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.”