A minority in a minority in a minority.

That's how conservative strategist and author David Frum jokingly described the Republican Jewish Coalition's annual California conference, held last weekend in deep blue San Francisco.

The conference brought together Jewish Republicans from across the state, as well as prominent national figures from the GOP and conservative organizations. Speakers included Middle East scholar Daniel Pipes, former Republican National Committee chair Ken Mehlman, S.F. Chronicle columnist Debra Saunders and Frum, a former presidential speechwriter and author of "Comeback: Conservatism That Can Win Again."

Though intended to rally the Jewish troops, Frum's April 5 speech before nearly 100 attendees at times offered a sobering assessment of the Republican Party's status in this election cycle.

"Involvement and commitment level among Republicans is a little bit at an ebb," he told the gathering, held at the Kabuki Hotel in Japantown. "We have to have a new approach to economic issues. Our party does not have a coherent and comprehensive health-care approach."

He also cited what he called "a collapse of Republican support among the young. Today's 20-somethings are the most Democratic. We are running to govern a country that doesn't exist anymore. Today everything works except the government."

It wasn't all gloom and doom, however. He praised his party as having been an "extraordinarily successful organization for a long time," and maintained that the GOP remains the stronger pro-Israel party.

"We understand [as Jewish Republicans]," he said, "that it is America that stands between a world of tyranny, violence and aggression."

And though he complimented Barack Obama for being charismatic, Frum also called the Democratic presidential frontrunner a "vaporous gasbag," adding, "Under the gas, there's a message going out: Here is no friend of the America-Israel relationship."

Attendees were enthusiastic about the conference and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain.

Sporting a "McCain for President" button, Michael Schwab of Menlo Park said during a break, "It's exciting to hear from very knowledgeable speakers about issues important to the Jewish community. We're at a dangerous point in history, and to hear arguments for a candidate like John McCain from notable experts is terribly valuable."

Among the local attendees was the Cohen family from Menlo Park -- Robert, wife Lisa and daughter Magali. All are former Democrats who switched parties years ago.

"It's good to be in a group of like-minded

said Robert Cohen. "The Jewish community tends to be very partisan. When you approach them and ask how they feel about certain issues, a lot of them agree with the Republican solutions, but they don't admit to themselves they can vote Republican because they're Jewish and they've always voted Democratic."

His wife, Lisa Cohen, called McCain "a Scoop Jackson," referring to the late Democratic senator from Washington, who was famously hawkish on some foreign policy issues. "I don't feel the organized Jewish community here is pro-Israel and pro-Zionist enough," she said.

Magali Cohen, an New York University graduate, disagreed with Frum's pessimism regarding the Republican Party's appeal to younger voters. "Kids who are really involved are becoming more conservative," she said. "They see their way of life as being threatened."

San Francisco Republican Party Chairman Howard Epstein was pleased with the conference and thought it an auspicious launch for the fall campaign.

"I'm seeing new people here," he said, adding, "It's going to be a tough year, but I think John McCain will run a very good race. He's not really an ideologue. He will bring people in."




Jewish Republicans meet, debate in Bay Area