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May 21, 2004/Sivan 1 5764, Vol. 56, No.35
AIPAC-ers weigh Israel, domestic agendas
MATTHEW E. BERGER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
WASHINGTON - Don Shein disagrees with Presi-dent Bush on the environment. He disagrees with Bush on stem-cell research. And he disagrees with Bush on abortion.
But he's voting for Bush anyway.
For Shein, a financial adviser from Baltimore, the 2004 presidential election is about only one thing: Israel.
The loyal Democrat said he has been impressed by Bush's support for the Jewish state and even donated $500 to Bush's re-election campaign, despite his opposition to the president on many domestic issues.
"My sense is that Bush would stand up for Israel when no Democrat would," Shein said May 16 at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee annual policy conference.
Bush is something of a messiah to those attending the conference in Washington, many of whom traditionally vote Demo-cratic. They are willing to overlook what they don't like about the president because of what they do like.
His address to the conference on May 18 turned into a Bush rally.
Outgoing AIPAC President Amy Friedkin likened the president to Ruth, the non-Jewish biblical figure who told Naomi, "Your people is my people."
She commended Bush for his "moral authority" in isolating Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat.
"You have walked the walk with our friend and ally Israel," Friedkin said. "Thank you Mr. President."
The crowd of about 5,000 crowding the cavernous Washington Convention Center launched into the first of what would be 23 standing ovations. A smattering of conference-goers shouted "Four more years!" and raised four fingers in the air.
Bush clearly understood the relationship between his support for Israel and the adulation he was earning in a week that his approval ratings were dipping dangerously.
"It's good to be with so many friends - friends of mine and friends of Israel," he said.
Because of the threat Saddam Hussein's regime posed to Israel, many here also supported the administration's invasion of Iraq.
But the AIPAC crowd isn't necessarily representative of the American Jewish community at large. Many here consider themselves single-issue voters - choosing a chief executive solely on the basis of support for Israel - while most Jews consider a wider range of issues.
And loud applause for a pro-Israel president at a pro-Israel conference is no guarantee of a vote on Nov. 2.
Among those standing up for ovations were top Democratic donors and organizers. One enthusiastic applauder for Bush was sporting a "Throw Bush out of the White House" button.
Some said they would vote for Bush despite strong opposition to his positions on the economy, abortion and other domestic policy issues, because international policy was their main concern.
"I think international stuff is more prominent right now," said Yifat Hassiel, a lawyer from Los Angeles. "The domestic stuff can be changed with the local leadership."
Lana Krebs, a computer technical support project manager from Atlanta, said the economy is important to her, but Israel issues have to be her No. 1 priority. She said she feels almost guilty backing a politician who opposes abortion and stricter gun controls.
"It does bother me, but I don't see a better option," she said.
Those who are voting for Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), the presumptive Democratic nominee, hastened to add reasons for their support.
"Kerry's record is still really pro-Israel, and I consider other issues," said Stephanie Bloom, a pediatrician from Boston. "The Jewish community has influence over whoever is in office, and we would do fine with Kerry."
AIPAC has touted this election as a "win-win" proposition, noting Bush's strong support for Israel and Kerry's 100 percent pro-Israel voting record in the Senate.
"Whatever the outcome of the elections in November, on Jan. 20 of next year Israel will have a friend in the Oval Office of the White House," Sen. Joseph Lieber-man (D-Conn.) told the AIPAC conference on May 16.
Bush's speech to AIPAC was only his second to a Jewish organization since he became president. Kerry was not invited to address the conference because of a tradition that limits in-vitations to incumbent candidates.
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