Politicians & their morals

Peloni:  I have often stated that people should all vote as if their lives and the lives of their loved ones depend upon making the right choice in every election, because they do.  While some look at the ability to cast a vote as a right or privilege, it should be understood that it is simultaneously a burden, one which shapes the future in all ways that are material to a democratic nation’s identity.  So, as Dr. Pablo Nankin explains below, people should make such choices carefully, based not on political affiliations or personal charisma, but on moral clarity.

Pablo Nankin, MD

Photo by Lorie Shaull from St Paul, United States – Vote Here sign in Minneapolis, Minnesota., CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikipedia

How many times must Jewish voters watch politicians excuse or embrace antisemitism before they stop rewarding it at the ballot box?

It is disgraceful when Jewish politicians or public figures seek endorsements from individuals who have a record of hostility toward Israel and tolerance for antisemitic rhetoric simply because it may help them win elections. Political ambition should never come before principle, yet too often it does.

Another so-called “humanitarian” flotilla departed from Turkey, whose government under Recep Tayyip Erdogan has become one of the loudest anti-Israel voices in the region. Turkey was once a country that Israelis and Jews visited warmly and comfortably. Today, it serves as a staging ground for anti-Israel theater backed by activists eager to demonize the Jewish state while ignoring the terrorism and extremism surrounding it.

The flotilla was stopped, as expected, and the activists were deported instead of facing meaningful consequences. Among those onboard was the sister of an Israeli anti-government activist, and Ireland’s leadership chose to celebrate her actions rather than condemn another provocation against Israel. Even more disturbing, Irish officials again pushed for the European Union to reconsider its relationship with Israel — the only democracy in the Middle East — while remaining comparatively silent about regimes that openly sponsor terror and repression.

At the same time, many New York Jewish voters now express outrage over candidates such as Zohran Mamdani, yet conveniently forget how many previously supported progressive politicians whose hostility toward Israel was already obvious. Complaining after the fact is meaningless if voters continue empowering people who excuse extremism, minimize antisemitism, or isolate Israel internationally.