Texas Jewish Post (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 59, No. 2, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 13, 2005 Page: 4 of 24
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
TJP V59-01 01-13-05 p01-04 1/11/05 8:56 PM Page 4
-e
Texas Jewish Post
In Our 59th Year
January 13,2005
Washington Watch
By James D. Besser
TJP Washington Correspondent
Domestic policy advisor
stirs little controversy
Speaking of nominations, Jewish
groups are keeping a very low profile
on the appointment of Claude Allen
as chief White House domestic
advisor.
Allen, currently deputy secretary
of Health and Human Services, is an
ardent social conservative with
strong views on abortion rights and
abstinence-only education.
He also angered gay rights groups
with his comment about "queers"
when he served as an aide to former
Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC).
Those views made him anathema
to Senate Democrats, and he was
expected to be one of the judicial
nominees filibustered by opposition
forces.
But Allen's nomination never
came up for a Senate vote, and when
Presid ent Bush reappointed 20 of the
filibustered judges as the start of the
current congressional session, Allen
was not among them.
The reason: the federal appeals
court slot in Richmond, Va. is tradi-
tionally held by a Marylander — and
Maryland's two Democratic senators
raised a ruckus about the nomina-
tion of All en, who lives in Virginia.
But the domestic policy advisor
position is a modest consolation
prize.
"If anybody had any doubts about
this administration's commitment to
pursuing a strongly conservative
domestic agenda, this should put it
to rest," said an official with one
Jewish organization that is not taking
a position on the nomination.
Sammie Moshenberg, Wash-
ington director for the National
Council of Jewish Women (NCJW),
said that "We're very troubled by this
appointment. His extremism led us
to actively oppose his lifetime
appointment to the appellate court;
it's troubling that he'll now be pro-
viding top-level advice to the
president."
NCJW opposed Allen's court
appointment because of his views on
abortion rights, privacy and gay
rights.
Mark Pelavin, associate director of
the Religious Action Center of
Reform Judaism, found something
positive to say about the nomination.
"I do have to say he makes more
sense as a White House staff person
than he did as an appointee for a fed-
eral judgeship," he said. "But on a
whole array of issues, he is distinctly
at odds with most of the Jewish com-
munity."
Republican Jews weigh In
on Social Security
Some Jewish groups are waiting
nervously for the details of President
George W. Bush's plan to revamp
Social Security and divert some of
the program into private investment
accounts, a change that critics worry
will force big cuts in benefits to future
retirees and end the concept of Social
Security as an "entitlement."
But one group has no qualms: the
Republican Jewish Coalition, the par-
tisan group for Jewish Republicans,
is taking its show on the road when it
comes to Social Security.
Next week the group, which ran
an extensive advertising campaign on
behalf of Bush's reelection in the fall,
will go back to Jewish newspapers in
key markets with ads supporting
Bush's Social Security plan — the
details of which will be revealed at the
end of the month.
"We will be running ads to try to
build support in the Jewish commu-
nity on many of his key issues," said
RJC director Matthew Brooks. "Right
now, it's going to be Social Security
reform; we want to have a conversa-
tion with the Jewish community
about this issue, which will be so high
profile this year."
He said he expects Jews will be
responsive to the Republican mes-
sage, despite the community's long
enthusiasm for the New Deal-era
program.
"The president's proposal does
nothing to undermine the existing
structure of Social Security," he said.
"What it does is preserve the pro-
gram for today's seniors and ensure
it's around to help the next genera-
tion."
But Jewish Democrats say they
couldn't be happier with the RJC
campaign.
"I hope they spend a lot of money
on this project, because the more
they spend, the more new members
it will generate for the Jewish
Democrats," said Ira Forman, execu-
tive director of the National Jewish
Democratic Council (NJDC).
But a prominent Republican
insisted the issue would be a political
plus for the GOP.
"This is aimed at a younger demo-
graphic; these are people who don't
really expect the current system to be
around when they retire, and really
want to see a change," this activist
said.
But the Bush administration is
running into unexpected opposition
from some Republican lawmakers
fearful of a voter backlash if benefits
are cut as part of the overhaul.
'olitical notes
Rep. Rahm Emmanuel (D-Ill.), a
two-term lawmaker who served in
the Clinton administration, has been
tapped to head the Democratic Con-
gressional Campaign Committee
(DCCC) — the group charged with
electing more Democrats to a House
of Representatives that seems to be
sliding further into Republican
hands.
Emmanuel, who is Jewish, was
appointed by Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-
Califi), the House minority leader.
He will replace Rep. Robert Matsui
(D-Calif.) who died recently.
The appointment adds to
Emmanuel's reputation as a real
comer in the party.
Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif), widely
known for his advocacy on behalf of
Israel and against anti-Semitism, is
now taking on North Korea.
This week the veteran lawmaker
was in the "Axis of Evil" nation, trying
to get its leaders to return to talks on
its controversial nuclear program.
"They indicated that they view
their nuclear program as important,
but I had the very strong impression
that they are ready to discuss the
matter because they understand that
we are determined to do so," Lantos
said while in Pyongyang, according
to wire service reports.
Lantos also said that if North
Korea cooperates with the anti-
nuclear effort, he could support
lifting sanctions and establishing
normal diplomatic relations with the
rogue state.
Closer to home, Rep. Gary Ack-
erman (D-NY) has promised to buy
an Old Testament for the Speaker of
the House.
