Lee Rosenberg, who campaigned on behalf of Obama, was confirmed as president-elect of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee at its recent national conference. And Alan Solow, an early Obama supporter, was recently elected chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.And just how big a supporter of Obama is Rosenberg? Pretty big:
For both groups — the Jewish community’s largest pro-Israel advocacy organizations — showcasing close friends of Obama in their leadership brings the all-important benefit of opening doors at the White House. The two supporters’ roles take even greater significance as the Jewish community braces for what many predict could be a rocky relationship between Washington and Jerusalem.
“I found that it was not only that he [Obama] has concern for Israel’s safety and well-being, but that he is also really fundamentally interested in the relationship between the U.S. and Israel,” Rosenberg said.And apparently, being a good friend of Obama didn't hurt Rosenberg either:
During the campaign, Rosenberg, an AIPAC board member for more than 10 years, repeated the story of his relationship with Obama to Jewish voters across the country time and again.
On a Friday morning just days before the November presidential election, Rosenberg made his pitch at a Miami Chabad synagogue to a dozen skeptical Jewish voters. Undeterred, he patiently vouched for Obama’s pro-Israel credentials, assuring the small crowd that the little-known senator from Illinois was sincere in his support for Israel.
Rosenberg also appeared in a video clip that was produced by Chicago Jewish supporters of Obama and aimed to debunk the widespread smear campaign against the presidential candidate. “Listen to what he says. He means what he says. Don’t listen to others trying to interpret what he said,” Rosenberg urged Jewish voters in the clip.
Rosenberg will take over the AIPAC presidency next March, after current president David Victor ends his two-year term. “He was in line for being a big leader someday, but because of his ties with Obama, he got catapulted,” said a Jewish organizational official who closely follows the community’s intramural politics but would speak only if granted anonymity.All of this of course leads to the obvious question--when all is said and done, is this close relationship to Obama really a good thing?
In a telephone interview with the Forward, Rosenberg, who rarely speaks to the press, said he believed that his friendship with Obama is only part of the story of his ascent. “I am confident that my leadership position at AIPAC is due to my close relationship with the president, but also thanks to many relationships I have been fortunate to build with other people in leadership, including many members of Congress,” he said.
Not all in the community see the friendship between community leaders and the president as advantageous. Morton Klein, national president of the Zionist Organization of America, expressed concern over the ability of Rosenberg and Solow to speak out against the president, who, in Klein’s view, is demonstrating a hostile approach toward Israel. “They will be reluctant to criticize Obama,” Klein said. “I’m concerned whether it is best at these times to have people close to the president in these positions.”
Such concerns, however, were not widespread among communal leaders. Most appear to see the elevation of Obama friends as a positive move.
It's only natural to place a premium on 'having connections,' but this kind of closeness and lack of objectivity is worrisome.
Rosenberg and Solow are among a small group of leading Chicago Jews who supported Obama throughout the campaign. Others include billionaire defense contractor Lester Crown and hotel heir Penny Pritzker, who served as Obama’s national finance chair during the campaign.Did I say 'worrisome'?
Solow, speaking at an April 29 reception for Israel Independence Day, referred to the prominent role Chicago is now playing in national politics, calling his hometown “the most important city in the world.”
Rabbi Sam Gordon, who co-founded Rabbis for Obama, said the Windy City has always played a leading role on the national Jewish scene, but “people may be noticing us more now” because of the local community’s ties with the president.
Solow, an attorney and philanthropist, has supported Obama ever since his first race for the Illinois Senate. During the presidential campaign, he spoke glowingly of Obama as the “first Jewish president.”
And while Rosenberg does not state publicly where he stands on the two state solution, he does not appear to be opposed to the idea.
Although Rosenberg frequently speaks to Jewish audiences about Obama’s support for Israel (he was the AIPAC board member chosen to introduce then-candidate Obama at the lobby’s policy conference last year), as AIPAC president-elect he refrains from stating his own views on issues in contention. Such is the case on the debate over the question of an independent Palestinian state. Rosenberg recently lobbied forcefully on Capitol Hill for an AIPAC-backed congressional letter supporting a two-state solution.
This issue is expected to take center stage in U.S.-Israel relations, since the new government led by Netanyahu will not endorse a two-state solution as a solution to Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians, nor will it use the term “Palestinian state.” Netanyahu has, instead, stressed other forms of Palestinian self-governance. The Obama administration, meanwhile, has insisted repeatedly that an independent Palestinian state and security guarantees for Israel remain the keys to a resolution. [emphasis added]
With people like this, who needs J Street?
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