Local Jewish community likes Gore’s choice
Alex Coolman
NEWPORT-MESA -- The local Jewish community was energized Tuesday with
Al Gore’s decision to pick U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut
as his Democratic vice presidential running mate.
Lieberman, 58, is the first Jew in U.S. history to be picked for a
major party ticket. He is known to most Americans as the senator who in
1998 spoke forcefully against President Clinton’s behavior in the Monica
Lewinski affair.
Members of Newport-Mesa’s Jewish community say Lieberman’s tough
ethical and spiritual stance could work in Gore’s favor as the vice
president works to distance himself from Clinton’s tarnished legacy.
“Here is a person who demonstrably has a conscience and deep-seated
values and integrity,” said Rabbi Mark Miller of Newport Beach’s Temple
Bat Yahm.
“This, I hope, for many young people will be a sign that a life in
politics does not have to involve compromises of one’s values, even
though it has to involve compromises on a political level.”
Rabbi Marc Rubenstein of Newport Beach’s Temple Isaiah said the
selection has the potential to shake up the politics-as-usual attitude in
the Beltway.
“I just gave a sermon on Friday night that neither [party] was paying
attention to social justice,” Rubenstein said. “I think this [candidate]
will do it. This is where I think this man can add credibility.”
A major thread of the national debate on Lieberman’s selection has
been the issue of whether anti-Semitism will hurt the Democratic ticket.
In Newport-Mesa, at least, the attitude on this point seemed to be one of
cautious optimism.
“We’re certainly encouraged that religion was not a barrier” in Gore’s
choice, said Alison Mayersohn, a spokesperson for the Costa Mesa-based
Jewish Federation of Orange County.
Miller and Rubenstein compared Lieberman’s potential to that of
President John F. Kennedy, who once was considered a problematic
candidate because of his Catholicism.
“I remember when he sought the vice presidential nomination in ‘56” as
Adlai Stevenson’s running mate, Miller said. “With the spirit of the
country then, there was a very negative reaction to him. Four years
later, he was the president of the United States.”
Rubenstein stressed the significance of Lieberman’s adherence to
orthodox Jewish practice.
“He’s a traditional Jew,” he said. “He’s going to walk to the White
House on the Sabbath.”
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