Omitting The Obvious

The following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of Bergen County, in which I discuss the most recent hurdle encountered by Governor Chris Christie on his way to the White House – yet another Israel gaffe:

 

OMITTING THE OBVIOUS

 

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

 

For Chris Christie, it was a chance at redemption. After his last big appearance at a Jewish event ended in controversy following his utilization of a provocative term to describe the Judea and Samaria region in Israel, the New Jersey Governor and Republican presidential hopeful was expected to make amends when he took to the podium as a featured speaker at yet another high-profile Jewish affair.

 

The posh awards dinner in Manhattan for The Values Network, which was founded by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, featured an array of impressive guests and speakers. Among those in attendance was Republican mega-donor Sheldon Adelson, Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, actor Sean Penn, Texas Governor Rick Perry, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer, Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, and Jewish philanthropist and Birthright founder Michael Steindhardt.

 

The event was a perfect opportunity for Chris Christie to prove that his “occupied territories” gaffe was an anomaly and that his support for Israel is strong and unwavering.

 

Yet, when Governor Christie delivered his remarks in a speech that was laden with foreign policy references, he inexplicably left out a key word that left the crowd scratching their heads in bewilderment and wondering what had just happened.

 

Throughout his 16-minute speech, Christie did not mention the word “Israel” once. At no time during his remarks did he directly refer to the Jewish State by name.

 

Consider the implications of Chris Christie’s decision. This well-publicized gala was widely perceived as a pro-Israel event. The crowd in attendance was overwhelmingly pro-Israel. In fact, the public relations firm that promoted the “Champions of Jewish Values International Awards Gala” for The Values Network in advance of the event declared that Christie would deliver a “major speech on Israel and the Middle East.”

 

Despite that, in what could only be described as an enigmatic decision, Christie concluded that not specifically referencing Israel was somehow a good idea.

 

Christie’s glaring omission became even more evident after Rick Perry, another Republican governor that is angling for the GOP presidential nod, delivered an impassioned address that invoked Israel at every turn. Governor Perry talked about his numerous trips to Israel, empathically stated that the United States must renew its commitment to a strong Israel, and noted that Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state.

 

The road to the White House is inevitably replete with pitfalls. With the spotlight of the world illuminating their every move, presidential candidates will unquestionably stumble and fall on occasion.

 

Often, the hurdles that cause presidential candidates to falter are complex public policy issues that prove to be challenging to navigate successfully. Yet, seldom does a presidential candidate trip and fall over an issue that on its face appears to be a no-brainer.

 

To be clear, I am not questioning Chris Christie’s position on Israel. As I wrote after his blunder at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s Annual Spring Conference in Las Vegas, that troubling incident was in no way evidence that Christie is anti-Israel; rather, it demonstrated that he needs to be better prepared.

 

In my opinion, the same statement holds true today. Chris Christie’s bizarre choice to omit the word “Israel” from his recent speech was both curious and confounding, but it is not indicative of how he feels about the Jewish State. What Christie’s latest faux pas does is call into question the Governor’s judgment and his readiness to step out onto the national stage.

 

No one can honestly tell me that leaving Israel out of a speech to a pro-Israel crowd at a pro-Israel event is a good idea. I doubt that anyone can convince me that it makes any sense whatsoever.

 

In the aftermath of Governor Christie’s recent address, one of his closest friends and top political advisers, Bill Palatucci, was quoted in the Wall Street Journal as saying that when it comes to Israel, Christie has a strong record of support. “He’s well known to be supportive,” said Palatucci. “He doesn’t need to wear it on his sleeve every time he’s in front of a Jewish group.”

 

There is some truth to that statement. As Jews, we certainly do not need to be pandered to by every politician who is seeking our support. However, there is a big difference between Chris Christie “wearing his support for Israel on his sleeve” and sidestepping the topic altogether. There is a happy medium, but Governor Christie has apparently not yet come to that realization.

 

A word of advice to Governor Christie: in the future, when addressing a pro-Israel crowd, do not ignore Israel. In this instance, omitting the obvious was not a prudent political approach.

 

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler

 

Where In The World Is Chris Christie?

The following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of Bergen County, in which I delve into New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s frequent out of state travel and discuss how it impacts his ability to lead the Garden State:

Where In The World Is Chris Christie?

