Jewish Groups Irked by Cross on Republican Podium

Reuters ^ | 09/01/2004 | Mark Egan

[Spyder]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Speakers at this week's Republican convention make their remarks at a wooden podium that some Jewish groups find offensive because its decorative panels appear to form the shape of a Christian cross.

A cross is even more visible in a waist-high gavel stand adjacent to the podium, leading some to question whether the party is trying to send a subtle message to its base among conservative Christians.

"It is the very height of insensitivity for the Republican Party to feature a cross at the center of the podium of this convention," Ira Forman, executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council, said in a statement.

"This wooden cross must be at least three feet (one meter) tall, and it sends a signal of exclusivity loudly and clearly."

Two other Jewish groups interviewed by Reuters expressed similar sentiments.

A convention spokesman declined to comment about the podium flap, telling reporters he did not understand why people were asking questions on the issue.

President Bush's chief political strategist, Karl Rove, told CNN he did not think the podium's decorative woodwork looked like a cross.

"My God, where do they come up with this stuff?" he said. "Does it look to you like it's a cross? I don't think so."

The hall at the convention, where Bush on Thursday will accept the Republican nomination to a second White House term, is sparse.

Its three main components are a billowing stretch of red, white and blue to symbolize patriotism and the American flag, a New York skyline devoid of the World Trade Center, destroyed in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and the church-like podium.

Beside the podium is the gavel stand constructed of wood panels, with lighter shades in the center in the shape of a cross -- the Christian symbol of the crucifixion of Jesus.

CHURCH AND STATE "I'm a Roman Catholic myself, but I continue to be amazed about the inappropriate dissolution of the line between church and state," said Village Voice media critic Michael Musto, adding that he saw the cross as a "subliminal nod to the religious right."

Separation of church and state is a key issue for U.S. Jewish voters and among the reasons why they typically vote for Democrats. Bush, who will accept the nomination as the Republican presidential candidate on Thursday, refers regularly to God and his religion in his speeches.

With Bush neck-and-neck with his Democratic opponent Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, Republicans are keen to mobilize the religious right to vote for the Texan.

In the 2000 election against Al Gore, Bush took about one fifth of Jewish votes. But despite irritation among some Jews about the symbolism at the convention, his support among Jews could rise to about one third in November's election, said David Twersky, director of international affairs at the American Jewish Congress.

That increased Jewish vote will come from Bush's tough stand on terrorism, his assertion of Israel's right to defend itself and because his road map for Middle East peace demands that Palestinians must stop attacks on Israel, he said.

Twersky said that whether or not the image of a cross on the stage was a message to the religious right, much clearer signals were delivered by speakers at the podium.

"When Laura Bush said (the president) doesn't change his friends or his values and there was a thunderous roar from the delegates, that was a message that the president is with the Christian right on abortion and other issues," he said.

[Spyder]

And in related news, Sesame Street's "The Count" wishes to now be known as "'He Coun'." Says 'Coun, "I've always been verrrry afraid of the letter T myself."

[LuckyHat]

Cross? I looked like a pony to me.

[LuckyHat]

Cross? It looked like a pony to me.

[NavySEAL F-16]

The pastor from the Riverside Baptist Church where the Billaries gave their sermon on anti-Bush on Sunday also is irked. Does not see any hypocrisy in his statement. LOL

[jwalburg]

This reminds me of the "niggardly" flap somehow.

[vrwcagent0498]

WTF?

The LLL (Looney Liberal Left) newest motto:

"All Whine All the Time"

[Ann Archy]

Victims......always victims.

[JohnnyZ]

President Bush's chief political strategist, Karl Rove, told CNN he did not think the podium's decorative woodwork looked like a cross.

"My God, where do they come up with this stuff?" he said.

WHAT GOD IS ROVE REFERRING TO??? IS HE TRYING TO MIX POLITICS AND RELIGION???

[jwalburg]

Got a pic?

[Use It Or Lose It]

The true loonies are oozing out of the woodwork now. Next thing they'll be complaining because Kix Brooks is wearing a (gasp) black hat and Ronnie Dunn's hair is red. These people really need to take a deep breath, give each other a hug and STFU.

[Kay Syrah]

I don't know, I suppose we could find out if its really a cross by bringing in a few dems and making them look at it. If they recoil and fly out the window, guess it is.

[MisterRepublican]

These people are lunatics.

[Hacksaw]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Speakers at this week's Republican convention make their remarks at a wooden podium that some Jewish groups find offensive because its decorative panels appear to form the shape of a Christian cross.

Geez, too f***kin' bad. Of all the things to complain about...

[billorites]

Cross?

I'm as paranoid antichristian nutcase as they come and I didn't notice this.

I must be off my game.

[Texas Eagle]

You'd think Reuters would provide a pic so pipples could decide for themselves what the think looks like.

Oh, well. I guess I'll just have to watch the Convention.

[Viking2002]

A bunch of suicidal effin' leftist Jews. I dated one years ago, and I'm sure she was typical of them - insecure, self-righteous, and emotionally unbalanced. None of these a-holes were going to vote for Bush anyway, so let 'em bitch.

[socal_parrot]

You have to really squint to see it...

[COBOL2Java]

Maybe they tuned to the wrong channel...

