blanket statement, and surely I don’t have this problem with every single non-Jew I meet. In fact, the chairman of the Hernando County Republican Executive Committee finds it equally as deplorable as I do; and he’s of the same brand of Christianity as the man I mentioned in the 1st part of this blog. The 1st amendment tends to be warped and twisted into being what individuals want it to be, with some who say it provides freedom OF religion, and other who believe it provides freedom FROM religion. I believe in the former, but I DON’T believe that freedom OF religion can ever be equal to “freedom to practice the religion I do”. And therein lies the true problem - allowing religious tolerance for each person, based on what he/she views G-d as, whom/what is G-d’s embodiment, and whom is the one true Messiah. The Republican party was founded in 1854, to be the party of rights and freedom; freedom to own property, vote, be successful, and perhaps most importantly, practice whatever religion suits you. Yet here we are, over 150 years after the founding of this grand party, and such a significant segment of the party believes that if you don’t accept Jesus, then you’ll be damned. Is this any way to treat non-Christians? Is this the most efficient way to increase your base, and convince others to join your cause? I am absolutely certain that there are many, many “blue dog” Democrats of the Jewish faith, who would be registered as Republicans if not for this persecution. Why would a group of people, who have discrimination and intolerance ingrained into their souls by centuries of hate spewed at them, find appeal in a political party which shows such favoritism for Christianity? There is no sense in faulting anyone for their religious beliefs, or their political beliefs; but there IS plenty of reason to fault those who condemn those beliefs, and shun anyone that doesn’t follow suit.
The dilemma, who’s solution has eluded many a Republican for decades, including myself, seems relatively simple to solve, if you use your experiences to guide you - Jews frown upon the Republican party not because of it’s support for fiscal conservatism, not because of it’s superiority on issues of national defense, and not for it’s support of Israel (though lesser religious Jews aren’t as pro-Zionism as more religious Jews are). The reality is, with the business savvy that Jews have adopted over the course of history, it’s theoretically counterintuitive to support a party who’s views are aligned with demand-side economics. All of this must lead one to draw the only logical, reasonable causation for the knee jerk Republican condemnation by the Jewish community - intolerance and bigotry.
By the way….wasn’t Jesus a Jew? :)
About a month ago, I had a conversation on Facebook with an individual whom I had met at an election night party I attended at my county’s Republican headquarters. This was not the first conversation I had with him, but it was the most contentious. He was visiting his sick, dying father back home in Vermont. He asked for me to pray for his father, which I was more than happy to oblige. The tide of the conversation turned significantly, however, when he said he needed me to help Jesus do his will onto his father. As I may or may not have mentioned in the past, I am Jewish. I politely told this man that that was something I could not do, but that I wished him and his family all the best. Unfortunately, it didn’t end there; he proceeded to quote bible verses in an attempt to convince me to abandon a lifetime of counter beliefs (in a brief flashback, for added context, let me add in that at the Hernando County First Republican Club meeting in November, I revealed to the chairman of the Hernando County Republican Executive Committee that I am Jewish, and this man was within earshot). I asked him on several occasions to cease, to which he neglected to renege. I eventually was forced to delete him from my page, and came very close to having to block him. I was told that he became a Republican because the Democrats “say you can believe whatever you want”, and the Republicans “believe in Jesus as our savior”.
Recently, I have found myself having more and more battles with Christian conservatives. It seems less and less likely to have a political discussion in any social network, without religion being injected into the conversation. A now former friend of mine on Facebook posted a link to a story detailing that 51% of registered voters polled (the name of the polling firm escapes me, at the moment) say they are now worse off than they were before Obama was inaugurated, compared to 35% who say their lives have improved. The dialogue was non-abrasive for the first portion, but turned when someone started quoting bible verses to explain our current state of affairs. As is typical of me, I chimed in with my thoughts, which led to, as usual, a controversy. I was asked what my religious beliefs were, and I revealed them. What ensued got me to really thinking deeply about the schism between the Jewish community, and the Republican party.
Prominent conservatives who I have had the pleasure of meeting, and who are aware of my religious affiliation, always ask me “Jason, why are almost all Jews Democrats?”. All I have been able to do, up until now, is stand there, look them straight in the face, and say “I don’t know”. The realities are quite evident - the Republican party has always stood for a strong national defense, a tough stance against terrorism, and a strong defense of Israel. Conversely, the Democrats have long stood for appeasement, tolerance, and strong criticism against Israel for it’s treatment of the Palestinian people. So naturally, one would think that Jewish Americans would be, by nature, supportive of the Republican party. But for generations, the Jewish vote has ALWAYS been a reliable base for the Democrats. My maternal grandparents voted Democrat all their lives, and my paternal grandmother was a bleeding heart liberal for as long as I knew her. Several other members of my family share these beliefs, and with nary an exception, my friends of the Jewish faith are no different. So, the question remains - WHY does the GOP struggle so greatly to appeal to the Jewish community?
As long as I have struggled to understand, I think it’s finally starting to dawn on me what the real answer is; Christian conservatives are all too happy to proselytize. Not one single time in my 26 years have I ever uttered the following words to a non-Jew “the only way to heaven is to accept the Torah, and to live a Jewish life”. Yet the older I get, and the more people I meet, the more I’m being subject to the opposite “the only way to heaven, the only way to be saved, is to accept Jesus Christ as your lord and savior”. This is not a blanket statement, and surely I don’t have this problem with every single non-Jew I meet. In fact, the chairman of the Hernando County Republican Executive Committee finds it equally as deplorable as I do; and he’s of the same brand of Christianity as the man I mentioned in the 1st part of this blog. The 1st amendment tends to be warped and twisted into being what individuals want it to be, with some who say it provides freedom OF religion, and other who believe it provides freedom FROM religion. I believe in the former, but I DON’T believe that freedom OF religion can ever be equal to “freedom to practice the religion I do”. And therein lies the true problem - allowing religious tolerance for each person, based on what he/she views G-d as, whom/what is G-d’s embodiment, and whom is the one true Messiah. The Republican party was founded in 1854, to be the party of rights and freedom; freedom to own property, vote, be successful, and perhaps most importantly, practice whatever religion suits you. Yet here we are, over 150 years after the founding of this grand party, and such a significant segment of the party believes that if you don’t accept Jesus, then you’ll be damned. Is this any way to treat non-Christians? Is this the most efficient way to increase your base, and convince others to join your cause? I am absolutely certain that there are many, many “blue dog” Democrats of the Jewish faith, who would be registered as Republicans if not for this persecution. Why would a group of people, who have discrimination and intolerance ingrained into their souls by centuries of hate spewed at them, find appeal in a political party which shows such favoritism for Christianity? There is no sense in faulting anyone for their religious beliefs, or their political beliefs; but there IS plenty of reason to fault those who condemn those beliefs, and shun anyone that doesn’t follow suit.
The dilemma, who’s solution has eluded many a Republican for decades, including myself, seems relatively simple to solve, if you use your experiences to guide you - Jews frown upon the Republican party not because of it’s support for fiscal conservatism, not because of it’s superiority on issues of national defense, and not for it’s support of Israel (though lesser religious Jews aren’t as pro-Zionism as more religious Jews are). The reality is, with the business savvy that Jews have adopted over the course of history, it’s theoretically counterintuitive to support a party who’s views are aligned with demand-side economics. All of this must lead one to draw the only logical, reasonable causation for the knee jerk Republican condemnation by the Jewish community - intolerance and bigotry.
By the way….wasn’t Jesus a Jew? :)
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