washington | A White House booklet called “President George W. Bush: A Friend of the American Jewish Community” has some of the Jews quoted and pictured inside feeling less than friendly.
Several of those quoted represent nonpartisan organizations and are concerned the booklet implies an endorsement from them or their group.
Others believe the material crosses the line into overt campaigning for Jewish support by the White House less than four months ahead of the election.
The booklet raised a stir among Jewish officials in Washington this week. Several Jewish leaders said they were not contacted before their names appeared, and that it does not accurately reflect their group’s sentiment on the administration’s track record.
“I hate to be used,” said one Jewish leader quoted in the book, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of angering the White House. “The president selectively chose a statement where we praised him. There have been several comments that have had an opposite point of view expressed.”
Other Jewish leaders quoted said it was a fair use of their statements and the political overtones were to be anticipated in an election year.
The Bush administration and re-election campaign have been overtly courting Jewish voters for more than a year, portraying Bush as a strong defender of Israel and a fighter against terrorism.
Those qualities have drawn praise from a diverse array of Jewish leaders for Bush’s international leadership, but many Jewish community leaders remain opposed to his domestic policy and other decisions he has made since taking office.
Jewish leaders privately said the booklet, which includes praise from leaders of several Jewish organizations that frequently have challenged the Bush administration, could be misconstrued to reflect endorsements from a wide gamut of influential Jews.
Mailed Monday, Aug. 9, to Jewish leaders, the booklet touts Bush’s efforts against anti-Semitism and terrorism, and his work supporting Israel and providing mechanisms for federal funding for Jewish sites and organizations.
It includes commentary taken from numerous Jewish officials and political leaders, as well as a timeline of significant events in the administration of interest to the Jewish community.
The White House says the document is a follow-up to a similar, all-text pamphlet produced two years ago. The latest booklet also was e-mailed to Jewish leaders in a PDF file.
White House spokeswoman Maria Tambouri defended the booklet as part of the responsibilities of the Office of White House Public Liaison. “This is an official document and it catalogues the president’s achievement on issues of importance to the Jewish community.”
She said all the quotes used were taken from the public record.
Among the Jewish organizational leaders quoted are Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism; Hannah Rosenthal and Michael Bohnen, the executive director and former chair, respectively, of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs; Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League; and Howard Kohr and Amy Friedkin, executive director and former president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Most striking was the use of quotations by several leading Jewish organizational leaders that the White House has at times circumvented — choosing other Jewish officials seen as more in keeping with Bush administration views — for meetings and receptions with the president.
Orthodox Union President Harvey Blitz said the use of a quote from a 2002 Orthodox Union letter praising Bush’s commitment to religious liberty was par for the course.
“That letter was not an endorsement of the president — we do not endorse candidates — but it’s a political season,” Blitz said. “While clearly what we wrote wasn’t written with a political aim in mind, we put it in the public domain, and it’s fair game for this kind of usage.”
Foxman said comments from him and other nonpartisan community leaders are used for political purposes every election season. He said he wished the White House had sought permission from the Jewish leaders, noting that many of them likely would not have agreed.
Several Jewish officials quoted in the publication seemed pleased to be included.
“It’s completely appropriate, coming from the White House, because it’s the truth,” said Miami Beach Mayor David Dermer, who has endorsed Bush. “This president’s record on Israel is unparalleled. That message needs to get out.” Dermer said he hoped Jews in Florida — perhaps the most crucial battleground state in November — would heed the booklet’s message.