In the Aug. 29 Chronicle, Eric Fingerhut reports on how Barack Obama’s presidential campaign will contend that his “‘values’ are in sync with historic ‘Jewish values.’” I don’t buy it. Some examples:
Behind Obama’s soaring convention speech rhetoric was a patronizing portrayal of Americans as victims: “More of you have cars you can’t afford to drive, credit cards, bills you can’t afford to pay, and tuition that’s beyond your reach. These challenges are not all of government’s making. But the failure to respond is a direct result of a broken politics in Washington and the failed policies of [President] George W. Bush.”
So per Obama, if I run up bills beyond my means, maybe it’s not all government’s fault, but apparently it is government’s duty to “respond.” How does this square with the Jewish value of individual responsibility for the consequences of one’s actions?
The Torah is about nothing if it isn’t about the distinction between good and evil. When Russia invaded Georgia, what was Obama’s reaction? “Now is the time for Georgia and Russia to show restraint.” No distinction between the authoritarian aggressor and the democratic state that it is invading.
We’re told that Obama will be better for Israel. So how do we square Obama’s protestations of unwavering support for Israel with his choice of a pastor known for his anti-Israeli rants?
What about telling the American Israel Public Affairs Committee that “Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided,” only to reverse himself the next day?
Perhaps we have your typical cynical politician? More likely we have a man who does not have deeply held core values, let alone ones that are compatible with Judaism.
Jim Beer
Fox Point
Loading ...