In less than three weeks, we will elect a new president. The stakes are high. Emotions are higher. Some of the policy issues are complex. The politics are intense.
But the choice is simple.
Character traits like morality, temperament, honesty, trustworthiness, humility and empathy all matter in life, politics and the White House. And then, of course, there’s likeability. On every score, Vice President Kamala Harris wins out over former President Donald Trump. And it’s not even close.
We don’t have to guess about Trump. We know who he is and what he is. We have already lived through the near-daily chaos of his four-year term, which was very much like an emotional roller coaster ride — sometimes thrilling, sometimes uncertain, chugging along slowly at times and at scary speed at other times, always whipping fast through convoluted turns and loops, with emotional highs and lows and a sense of relief when it was over.
We don’t need four more years of a self-centered, narcissistic leader who promotes conflict, belittles adversaries, believes he is above the law, has promised to use the levers of government to go after his opponents and appears more enamored by international bad boys and strongmen than by our more traditional NATO allies and friends.
While we may not know for sure how Harris will comport herself in office or how many of her views will play out in policy programs promoted by her administration, we have a pretty good sense of who Harris is and a lengthy record of her impressive years of public service to indicate how she will lead. While Harris will likely tilt toward progressives, she will almost certainly seek to lead by consensus.
With such a clear difference between the candidates, why are some Jewish voters still trying to decide between them?
Some wonder whether Harris can be trusted to support Israel, particularly since she has expressed empathy toward Palestinian suffering in Gaza and the West Bank and has called for an end to hostilities in the region. Empathy for the suffering of innocents is something we all feel. And that emotion is not at all inconsistent with the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to the safety and security of Israel — an administration which has provided unprecedented levels of military aid to the Jewish state and twice deployed U.S. military assets to defend Israel from Iranian missiles.
Moreover, just last week, Harris said: “I will do everything in my power to ensure that the threat Hamas poses is eliminated, that it is never again able to govern Gaza, that it fails in its mission to annihilate Israel and that the people of Gaza are free from the grip of Hamas.” We’re good with that, too.
And finally, on the very worrisome issue of the mounting threat of antisemitism domestically and internationally, our community has an ally in Harris who has fought against hate and discrimination throughout her career, supports the administration’s National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism and has spoken forcefully against Jewish hate with moral clarity.
We need a president we can trust. We endorse Kamala Harris.
“While we may not know for sure how Harris will comport herself in office or how many of her views will play out in policy programs…..” is a direct quote from the Exponent’s editorial supporting Kamala Harris’ campaign for president. Let me fill in the Exponent’s ignorance on Kamala’s views, She support’s the de fund movement of not only the police but also of ICE, she equated ICE with the KKK, she supports the massive spending of her administration which caused inflation, she supports the war on fossil fuels which have caused big rises in gasoline and heating fuels, she wants to cure the inflation that she caused with price controls which has always failed, and she wants to end the war on Hamas which would leave the terrorist government free to repeat Oct, 7th over and over, their words not mine. When Kamala refused to appear at Netanyahu’s speech to Congress, she insulted not only him but also the country he leads.To sum up Kamala’s pathetic group of views, she was coined the most radical Senator in Congress and she hasn’t changed.
I’m incredulous that the Exponent doesn’t have a clue on Harris’ views at this point in her campaign and yet is still supporting her candidacy. It’s obvious to any neutral observer that the reason why Harris’ views remain hidden is she wants them to be hidden so that she can fool the public, including the Exponent. into voting for an extreme radical to lead the Western world.
I understand that the Exponent’s staff are diehard Democrats which leads them astray on her personality traits but regardless of their distorted view of them its her actions not personality which will either elevate or destroy America, Israel and most of the Western world. The question we all have answer is are we better off now than four years ago? If you answer that question honestly there’s only one person you can vote for, and its not Kamala Harris.
Just listening to the former president incoherent, vulgar, self-indulgent rhetoric while avoiding a serious discussion on any issue, makes every person quickly reach the conclusion of who is a pathetic candidate.
