2012 RJC Republican Presidential Candidates Forum...1 of 9 > |
Dec. 7, 2011--Six candidates
pulled themselves away from their campaign efforts in the early states
of Iowa and New Hampshire to address the Republican Jewish Coalition's
2012 Presidential Candidates Forum at the Ronald Reagan Building and
International Trade Center. (Above) RJC national chairman David
Flaum speaks at the event. Rep. Ron Paul
was the only top-tier candidate not to appear; he not invited to speak
due to what organizers saw
as his extremist and isolationist views. (Herman Cain had been
scheduled to speak, but he suspended his campaign a few days
ago). Each candidate spoke and then took questions from the
audience. The RJC, which was founded in 1985, "seeks to foster and enhance ties between the American Jewish community and Republican decision makers." Countering views of this forum came from the Democratic National Committee, whose chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz stated, "[T]here is nothing, I mean nothing in the Republicans’ right wing social agenda that speaks to our community’s values." (+) A blogger at the Arab American Institute described the event as "little more than a pandering session in front of a relatively small audience." (+) |
The luncheon honored Ambassador
Sam Fox, past national chairman of the RJC. |
During the luncheon Gov. Chris
Christie (R-NJ) delivered a sharp rejoinder to President Obama's much
heralded speech
the day before in Osawatomie, Kansas.
"He
[Obama]
has
had
every
opportunity
to
'up
his game' for three years, and he
has been on the bench," Christie said. Christie also stated that
he had no apologies for his recent comment that Obama has been "a
bystander in the Oval Office." |
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