The Jewish Press Endorses Pro-Toeivah Candidate Weprin For Congress

35
>>Follow Matzav On Whatsapp!<<

david-weprinThe Jewish Press has endorsed David Weprin in the September 13 special election to fill the Congressional seat vacated by Anthony Weiner. Mr. Weprin, a Democrat, is currently a New York State assemblyman and was formerly a member of the New York City Council where he served as chairman of its finance committee.

The Jewish Press released the following statement explaining its endorsement of Mr. Weprin:

He has a long record of standing up for the interests of his constituents in terms of child care, health care, senior care, etc., and has always impressed us with his understanding of the special needs of the Orthodox community’s broad array of voluntary social service safety networks. And while he has had no direct responsibilities relating to the State of Israel (as a congressman he would), there are few public officials who have expressed themselves more forcefully on Israel’s behalf.

So we have no hesitation in saying he would easily meet the checklist of most voters. This is especially true given the growing need to cut government spending – he argues for cuts over time and increasing taxes in the highest brackets – and the inevitable concomitant competition for ever-diminishing resources. And given the mindset of President Obama when it comes to the Middle East, there has never been a greater need for people in Congress who fully appreciate the longstanding special relationship between the U.S. and Israel.

But in this particular race, that cannot be the end of the inquiry. There are those who argue that there are at least three separate considerations that trump the usual areas of concern. Some, like former New York City mayor Ed Koch, say it is important to elect a Republican to fill the traditionally Democratic 9th CD seat (once held by Senator Chuck Schumer) in order to send a message to President Obama vis-à-vis his Mideast policy. Others cite Mr. Weprin’s fulsome support for the recently enacted state law authorizing same-sex marriage as a reason not to vote for him. Still others call attention to Mr. Weprin’s supposed support for the Ground Zero Mosque. These are not matters that can be summarily dismissed.

Mr. Weprin’s opponent in the race is Republican Bob Turner, a retired communications industry executive. Preliminarily, Mr. Turner has advocated a prompt 35 percent cut in government spending without any new taxes, but insists this would not necessarily impact significantly on the lives of those who depend on such government funds, particularly Social Security and Medicare. We don’t usually agree with The New York Times, but here is its editorial reaction: “That would take a magician, not a businessman.”

Given his overarching negative view of government spending, it is hard to imagine Bob Turner going to bat as strongly as David Weprin in any struggle for funds to minimize the impact of government cutbacks on the 9th CD. Indeed, we were troubled on this score by Mr. Turner’s opposition – apparently in the interest of budget cutting – to including volunteer responders together with uniformed responders in the aftermath of 9/11 in an omnibus compensation law for responders who suffered injuries and illnesses.

Mr. Turner says he is a staunch supporter of Israel and we certainly take him at his word. Yet, as noted above, Mr. Weprin has throughout his long public career taken strongly pro-Israel positions. So we don’t quite understand Ed Koch’s notion that by electing a Republican over a pro-Israel Democrat, voters in the 9th CD would be sending Mr. Obama a message to be more supportive of Israel.

While there have been several critical rabbinic pronouncements regarding Mr. Weprin’s support for New York’s same-[gender] marriage legislation, by no means has there been an emergent consensus that this should drive voter choice. Under the circumstances, while we disagree with Mr. Weprin’s stance on this matter, we do not believe it should trump all other vital issues affecting the everyday lives of New York Jews.

Further, we urge voters keep in mind that the notion that elected officials must take positions tracking the tenets of their faith is not something that is necessarily good for a Jewish minority in a predominantly Christian country. Our sad experience with the Sunday blue laws comes readily to mind.

Mr. Turner has attacked Mr. Weprin for being on the wrong side of the ground zero mosque debate. He says Mr. Weprin supported building the mosque on ground zero. However, any review of the record shows that Mr. Weprin said that while the sponsors of the mosque had a legal right to build, it would be a good idea if they looked elsewhere. The First Amendment requires no less.

On balance, we believe David Weprin is the better choice for Congress in the 9th Congressional District.

{The Jewish Press/Matzav.com Newscenter}


35 COMMENTS

  1. The Jewish Press is correct in endorsing WEPRIN. Does nayone know that Turner lives in Brezzy POINT which does not allow Jews in the area?

    WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT THIS?

    VOTE FOR WEPRIN!

  2. I’m shocked that newspaper founded by Rabbi Shalom Klass would endorse someone who supports deviants. Weprin’s loss would be a sting to Obama. Any denying this is to deny reality.

  3. As an ‘orthodox’ Jew, he should not be voted in, because of his improper vote on the ‘marriage’ law. As an observant Jew, this was a negative move on his part and not becoming, and can only give a bad impression of the Orthodox Jewish community to New Yorkers. Why in the world, unless he was ‘told’ to, would he have voted for it. All this still doesn’t mean the other candidate is better, but Weprin did something (for an ORTHODOX Jew) that just didn’t make sense. A real politician, anything goes for the vote!