[Spackidagoosh]

[hellinahandcart]

"This wooden cross must be at least three feet (one meter) tall, and it sends a signal of exclusivity loudly and clearly."

Yeah? Well, just wait until Thursday night, when we crucify a dwarf on it.

[okstate]

Nope. Still can't see a cross there. LOL

[Salvation]

I never noticed that it was a cross until I heard this story on Fox News.

What will they complain about next?

Not the Jewish coalition, but the lefties.

[crazyhorse691]

More implosions. This a non-issue that will replaced by another non-issue by the whiners. And another. And another. And another.

[Hacksaw]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Speakers at this week's Republican convention make their remarks at a wooden podium that some Jewish groups find offensive because its decorative panels appear to form the shape of a Christian cross.

Are these groups heavily composed of vampires?

[duckbutt]

Most of American Jews will vote democratic anyway - - so why should they care?

[hellinahandcart]

The Holocaust survivor who delivered the benediction last night didn't seem too put off by it.

[familyop]

...been a Protestant all my life, and I agree that crosses are pagan images that violate the first two of the Ten Commandments. New churches violate other parts of the Commandments with romantic zeal and feminist tendency.

...might soon be following only the Old Testament (in Hebrew, even) because of all of the recent neo-paganisms and anti-Jew tendencies. ...that, and an intense, long-term study that recent neo-Naziism led me to of how members of the Catholic Church wrote and re-wrote the New Testament.

There are too many gods and excuses for terrible sins coming into popular, new Christianity for me to any longer tolerate. I won't be accepted as a Jew by German or Russians Jews, and I'll be blasted by Christians, but so be it. I won't worship the goddess to come.

[Argus]

I think the gay Smurf was also spotted in Madison Square Garden, snorting coke with Mighty Mouse.

[Fiddlstix]

Well.......

Just Damn.

[NordP]

GET ROYALLY REAL. Then...get a life.

[michigander]

Speakers at this week's Republican convention make their remarks at a wooden podium that some Jewish groups find offensive because its decorative panels appear to form the shape of a Christian cross.

They're really stretching here.

Quit the whining ya crybabies.

[Joe Hadenuf]

some Jewish groups find offensive because its decorative panels appear to form the shape of a Christian cross.

For crying out loud, hope this is a joke.

[FightforFreedomCA]

oh man, these people need to get a life.

[KneelBeforeZod]

what we need is the Arnold sound board...with that picture of him at the podium...click on the STOP WHINING sound.

then again isn't it a daius,(sp) not a podium??

[dfwgator]

They are as nuts as the people that claimed they saw a goat's head at the 2000 Rat Convention.

[BobS]

Maybe they should just put a great big one outside the place and burn it?

[af_vet_1981]

It is the very height of insensitivity for the Republican Party to feature a cross at the center of the podium of this convention," Ira Forman, executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council, said in a statement.

They are not speaking for Jews. They are speaking for Democrats. Ignore them.

[familyop]

Early Protestants, BTW, did not allow crosses in or on their churches. That was one of the issues that started the English Civil War (the ruling Catholic Queen of the time having crosses put in the churches).

[John Lenin]

Sometimes it is hard to separate God and Country

[TexasTransplant]

"Yeah? Well, just wait until Thursday night, when we crucify a dwarf on it."


I am going to cleanup big time Thursday (I have the Protester Concession)

[smokinleroy]

I KNOW I saw a goat head!

[Spyder]

Ignore them.

But it's so much more fun to poke fun at them ;-).

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

"Vhat? The damnable, thrice-accursed cross, you say? NO! Get it away from me, Van Helsing! AWAY! AWAAAAAAAYYYYY -- !"

:)

[silverleaf]

"When Laura Bush said (the president) doesn't change his friends or his values and there was a thunderous roar from the delegates, that was a message that the president is with the Christian right on abortion and other issues," he said.


Hey- it also means Bush will stand by ISRAEL.

[Jimmy Valentine]

"It is the very height of insensitivity for the Republican Party to feature a cross at the center of the podium of this convention," Ira Forman, executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council, said in a statement"

Dear Ira; take two valium, have a shot of scotch, neat and call me in the morning.

Really! What can be done with fools like these.

Regards,

[Leroy S. Mort]

Big deal. Many here saw the Devil behind Al Gore during one of his debates.

[OSHA]

I'm sure DU lurker or two just went apoplectic over THAT one!

[L.N. Smithee]

"It is the very height of insensitivity for the Republican Party to feature a cross at the center of the podium of this convention," Ira Forman, executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council, said in a statement. "This wooden cross must be at least three feet (one meter) tall, and it sends a signal of exclusivity loudly and clearly." Two other Jewish groups interviewed by Reuters expressed similar sentiments.

Apparently, these Jewish groups have no name, and they didn't approach Reuters, or Reuters would have said so.

This means that Reuters approached the phantom Jewish groups (whom we don't even know exist for a certainty), and provided them with a scenario that they obviously weren't concerned about, hoping to evoke a concurrant response.

Reuters blows.

[Spyder]

But where do you stand on the use of the letter T?

[EternalHope]

Israel has no better friend than the Republican party, and George Bush, and evangelical Christians in general. And yet many Jews in the U.S. reject that support in favor of an appeaser like John Kerry.