It is troubling that some American Jews believe that former president Trump is better for Israel. This notion is misguided. His harmful rhetoric and unstable personality pose risks to both the US and to Israel. Its worth noting that both the Obama and Biden administrations provided Israel with the largest military assistance in US history. We need STABLE, moderate leadership to navigate the challenges in the Middle East, as the push for broader regional conflict endangers global stability.
Let me add another dimension to the mix. Israel democracy is currently under siege. As an Israeli American who deeply cares for Israel I feel compelled to address the internal turmoil currently affecting Israel. I urge American Jews to pay attention to the distress experienced by those in Israel who reject Netanyahu’s extreme right wing government.
Following the October 7th tragedy Netanyahu failed to take responsibility for the government and military shortcomings. His desire to maintain power appears to supersede the urgent moral obligation to do everything possible to secure the release of the hostages. He clings to power by aligning himself with extreme right-wing factions that advocate for prolonged conflict, driven more by revenge than a genuine desire for resolution. This unchecked vengeance isolates Israel on the world stage and contributes to rising antisemitism.
Under Netanyahu ‘s leadership, Israeli society is fractured. many talented, educated individuals are leaving the country disillusioned by the extreme anti-democratic policies of this government. Soon, you may not recognize Israel as you know it.
We need a stable moderate leadership in Israel and in the US to navigate the challenges in the middle eats. Lets work together to remove the chaos and the self serving individuals like Trump and Netanyahu from regaining power.
Israeli -American, the vast majority of your fellow country men disagree with you. They’ve dropped the extreme leftist hate for their political opposition in exchange for the practical policies that have worked, both here and in Israel. Demonizing the opposition may make you feel better, may make you popular with your friends, but it also causes the massive hate and polarization that we now see in politics, which threatens the stability of the democracies that we live in.
For my Israeli-American fellow Jew, I would remind you that the assault on Oct. 7th occurred shortly after the massive demonstrations, which went on for months and which were joined in with military personnel refusing to show up for duty, not only destabilized the Israeli system, but no doubt acting as an incentive to attack it. It wasn’t Trump nor Netanyahu who orchestrated these destabilizing operations but rather the “moderate leadership” that you guys think is necessary to successfully navigate the challenges in the Middle East.
If you really want to work together, and I have deep reservations that you really desire that, stop calling Trump and Netanyahu fascists, Adolph Hitler, clingers of power and men whose every action is about their self-aggrandizement and revenge, It sounds to me that you are victims of projection in which you accuse your opponents of your own feelings. The hate you rightly claim exists is not embedded in your opposition but rather in the person looking back at you in the mirror.
It is amazing that you describe liberals as haters when the person who has been spewing hate and racism since the moment he went down the escalator 8 years ago has kept at it relentlessly. (I never mentioned fascism or Hitler in my note).
Regardless, I guess you are not familiar with the political situation in Israel. Before October 7th, many demonstrations were held against a government that promoted ( and continues to promote ) anti democratic practices, and against extreme right wing agenda that exacerbates the conflict. The protesters represent segments in the Israeli society- such as those in technology, medicine and the arts, including pilots now participating in the war- who are major contributors to the country’s economy and culture. These individuals are now the largest groups choosing to emigrate, concerned about the shift in their beloved country’s character away from being a modern, progressive nation.
There are parallels drawn between Netanyahu and Trump with both exhibiting traits associated with authoritarian leaders, potentially steering both nations away from prosperity and peace.
Many American Jews are indeed reevaluating their support for Israel in light of current political turmoil and societal issues. This is because many are not aware of the level of discontent in Israel. Unlike your observation, Most Israelis would like Netanyahu to be replaced. They want the decision about the war to be determined by the country’s need not by his needs. The protests in Israel reflect a deep desire for a democratic and inclusive society. Protesters are not interested in building a 3rd temple or occupying Gaza. They are not happy with many years of “status quo” policy regarding the Palestinian conflict (do nothing and the problem will disappear). This policy has allowed the Hamas monster movement to build up its horrific war machine.
To the Editor:
While this is being sent too late for the printed edition, perhaps it might be appropriate in one of your web editions.
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