New York Jews welcome Bush's U.S. attorney general candidate
Modern-Orthodox retired federal judge Michael Mukasey has been nominated to replace outgoing AG Alberto Gonzalez.
By Shlomo Shamir Tags: George Bush Jewish WorldThough the U.S. Senate has yet to approve the recent nomination of Michael Mukasey, a retired federal judge and Modern-Orthodox Jew from New York, as a replacement for outgoing U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, the Jewish community has embraced him.
Mukasey's hearing with the Senate is scheduled for this week.
Secular and religious Jews and opinion shapers alike have over the past weeks expressed unreserved support for Mukasey's candidacy for the U.S. justice system's top executive officer.
As with every other year, Mukasey could be found this Yom Kippur at Kehilath Jeshurun in Manhattan's Upper East Side. At the synagogue, Rabbi Haskel Lookstein describes Mukasey as a veteran frequenter. "He hasn't missed a single prayer during the High Holidays," says Lookstein. "He might skip a prayer here and there, but he's a believer and a devout Jew."
It has been two weeks since U.S. President George Bush announced Mukasey as his candidate to replace Gonzales, who was forced to step down following accusations of illegitimate dismissals of federal prosecutors. Many in the Jewish community regarded the nomination as a gift for the holidays, and leaders and opinion shapers are pouring out the compliments.
"Mukasey comes from a very well-respected Jewish family," said Abraham H. Foxman, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League. Foxman's family immigrated to the U.S. from the same city in Ukraine as Mukasey's parents.
Lookstein, who was Mukasey's counselor at summer camp, says his former camper is "an honest, noble and humble man." Lookstein goes on to say that Mukasey is "first a good man, and only then a tzadik - a righteous person.
Mukasey, 66, graduated from Columbia University in 1963. He later received a degree in law from Yale. If his nomination is approved, Mukasey will become the second Jew in U.S. history to preside as attorney general.
The first Jewish attorney general, Edward Hirsch Levi, was appointed to the post is 1975, with the task of restoring the federal justice department's greatly diminished status following the Watergate affair.
Mukasey was appointed to the bench in 1987 by the late Republican president Ronald Reagan. He retired last year and opened a private law firm.
Jurists who commented on Mukasey's nomination almost unanimously praised him as a worthy candidate. Some of them pointed out that despite Mukasey's conservative beliefs, as a judge he never let his political inclinations inside the court room.
"He's not a social conservative, as far as I can tell, and that's important to our community," Marc Stern, legal director for the American Jewish Congress told The Jewish Week recently. "We have no idea what he thinks about civil rights, no idea about his positions on church-state issues. And we don't know much about what he thinks about abortion."
The New York Times, which tends to be suspicious of any Bush nomination, has so far published five articles in support of the nomination. It is therefore not surprising that the Senate is expected to approve Mukasey's nomination, after Democrat senators said they were in favor of the appointment.
The only potential hurdle in Mukasey's path could be his strong ties with Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani. It was Mukasey who swore in Giuliani as mayor of New York City in 1993. The ceremony was moved from its original date because of Mukasey's observance of Shabbat.
Over the weekend, the New York Times published an article saying that the administration had pledged to refrain from letting Mukasey handle any cases or matters connected to Giuliani.
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U.S. President George W. Bush announcing his choice for attorney general, retired federal judge Michael Mukasey last month. (AP) |
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and more anti-US hostility as a result.
Re Dylan,Ms. H. You're right, never conflate a Jew and a Zionist. But, sorry, Bob is a Zionist. Listen to his supportive "Neighborhood Bully." Read Tony Scaduto's bio, specifically the point about Dylan's refusal to support Black Panther's 'cause of their hostility to Israel. See photos of Dylan at Western Wall in "occupied" Jerusalem. Now, how does feel? Pathetic, no?
Come on, people. Has Bush ever nominated someone truly good or worthy of their position? What ties does this man have to Bush and the Republican cronies? I don't care if he's Jewish right now, will he make a good AG?
Learn to read, Sol. Judaism is a well-respected world religion; zionism is a cult. Can I be any clearer? Do not attempt to conflate the two concepts.
Robert Zimmerman is a Jew and a wonderful musician. Please do stop conflating 'Jew' with 'zionist.
Did you have a counter-argument to my points, or are childish insults the best your poor laundered brain can come up with? Pathetic.
Your question is very intelligent. Thank you for asking. There are Muslims in the Israeli government. ARe therr Jews in JOrdan . SAudi ARabia government? Please keep askiing questions so the truth can be told.
They often come out here with benign girl next door names. In this case the extra sting of a Jewess next door name. Responding to this entity, perhaps a US Jew hating Anarchist or a Saudi funded Jihadi...is futile and a complete waste of time.
