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Jewish Dems: Palin out of step with community opinions By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondent and AP Tags: U.S. elections, Sarah Palin  Following U.S. Presidential candidate John McCain's announcement that he had selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate on Friday, the National Jewish Democratic Council issued a statement saying McCain's judgment appears "lacking." "Today, Senator John McCain made his first critical decision with his selection of his vice Presidential running mate. In Governor Sarah Palin, McCain chooses a running mate with zero foreign policy experience and a brewing scandal that is being investigated by the Alaska state legislature," said the group's Executive Director Ira N. Forman in a statement yesterday. Comparing the newly named vice presidential nominee to her Democratic counterpart Senator Joe Biden, the statement went on to say "the contrast with Joe Biden could not be starker and more unfavorable for the soon-to-be Republican nominee." Advertisement "For a party that claims it is trying to reach out to the Jewish community, McCain's pick is particularly strange," Forman continued. "Prior to today's selection, Palin apparently has never spoken publicly about Israel. Moreover, on a broad range of issues - most strikingly on the issue of women's reproductive freedom - she is totally out of step with Jewish public opinion. The gulf between Palin's public policy positions and the American Jewish community is best illustrated by the fact that the Christian Coalition of America was one of the strongest advocates of her selection," he said. In contrast, the Republican Jewish Coalition issued a very different response to McCain's running mate selection, saying that the choice demonstrated his good judgment and commitment to challenging politics-as-usual. "As governor of Alaska, Palin has enjoyed a strong working relationship with Alaska's Jewish community," said Republican Jewish Coalition Executive Director Matt Brooks. "Palin has been a leader on the critical issue of energy independence and lessening our need to buy oil from nations not sharing American and Israel's foreign policy," he said. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Palin and Buchanan McCain's VP pick's ties to Pat Buchanan rankles Jewish Democrats. A diplomat's foray into politics Ex-Ambassador to U.S.: Arabs in the Galilee are a secessionist threat.

Read & React Top Iran general: Attack on Tehran will ignite 'world war' Responses: 176 Erekat: Abbas told Olmert PA won't accept interim peace deal Responses: 159 Democratic Rep.: Palin pick is 'direct affront to all Jewish Americans' Responses: 99 Editorial: Are we ready to accept Shalit's murder, knowing he could've been freed? Responses: 71 More Headlines 00:37 Erekat: Abbas told Olmert PA won't accept interim peace deal 23:32 Ex-Ambassador to U.S.: Arabs in Galilee are secessionist threat 02:25 CIA papers show Arafat ordered murder of American diplomats in Sudan 21:22 Shin Bet chief: Abbas' time as PA President is running out 01:02 Israel tells Hamas to soften its demand to free over 1,000 prisoners for Shalit 23:10 Jewish Agency cedes North America aliyah operations to Nefesh B'Nefesh 20:47 Democratic Rep.: Palin pick is 'direct affront to all Jewish Americans' 20:39 Iran cleric: Ahmadinejad's economic policy thwarting our bid to be Mideast superpower 23:07 From Mon., IDF reservists to get bonus payments for annual service 23:42 Rabin assassin Amir suspected of threatening wife's neighbor 21:40 Top police commander ordered to take leave of absence pending hearing 21:53 4-year-old boy laid to rest hours after court bans mother from funeral Previous Editions Select Day 31 aug 29 aug 28 aug 27 aug 26 aug 25 aug 24 aug 22 aug 21 aug 20 aug 19 aug 18 aug

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