In what can only be described as hilarious, there was an exchange a few nights ago between Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and comedian host Bill Maher.
Mr. Maher quoted to Schiff a statement that the president has the constitutional authority to use military force if he determines it’s in the national interest. He asked Schiff if he thought the language was not vague. Schiff responded, “It’s totally vague.” Maher then told him that this was a statement from the Obama administration regarding his use of military force against Libya.
Schiff looked like a deer in the headlights. He managed to say something about Libya not being the same as Iran. But he was caught at his own game.
The Democrats are all on cue parroting the same line that the president needed constitutional approval from Congress – even though Congress has not approved a war since World War II. In the meantime, many congresspeople have been spouting the same line: The Iranian regime is awful and a threat to world peace, but congressional approval was necessary. As if this war could have been pulled off with the surprise element with Congress debating the issue.
Unfortunately, it’s not just with the Iranian war that the Democrats are taking turns copying each other. California governor Gavin Newsom, who had been quite supportive of Israel – in fact he took a supportive trip to Israel following October 7 – now has done a complete turnabout. He has called Israel a genocidal and apartheid state as he pivots to become more popular in his radically Democratic state.
The question looms large: Will Israel find any support among Democrats? It’s frightful to think about a Democratic victory in November. But no doubt Jews will continue to vote Democrat. Why? Because they are masochistic and care about everyone’s cause but their own. They also don’t want to be left off the boat that has become anti-Israel.
Yes, we are in for tough times ahead. I wonder if there is anything we can do about it.
Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld is the Rabbi Emeritus of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, President of the Coalition for Jewish Values, former President of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens, and the Rabbinic Consultant for the Queens Jewish Link.