Are the Democrats turning into Dhimmicrats or just plain Anti-Semocrats? The King County Democratic Party is on the verge of civil war over an anti-Semitic platform plank that singles out Israel for condemnation. The plank was promoted by the jihadi fifth-columnists from CAIR, with the blessing of Seattle Congressman "Baghdad Jim" McDermott.
As radio host Michael Medved wrote:
2004 might be the year that America's Jewish community finally reconsiders its traditional loyalty to the Democratic Party and if so, Republicans should thank the Democrats of King County.Indeed. Although King County Democratic chair Greg Rodriguez "expressed embarrassment on [Medved's] radio show over one-sided Israel bashing by his party cohorts", and is reportedly trying to undo the damage to the platform, the forces of jihad are regrouping and it could be an ugly fight. At bottom is an e-mail that is being sent to local Democratic activists calling to "defend" the anti-Semitic platform plank at next week's meeting.
Even though I'm now an active Republican, I was once a Democrat and I would prefer to see two strong parties that both espouse American values, including support for Israel. So I call upon the local Democrats, including the local U.S. House and Senate candidates, to take action and preserve their party's moral values, remove the anti-Semitic plank from the platform and purge the jihadi fifth-columnists from their ranks. (Patty Murray? Dave Ross? Alex Alben? Jay Inslee? Which side are you on?) If this attempt fails, I would encourage every Democrat who supports the United States and Israel in the war against militant Islam to turn their back on the Democrats and join the Republicans.
I know that a lot of Democrats and swing voters are attracted to much of the Republican platform, but are turned off by some of its social conservatism. Indeed, that was the main reason why I couldn't bring myself to become a Republican for so many years. It might even surprise some of my regular readers to learn that I've voted for Mondale, Dukakis, Clinton and Harry Browne for President but I've never supported a Republican for President until this year. But I've since learned that the Republican Party is trending to de-emphasize the party's fixation on social issues and focusing more on bread and butter issues such as rational economic policies and sensible national defense. Many Republicans (myself included) are actively working within the party to make it more inclusive. The Democrats on the other hand, are trending more and more toward unsustainable economic nuttiness, a foreign policy of weakness and appeasement, and perhaps saddest of all, embracing anti-Semitism.
The choice is clear: fix the party or leave it. And there's no time to waste.
Your presence is needed next Tuesday, May 25th. Stand up for your rights and prevent those who speak in the name of "civil rights" from trampling upon yours! Details are below. We look forward to seeing you Tuesday, May 25, Seattle Labor Temple, 2800 1st Ave. Hall #1 at 7 pm.
Over the past year our community has learned a number of important lessons. We have learned that through determined effort we can continuously push the ceiling of what we can accomplish. We have learned that we can organize and work within the political system by getting an unprecedented number of delegates elected at the precinct and legislative caucuses of the Democratic party. Through this effort, we also managed to pass important resolutions about Palestine, Iraq and Civil Liberties which strongly advocate peace and justice for all. Most recently and most significantly, members of the Arab and Muslim community, with many other supporters passed an amendment in the King County Democratic Party Platform that states
our tax dollars should not go to Israel while it violates international law.In this last accomplishment lies one of the most important lessons to be drawn: that our pro-justice position is not a fringe voice held by only the most extreme liberals as some might have us believe, but rather, it is the voice of the majority.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Seattle) made mention of this success at their banquet that evening, and it was printed in an article about the banquet in the Seattle Times the following day. It appears the demand that Israel respect international law made some people very upset, and the following day a right-wing radio talk show host made this a topic of his show. He hosted Greg Rodriguez, the Chairman of the King County Democratic Party, who in theory is supposed to represent King County Democrats. Unfortunately he failed in that role and he spent the whole show repeating how much he supports Israel and in effect apologizing for having left-wing and Muslim community "elements" in King County which he identified as the cause for having this amendment pass.
While it is most disturbing that Greg Rodriguez used his position as Chairman of the King County Democrats to express his personal beliefs and discredit King County's official platform, of greater concern is his effort to repeal the platform amendment and violate the democratic process by which it was adopted. He will most likely attempt to do this at the next meeting of the Central Committee of the King County Democratic Party on Tuesday, May 25, Seattle Labor Temple, 2800 - 1st Ave. Hall #1 at 7 pm.
**What needs to be done next:**
Supporters of this amendment and the democratic process need to attend the meeting next Tuesday to ensure transparency in this process. We will not look away as certain individuals seek to break rules simply because they didn't get what they want or are too arrogant to accept the views of the majority.
For everyone in our community who has worked in the various presidential campaigns, attended the community banquet and felt the energy in that room, attended the caucuses, ran for delegate positions, and passed resolutions across the state, we all know the power we possess when we work together. For those who have yet to participate, now is the time to make a small effort to preserve our victories in the cause of justice while our political opponents are on the defensive.
We look forward to seeing you Tuesday.
Signed by:
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) - Seattle chapter
Arab-American Community Coalition (AACC)
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) - Seattle chapter
Here's an article from the Seattle Jewish newspaper on this controversy:
http://www.jtnews.net/news/Community.html#Concern%20over%20Democratic%20platform
Posted by: Mike Silverman on May 21, 2004 12:33 PMI don't know what the data are on the Arab-American or Muslim political party preferences, but I get the sense that in 2000 they supported Bush (e.g., Sami Al-Arian meeting Bush). When leftists like H. IBish's AADC and the Wahabbis at CAIR get together behind the Dems., the Dems will suffer as in this story. If these communities are willing to shift their alliances with the political winds every election cycle, they will further dilute their influence, especially considering the extreme positions they hold and from which they apparently won't waver. Either anti-Israel platforms will be limited to a few enclaves, and have little impact on the party in general, or they will be defeated, leading their supporters to the frustration that fuels the campaigns of our best-known Arab American presidential candidate.
Posted by: David on May 21, 2004 02:40 PMI don't think this attitude in the Democratic Party is limited to King County, by any means. Did you see Fritz Hollings' comments about "Jewish voters?"
Posted by: David Foster on May 21, 2004 03:36 PMVisit Democratic Underground sometime and see some real hatred of Jews.
Posted by: Kevin P. on May 22, 2004 06:18 AMIndeed, the Muslim community in America is pushing the ceiling, and in a good part helped by looney liberal leftist Jews. I suspect that anti-Semitism will become as accepted here as it is in Europe. And no matter what happens, the majority of Jews will vote Democratic even as their house is burning.
Posted by: Jed on May 22, 2004 06:24 AMWow! You Islamaphobes are something else.
On the one hand you spend an enormous amount of time condemning the Arabic and Islamic countries around the world for their lack of democracy. Then, on the other hand, when Arabs and Muslims do have the opportunity to work within democratic norms to accomplish their goals, you condemn them just as rabidly.
For the record, similar resolutions have occured around around the country, most recently at the STATE Democratic convention in Colorado. Since September 2000 the bigotry and race-hate that underlies Zionism & now its natural allies among the Islamaphobic radical Right in the US has been unveiled, and most Americans don't like it.
Zionism will go the way of Apartheid - it's intellectual sister. The process has already begun and though it may take some years before we are successful, we will live to see a free Israel/Palestine of ALL its people.
Isaac Coleman
Jewish Friends of Palestine
http://www.jewishfriendspalestine.org
That's very brave of you, "Isaac Coleman". If you want to commit suicide, be my guest. But it's pathetic that you choose to spend your time trying to impose on the Jews of Israel a suicidal political arrangement. If you want to do something important for both Jews and Palestinians, why not become a human shield for Palestine?
Posted by: Stefan Sharkansky on May 30, 2004 05:49 PM