PRESS RELEASE from Republican Jewish Coalition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shari Hillman
Obama Campaign Embraces
Radical Rabbi
She
meets
with
Ahmadinejad,
travels
to Iran, serves on board of
organization ADL calls a "top ten anti-Israel group"
RJC
Calls
for
Her
Removal
from Campaign Group
Washington,
D.C. (August 23, 2012) -- The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) today
expressed profound outrage at the inclusion of radical rabbi Lynn
Gottlieb on the official list released by the Obama campaign of "
Rabbis for Obama." Rabbi Gottlieb has a long and
troubling history, which includes
dining with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,
being the
first American rabbi to visit Tehran, and serving
in an organization,
Jewish Voice for Peace, which the Anti-Defamation
League has called one of the "
top ten anti-Israel groups."
By promoting
and showcasing Rabbi Gottlieb as one of Pres. Obama's supporters, the
Obama campaign lends legitimacy and credibility to a rabbi whose
extreme views are well beyond the mainstream of the Jewish community
and the mainstream of America.
According to
RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks, there can be only two explanations
for her inclusion in the list: 1) the Obama campaign failed to properly
vet the rabbis on their official list, or 2) they did properly vet the
rabbis and chose to ignore Rabbi Gottlieb's radical views.
Either way,
this speaks volumes about the Obama campaign's judgment and the RJC
calls on the Obama campaign to immediately remove her from any formal
or official involvement in the campaign.
The fact
that the campaign announced Rabbi Gottlieb's participation in "Rabbis
for Obama" at around the same time that it was announced that former
President Jimmy Carter -- who has met with Hamas and has been a
virulent critic of Israel -- will speak at the Democratic Convention,
highlights not only the insensitivity of the Obama campaign to the
concerns of the Jewish community, but also underscores why Pres. Obama
has seen a significant erosion of support among Jewish voters.