Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg will win the support of American Jewish voters over his rival Bernie Sanders because of his “long-standing ties to the Jewish community” and reputation as an “ardent supporter of Israel,” one of his campaign aides said this week.
Bloomberg aide Mark Botnick was asked about Bloomberg’s electoral appeal to US Jews in an extensive feature on the 2020 election in the Austin, Texas, news outlet, Austin American-Statesman.
When it was pointed out that Sanders was also Jewish, Botnick — who was in Austin for a “Bagels for Bloomberg” outreach event with local Jewish supporters on Tuesday — said he didn’t have close knowledge of the Vermont senator’s positions on Jewish matters.
“You know, I’m not that familiar with Bernie’s record,” Botnick said. “I don’t think he’s got nearly the outreach or the involvement in Jewish life that Mike has. Mike identifies as a Jew and speaks about how it emboldens him to act in a certain way. I haven’t heard Bernie Sanders make that case.”
Last Sunday, Sanders posted a “proud to be Jewish” video on his campaign website.
The divide over Israel between the two heavyweight contenders is clearer, however.
In a Feb. 11 written statement sent to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Bloomberg hailed Israel as “the closest and most reliable U.S. ally in the Middle East,” and pledged to work with its government “in a manner that befits the close relationship between our countries.”
Speaking at a town hall meeting in Nevada on Tuesday night, Sanders took a much more critical stance.
“To be for the Israeli people and to be for peace in the Middle East does not mean that we have to support right-wing, racist governments that currently exist in Israel,” he said.
“It cannot just simply be that we’re just pro-Israel and we ignore the needs of the Palestinian people,” Sanders added.
The Algemeiner (c) 2019 .
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This is not even close. Sanders is the worst self-hating anti Israel Jew in Congress. He secretly encourages the BDS movement. Bloomberg, love him or hate him, has always been Pro Israel. Sanders would be a disaster for Yidden and for this Country. Bloomberg is a centrist, pragmatic, and the most moderate of the bunch. If he were to win the presidency, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. Yes, I said the same thing about Hillary in 2016. The Clintons are also centrists. Sanders is the worst of the worst. A very dangerous man. The voters can not let him win.
You’re right, except for one point – Sanders’s support for BDS is far from secret. Your post is an excellent, concise and accurate summation (IMO) of Bloomberg, Sanders and the Clintons positions and qualifications.
Crab honey. They both eat it right?
Smug by smug be. Will it be a real jewish president ever? I very much wonder if or. The White House does not yet have a scroll.
Growl Bernie. Bicker Mike. The bottom of the sea feeds you.