Temple Israel cancels Wasserman Schultz speech

[mfcorey1]

Politics, both internal and international, fueled the dispute over her invitation to speak in the historic sanctuary.
By Erika Bolstad
[e-mail]

WASHINGTON -- Miami's Temple Israel on Thursday canceled a program featuring Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz after a high-profile Republican donor quit the congregation to protest the top Democratic congresswoman's speech.

Stanley Tate, a well-known philanthropist and prominent Republican who started Florida's pre-paid college tuition program, resigned from the temple after he learned Wasserman Schultz would be talking about Israel following services on Friday night, and that he wouldn't get an opportunity for rebuttal.

The temple's president, Ben Kuehne, a Miami attorney, said the event was canceled because of security concerns. He said they "certainly embrace the congresswoman's willingness to participate in one of our programs," but decided it was "unwise to proceed with the program tomorrow."

Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, called it an unusual situation, due in part to the temple's "internal politics." Temple Israel, which invited her to speak, is just outside her congressional district.

"I believe strongly that in a democracy people should be able to hear from and interact with their elected officials, which is why I gladly accepted Temple Israel’s invitation to speak as I have previously to many organizations and religious institutions throughout South Florida," she said. " It is unfortunate that some would allow politics to stand in the way of citizens' ability to interact with their representative."

Tate's resignation came after he asked the temple's leadership to let him speak in response to Wasserman Schultz. When they wouldn't do so, Tate said he would leave the congregation. Tate, 85, is co-chair of Mitt Romney's campaign in Miami-Dade County. He also has a national role in the GOP presidential candidate's campaign.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/24/2816210/temple-israel-cancels-wasserman.html#storylink=cpy

[Ian David]

1. The dude is one of the 16% of Jews who vote Republican, if I remember my stats. n/t

[KharmaTrain]

7. More Specific...Racist, Rich Likudnik Jews...

He's in the same camp as Adelman and a bunch of rich right wing Jews who've long been rushpublicans. Their two main causes are unconditional support of Israel (including American military support of an Israeli attack of Iran...or American doing the dirty work) and protection of their wealth (tax cuts and cuts to captial gains). Add to that a lifelong racism that does exist within some in the Jewish community (primarily elderly) who can't stand having a "schvartze" in the White House. I'd say its less than 16% but they are a vocal minority within the Jewish community. They use their money to influence and intimidate and here's another prime example...

[Lasher]

2. Wow, the reader comments section of the linked article is like a war zone!

And at 527 comments, it's a long war.

[sarge43]

3. From the novel Dune

"When politics and religion ride in the same cart, the whirlwind follows."

[Lasher]

10. Hah!

How succinct. I'll try to remember that one.

[DCKit]

4. Tate needs to be smacked down as the extremist he is.

In the meantime, his hissyfit has generated a lot of negative feelings for the Republics, so I guess we should thank him.

[XanaDUer]

5. I'm from Miami and embarassed to say

Those are some of the STUPIDEST comments I've ever read .

[Lasher]

12. Miami has no monopoly on stupidity.

But the logical fallacies are so thick you could cut them with a knife:

Hair on fire: "NAME CALLING WITHOUT QUALIFICATION!!! SLURS!!!"

Hint of Civility: "You are being hateful and subjective."

Hair on fire: "No, I'm not. You're the one!!! I am being objective because I say so. Here's more NAME CALLING!!!"

On and on it goes.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

6. So if Tate can't dominate the discussion/conversation

at this event, like Repubs do on the media and all around the rest of the US, he's going to whine, pitch a hissy, take his marbles and go home.

Typical narcissistic Republican. And I daresay that's redundant. Pfft.

There ought to be some venues where a Democrat can speak without being followed by or drowned out by a drooling, mentally unstable, screeching ape Republican. Unfortunately, there are few and the fact that people kowtow to the likes of this imbecile Tate is one reason why.

[Kencorburn]

8. What a way to start the day...

...by being reminded of the absolute insanity of some of my fellow floridians. That comment section, wow, do they even know who Saul Alinsky was, besides some boogey-man Gingrich told them about? Its like there is a mass apoplexy denying any of these folks the ability to reason.

[DCBob]

9. money, money, money

They fear losing his donations. Throw the money changers out of the Temple!

[Loge23]

11. Wow, the dude owns his own Temple. (nt)