Jewish Insider: JDCA Launch

Last night, the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) launched its opening event at the Capitol Liaison Hotel in Washington. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer joined dozens of members of Congress, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). The new group, chaired by former Congressman Ron Klein (D-FL), will work to promote Democratic candidates in federal and state elections in line with Jewish communal values and the US-Israel relationship. “American Jews are one of the Democratic Party’s most reliable constituencies, and more than ever require a new organization to represent their interests, as the Trump administration fans anti-Semitism, nativism, racism and other forms of bigotry,” said Klein.

In his remarks, Dermer emphasized the importance of strong Israeli ties with the Democratic Party. “You cannot fly a plane with one wing, and you cannot have a strong alliance between the US and Israel without strong support in both parties and so we are very pleased that you have started this organization,” he said. The senior Israeli diplomat touted strong backing for Israel in the Democratic Party throughout the past 70 years listing the work of former Senators Henry “Scoop” Jackson and Robert Wagner. [Pic; Pic]

SPOTTED: Senators Bob Casey, Maria Cantwell, Ben Cardin, Michael Bennett, Sherrod Brown, Tim Kaine, Chris Murphy, Debbie Stabenow, and Chris Van Hollen; House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Democratic House Whip Steny Hoyer, Reps. David Cicilline, Charlie Christ, Eliot Engel, Lois Frankel, Anthony Brown, Joe Kennedy III, Nita Lowry, Ted Lieu, Jerry Nadler, Jared Polis, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Sheila Jackson Lee, Jacky Rosen, Jamie Raskin, Ted Deutch,  Jan Schakowsky, Alan Lowenthal, Grace Meng, Brad Sherman, Darren Soto, and Mark Takano; and former Congressman Howard Berman.