Posted By James Besser
Promises, Promises At RJC Debate / Adam Dickter in New York
Three of the Republican contenders for president would immediately move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, their representatives said at a debate Tuesday night.
Surrogates for Sen. John McCain, Gov. Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani told members of the Republican Jewish Coalition their candidate would not seek a waiver of the 1995 embassy relocation act, as Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush have done.
“Sen. McCain was a cosponsor of the relocation act and would implement it rather than waive it,” said Randy Scheunemann, director of foreign policy for McCain, in response to a Jewish Week question. “The idea that we don’t want to move an embassy to the capital because someone in the State Department thinks it will predetermine the peace process is, frankly, ridiculous.”
Ken Kurson, chief operating officer of Giulani’s campaign said: “I believe he will do it. This is a guy who has a proven record of doing things people said were impossible.”
The surrogates were in agreement on most other issues, including the state of the Mideast peace process and the upcoming Annapolis summit.
“We are falling into the trap of believing that all problems are somehow stemming from the Israel-Palestinian issue,” said Scheunemann . “We need to have long-lasting resolution of the process but we must never pressure Israel into making a deal. It’s fine to reinforce Abbas, but the real question is whether he can deliver anything.”
Steven Schrage, representing Romney, said the former Massachusetts governor had “raised very serious concerns [that the conference must] address issues of security and not looking toward some kind of legacy-type program [for President Bush].”
Kurson said the State Department was perpetually looking at the Mideast “through rose-colored glasses. Anyone who has seen Rudy Giuliani in action understands that he is a realist when it comes to dealing with real life threats and issues.
“Pressure on Israel is wrong and we should never do it again.”
All three campaigns favored cracking down on illegal immigrants, rejecting proposed measures to incorporate them into society. In a jab at Giuliani, Schrage noted that “the most famous city in the world,” New York, had become a so-called sanctuary city, passing legislation barring officials from inquiring about anyone’s immigration status. Kurson retorted that Romney’s state had four sanctuary cities.
The surrogates also agreed on strong action against Iran, including military options, if necessary.
“As senator [McCain] has been very clear about the nature of the threat,” said Scheunemann. “He said the only thing worse than military force is the danger of a nuclear Iran.” He said McCain had raised the possibility that Iran’s dependence on imported refined gasoline could be a weakness, and suggested that the United States, Britain and other allies use it as leverage against its nuclear program.
Asked about the three Israeli soldiers held by Hamas and Hezbollah, Scheunemann said McCain, a former POW during the Vietnam war, had met with the soldiers’ families and believes their release must be tied to pressure on Syria. “We have to make clear to Syria that as long as they support Hezbollah they will have to pay a price.
“His own experience as a POW is that can’t easily negotiate with a totalitarian regime. You have to address the underlying conflict.”
Kurson said Giuliani understands that “Hamas is actively involved in some of those kidnappings and they are not a negotiating partner. Rudy understands that you don’t negotiate with people from a position of weakness.”
None of the campaigns directly opposed arms sales to Saudi Arabia, but each said such deals must come with restrictions.
“The privilege of buying arms should come with responsibility,” said Kurson. “We have to ensure that they stay where they are intended and in stable hands.”
Schrage said Romney has raised “some serious questions [about the arms sales] but has also talked about building security guarantees and making sure, instead of writing blank checks.”
All the surrogates expressed their candidates support for the Bush administration’s embattled faith-based initiatives program , addressing the larger issue of religion and government.
“Gov. Romney believes in complete equality of opportunity,” said Schrage. “He believes very strongly in the power of faith and doesn’t believe there should be any indication that one religion [is favored] over the other.”
Kurson said “there is a rush to condemn any involvement in religion. It is a force for good in our society and in our country. The few voucher programs Rudy Giuliani was able to get through in New York City showed that when you give people more choices … they will choose the right thing for themselves.”
Scheunemann said McCain “doesn’t believe you can artificially keep faith out of public life.”
On the issue of appealing to Jewish voters, the majority of whom are not Republican, Kurson predicted Giuliani would break Ronald Reagan’s record of Jewish votes.
“There is a real opportunity for the Republican party this year,” he said. “Jews aren’t having that FDR reaction. They get that we face enormous danger from [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi and other extremists who blame Israel for just about everything wrong with the world.”
Scheunemann said “you don’t have to be from New York to win a lot of Jewish votes,” while Schrage said Romney has “a huge history of involvement in the Jewish community and as people get to know him he will do very well.”
The crowd at the event showed a decidedly conservative streak. When Scheunemann said McCain believed “you can’t take 12 to 15 million illegal immigrants and put them on cattle cars,” several in the crowd shouted“ why not?”
Also in the crowd were people who hissed at the mention of Democrat Nancy Pelosi and at least one defender of Ann Coulter.
Kurson demonstrated that Giuliani’s penchant for putting 9-11 at the center of his campaign also extends to his aides by mentioning it in the first sentence of the answer to the first question. Asked about his candidate’s domestic priorities, Kurson said it was “securing the homeland and protecting the American people” from terrorism, noting that he “understands it, I believe, in a unique way, having experienced it personally and witnessed it personally.”