This may not seem important to most of you, and it probably won't make much of a direct difference in the election, but as a religious Jewish American attracted to Tom's campaign because of his faith-based Progressive principles, and as someone who believes that the faith-based progressivism of the new breed of Democrats like Tom Perriello is the means to an enduring progressive majority in the U.S., I think this is a huge deal for the Progressive movement and for the American Jewish community.
(More on the flip)
JStreetPAC is a Progressive organization that offers an alternative to American Jews (but, honestly, to Americans of any religion) who support Israel, but simply cannot get into the arguably militant "Our-Way-Or-You-Are-An-Anti-Semite" attitude of AIPAC and its supporters.
There is a wide range of opinion among both Israelis and American Jews regarding what would be the most effective American policy in the Middle East, and the reflexively pro-Likud stance of AIPAC, frankly, does not represent the majority.
Many American Jews, however, do not make these distinctions, and unfortunately take their cues from this decidedly partisan and slanted group concerning whether a candidate is sufficiently supportive of causes important to Jewish Americans, most important (but certainly not exclusively) U.S. policy toward Israel.
Somewhat related to this is the perceived attitude among American Jews that Evangelicals, specifically, and Christians, generally, do not consider us equal Americans. Rightly or wrongly, this is the message communicated by people like the late Jerry Falwell, who asserted that the Anti-Christ was a Jewish American male, or TEAC ("The Execrable Ann Coulter")(TM), whose statement that Jews were not perfected Christians was treated as acceptable by many Christian commentators (notwithstanding the actual theological meaning of this statement,, which I suspect was well beyond the intellectual or emotional understanding of TEAC).
But at the same time, it is this kind of thinking that leads many American Jews, including Joe Lieberman, to endorse the thinking of an clear anti-Semite like the Rev. John Hagee, simply because he supports an AIPAC-like political agenda. Never mind that he does so because of his own twisted, end-of-world theology.
So a bona fide Jewish group endorsing Tom, who actively campaigns on his principles as being formed and informed by his Christian faith, is significant. It establishes the legitimacy of the religious progressive movement as one of inclusion, not of exclusion. It establishes this movement as one in which theology is the starting point for a political philosophy, not one in which political philosophy is a means toward a religious orthodoxy.
It recognizes the fulfillment of the American ideal, in which we view faith (or lack thereof) as the sinew that connects us in common and commonly accepted principles, as Americans, rather than separate us.
Added later: The JStreetPAC Press Release in its entirety:
JSTREETPAC ENDORSES THREE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS,
THREE CANDIDATESPro-Israel, Pro- Peace PAC's Second Round Of Endorsements Includes
Reps. Wexler, Capps, Davis, Two Challengers and An Open Seat CandidateWASHINGTON- Three senior members of Congress who support strong US diplomatic
leadership in the effort to resolve conflicts in the Middle East were endorsed today by
JStreetPAC, the country's first and only pro-Israel, pro-peace Political Action Committee.
Representatives Robert Wexler (D-FL-19), Lois Capps (D-CA-23) and Susan Davis (D-CA-53)
received the endorsement along with three other Democratic Congressional candidates.JStreetPAC, which aims to broaden and strengthen support for meaningful American leadership
to end the Arab-Israeli and Palestinian-Israeli conflicts peacefully and diplomatically, also
endorsed:GÇó Sam Bennett (Candidate, D-PA-15)
GÇó Ashwin Madia (Candidate, D-MN-03)
GÇó Tom Perriello (Candidate, D-VA-05)Responses from each candidate to their endorsement follow below.
"JStreetPAC is so pleased to provide political support for six more Members of Congress and
candidates who are models of courage and leadership when it comes to the Middle East," said
Jeremy Ben-Ami, Executive Director of JStreetPAC. "The interests of both the United States
and Israel depend on American leaders summoning the political will to pursue active diplomacy
and peacemaking in the Middle East. JStreetPAC is here to provide strong political support for
those willing to demonstrate that leadership."The group of both challengers and incumbents includes an Iraq War veteran, a pioneer in faith-
driven and online social justice campaigns, a seasoned community activist, and three long-time
champions on Capitol Hill of a negotiated, two-state resolution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict
among them.This is the second of four rounds of endorsements JStreetPAC plans to make in the 2008 election
cycle. The PAC provides political and financial support to candidates for federal office from
Americans who believe a new direction in American policy will advance U.S. interests in the
Middle East and promote real peace and security for Israel and the region. The PAC is a legally
unconnected to J Street, a 501(c)(4) lobby and advocacy organization.In the three months since its inception, the J Street organizations have built a netroots movement
of nearly 55,000 Americans and amassed more than $1.3 million in combined political and
operational contributions. Just this month, J Street released the results of a comprehensive survey
of American Jews, which gauges the pulse of the community on issues and dynamics central to
the debate over America's Middle East policy. Instead of holding the hawkish, hard-line
positions expressed by many established Jewish organizations and leaders, the poll found that
American Jews actually overwhelmingly support assertive peace efforts and an active U.S. role in
helping Israelis and Arabs to resolve their conflict.
In its most recent campaign, launched in partnership with Democracy for America, J Street
exposed Pastor John Hagee's extremism and the danger it poses to Israel, demanding that
Senator Joe Lieberman sever all ties with the pastor and his apocalyptic vision for Israel's future.
As part of the "Don't Go Joe" campaign, J Street delivered 42,000 letters from Americans to
Senator Lieberman last week, urging him to cancel his appearance at Pastor Hagee's Christians
United for Israel conference in Washington.More information on JStreet and JStreetPAC is available at www.jstreet.org.
FROM THE CANDIDATES ON THEIR ENDORSEMENT
* * *
Tom Perriello (D-VA-05)
"As a national security consultant with experience in conflict resolution, I understand the
importance of rededicating the U.S. to solutions in the Middle East that will ensure security for
America and for our great partner, Israel. I also strongly believe that our foreign policy should
reflect the traditional Jewish doctrine of tikkun olam - repairing the world - by working to stop
genocide and establish justice around the world. I welcome the efforts of JStreetPAC and all
those working to strengthen American diplomacy in achieving a two-state solution for Israel and
the Palestinians, looking for comprehensive regional solutions, and achieving a global
community that reflects the rule of law and the highest ideals of these two great nations."* * *