Posts
PITTSBURGH – The Jewish community in Pittsburgh is sending a strong message to the Harris-Walz campaign as the election nears: continue to align with those who oppose Israel, and expect to lose votes from Jewish Democrats.
The controversy began when the Harris campaign invited speakers to their rallies who attributed the October 7 attacks, which resulted in 1,400 Israeli civilian deaths, to Israel itself, despite the Jewish community's explicit objections.
"These pleas were ignored," a source involved in the discussions told The Post. The campaign proceeded to feature Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, both of whom have been criticized for implying, alongside Rep. Summer Lee, that the violence wasn't initiated by Hamas on October 7.
"The violence did not start on October 7th." - A statement co-signed by Gainey and Innamorato.
This statement, issued on the anniversary of the attacks, drew immediate backlash from Jewish leaders in Pittsburgh, where a significant portion of Pennsylvania's Jewish population resides and is ready to vote.
With such votes at stake, the Democratic Party's association with anti-Israel figures might cost them Pennsylvania's 19 electoral votes, potentially deciding the 2024 presidential election in favor of Donald Trump.
This scenario isn't far-fetched. Several Jewish Democrats in Pittsburgh have voiced feelings of betrayal by their party, contemplating voting for Trump instead.
Aviva Lubowsky, a mother of two, while not switching her vote, highlighted the risk:
"If the Democratic Party wants to retain its Jewish voter base, they have to eschew and denounce extremists in the party," she said. "The rhetoric they are using is dangerous for the safety of my children. It’s causing people who would otherwise vote for [Harris], to vote for Trump."
Jennifer Murtazashvili, a Jewish political scientist, noted the broader shift:
"The mainstream progressive left has a major problem on its hands," she remarked, indicating that many in her circles are leaning towards Trump due to doubts about Harris' commitment to Israel and fighting anti-Semitism.
The discontent is palpable, with a significant portion of Jewish voters showing less enthusiasm for Democrats than at any time since the Reagan years.
A Jewish Democratic voter expressed the community's frustration:
"There are undecided voters in the Jewish community where I never thought they’d be," he said, mentioning encounters at holiday services where traditional Democrats are now unsure.
The sentiment was echoed by another voter considering Trump:
 |
| Summer Lee |
"They obviously understood how dangerous it would be for Summer to be there," she criticized the campaign's strategy, pointing to the careful navigation around Rep. Lee's involvement.
The fear of a Harris administration not adequately preventing Iran from nuclear capability was also a significant concern driving some towards Trump.
These issues resonate deeply in Pittsburgh, where the memory of the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooting, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, lingers, alongside recent attacks on Jewish students.
Despite this, some like Audrey Glickman, a survivor of the Tree of Life tragedy, still support Harris:
"Kamala Harris is not a Squad member. She’s been to Pittsburgh more than once and talked to us more than once and has worked on antisemitism as an issue," Glickman defended Harris, expressing disappointment in the local leaders' rhetoric.
However, for others like Lubowsky, who still wishes for Harris to win, the Democratic Party must act to reclaim support:
"I have never voted for a Republican in my entire life. I will be for the first time this election," Lubowsky declared, planning to vote for Republican James Hayes in the local election.
This election cycle reveals a historic shift, with American liberal Jews feeling politically homeless.
No comments:
Post a Comment