Posted on 04/20/2007 12:57:57 PM PDT by veronica
Former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani already had presidential campaign organizations set up in all 50 US states; now he also has one in the State of Israel.
The thousands of eligible absentee voters in Israel could have a significant impact on who will win the Republican and Democratic nominations. Giuliani is running first in a close Republican race.
Giuliani Supporters in Israel is a grass-roots effort to mobilize the support of Israelis with US citizenship that was set up by Mordechai Twersky, a former Bronx, New York, communal leader and candidate for the New York State Assembly and the Knesset who was cited by Giuliani for his communal work.
Although the organization was not officially authorized by Giuliani, his campaign staff has already made contact with Twersky and endorsed his effort.
The Republicans and Democrats Abroad organizations have long been active here ahead of presidential elections but Twersky said this was the first time a campaign has been set up in Israel to help a candidate ahead of party primaries.
Twersky has set up a Web site at giulianisupportersinisrael.org with extensive information about Giuliani's relationship with Israel, going back to his October 1995 ousting of Yasser Arafat from a concert for world leaders at Manhattan's Lincoln Center.
Twersky said he eventually wants to hold regular parlor meetings throughout the country to convince as many eligible voters as possible that Giuliani is the best qualified candidate to meet the threats facing the Unites States, Israel and the Free World in the years to come.
"I did this as a private personal initiative as a proud American and Israeli citizen, and I am confident that it will catch on," said Twersky, 43. "Israel will need a friend in the White House who will bring clarity and consistency to US foreign policy and preserve the safety and security of its lone Middle East ally."
Democrats Abroad's counsel in Israel, Sheldon Schorer, said he had no problem with a campaign being set up in Israel to endorse a particular candidate in an American election. But he said there was much difference between the leading candidates on the Israel issue.
"Americans voting from abroad vote for the best candidate, and that means not only who is best for Israel but who is best for America as well, who has the most experience and who is the best possible leader for the free world," Schorer said. "On the Israel issue, it turns out to be a wash. Giuliani and top democratic candidates Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama are all strong supporters of Israel and I am sure the voters will see that as well."
Schorer does have a problem, however, with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's perceived hints in media interviews that he supports Giuliani, with whom he forged a close friendship when he was mayor of Jerusalem and Giuliani was mayor of New York.
"It is highly appropriate for Americans in Israel to be involved in American politics but it is highly inappropriate for the Israeli government to express a preference for one personality or another who could lead the American people," Schorer said. "It's their job to work with whoever Americans choose to lead America."
A representative of Republicans Abroad in Israel said the organization would stay neutral ahead of the Republican primaries and then campaign on behalf of whoever wins the nomination.
Guiliani ‘groupies’?
Please tell me they aren’t cross dressers....(chuckle)
Someone needs to email this reporter and correct him. They are called "Rudy Tooters." We should know, we have plenty of them over here at FR (except for writeblock who was banned.)
Hopeful sign.
For every conservative vote lost to Giuliani, he’s gonna need a lot of Jewish “groupies” to overcome the loss.
((((RUDY PING))))
Keep in mind that the Jerusalem Post is still part of the socialist establishment in Israel that hates religion and anything it can label conservative. It should be no surprise that they would insult Republicans.
Just wait till they find out about his views on social issues...Oy vey.
“Keep in mind that the Jerusalem Post is still part of the socialist establishment in Israel that hates religion and anything it can label conservative. It should be no surprise that they would insult Republicans.”
I’m aware of the slant we see from the J-Post.
I don’t make the mistake of labeling Rudy Guiliani a ‘conservative’ however.
Rudy is the ONLY candidate to have an overseas operation, I'm sure.
Hehe, lefties seldom pay enough attention to notice when a Republican is a liberal.
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]
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“Hehe, lefties seldom pay enough attention to notice when a Republican is a liberal.”
Indeed, and when you ask them about that, they say ‘Hey, they all look alike...’ without understanding the irony of the statement.
WRONG. JPost is the more conservative paper. Haaretz is the left/liberal one. Please try to be factual.
Yes, but Arutz Sheva is the fascist, settler publication usually most in tune with Freepers views. At least on the middle east, they don’t write much on American politics.
I’m not fooled. Just because JP isn’t as bad as Am Haaretz or Y’idiot Achronot doesn’t mean it’s not leftist. They just pander more to a more conservative American audience.
More accurately Canadian interests, since they're still owned by Hollinger to my knowledge.
How does this insult Republicans?
You don’t believe that ‘groupies’ is intended to be disparaging?
It’s funny, if one relied on the press, you’d assume that both the Democrats and Republicans operate overseas in only one tiny country. I don’t think I’ve seen an article on efforts anywhere else, which of course isn’t because they don’t exist.
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