James Besser's blog

Thursday, June 26th, 2008

James Besser in Washington

Jews tend to view the evangelical community as a political and religious monolith, but that segment is every bit as diverse as …well, the Jews.

What brings this to mind: Thursday’s ¾ page ad in the Washington Post business section by the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) politely informing Jews that they like us and everything, but have a duty to try to convert us.

Tuesday, June 24th, 2008

Adam Dickter

Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s spirited defense of Barack Obama before a Jewish organization in Florida this week leads to the obvious questions about whether he’s positioning for a veep nomination, trying to stay politically relevant, simply speaking his conscience, or some combination of the above.

Wednesday, June 18th, 2008

James Besser in Washington

So will the exchange of make-nice letters between ADL chief Abe Foxman and Pastor John Hagee tamp down the controversy swirling around the Christians United for Israel (CUFI) leader once an for all?

Monday, June 16th, 2008

James Besser in Washington

J Street PAC, the new political funding group created to help candidates who support a more active U.S. peacemaking role in the Middle East, is moving quickly to put itself on the political map.

Sunday, June 8th, 2008

James Besser in Washington

It’s official: Minnesota’s Senate contest in November will feature two Jews, and that’s no joke even though the Democratic challenger is a former Saturday Night Live humorist.

On Saturday comedian Al Franken won the right to challenge Sen. Norm Coleman, a Republican who is seeking a second term.

Thursday, June 5th, 2008

James Besser in Washington

You’ve read about them, now watch them for yourselves.

Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama, who have secured the Republican and Democratic presidential nominations, are staking out positions that will give Jewish voters a distinct choice on foreign policy questions.

Those differences were explicitly laid out in their speeches to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee policy conference this week. Here are video clips of their speeches.

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008

James Besser in Washington

It’ gaudy, it’s over the top, some say it’s tasteless, but it sure as heck is effective. AIPAC’s legendary “roll call,” a decades-old tradition at the annual policy conference banquet, is a graphic indication of the group’s continuing Capitol Hill clout.

You can bet politicians in both parties, at every level of the political game, hear the message loud and clear.

Monday, June 2nd, 2008

James Besser in Washington

Every year there’s a predominant buzz at the AIPAC policy conference. Last year it was the controversy over the dramatic appearance of Christians United for Israel president John Hagee; in 2005 and 2006 much of the talk in the hallways was about the federal investigation into two former AIPAC staffers.

Monday, June 2nd, 2008

James Besser in Washington

It’s hard to get your hands around an AIPAC policy conference.

Monday, June 2nd, 2008

James Besser in Washington

Several Barack Obama supporters said earlier in the week that today’s speech at AIPAC would be the critical moment in his effort to keep Jewish voters on the Democratic reservation in November.

They must be kvelling now that the speech is over. A pro-Israel group whose leaders feared a less-than-friendly reception gave Obama one of the most enthusiastic receptions of the three-day conference.