Republican presidential candidates vied to gain the Jewish vote Wednesday, attacking the Obama administration’s handling of the Middle East and the US-Israel relationship. At the same time, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie cautioned those seeking leadership that it was not the time for rhetoric or irresponsible answers to the problems facing America today.
Speaking to the converted at an all-day Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) forum in DC, the six candidates, including front runner Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, did not hold back in outlining their foreign policy strategies for the Middle East.
All candidates were unreserved in their support for Israel and were united in condemning Iran.
Tehran has denied that it is trying to build a nuclear bomb, but the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed last month that Iran is not only producing enriched uranium necessary to make a bomb, but is in the process of designing a nuclear weapon.
Commitments Differ
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney chided President Obama for for snubbing Israel and being “weak in the face of the existential threat of a nuclear Iran.” He noted that Obama had visited Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iraq but had still not visited Israel, “the sole Middle East nation that fully shares our values.”
“I will travel to Israel on my first foreign trip,” Romney told the audience of several hundred, a pledge Romney has made before.
Significantly, Romney was introduced by St Louis businessman, Sam Fox, a highly regarded conservative and former chairman of the RJC, and an anointing that would not have gone unnoticed at the high ranking conservative event. Romney was, however, amongst the more restrained in outlining an action plan on the Middle East.
Focused on highlighting his business and economic strengths, Romney offered little more on what he would do for Israel or what he would do to contain Iran apart from declaring that he would not meet with Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He called instead for “diplomatic action,” suggesting that Ahmadinejad should be “indicted for the crime of incitement to genocide”.
Enter Newt Gingrich, more forthright and full of action plans. He declared straight up that if elected he would move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Comparing the rise of Islamic fundamentalism to that of Soviet communism in the early days of the Cold War, Gingrich outlined a militant plan for containment. He announced that former U.S. ambassador to the U.N.,John Bolton, would be appointed secretary of state under his administration, and would oversee sweeping changes to the U.S. State Department. He also requested support for two four year terms in order to effect those changes.
In regard to Iran he said dissident groups must be funded and every means available used to replace the present regime, including covert action on the country’s oil refinery.
The dispassionate Jon Huntsman, who focused on a broad range of policies, was quickly overshadowed by a more effusive Rick Santorum, an entertaining Rick Perry and a strident Michelle Bachmann.
Santorum reminded the audience of his long association with Israel, of his dedication to fighting jihadism and noted his efforts as a U.S. senator—from Pennsylvania, serving from 1994 to 2006—to contain Iran as early as 2004. He was met with rousing applause as was Rick Perry who also declared that he would move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. It was Michelle Bachmann, however that delivered the strongest commitment to Jewish interests.
Representative Bachmann said that it was right for the President to veto statehood to Palestine, but she accused Obama of being weak in the Middle East, confusing engagement with appeasement.
A Bachmann administration would not only recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel, it would also “recognize Israel’s 1980 annexation of the Golan Heights and any settlements, which Israel, as a sovereign state, chooses to annex” she told the gathering to applause.
Bachmann said that the United States could not afford to wait for an election to deal with Iran. The U.S. must “deploy comprehensive ballistic missiles systems,” “enact crushing economic sanctions,” and “accelerate covert operations and cyber operations in Iran,” she said.
Obama responds
President Obama responded swiftly to the allegations of appeasement.
“Ask Osama bin Laden and the 22-out-of-30 top al Qaeda leaders who’ve been taken off the field whether I engage in appeasement. Or whoever is left out there, ask them about that,” he told the press at a briefing the next day.
When asked about accusations that he was not doing enough on Iran, the President noted that when his administration had come to office, “the world was divided, Iran was unified and moving aggressively on its own agenda”.
“Today, Iran is isolated, and the world is unified in applying the toughest sanctions that Iran has ever experienced,” he said.
Christie Issues Broadside
It was however, the non-candidate, Republican governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, that would have delivered the strongest message to the Republican presidential candidates.
Speaking at the RJC forum lunch which was held in honor of Sam Fox, Christie’s tone was measured.
Every election is a pivotal moment in history, he said, but this time the nature and severity of the problems are different.
The United States’ economy was stagnant, America was trillions of dollars in debt, not only at the Federal level but also at the state and municipal levels. The nation’s prestige around the world was at an all- time low.
“Both parties have contributed to the situation,” he said.
The American people desperately needed strong leadership, he told a somber audience, but those aspiring to “the most important office we can bestow”, could no longer turn to “focus tested, blow-dried answers”; nor could they replace those with “hyperbole and irresponsible answers.”
“They just appeal to the anger and the fear that the American people feel right now,” he warned.
The leader for today must “speak kindly and directly” to people and be prepared to make hard decisions putting “people before partnership, and progress before party.”
“Our obligation now is to make sure that we nominate someone who will live up to the very standards we are demanding,” Christie said.