The Bible became an issue during
the recent swearing-in ceremony in
the offices of Speaker Dennis Hastert
(R-Ill.)
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz,
a freshman Democrat from Florida
who is Jewish, declined to take the
oath of office with her hand on a
New Testement — the only Bible
handy.
"They called the Library of Con-
gress, but couldn't find an Old
Testament," Ackerman said. "So they
came to us, and we lent them one."
Two years ago, Rep. Eliot Engel
(D-NY) went through a similar
scramble—but was provided one by
American Friends for Lubavitch at
the last minute.
Ackerman promised to give a copy
to the Speaker to avoid future
mishaps. And Rabbi Levi Shemtov,
director of Americans Friends of
Lubavitch, said "we will provide
every Jewish member of the House
and Senate with CHUMASH so
there will be enough for the next
swearing in. It's a good thing for
them to have in the office for a point
of reference, in any case."
Jewish Group Honored for
Tsunami Relief
Nongovernmental organizations
(i NGOs) that have raised and distrib-
uted record amounts of money for
tsunami relief in Asia were honored
at the White House on Monday and
urged to shift their focus from
recovery to reconstruction.
The Jewish community was repre-
sented by the American Jewish World
Service (AJWS), which has raised
more than $4.5 million for the
recovery effort — a record take for
the Jewish service group.
Ruth Messenger, the AJWS presi-
dent, said that the series of meetings,
which included NGOs and represen-
tatives of government agencies
involved in the relief effort, was an
"opportunity for the president to
thank everybody for everything that
was going on in the region."
In the meeting with 19 NGOs —
AJWS was the only Jewish group
involved — the president "talked
thoughtfully, asking individual
COVQRATJLATitWS.' MCWVOI
CAN BJiLO SCHOOLS, Fix THE
Rm&S, PiCK UP THE TRASH-
and after w sr&p the
weu ma ssicus m&'talks/
i demand
RECOUNT/
T CAN YOU
HOLD A
yMOMELffTY
groups to talk briefly about the work
they were doing," Messenger said.
"The president clearly listened, com-
mented and made connections. He
touched on most of the themes these
groups think are critical, including
the careful use of donations and the
idea that emergency giving is really
important, but that it shouldn't stop
people from giving for the rest of our
work."
Bush, she said, took up a persistent
AJWS theme — "the need to move
from relief to reconstruction. He
made it clear it is important for
everyone to understand that we're
going to be here for the long haul."
And he praised efforts like a AJWS
program to provide funds for the
purchase or repair of fishing boats
"so people can get back to work" in
several small villages, she said.
Accountability in using philan-
thropic funds was anoth er topic, said
Messenger, whose group is passing
on 95 percent of donated money
directly to relief efforts.
The tsunami response is "the
biggest relief effort we've done so far,"
she said. "That's true for most of the
groups involved."
She pointed to a "huge outpouring
from the Jewish community" as
rabbis and community leaders get
the word out.
Texas Jewish Post
Since 1947
Jimmy Wisch
Publisher & Editor 1947-2002
Editor & Publisher Rene Wisch
Managing Editor Sharon Wisch-Ray
Contributing Editor/Reporter Steve Wisch
Business Director Reuben Davidsohn
Social Editor Linda Wisch-Davidsohn
Food/Home Susan Wisch
Staff Writer Steve Israel
Assistant Editor Melissa Maroff
VP Sales & Marketing Amy Doty
Ad Representatives Linda Wisch-Davidsohn, Alex Ray,
Nancy Sadicarios, Judy Wisch
Creative Consultant Lance Schlegel
Computer/Production/Layout AngieEnglert,
Lisa Perkins
Distribution PamHuie
DALLAS
7920 Belt Line Rd., Suite 68
Dallas, TX 75254
972-458-7283
FAX 972-458-7299
METRO 214-788-2339
FORT WORTH
3120 S. Freeway
FortWorth,TX 76110
817-927-2831
FAX 817-429-0840
METRO 817-429-0840
,<y""
■AJAV-
Views and opinions of columnists and
contributors are their own and not nec-
essarily those of this newspaper. All
rights reserved. Photocopying, reproduc-
tion or quotation strictly prohibited
without permission from the publisher. s
Composition responsibility: This newspaper will not be liable
for errors appearing in advertisements beyond the cost of the
space occupied by the error. Advertisers assume responsibility
for errors in telephone orders. We are not responsible for the
Kashruth of any product or establishment advertised in the
Texas Jewish Post. Advertisers are responsible for authenticity of
any claims or statements made in their advertisements and are
not endorsements by the Texas Jewish Post.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscription Rates: Texas: $35 per year, Other States in U.S.: $45
per year, Foreign: $70 per year. Subscriptions are payable in
advance. Unless notified otherwise, it is understood that
all subscriptions are renewed automatically upon expira-
tion. Please allow four weeks from date received by the
Texas Jewish Post for address changes to take effect.
The Texas Jewish Post (ISSN 0040-439X) is published week
ly. Office of Publication: 3120 South Freeway, Fort Worth,
Texas 76110. Periodicals Postage Paid at Fort Worth, Texas.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Texas Jewish
Post 3120 South Freeway, Fort Worth, Texas 76110.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Matching Search Results
View two places within this issue that match your search.Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Wisch, Rene. Texas Jewish Post (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 59, No. 2, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 13, 2005, newspaper, January 13, 2005; Fort Worth, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth188062/m1/4/?q=architectural+drawings: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .