NJDC slams Romney for praising Hezbollah

WASHINGTON, DC (Press Release)— In an article titled "Mitt Romney cited Hezbollah's social network as a model for U.S. diplomacy,"  the Jewish Telegraphic
Agency (JTA) reported yesterday on recent comments by GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney that Hezbollah's "kind of diplomacy is something that would help
America become stronger around the world ." 

Today, the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) strongly criticized Mitt Romney for his praise of Hezbollah and released the following statement from Executive Director Ira N. Forman:

"It is the height of irony that, within weeks of saying Democrats are 'uncomfortable in recognizing evil in the world,' Governor Romney would make such ill-informed remarks that cite a terrorist organization as a model forU.S. diplomacy.  Indeed, Mitt Romney's naïve comments suggest a fundamental misunderstanding of the Middle East and geopolitical realities. Mitt Romneydesperately wants to be President of the United States, but this type of comment clearly shows that he is not ready for prime time.

"Any candidate for President should know that Hezbollah's social programs are inseparably tied to terrorism.  The health clinics and schools praised by Romney have also been used as a cover for rockets launched at Israeli cities.  Moreover, Hezbollah social activism has included paying "bonuses" for the murder of Israelis."
 
Hezbollah's Secretary General, Hassan Nasrallah said in 2002 that, "Regardless of how the world has changed after 11 September, Death to America will remain our reverberating and powerful slogan: Death to America."  The following year he said: "Israel is our enemy. . Its destiny is manifested in our motto: 'Death to Israel.''' [BBC Monitoring: Al-Manar, Sep. 27, 2002 (from CAMERA's website); AIPAC Memo, 8/31/06]

The full quote from Romney, as reported in JTA: "'Did you notice in Lebanon
what Hezbollah did?' [Romney] said in remarks broadcast on C-Span and captured by Crooks and Liars, a liberal Web site. 'Lebanon became a democracy some time ago and while their government was getting under way, Hezbollah went into southern Lebanon and provided health clinics to some of the people there, and schools. And they built their support there by having done so. That kind of diplomacy is something that would help America becomestronger around the world and help people understand that our interest is an interest towards modernity and goodness and freedom for all people in the
world. And so, I want to see America carry out that kind of health diplomacy.'"

The preceding article was provided by the National Jewish Democratic Council


Hadassah will cosponsor 'stem cell summit'

BOSTON (Press Release)—The Harvard Stem Cell Institute, the Genetics Policy Institute and the Burrill Life Sciences Media Group are convening the “Stem Cell Summit” Oct. 2-3 here.  The Summit will bring together leading researchers, patient advocates, biotechnology executives, experts in policy, law and ethics along with key decision-makers to chart the course on stem cell research and technologies.

Hadassah is a co-sponsor of the summit.  Representing Hadassah, Dr. Rafi Hofstein, President of Hadasit, the technology holdings company of the Hadassah Medical Organization, will be a speaker.

Last year, Hadassah received the 2006 National Advocacy Award presented by the Genetics Policy Institute in recognition of its continued work in advocating for favorable stem cell legislation and funding.

The regular registration fee for this event is $495 but Hadassah members are eligible for the reduced rate of $295.  Hadassah members can register by contacting Chad Graham in the Hadassah American Affairs Department at (212) 303-8136 or cgraham@hadassah.org. 

To read more about the summit please visit http://www.thestemcellsummit.com/. To become a Hadassah member (annual membership is $36, or life membership is a one-time payment of $360) call Hadassah San Diego Area Resource Center at (858) 552-9200.

The preceding story was provided by Hadassah

JINSA advisor to head JFK Airport security


(Editor's Note: The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA) sent along this news release from the Transportation Security Administration along with a note that appointee Morris is a member of JINSA's board of advisors)

After obtaining a bachelor's degree in history from Upsala College, Morris graduated from the Port Authority Police Academy. He also attended the Police Command College at West Point Military Academy in 1990 and the FBI National Executive Institute in 2002.

The preceding news release was provided by the Transportation Security Administration


AJC says high fuel efficiency requirements are necessity for promoting  energy independence

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)—The American Jewish Committee today urged the House of Representatives to pass the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security and Consumer Protection Act (H.R.32200. Robust CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards must be an essential part of any comprehensive energy bill enacted by Congress, AJC said.

"This legislation will put the United States on a more sustainable energy path, one that is essential both to our nation's security and our environmental health," said Richard Foltin, AJC's legislative director.

"We cannot overstate the importance of moving toward tougher fuel economy standards at this time," said Foltin. "We are deeply concerned that the opportunity not be missed to strengthen CAFE standards, a crucial component of a multifaceted approach to ending our dependence on foreign oil and securing America's energy future."  
 
AJC has been a leading advocate for the development of energy policies that will reduce the United States' dependence on foreign energy sources and protect the environment. AJC has also been a long-time supporter of strengthened CAFE standards and other bold measures to ensure energy security. Unfortunately, the bill that will be considered by the House does not provide for strengthening of CAFE standards.

