During 2000 Presidential elections, Al Gore and Lieberman were on the Democratic ticket. The American Jewish population was thrilled to see one of their own at the ticket for vice President. But many conservative Muslims were worried about the possibility of Jewish politician only a heartbeat away from becoming the President of United States. It was a hard to swallow scenario so they voted for George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. But eight years of Bush and Cheney turned out to be worst nightmare for Muslims.
As the things stand now in Presidential Primaries, there is a strong possibility that Bernie Sanders, competing for Democratic nomination, and Donald Trump, competing for Republican nomination, will emerge as nominees of their respective parties. The Jewish reaction to Bernie Sanders, a non-practicing Jew, is low key as compared to enthusiasm for Joseph Lieberman in 2000. Mr. Nicholas Confessore writes in NYT:
“Did Bernie Sanders Just Grab Jewish Crown in New Hampshire?” asked a headline in The Forward. An essay published by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency questioned why Mr. Sanders’s victory received less attention as an emblem of acceptance and accomplishment than the selection of Joseph I. Lieberman as the Democrats’ vice-presidential nominee in 2000.”
Despite the low key reaction, one can still expect overwhelming Jewish support for Bernie Sanders. But how the conservative Muslims will choose between Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders?
And how Mr. Trump, who has offended every minority, will react to a Jewish opponent with overwhelming Jewish support? Mr. Donald is already upset about his cancelling of Israeli visit and he may turn ugly against Jewish minority as he has done with other minorities. Mr. Dana Millbank writes in Washington Post:
“This year’s Holocaust remembrance comes at a time when Donald Trump, the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, retweets to his nearly 6 million followers a message from @WhiteGenocideTM based in “Jewmerica,” and a time when his nearest challenger, Ted Cruz, brandishes the endorsement of a minister who says Hitler was a “hunter” sent after the Jews by God. There has never been a more important time for Americans to heed the moral authority of the Holocaust survivors still among us.”
Mr. Dana Milbank further writes:
“I am exceptionally concerned about demagogues,” the 85-year-old Weiss told me at Wednesday’s commemoration at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. “They touch me in a place that I remember. I know their influence and, unfortunately, I know how receptive audiences are to demagogues and what it leads to.”
“It has echoes, and maybe more so to me than to native-born Americans,” she said after lighting a candle for Hitler’s victims. “I’m scared. I don’t like the trend. I don’t like how many people are applauding when they hear these demagogues. It can turn.”
Mr. Dana Milbank continues;
“Munzer, who lost two sisters and his father to the Nazis, said he never thought such things could happen in America, but now he’s not so sure. “Thinking that Germany was somehow unique is wrong,” he said.
If the choice is between Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, I hope Muslims has the wisdom to join Jewish friends to support Bernie Sanders and stop a bigot who may turn out to be worse than Bush and Cheney.
F. Sheikh
Joe Lieberman did not help Al Gore at all back then and neither Bernie Sander is playing this card now nor are any pundits. Jewish lobby is doing what it does in every election any way.
Last night on PBS debate Bernie Sander blasted Henry Kissinger and Hillary Clinton kind of defended Henry Kissinger.
It will be interesting if Bernie Sander’s views are checked on Israel just to make sure but no candidate ever publicly took position against Israel. I personally like him and my feeling is that he will not be biased against Muslims – a man above this kind of bias. We should remember, to his credit, that he voted against Iraq war and that war was fought to please Jews just as much as for oil. I think he passes the litmus test on Israel connection.
Babar
Yes, I agree with Baber Saheb’s observation.
Babar Sahib’s evaluation of the presidential candidates is interesting as well as articulate. I also wish that Berne Sander to be the next president of this country. But sometime what is written on the character sheet of a nation can easily be read. The advent of 21st century and the horrendous act of 9/11 (irrespective of the fact who did it) helped trigger further horrible acts. The proceedings clearly tell that this nation has started in deviating from its original ideology. Therefore, whether Donald Trump wins the final race to the White House or not, Trumpology is in store for this nation. But you never know as Sheikh Saadi said–man proposes, Destiny disposes, fate of this nation may turn the tide against itself instead of those Trump is pointing his finger. MIRZA ASHRAF