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democratic convention

  • Another Israel (almost) reference

    New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was supposed to have joined the “we’ll do a better job securing Israel” chorus Wednesday night. Richardson was bumped from the schedule on the night that the Democratic Party convention in Denver focused on national security and foreign policy. A line in his speech pledged that the nominee, Sen. Barack… More ▸

  • Lashon HaRa, and I approve this message

    Jewish Democrats didn’t spare themselves when they contemplated Jewish ethics and politics at a roundtable session Wednesday during the Democratic convention in Denver. Much of the discussion naturally focused on Republicans, particularly the Republican Jewish Coalition. Some inveighing at the National Jewish Democratic Council session was misdirected: A number of panelists (perhaps inartfully) crammed “RJC”… More ▸

  • Will.i.am am by amself

    Will.i.am just sang his viral paean to Barack Obama’s candidacy, “Yes, We Can,” but more or less solo – no appearances by MOTs Scarlett Johansson and Maya Rubin, who appear in the online video. (A “Kein, Anu Yacholim” would have moved a few Jewish votes, no?) More ▸

  • Saperstein leaves them wanting more

    You’ve got three minutes, and now it’s two: what do you cut? Here are some of Rabbi David Saperstein’s choices: a nod to Martin Luther King, a prayer for the war dead, and a couple of God references. Saperstein, the director of the Reform movement’s Religious Action Center, was asked to deliver the invocation Thursday… More ▸

  • Uniting on the 45th anniversary of “I Have A Dream”

    Actors Blair Underwood and Alfre Woodard read the “I Have A Dream” speech, faith leaders of all stripes provided reflections and Al Sharpton and Elder Bernice King brought the house down at Thursday morning’s “Unity Prayer Breakfast” in Denver marking the 45th anniversary of the March on Washington. Speaking early in the lengthy program –… More ▸

  • More support for an Iran strike than you probably thought

    The Israel Project released a poll this afternoon finding that 55 percent of Americans would approve of the “United States and its allies making targeted conventional military strikes against Iran’s nuclear weapons facilities” – a surprisingly high number considering the opposition generated by the war in Iraq. At a press conference announcing the findings –… More ▸

  • Taking apart tiny

    Jake Tapper dismantles the McCain campaign’s latest ad, targeting Barack Obama’s perception of the Iran threat. His assessment: “dishonest.” (Nice shot of the Israeli flag and the Dome of the Rock, though.) More ▸