Yes is the answer.
just a question.. in the states they have so many jews in politics like senators and congress and in the white house adminisration and so on, how about in israel do they have the same thing for christian and muslim citizens??hmm
If anybody wants to know what mindset leads to the arrogance and expansionist ambitions of Islamofascists then reading Hannah will be very educational. We have in one small post at least six racist stereotypes. And if that were not enough there is the final pronouncement from the learned Hannah that Judaism is a cult. I have often wondered at the value of talkback but Hannah your posts (and the like from others) convince me of its merits. It is like a wakeup call that racist scum like you still exist.
Do go on quoting him...
Hannah has a lot to say. She will be receiving large pay check.
He is a product of our free education that encouraged him to go get more. THis article does not tell you all about his credits. He was the judge that sentanced the blind cleric who had plans to blow up New York. This man is respected by the legal profeesion. You Jew haters would accept an ueducated person to do the job.
I consider your rantings less than worthless; as are your racist, bigoted and paranoid claims about alleged "Jewish Control" of everything from finance, the media to whole governments. We get the point that you aren't interested in facts; only in pseudo-historical garbage that supports your hate-mongering agenda. It sounds like you are a bitter, resentful and angry human being. Er, pardon me, but your swastika is showing...
Jews rule and you don't...so, ole ole ole ole
Ever hear of Elyakim Rubenstein? Get your facts straight before you put yur foot in your mouth.
One of the best damn Federal judges on any circuit. He maintains widespread respect from the entire legal community including even attorneys he made decisions against in his courtroom. He is an outstanding choice and well above the political fray that Washington drowns itself in.
A candidate should be chosen because of qualifications, and religion should be irrelevant. As for Israel having representation in the Justice Department, any American who represents the interests of another country is ipso facto unqualified.
How is having an Orthodox Jew as AG good or bad for the USA? It may be "good for the Jews" but how does it benefit the USA? Pandering to minority ethnic groups and possibly turning down higher qualified candidates is never a good thing.
"He might skip a prayer here and there, but he's a believer and a devout Jew." What would Foxman say had the nominee been a devout Muslim who also came from a very well-respected Muslim family? I can only imagine! And whatever happened to the principle of separation of state and church?
Why is it that all these foreign interest groups have so much power in Washington to the detriment of the average American, to be fair to Israel though it's not just them, the Irish Lobby also have way too much influence in US politics.
I was worried that Bush would pardon Pollard before he leaves office. I believe that with a Jewish AG, this is less likely to happen.
Who cares? Jews are 1.4% of the US population. Without the Jewish bankers in charge of the Federal Reserve (do check out the history of that illustrious zionist enterprise) and in charge of the erstwhile US banking institutions, why ever would AIPAC have the power that they have? Unfortunately, dear zionists, AIPAC is not about you or about zionism per se; it is about how the Jewish bankers (Rothschild et al) manipulated the US and their fellow tribe members to put their own greedy fingers on Middle-Eastern oil in order to enlarge their own usurious pockets. Throughout history, has it ever been any different? Zionists are merely mesmerized pawns, manipulated through tribal fables, for the betterment of the Rothschild family. How does it feel? to be on your own? no direction known? like a rolling stone, as Bob Dylan would and did say. You zionists should use the next 25 years or so to get a grip on your own souls, and realize that you have been nothing but brainwashed cult members
Here is a good example as to why no Jew should allow him/herself to be used!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FIh_ipMERs
as an informal jew, who was raised catholic, what a marvelous choice.
Once again our "spokepeople" have mispoken. What difference does it make if Mukasey "hasn't missed a single prayer during the High Holidays" or if "Mukasey comes from a very well-respected Jewish family." How in the world do either of these issues impact his efficacy as Attorney General? Apparently neither Lookstein nor Foxman did any introspection these past "Days of Awe." More political games.
Couldnt happen here in Israel. The Left wouldnt tolerate it. Just as Joe Liberman, another religious Jew, ran for US Vice-President, here in Israel the Left would find it intolerable.
Judge Mukasey's first name is Michael.
President George W. Bush has made an excellent choice for Judge Mark Mukasey to replace Judge Alberto Gonzalez as the Attorney General of the United States, for the remainder of President Bush's term. I hope that Judge Mukasey will be confirmed by the United States Senate.
GOD BLESS THIS AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MAY IT LIVE FOR ANOTHER 6000 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MAY IT THE ENEMIES OF AMERICA PERISH IN SHAME!!!
Its about time Israel and Jews had some representation in the Justice Department.
When leaders put a 'Jewish Face' in the fore, it is always an unfavorable sign of the times, and of the future, especially for the Jews. As an Orthodox Jew, this guy should understand he must not accept the position, he must respectfully decline the offer.