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

When voters in the Garden State overwhelmingly elected Chris Christie to a second term last November, they did so presumably because they thought that he was the best person to lead New Jersey into the future. They ostensibly believed that Governor Christie would demonstrate the same leadership qualities and focus on New Jersey that they felt he exhibited during his first term. Little did they know that Christie’s second term would be vastly different.

Let’s put Bridgegate, which has absolutely rocked the Christie administration since his reelection, on the back burner for the moment. Instead, let’s focus on the Governor’s attendance record.

As Chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Christie traverses the country on a regular basis in order to meet with key GOP personnel and raise funds for Republican candidates. And with his not so subtle presidential plans, Chris Christie’s travel activities have been occurring at a frenetic pace.

Over the past three months, Governor Christie has spent part or all of 25 days out of state, attending an array of political events aimed at bolstering his national image and positioning himself as a serious contender for the Republican nomination for president. Christie’s travels have taken him to Republican Governors Association events in Maine, Florida, Utah, Nevada, Michigan, and Georgia. He also attended the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland, the White House Correspondents’ Association Annual Dinner in Washington, DC, and the Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Spring Conference in Las Vegas.

An analysis by The New York Times in August 2013 found that Christie had been out of New Jersey at least 91 days over the past year, which equated to approximately 24% of the time. In response, John Currie, the Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, offered a scathing critique of Christie’s absenteeism. “New Jersey voters deserve to know why their Governor has spent nearly 1 in 4 days of the last year outside New Jersey,” Currie said.

In March 2013, Barbara Buono, who was Christie’s opponent in the 2013 gubernatorial election, tried to make his seemingly incessant travel a campaign issue, noting that the Governor spent an inordinate amount of time out of state over the past two years.

In May 2012, The New Jersey Star-Ledger reported Christie had spent 54 days in the past eight months out of state.

Many of us remember Christie’s infamous Orlando vacation in December 2010, when he was mingling with Mickey Mouse at Disneyworld while New Jerseyans endured a brutal blizzard that crippled the Garden State.

To be fair, Chris Christie is not the first governor to spend a lot of time outside of his home state.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, who, like Chris Christie, is believed to have presidential aspirations, spent 86 days out of state in 2012, which equals approximately one out of every four days.

Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee for president, spent part or all of 417 days out of state during his four-year tenure as Governor of Massachusetts. In October 2006, then Governor Romney spent part or all of an astounding 25 days out of state.

In 2011, Texas Governor Rick Perry spent approximately 80 days away from his home state. To add insult to injury, from the time Perry announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president on August 13, 2011 through January 2012 when he suspended his campaign, Texas taxpayers spent an astounding $3.6 million to provide security for Perry as he traveled around the country for his presidential run.

In a glaring contrast to Chris Christie’s globetrotting style, his counterpart on the other side of the Hudson River, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, rarely leaves his home state. Cuomo, who some have speculated may harbor presidential ambitions, has shunned the national spotlight, eschewed national media appearances, and foregone out of state vacations in favor of respites with his family in the Empire State. Andrew Cuomo’s actions send a clear message that he has a job to do in New York, and the national stage, which may indeed have a spot reserved for the popular governor, will just have to wait until he completes the task at hand.

Ancillary to Christie’s frequent out of state excursions is the issue of the cost of his trips. In fact, a reporter for the New Jersey Watchdog is currently suing the Governor in an attempt to obtain records from Christie’s office that would indicate who has paid for his outings and how much they cost.

The fact is that Chris Christie’s national ambitions should not come as a surprise. They were already apparent several years ago, which led the late Senator Frank Lautenberg to note in September 2012, that, “Governor Christie’s first priority is not New Jersey, his first priority is his national ambitions.”

The frequency of Christie’s trips outside of New Jersey is unquestionably a cause for concern. As he grapples with the recent downgrading of New Jersey’s debt and an additional $807 million budget shortfall, which brings the state’s total budget deficit to over $1 billion, it would behoove the Governor to put his out of state trips on hold and stick around for a while until he can properly address New Jersey’s budget woes and ensure that its fiscal situation is in order.

With his constant out of state travel, many New Jersey residents feel that they are the forgotten child and get the sense that their Governor leaves the issues that are important to New Jersey in the rearview mirror each and every time he leaves his home state.

