According To Howard Dean, Jews Can Go To Heaven

Thank you Mr. Dean:

"This country is not a theocracy," Dean said, according to JTA. "There are fundamental differences between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party believes that everybody in this room ought to be comfortable being an American Jew, not just an American; that there are no bars to heaven for anybody; that we are not a one-religion nation; and that no child or member of a football team ought to be able to cringe at the last line of a prayer before going onto the field." [emphasis added]

Dean is apparently very concerned about our comfort level. He said pretty much the same thing last year:

"I was recently asked about the difference between the Democratic and Republican parties," Dean said. "When it comes right down to it, the essential difference is that the Democrats fundamentally believe it is important to make sure that American Jews feel comfortable being American Jews." [emphasis added]

Last year, Allahpundit linked to this same quote by Dean. Why?

I’m linking just because it’s a swell opportunity to air some of his dirty laundry. Like for instance, here he is on the campaign trail in January 2004 making Jews comfortable by wearing the black-and-white checked Arafat/Fatah keffiyeh around his neck:

LGF memorialized the incident for posterity. “From militant resistance fighters in Iraq to Indonesian independence fighters to Nicaraguan revolutionaries,” wrote the Lebanon Daily Star shortly after Arafat’s death, “the keffiyeh, a simple cotton black-and-white-striped head-covering most often associated with Arafat who famously wore it to address the UN General Assembly in 1974, is alive and kicking.” And making Jews comfortable.

A few months before the keffiyeh fashion show, Dean stepped in another pile when he said “it’s not our place to take sides” in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. So comforting did the public find his remarks that he was forced to “clarify” the very next day [though not before the Democratic party did some damage control.]

There are plenty of other Dean items in the LGF archives; go ye and be comforted. Let it be noted, though, in Dean’s defense that compared to his base he’s practically a Likudnik.

LGF has the text of the NY Post article on Dean's flip-flop on Israel:

Under fire from pro-Israel leaders, Democratic 2004 front-runner Howard Dean last night retreated from his statement that America shouldn't "take sides" in the Mideast, and said he backs a "special relationship" with Israel.

"We've had a special relationship with Israel," Dean said at a Democratic debate last night, insisting, "I don't mean any such thing" as changing America's support for Israel or cutting aid.

Dean's switch came after his demand that Israel withdraw from an "enormous number" of settlements drew fire from Jewish leaders and praise from an Arab-American leader.

Rival Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) charged at the debate that Dean is "not standing by our values." He added that Dean actually took sides - but against Israel - by demanding withdrawal from settlements instead of leaving that to negotiation.

Dean shot back, "I'm disappointed in Joe - my position on Israel is exactly the same as Bill Clinton's." [emphasis added]

All of which is why Howard Dean is not necessarily all that comforting.

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