JDCA Weekly Wrap Up – We believe her, and believe we can change things in November
Friends,
As we near the end of the Jewish holidays and conclude a difficult week for our country, we are more committed than ever to ensuring our values are reflected in Congress. Whether it’s the continued rise of anti-Semitism in politics, the U.S. president being laughed at by the world, a courageous victim of sexual assault being put on trial, or a Supreme Court nominee demonstrating he utterly lacks the temperament and character for our nation’s highest court (and that’s just a recap of the past few days) – we can do better. Today, we are pleased to announce that we have immediate ways you can join the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) in bringing about meaningful political change in November that is aligned with Jewish and Democratic values. Consider supporting JDCA today and read on to learn more…
TODAY@ 2:00 – JDCA Call on the Role of Congress in the Trump Era
Recent developments in Washington are an affront to our democratic institutions and values. Checks and balances in our government have never been more important, and Republicans in Congress have failed to fully assert their oversight role of the executive since President Trump assumed power. Join JDCA as we explore Checks and Balances: The Role of Congress in the Trump Era on a briefing call TODAY, Friday, September 28, at 2:00 PM EST with constitutional expert and congressman, Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-8). Congressman Raskin will join us for 45 minutes, on-the-record, discussing how Congress and the Judiciary can reign in presidential abuses of power. You don’t want to miss it. Sign-up now!
Jewish Dems Stand With Dr. Ford
Like so many of you, we watched the remarkable testimony of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford on Thursday, and were in awe of her courage and fortitude in the face of extremely difficult circumstances. JDCA issued a statement asserting its unequivocal support of Dr. Ford, who was clearly driven by a sense of civic duty to speak truth to power.
We also expressed outrage that Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee – lacking the courage to question Dr. Ford directly themselves – politicized, discredited, and dismissed Dr. Ford’s claims of sexual assault. This is not a partisan issue, and JDCA stands with Dr. Ford.
Delay the Kavanaugh Vote
If yesterday’s hearing was a job interview for Judge Kavanaugh, we never would have hired him. He was belligerent, defensive, arrogant, and rude. We are outraged that Republicans are ramming this nomination through without calling additional witnesses or conducting a FBI investigation. JDCA has called for delaying the Kavanaugh vote in order to allow for due process. Furthermore, JDCA was deeply concerned by Judge Kavanaugh’s performance on Thursday, where he demonstrated – repeatedly – that he’s lacking the temperament and character to serve on the Supreme Court. The credibility of the Court is at stake, and our rights – as well as those of future generations – will be decided by this swing vote. Join JDCA in calling on the Senate to delay the Kavanaugh vote, and write to your senators urging them to vote NO.
JDCA Condemns Rising Anti-Semitism in the Age of Trump
Since Trump was elected, we have witnessed a rise in anti-Semitism throughout the country. In an interview this week, JDCA expressed deep concern that anti-Semites have been emboldened in the Trump era, as demonstrated by neo-Nazis running for Congress and marching in the streets of Charlottesville or Washington. On Sunday, JDCA responded to an anti-Semitic incident at the home of a supporter of Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), which was targeted with swastikas, profanity, and racist graffiti. In response, JDCA condemned the attack, and reiterated calls for the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) to join us in opposing the neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and Holocaust-deniers running for Congress as Republicans.
Join Us: Volunteer!
The stakes in the November elections could not be higher. That is why we are asking you to volunteer with JDCA in the midterm elections, and join a JDCA phonebank or canvass today. Check out our volunteer events calendar, sign-up to volunteer, or email [email protected] to create a phone bank or canvass. Added incentive – JDCA campaign volunteers will receive a “Jewish Dems” button and tee-shirt in early October. Check out these images of our first weekly JDCA phone bank for CA candidates in Los Angeles. Join us today!
Shabbat Shalom,
Halie Soifer
Executive Director, Jewish Democratic Council of America