RNC and NJDC square off at UJC sponsored debate

Last night, Jeff Berkowitz of the RNC and David Harris of the NJDC faced off in a debate on Obama, Israel, and of course, the topic du jour, healthcare.

The atmosphere started off fairly warm and stayed haimish for the majority of the evening.  Thankfully, the belligerent tone so well documented at tea parties and town hall meetings the country over has yet to infiltrate the Jewish communal world.

Only a few times did the two resort to eye rolling and a few rounds of ping-ponged ‘that’s NOT right,’" and ‘that IS right.’

However, neither Berkowitz or Harris minced words.  In regard to Obama’s efforts since taking office, Berkowitz was critical.  Though he professed to support healthcare reform, he called Obama’s plans “government experiments” and expressed the fear that “most people are going to lose their plan [and] lose their doctor.”  Moreover, he said, Democrats have made little effort to make the debate bipartisan.

“He has tried meaningfully to meld together the ideas of different people,” countered Harris.  He maintained that the healthcare bills supported by Obama will deliver what they promise.  Democrats, he said, have “a wish and a will to work across party lines” and have been “reaching out to Republicans every step along the way.”  On the other hand, “some conservative actors in Congress have not been playing a productive role.”

"It’s not change we can believe in," Berkowitz responded.  "It’s change we didn’t expect."  He accused Obama of using rhetoric aimed toward “scaring Jewish voters,” and said his tactics will do nothing to improve healthcare, protect Israel or keep America safe from Iran.  

Harris disagreed, noting that there seems to be genuine "unanimity in the Jewish community" in support of healthcare reform and for Obama’s handling of foreign affairs.  

Berkowitz was also critical of Obama’s stance on settlements.  "I think that this president and the people he has surrounded themselves with think that they can get peace by pressuring Israel," said Berkowitz.  He expressed the belief that the U.S. is placing pressure on Israel on the settlement issue to make a showing of evenhandedness to the Arab world.

Not so, said Harris, citing twenty years of what he says is an unchanged U.S. policy toward settlements.  “Jeff is on very shaky ground," he warned.  “The American obsession with settlement activity [is] standing United States policy and has been for decades.”

While Harris and Berkowitz didn’t have any qualms about making clear their respective like and dislike of Obama’s policies, both appeared suddenly gun shy when a member of the audience asked their for their opinions on J Street and it’s impact.  A terse "no comment" was uttered by both.

Watching were a crowd of government affairs professionals from across the country working within the Federation system.  They noshed on salmon, grilled chicken and cous cous salad as the two panel participants faced off.

The debate, moderated by UJC Washington Director and Vice President of Public Policy William Daroff, took place as part of UJC’s Government Affairs Institute.