Israel Matzav

A true friend of Israel

On Sunday, I reported that Eric Cantor (R-Va.) is being vetted by the McCain campaign as a possible running mate. Cantor is someone who 'gets it.' Here's a video of Cantor speaking at a One Jerusalem event in November 2007 (Hat Tip: NY Nana). It's a must see. Let's go to the videotape.



In case you missed something, here are some highlights.

Speaking during a visit to Israel that for the "One Jerusalem" event, which protested the Annapolis summit, Cantor said: "Jerusalem is not merely the capital of Israel but the spiritual capital of Jews and Christians everywhere. It's the site of the First and Second Temples, which housed the Holy of Holies, and it's the direction in which we Jews face when we pray. This glorious City of David is bound to the Jewish people by an undeniable 3,000 year historical link."

Jerusalem, Cantor said, "is Israel's lifeblood. No one understands this better than Israel's enemies. That is precisely why they still engage in a systematic campaign to erase the historical link of the Jews to this great city. For if Israel were severed from Jerusalem, the Jewish state would lose its sense of legitimacy and its will to fight; only then could Israel be destroyed."

"What befalls Jerusalem threatens the security of the United States and its allies worldwide. That's because Jerusalem and Israel are Ground Zero in the global battle between tyranny and democracy, radicalism and moderation, terrorism and freedom."

Speaking in Hebrew, Cantor quoted Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, who said: "If a land has a soul then Jerusalem is the soul of the Land of Israel."

Undoubtedly, within a few days, there will be a poll out from the self-hating leftists at JStreet claiming that most Jews don't like Cantor - he's too Jewish for them. A poll published in Monday's Jerusalem Post indicates that Independent Senator Joe Lieberman (who is an Orthodox Jew) - and Pastor John Hagee - receive poor approval ratings from the 'Jewish community' in the United States.

According to the poll, which has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points, Lieberman scored an unfavorable rating of 48 percent among US Jews, compared to a favorable rating of 37%.

...

The high disapproval ratings for Lieberman and Hagee would seem surprising for two men whose reputation rests in part on representing Jewish interests.

Lieberman enjoyed soaring approval ratings among Jews eight years ago when, as a Democrat, he became the first Jewish American to land on a viable presidential ticket. Much was made in the national media at the time of his Orthodox lifestyle and how he balances its demands with his public service.

...

Lieberman's staff did not dispute the poll results but suggested they were inconsequential for a senator who is enjoying his maverick reputation since leaving the Democratic Party in 2006.

"Senator Lieberman will continue to work across party lines to do what he believes is right for Connecticut and the nation rather than be guided by poll numbers," his spokesman, Marshall Wittmann, told JTA. "Senator Lieberman is guided by principles rather than by polls."

[J Street Director Jeremy] Ben-Ami said Lieberman likely suffered from his endorsement of McCain and continuing defense of the Iraq war, which remains hugely unpopular among Jews.

"His political positioning," Ben-Ami said, "is out of step with the Jewish community."

Lieberman is 'out of step' with much of the American Jewish community because he hasn't substituted the religion of 'Liberalism' for Judaism. When they thought he was a knee-jerk Democrat like they are, they loved him, and they thought his Orthodoxy was chic. When they realized that it wasn't just for show, they turned on him. The polls don't show how 'out of step' Eric Cantor is yet, because most American Jews have no clue who Cantor is. Once they do, you can bet that they'll say he's 'out of step' too. It doesn't matter. Eric Cantor would make a wonderful Vice President for America and is a huge supporter of Israel. He would help the McCain ticket in many ways I discussed before. I'm all in favor.

By the way, the reason much of the American Jewish community is uncomfortable with John Hagee is almost exactly the same. Religious people often make those who have abandoned their religion uncomfortable. They make them feel guilty about their life choices (yes, I know that in Hagee's case there's more to it than that, and that many Jews fear he may want to convert us to Christianity - that's why his 'approval rating' in the Jewish community is worse than Lieberman's).

UPDATE 10:53 AM

Friends and Supporters of Congressman Cantor have started an online movement calling on Senator McCain to nominate Eric. We can help make this a reality by encouraging our readers to visit the site, sign up, join the Facebook group, and send a note to Senator McCain. This is our opportunity to shake up the race and help a great friend of Israel (Hat Tip: David G.).

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:45 AM