When New Jersey voters reelected Chris Christie, they weren’t looking for a long distance relationship or an absentee governor. They were seeking someone to lead, not leave.

Where in the world is Chris Christie? Odds are, these days, it’s not in New Jersey.

Governor Christie, you need to come back home. I know the bright lights of the national stage are a big draw, but the fact is that you have a job to do in New Jersey.

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler

Save Face Or Save The World?

The following is my latest post on The Times of Israel blog, in which I take a look at the latest news concerning Iran's nuclear weapons pursuits:

 

Save Face Or Save The World?

 

As the diplomatic efforts of the United States and other world powers continue to evolve, Iran’s ability to achieve nuclear weapons capabilities endures.

 

Following the execution of the Joint Plan of Action (JPA) in January 2014, the clock began ticking on an interim deal that theoretically would impair Iran’s capacity to produce nuclear weaponry. In return, Iran received significant sanctions relief.

 

On its face, the JPA is indeed an important step in the ongoing effort to curtail Iran’s longstanding nuclear pursuit. However, the devil is in the details, and in reality, the JPA is a toothless plan that in all probability will not achieve its desired effect.

 

The terms of the JPA will not fully prevent Iran from pursuing its nuclear ambitions. It may hinder their ability to do so to a certain extent, yet, it does not inhibit them from continuing to take certain steps in furtherance of their ultimate nuclear goals. Iran can continue enriching uranium, albeit at a reduced rate, and continue to maintain its centrifuges. As it stands currently, Iran is reportedly a mere several months away from having enough enriched uranium to produce a nuclear bomb.

 

Despite the interim agreement that is in place, for Iran, it is essentially business as usual for its ambitious and aggressive nuclear program.

 

The failure of the JPA to mandate a complete cessation of Iran’s uranium enrichment activities and the absence of a requirement that they dismantle their nuclear facilities, while simultaneously providing Iran with a respite from the sanctions, has the potential to further exacerbate the Iranian nuclear threat.

 

Although the United States’ mantra regarding Iran has been to give peace a chance, the fact is that Iran has not proven itself to be an honest broker. As the world’s most prominent state sponsor of terror, Iran continues to finance terrorist activities through its proxies, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and terrorists throughout the world. Its continued support of the Syrian government, which has carried out mass killings of innocent citizens, is confounding , and its brazen attempt several months ago to ship a cache of deadly weapons to Islamist militants in Gaza for probable use against Israeli cities and citizens was shocking.

 

Diplomatic overtures have been made, yet Iran has responded with actions and deeds that demonstrate an utter disdain for the process and for the attempt to achieve any semblance of a peaceful resolution to its nuclear situation.

 

In light of all this, Iran and other world powers are meeting in Vienna to try and break the impasse and achieve a final resolution as to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and capabilities.

 

What I found particularly troubling was something that I read in The New York Times on May 13th in an article entitled “Nuclear Talks Will Confront Iran’s Future Capability to Enrich Uranium.”

 

“As Ms. Rice (referring to Susan E. Rice, the National Security Advisor) and Ms. Sherman (referring to Wendy Sherman, the chief American negotiator) have told American lawmakers and outside experts, the key is to leave Iran with a face-saving nuclear infrastructure [emphasis added] that would allow its clerics and the nation’s Revolutionary Guards commanders the ability to argue that they have not given up the right to produce nuclear fuel, but with a small enough capability that the White House can overcome Congressional objections.

 

A “face-saving nuclear infrastructure?” Is that the objective here? Pardon my naiveté, but I would have thought that the goal would be not to save face, but to save the world.

 

We need to forget about helping Iran save face and instead focus on ensuring that the terms of the final agreement truly eliminate any possibility that they will have the wherewithal to construct nuclear weaponry. We must concentrate on making sure that Iran’s research and development program related to its centrifuges is terminated. We have to emphasize the importance of enabling monitoring personnel from the International Atomic Energy Agency to access Iran’s nuclear facilities without any restrictions whatsoever so they can get an accurate picture of exactly what Iran is doing on the nuclear front.

 

There is no doubt that a nuclear Iran poses a serious threat to Israel, to the Middle East region, and to the world at large. All of us would undoubtedly be better served if the international community came together and put Iran’s feet to the fire with the threat of stronger sanctions and perhaps the use of a military operation if Iran fails to forego its pursuit of a nuclear weapon.

