Kerry’s appeal to competing groups extends to Jewish and Arab voters

[Herschel]

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Kerry, emerging as the front-runner in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, appeals to competing constituencies otherwise at odds in the battle for the Democratic soul.

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His Jewish stump speech — delivered with vigor and passion, with barely a pause — cites the Roosevelt administration’s decision to turn away a ship of Jews fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe as a failure of U.S. policy he would never repeat.

He says he stood atop Masada and felt the echoes of Jewish resistance call to him. He shouts, extending each syllable with his broad Brahmin vowels: “Am Yisrael Chai!”

One on one, Kerry, 60, exudes athletic energy, even returning to play ice hockey since his treatment a year ago for prostate cancer. On the campaign trail, he often stoops over his interlocutors to look them straight in the eye. He never raises his voice.

Arab Americans thrill not just at his condemnation of Israel’s security barrier — “We do not need another barrier to peace” — but at how he says he arrived at his conclusion.

Speaking at an Arab American Institute conference in Dearborn, Mich., in October, he described how in the West Bank he witnessed how “Palestinian women, traveling on foot, were forced to stand in long lines at checkpoints with their children tugging at their sleeves and their arms loaded with groceries.”

Newman Abuissa, who organized support for Kerry among American Arabs in Cedar Rapids and who is now a Kerry delegate from Iowa, says, “He dealt with the Arab issue on a personal level; he knows names and events.”

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http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?strwebhead=Kerry+appeals+to+Jews%2C+Arabs&intcategoryid=3

Kerry must get in line on Israel. Dean's waffling damaged him. Kerry must be clear in his support of the Jewish state.

[Forkboy]

1. Excellent for Kerry

Best thing I've heard him say in months!

Kerry must stay on the exact line he's on and not be intimidated by those who wish to see one group get preferential treatment.

[Francois]

2. His campaign advisor

is an American Lebanese and was on James Zogby last week. A bright guy with a strategy. Didn't say much about ridding Israel of WMDs, though. I TiVoed it, otherwise I would have called in.

[drewb]

3. QUOTE...

"Newman Abuissa, who organized support for Kerry among American Arabs in Cedar Rapids and who is now a Kerry delegate from Iowa, says, “He dealt with the Arab issue on a personal level; he knows names and events.”"

I have to admit that it would be refreshing to have a president with a brain, regardelss of whether or not he is "in line on Israel".

Your point about Dean is well taken though, I notice how poorly he has been doing recently, his waffling really did damage him.

[David__77]

4. "get in line..."

I think Kerry would have the same position that Clinton had.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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[Darranar]

6. How was he solidly pro-Arab?