  4. Jewish Press wrote a very nice article, but it dodged one of the main points. Werpin is a puppet of the Democrat party hacks. He will not cross party lines and he will follow orders from the Democratic Party bosses. The issue on him voting for the same gender marriage bill is more the fact that he did it because he had to follow the party bosses than him being an orthodox Jew. The fact that he is an orthodox Jew just proves the point. Even though he is an orthodox Jew AND there his district’s constituents were not mostly in favor of the bill, he still voted for it. What’s his excuse? He has none, he went against his religion AND his constituents. Why? Because, the party bosses wanted.
    Let the JP explain how that is good for us!

  5. WELPRIN HAS STATED THAT HE WILL BACK OBAMA ON ALL ISSUES DO WE NEED ANOTHER TAX AND SPEND DEMOCRAT
    WELPRIN DOESNT EVEN NO THE AMOUNT OF THE DEFICIT WE ARE IN DOES THIS SOUND LIKE A CONGRESSIONAL PERSON

    WELPRIN DOSNT EVEN LIVE IN HIS DISTRICT #3 TURNER DOES WELPRIN DOESNT UNDERSTAND THE PEOPLE HE REPRESENTS TURNER DOES

  6. FOR THE RECORD:

    TURNER DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT POLLARD UNTIL HE DECIDED TO RUN FOR CONGRESS

    WEPRIN HAS A REAL RECORD

    YOU ARE ALL REPUBLICANS UNTIL THEY LOCK YOU IN JAIL AND THEN YOU BECOME LIBERAL AND CARE ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS

  7. To # 17. Jews can live anywhere in the U.S. but it is not advisable for Jews to live in certain areas such as San Francisco because of all air.

  8. manny,
    weprin didnt know the federal deficit. he was off by 10 TRILLION dollars.
    Watch the hikind video of turner speaking. He said there is a lot he doesn’t know and a lot he will learn. he will learn becausehe wants to do things right. he has plenty of help.
    get off the weprin bus or you’ll get thrown under it by the president.

  9. The Jewish Press is a newspaper in steep decline for years. They have recently woken up and tried to improve themselves, but they are still in decline. With such stances, they should decline even further.

    Re Weprin and the toeivah bill – not only did he vote for it, but he stood up and made a speech saying that he was an orthodox Jew and still supported it, as opposed to Dov Hikind who had made a prominent stand against it on the assembly floor, saying that the Bible didn’t allow him to support it. And he also marched in the toeivah parade. And, most recently, just days ago, after he was already running for this seat, he was the beneficiary of a fundraiser by the toeivah’niks.

    That is a major problem, and, despite the spinning by people like Weprin’s managers and other apologists, it is not just a ‘kleine zach’. It is a MAJOR problem.

    Turner isn’t perfect, but we shouldn’t be buying a line that toeivah is not a major problem and that one can be ‘orthodox’ and supportive of the toeivah movement. Dave is a nice guy and has done good things. Therefore we should keep the door open and allow him to do teshuvoh.

    David, you still have a few days, announce publicly that you regret your vote for the toeivah bill, apologize, return all the money you have gotten from the toeivah’niks, pledge to oppose all their legislative goals and not march in any future toeivah parades, and then we will view you differently (not holding my breath).

    It is time for us to stand up for Torah values and show that people like Ezra Friedlander and Zev Brenner do not control the Jewish vote, which cannot be bought by hiring the pair (Ezra is Zev’s producer, in addition to his own company, which was hired by Weprin).

    Vote values, = Turner.

  10. Reb Yaakov Kaminetzky when asked if it is muttar to bring the JP into the bathroom replied that the question should be if it is muttar to bring the JP out of the bathroom.

  11. Jewish Press endorsed Clinton! What else do you expect from them? It is a Democrat house organ, that once in a while goes off the beaten track to confuse people.

  12. Right on! Another thing that Mr. Freidlander should consider. Remember how all of the “establishment” & “money machines” were endorsing Joe Lazar over David Greenfield for the City Council seat vacated by Simcha Felder? Who won? B”H it was Greenfield by a landslide! It wasn’t even close! The point is: a lot of young THINKING people are starting to get involved in the political landscape. We don’t vote like blind bats anymore. A silly endorsment here or there (eg. YITZCHOK PINDRUS) means absolutly O! Wake up and smell the coffee, or GET OUT!!!

  13. You should be ashamed of your headline. the sinas chinam against a fellow jew is digraceful and our lack of civility reminds me of hooligans

    To destroy a fellow jew after years of service to our community is disgusting whether you agree with his vote and speech on the issue. you will have alot of davening to do this Rosh Hashanah.

Leave a Reply to GOP rocks Cancel reply

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here