Personally I would love to see Rabbi Shmuley Boteach win the NJ9 race and show up as a Republican, an Orthodox Jewish Republican in Congress next year. However, his chances are very limited and largely by his own making.
Rabbi Shmuley and the RJC focus much of their attacks against Congressman Bill Pascrell on issues of Israel, Iran and on the “Gaza 54 Letter” to which Pascrell shamelessly signed up too. But in a country where very few Jews put Israel on the top of their election list; in a district populated by many Arabs and Muslims who have already flexed their muscles this year by dumping Jewish Congressman Steve Rothman; in an election year that Foreign Policy is on the bottom of the list for voters, why keep talking about Israel and Iran? why send mailers focused fully on Iran as the RJC did? Why put up online or TV ads talking endlessly of these overseas issues?
Rabbi Shmuley’s campaign directly, a SuperPAC in his favor and the Republican Jewish Coalition, have all received big bucks from Sheldon Adelson whose every heart beat helps Israel and whose longs breath helping Jews. Great. Those are great motive, but why not focus your ammo in ways you can secure Pascrell’s defeat such as by focusing fully on economics? I know I know: Pacrell’s economic stance is not what keeps Mr. Adelson up at nigh. Fine. Let Israel be the drive but use economic issues as the means to beat him.