"We urge the leadership of both parties to ensure that that a strong 35 mile-per-gallon standard - comparable to that in the energy bill passed by the Senate - be included in the Senate-House conference report," said Foltin

  The preceding story was provided by the American Jewish Committee

Reform Judaism's Saperstein, NCJW  pressed Senate
to pass bill providing children's health coverage

 Editor's Note: The House  of Representatives narrowly passed legislation on Wednesday to levy a tax on cigarettes to finance a health care program for the nation's children.  The measure subsequently was approved by the Senate on a 68-31 vote.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)—Speaking today with Senators Kennedy, Casey and Salazar, as well as Rev. Bill Calhoun and Pastor Derrick Harkins, Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism spoke to the moral obligations of children’s health care.  The full text of the prepared statement follows:

It is no surprise that the first spontaneous prayer ever uttered in the Torah was a prayer for healing.  According to the biblical narrative, Moses’ sister Miriam was stricken with leprosy and Moses, upon hearing the news cried out the words Eil Na R’fah Na Lah, God, please heal her (Numbers, 12:13).

Moses’ sense of urgency is present today on Capitol Hill as Congress votes to reauthorize SCHIP. I join with other faith leaders and Senators here today, and plead on behalf of those too young and too poor to plead on their own behalf.  O God, pray help us bring healing to these, our children, your children. 

For today, the faith community has learned to make God’s work our own.  So we turn our eyes not to the Holy Mountain, but to Capitol Hill. It simply cannot be that we do not answer the unspoken prayers of the six million children who, though eligible, are not enrolled in SCHIP and Medicaid. It simply cannot be that we harden our hearts against healing a health care system wrought with economic inequality, where children lack access to vital care.

There are those who say that to embrace these children is to set a dangerous precedent: This brings us down the road to a government run health system; or: is these 3.2 million children why not all children or all uninsured?  But what is more dangerous than neglecting our nation’s youth? In the next few weeks, millions of children will be heading back to school. It is our responsibility to ensure that a lack of health care does not impede their learning. Statistically, children without insurance miss more days of school, get poorer grades, and are held back more often than children with insurance. In the Talmud we learn in the “Ethics of Our Fathers” that without physical sustenance there can be no learning (3:21).  Yet in that same passage we learn that without learning there can be no physical sustenance. It is our obligation to stand here today and say that our nation’s future, our nation’s well being, depends on the physical and mental well being of America’s youth.

Nine million children uninsured and six million eligible for aid and still not insured. Perhaps it would be easier to answer the cries if there were only one such child – say, a three year-old stricken by leukemia, or a five year-old with a cleft palate, easier also because stories are more powerful than statistics.  So I beg of you: Think not of the numerical magnitudes; think of these children one by one, one and then another and then another still, innocence upon innocence, need upon need. I can think of no vote that says more about who we are, about what we believe, than the vote on whether to say “yes” or to say “no” to each one of these children.  I plead with you: Let us embrace and not abandon them when we have the resources to do so much more.

The Children’s Health Insurance program has proven to be one of America’s greatest successes. That makes the plight of the millions falling through the cracks that much more a tragedy.  The current Senate bill calls for a $35 billion investment in SCHIP to maintain the health care of 6.6 million children already insured and cover an additional 3.2 million children. Increased SCHIP funding would help raise awareness in low-income communities about SCHIP and help finance mental and dental services so that children can go to the doctor for regular check-ups and wellness visits. Our children cannot wait until they are desperately ill to get care.

Every member of Congress knows what needs to be done. If we fail America’s children this year, it is the failure of our moral vision and political will.  Unwavering in this pursuit, we will accept no less from Congress than to begin by covering half of those now falling through the cracks. The health of our children, the integrity of our national conscience, and the future of our nation depend on it.

* *

National Council of Jewish Women praises House vote

In a related development the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) today praised the House of Representatives for passing a strong bill that would renew and strengthen the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). NCJW President Phyllis Snyder released the following statement:

"Yesterday's vote by the House of Representatives in favor of strengthening and extending the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) -- the federally funded program that provides health insurance for the children of poor and working class families -- is an important step forward in the struggle to ensure that every American has access to affordable health care. Approximately eight million children remain uninsured although they are currently eligible for either SCHIP or Medicaid. The House bill will go a long way toward correcting this shameful situation.

"The Senate is considering a similar bipartisan bill. Although it is not as strong as the House bill, its passage offers hope to children now without access to health care. We urge the Senate to immediately pass its bill without weakening amendments. It is our hope that negotiations to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate bills will yield a strong, sufficiently funded SCHIP bill to send to the President.

"In a recent speech, President Bush threatened to veto the improvements Congress is making to SCHIP on philosophical grounds -- that the bill is "a strategy to get more people to be a part of a federalization of health care." We believe that the President needs to re-think his opposition to legislation that is providing what the private sector clearly has not, and act in the best interests of America's children by signing the bill that Congress will send him."

NCJW is a volunteer organization, inspired by Jewish values, that works to improve the quality of life for women, children, and families and to ensure individual rights and freedoms for all through its network of 90,000 members, supporters, and volunteers nationwide. 

The preceding story was provided by the Religious Action Committee of Reform Judaism