Jews Don’t Support the GOP Because the GOP Doesn’t Support Jews

Hanukkah is a holiday honoring the fight for religious freedom. While we prepare to celebrate starting on Sunday night, we’re reflecting on the ongoing threats facing Jewish Americans. This week, Quinnipiac University published a new poll with distressing but unsurprising results. The poll found that while 83% of Democrats see rising antisemitism as a “serious” problem, a majority of Republicans — 54% — don’t think antisemitism represents a growing threat to Jewish Americans.

The difference between Democrats and Republicans is not simply that Democratic leaders speak out against antisemitism and GOP leaders have embraced, normalized, and emboldened antisemitism – it’s also evident that the willful blindness and complicity demonstrated by Republican leaders has trickled down to their supporters.

If there’s one thing to take away from this poll, it’s this: Jews don’t support the GOP because the GOP doesn’t support Jews.

On Hanukkah, the flames of the menorah help spread light into a dark world. This year, with rising right-wing extremism and antisemitism, Jewish Dems will not rest in the fight against Republican attacks on our rights, freedoms, and democracy. Here are two ways you can take action with us:

 

1. Urge Meaningful Action to Protect Our Democracy It’s been almost two years since Trump incited an insurrection and attack on our democracy and the peaceful transfer of power. Since then, Republicans have repeatedly blocked the reforms necessary to ensure the integrity of our elections, as well as broader structural reforms that make it easier to vote. The only legislation to strengthen and defend democracy that has a chance of passing while Democrats still maintain the majority in the House is the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022 – join us in urging Congress to pass it. 2. Defend Democrats from Republican Hypocrisy Instead of confronting the extremists within his party, Kevin McCarthy has committed to removing Reps. Adam Schiff, Eric Swalwell, and Ilhan Omar from their committee assignments. At the same time, he seeks to reinstate the committee assignments of far-right extremists Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar and give unprecedented power to election deniers and extremist members of his party. Join us and make your voice heard: Enough of the Republican Hypocrisy.

 

Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach,

Hon. Ron Klein
Board Chair, Jewish Democratic Council of America

Halie Soifer
CEO, Jewish Democratic Council of America