As Gephardt bows out, Jews lose a friend in Washington’s high places

[Herschel]

The political career of one of Congress’ strongest advocates for Jewish concerns may be over.
Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.), who served as Democratic leader in the House from 1989 to 2002, ended his presidential bid Tuesday, a day after he captured only 11 percent of the vote and finished a disappointing fourth in the Iowa caucuses, which he won in 1988.

“Today my pursuit of the presidency has reached its end,” Gephardt said Tuesday in a tearful press conference in St. Louis. “I’m withdrawing as a candidate and returning to private life after a long time in the warm light of public service.”

Gephardt, 62, previously had announced that he would not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives, thus ending a Washington career that began when he joined the House in 1977.

“A lot of Jewish Democrats are quite saddened by the apparent end of Dick Gephardt’s political career,” said Ira Forman, executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council. “He was always a friend, not just on domestic issues, but on Israel.”

Gephardt always was considered a friend on Middle East matters, but Jewish officials in Washington said he became a leader on behalf of Israel in recent years — perhaps because of his aspirations to higher office, but also because of the new international landscape after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Gephardt was the highest-ranking congressional official to speak at an April 15, 2002, solidarity rally for Israel at the Capitol.

cut

http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?strwebhead=Gephardt+out%3B+Jews+lose+a+friend&intcategoryid=5

Sad indeed. Hopefully those that supported Gephardt will support Joe Lieberman.

[Noon_Blue_Apples]

1. Question and comment

who/what are "Jewish officials in Washington"

"Gephardt always was considered a friend on Middle East matters, but Jewish officials in Washington said he became a leader on behalf of Israel in recent years"

It's unfortunate that his standing shoulder to shoulder with *bush has put an end to his career and other works important to the majority of the AMERICAN jewry. The minority pro-war stance ends up hurting issues a majority supports, due to his absence.

"On domestic issues, Jewish supporters said they cannot remember an issue in which Gephardt and a majority of the Jewish community diverged. As the Democratic leader, Gephardt often would hold strategy meetings in his office to plot a path for passage of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, bringing together Jewish and other civil rights organizations."

B

[Darranar]

2. Why do these people always claim to speak for Jews?

[Noon_Blue_Apples]

4. I found the word "official' curious

makes it 'official' sounding...

B

[drdon326]

3. And speaking of support for israel...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040120/480/pcs11201200446

[drewb]

5. Hey Hersch, where you been?

:yourock:

[Forkboy]

6. Bummer

not really

[IndianaGreen]

7. Gephardt supported IWR

Good bye, so long, and thanks for all the fish!