 

With so much at stake, helping Iran save face should certainly not be a concern. At the end of the day, we need to protect ourselves, not Iran’s image.

 

Making A Deal With The Devil

In my latest column, which appeared in The Jewish Link of Bergen County and The Jewish Press, I analyze the unity agreement between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas and examine the impact that it has on the peace process:

 

MAKING A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL

 

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

 

The announcement that the Palestine Liberation Organization, which essentially is the parent organization of the Palestinian Authority, had entered into a unity agreement with Hamas might have been the last straw.

 

As the United States was working feverishly to extend the April 29 deadline for the peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinian Authority, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas openly thumbed his nose at the U.S. and slammed the door on the peace process, perhaps for the final time.

 

By agreeing to end their feud and form a unity government with Hamas, which has been deemed a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, Abbas and the Palestinian Authority sent a decisive and disturbing message that they are not interested in peace.

 

The United States did not pull any punches in delivering a sharp response to the news.

 

“The timing was troubling and we were certainly disappointed in the announcement,” said State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki. “This could seriously complicate our efforts – not just our efforts, but the efforts between the parties, more importantly, to extend the negotiations.”

 

“Any Palestinian government must unambiguously and explicitly commit to nonviolence, recognition of the state of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations between the parties,” Psaki said. “It’s hard to see how Israel can be expected to negotiate with a government that does not believe in its right to exist.”

 

In response to the PA’s move, Israel announced that it was suspending the peace talks.

 

“Instead of choosing peace, Abu Mazen formed an alliance with a murderous terrorist organization that calls for the destruction of Israel,” said Prime Minister Netanyahu. “Abu Mazen has formed an alliance with an organization whose covenant calls for Muslims to fight and kill Jews. Whoever chooses the terrorism of Hamas does not want peace.”

 

Over the years, people have openly debated the merits of the seemingly endless peace process and questioned the feasibility of achieving a lasting and genuine peace agreement. However, the fact is that the present situation, which has continued to deteriorate, is untenable and unsustainable.

 

Sadly, we have seen the physical and emotional toll that the endless barrage of rockets fired from Gaza has on the State of Israel and the detrimental effect that it has on the thousands of men, women, and children who live under a constant threat of attack. We know how damaging and destructive the Hamas terrorists, who are lurking in the shadows waiting to strike, can be.

 

Peace is critical to the continued survival of the State of Israel. We pray for peace. We yearn for peace. We need peace. Yet, peace continues to elude us.

 

Unfortunately, it is a classic Catch-22 situation. Many have questioned the ability of the PA to enter into a peace agreement with Israel when it is not representative of the entire Palestinian Arab world and is at odds with Hamas, which in effect controls Gaza. At the same time, how can Israel enter into an agreement with the PA when it has chosen to make a pact with Hamas, a terrorist organization that has absolutely no interest in co-existing with Israel? Hamas wants to destroy Israel and all that it stands for, or die trying.

 

By abandoning the negotiating table and turning its back on the peace process, the PA has shown its true colors and validated what its critics have been saying for years, namely, that it cannot and will not make a good faith effort to achieve a peaceful resolution to the longstanding Arab-Israeli conflict.

 

With his decision to unite with Hamas, Mahmoud Abbas has gone from being the “statesman” that he desperately tried to be, to becoming an opportunistic obstructionist. He threw away diplomacy and chose terrorism instead.

 

The PA-Hamas marriage leaves Israel no choice but to walk away at this point. Making a deal with the devil that despises you and openly calls for your destruction is not a viable option.

 

Just several weeks ago, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, the same man who just announced the unity agreement with the PA, delivered a fiery and inflammatory speech in Gaza meant to incite hatred and encourage violence.

 

“Resistance and martyrdom are the way to liberate Palestine and to restore Jerusalem,” Haniyeh said. “I say again and again, we will not, we will not, we will not recognize Israel!”

 

Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli government cannot put the safety and security of the State of Israel in the hands in Hamas – the very hands that have the blood of innocent Israelis on them.

 

Now that the Palestinian Authority has chosen to broker a deal with one of the primary terrorist offenders in the world, I would certainly hope and expect that the international community will tell them to take a hike the next time they come calling for help and claiming that they are victims.

 

Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority have made their bed. Now they have to lie in it.

 

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler