Thursday, February 26, 2015

President 'Sugarcoats' Terrorism

The following is a letter to the editor that I wrote, which appears in the current edition of The Jewish Week:

President ‘Sugarcoats’ Terrorism

Wed, 02/25/2015

N. Aaron Troodler

The important sentiments expressed by Gary Rosenblatt in his column last week, “First Step To Defeating Terror: Call It What It Is,” were right on the mark. As Jews in the United States, we are privileged to enjoy the religious protections afforded to us by the U.S. Constitution and are fortunate to be able to openly practice our faith without fear of reprisal. That being said, it behooves all of us to recognize that terrorist attacks targeting Jews in Europe are on the rise and the brazen anti-Semitism being exhibited in European countries is becoming rather commonplace.

Although I understand President Obama’s reluctance to impugn the entire Muslim religion, I cannot comprehend how he can in good conscience sugarcoat acts of terror perpetrated by Islamic extremists and downplay the violence that is aimed at Jews solely because they are Jews. When it comes to targeting Jews, there is no degree of randomness, as suggested by President Obama.

If it looks like anti-Semitism and feels like anti-Semitism, we need to readily acknowledge that it is indeed anti-Semitism. We cannot shy away from confronting anti-Semitism whenever and wherever it rears its ugly head and we are certainly not going to win the war against anti-Semitic terror if we cannot even admit that there is a battle that we need to fight.

Teaneck, N.J.

The writer is a publicist for the National Council of Young Israel.

Exclusive: Senator Cory Booker to Attend Israeli Prime Minister's Speech to Congress

The following is a news story that broke earlier today, which I got exclusively from Senator Cory Booker for The Jewish Link of New Jersey about his plans relating to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming address to Congress:

Exclusive to JLNJ: Senator Cory Booker to Attend Israeli Prime Minister’s Speech to Congress

Thursday, February 26, 2015

By N. Aaron Troodler

As the controversy surrounding Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming address to Congress about the global threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran has risen to fever pitch, many Democratic members of Congress have come forth and publicly declared their intention to either attend the highly publicized speech, or, alternatively, skip the Israeli Prime Minister’s address. One notable exception from the chorus of prominent lawmakers who have opined about Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech is Senator Cory Booker.

In light of his profound affinity for Israel and the Jewish community, Senator Booker’s silence thus far regarding Netanyahu’s highly politicized address was particularly noteworthy and led to speculation whether or not the high-profile lawmaker would attend the speech. Complicating matters is the fact that Booker is the only senator in the Congressional Black Caucus, which has seen a number of its members declare their intent to boycott Netanyahu’s speech.

Senator Booker ended his silence this week. In an exclusive statement to JLNJ, the Senator said he will attend Netanyahu’s address to Congress and explained his rationale for doing so.

“I am deeply troubled by the politicization of America’s vital relationship with Israel, and the disregard for longstanding diplomatic protocol displayed by House Republican leadership,” said Senator Booker. “This is an affront to our president, to members of congress, and a betrayal of the long-held American principle that when it comes to national security, politics ends at the water’s edge. I am committed to upholding that principle -- when America’s and Israel’s security is on the line, and we’re dealing with a situation as dire and complex as Iranian nuclear negotiations, I will listen to all sides, and will not miss an opportunity to hear from the prime minister of one of America’s closest and most important allies.”

Citing the importance of the US-Israel connection, New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, a leading advocate for strengthening the United States’ bond with Israel, noted that he will attend Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address, despite his displeasure with the manner in which it came about. Senator Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat and a staunch defender of the State of Israel, exhorted his Democratic colleagues to attend the speech and not allow partisan politics to stand in the way of the US-Israel relationship.

Senator Booker’s deep connections to the Jewish community are well known and he is widely recognized as a strong supporter of the State of Israel. “The Jewish community is extraordinarily important,” Senator Booker said in a 2014 interview. In 2013 he said, “I have a very strong desire that we do everything for the continuance of, and the establishment of, a real secure Jewish state of Israel. That’s very, very important to me and drives a lot of my thinking about foreign policy in terms of the Middle East situation.”

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Can’t We All Just Get Along?

The following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of New Jersey, in which I write about the controversy surrounding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled address to Congress and discuss the importance of bipartisan cooperation in order to maintain the strength of the US-Israel relationship:

CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

Diplomatic protocol is sacrosanct to world leaders. Adherence to the unofficial rules of international diplomacy is universally expected and any deviation from those rubrics is viewed as a serious breach of this unwritten code.

As savvy as he is, Ron Dermer, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, committed a big blunder when he worked exclusively with House Speaker John Boehner to arrange for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress in March.

Let us forget for a moment that the speech was scheduled to take place just a short time prior to the upcoming Israeli elections for the Knesset. That alone elevated the Ambassador’s actions to a major faux pas. Let us instead focus on what the core of the problem appears to be, namely, that the White House and the Democratic leadership in Congress were kept in the dark until just shortly before the Prime Minister’s plans were made public.

By collaborating with Speaker Boehner, to the exclusion of his colleagues across the political aisle and without involving the President, Ambassador Dermer committed a gross miscalculation that appears to have thrown the state of the U.S.-Israel relationship into utter turmoil. Amidst angry statements from the White House and threats from Democratic lawmakers that they will boycott the Prime Minister’s address, the once seemingly unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel appears to have ruptured to a certain extent.

