AJC displays its pro-Obama credentials

A fundamental rule of crisis public relations is not exposing a bad issue to more people via proactive media outreach.  For that reason, I found it odd that the American Jewish Committee (AJC) issued a national press release regarding a Boca Raton, Florida protest against Susan Rice, the US Ambassador to the UN and an Obama cabinet member, about a recent speech she made at the B’nai Torah Congregation. I am sure, like many others, I hadn’t heard about the initial uproar in Boca Raton, but after reading the press release, I was curious and sought out further information.

The event, which AJC co-sponsored had numerous Jews placed on a blacklist and banned from the event for supposedly being anti-Obama, and about two dozen pro-Israel people who managed to get in to hear the speech were escorted out by police during her speech for waving little Israeli flags while she was speaking. Worthy of a national AJC press release (and prominent placement on AJC homepage) for an item which received limited local media coverage? Surprising, especially as many in the Jewish community I am sure would question the wisdom of hosting Obama proxies at a time like this.

The AJC press release touting them as a “non-partisan organization” conveniently left out the fact that Rice has been identified in a Huffington Post article as the ”pro-Israel courter in chief” of the American Jewish community for the Obama Administration. The event was hosted by a major Obama booster, the senior rabbi of the synagogue, Rabbi David Steinhardt, who is known for active outreach to Florida’s Muslim Brotherhood front groups. Interesting event for a “non-partisan” organization.

This synagogue hasn’t hosted the very pro-Israel (Republican) Congressman Allen West – and I’d love to see AJC co-host that Republican event at the synagogue. More would buy the “non-partisan” rap if the Jewish establishment actually hosted Republicans and Democrats.

But, enough with the partisanship. As a Zionist living in New York, I’m so excited for this year’s Israel Day Parade on Sunday, June 3^rd.  My mother, Penny Waga walked with the youth movement of Ze’ev Jabotinsky, Betar, in the 1^st parade ever, and I am excited watching my kids prepare in school for this year’s parade. It is the world’s largest gathering in celebration of Israel and just a beautiful show of support for Israel – which this year, with all the attention and issues facing Israel, it is vitally important to attend.