Vice President Biden announced that he would not attend the speech, and a slew of Senators and Representatives stated that they would boycott the address. Viewing the speech as a sign of disrespect to President Obama, many members of the Congressional Black Caucus declared their intent to boycott the Prime Minister’s address, including renowned civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis.

I understand why the White House and the Democratic lawmakers, many of whom are strong supporters of Israel, are angry. This entire situation was handled poorly from the outset and the controversy that ultimately arose could have easily been avoided. That being said, it is time to move on and to look at the bigger picture.

U.S. Congressional leaders need to coalesce around Prime Minister Netanyahu’s planned speech to Congress and not allow the partisan debate surrounding the speech to undercut the strong U.S.-Israel relationship. The Prime Minister’s address, which is scheduled to take place shortly before the March 31 deadline to reach a deal concerning Iran’s nuclear program, is expected to focus on the grave threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran and spotlight the ramifications of a potential agreement that softens the sanctions and empowers one of the world’s most notorious and active state sponsors of terrorism.

With the deadline to reach an agreement with Iran regarding its nuclear capabilities rapidly approaching, an address by the Israeli Prime Minister, who has long warned about the existential threat that a nuclear Iran poses to the world, not only makes sense, but is vitally important. As someone who has closely monitored the Iranian situation and whose country and citizens have repeatedly been the targets of terrorist groups intent on destroying them, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s perspective on Iran is a credible and critical piece to a very complex diplomatic puzzle.

At the same time, while I fully support Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to accept an invitation to address Congress, I am deeply troubled by the partisan divide that has ensued and the political rancor that it has engendered.

I am extraordinarily grateful for the United States’ longstanding and resolute relationship with the State of Israel and recognize that the enduring nature of the U.S.-Israel relationship has always been rooted in bipartisan support. It is my hope that Prime Minister Netanyahu will proceed with his address to Congress as planned and that lawmakers from both major political parties will attend and listen to what he has to say on an issue that has global implications and with which the Prime Minister is intimately familiar.

We cannot afford to allow partisan politics to overshadow a key issue that warrants bipartisan support. In this instance, where the status of the United States’ relationship with its key ally in the Middle East seemingly hangs in the balance, bipartisanship and cooperation must transcend party politics.

“Israel’s survival is not a partisan issue, not in Israel nor in the United States,” said Prime Minister Netanyahu. “I am going to the United States not because I seek a confrontation with the President, but because I must fulfill my obligation to speak up on a matter that affects the very survival of my country.”

There is no question that the planning process surrounding the Prime Minister’s Congressional address may have been flawed, but that should not diminish the importance of the subject matter to be discussed. Lawmakers in Washington, DC need to break through the partisan squabble that developed after plans for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech were announced, check their egos and emotions at the door, and come hear what he has to say.

Can’t we all just get along? For Israel’s sake, I hope that the answer is “yes.”

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

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Feeling Like the Neglected Child

The following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of New Jersey, in which I examine how Governor Chris Christie’s presidential ambitions are impacting New Jersey:

FEELING LIKE THE NEGLECTED CHILD

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

Some may say that New Jersey residents have a bit of a complex. They often feel a sense of inferiority when compared to the flashy and famous neighboring state of New York which is right across the Hudson River. Despite all that the Garden State has to offer, many New Jerseyans have grown accustomed to playing second fiddle to their neighbor known as the Empire State.

Yet, there is a renewed sense of inferiority among New Jersey residents these days when they turn their eyes towards Trenton. The one person who should theoretically be their biggest cheerleader and offer them infinite consideration and endless support has sadly turned his attention elsewhere. Governor Chris Christie has seemingly moved on to bigger and better things and appears to have left New Jersey in his rear view mirror as he continues his national tour.

Perhaps if New Jersey was named “Iowa” or “New Hampshire,” Chris Christie might pay more attention to it. If New Jersey boasted the first presidential primary election or caucus in the nation, maybe Chris Christie would give it a second look. After spending all or part of nearly 140 days traveling outside of New Jersey last year, Governor Christie’s apparent desire to put as much distance as possible between himself and the Garden State is a stinging rebuke to the people who elected him to govern, not once, but twice.

Christie’s fascination with the national stage, and, in particular, with the key battleground states, is attributable to his not-so-secret desire to ascend to the presidency and take up residence in the White House. Instead of thinking of ways to make New Jersey better, Chris Christie is spending his days contemplating ways to make Chris Christie better.

New Jersey residents are not taking too kindly to their absentee governor who harbors national ambitions. A recent Quinnipiac University poll found that Christie’s approval rating is at the lowest point that it has been in nearly four years. One year after the Bridgegate controversy exploded, just 46 percent of New Jersey voters approve of the job Chris Christie is doing as governor, while 48 percent disapprove of his performance. The last time that Christie eclipsed the 50-percent mark was when he garnered a 55-percent approval rating one year ago.

In fact, the majority of New Jersey voters do not believe that Christie should run for president. Another recent Quinnipiac University poll found that 56-percent of Garden State voters say that he should not embark on a White House run, 57-percent say he would not make a good Commander-in-Chief, and 52-percent believe that a presidential campaign is distracting Christie from properly performing his duties as governor. In addition, in the event that Chris Christie formally enters the race, 66-percent of New Jersey voters are of the opinion that he should resign as governor.

In what amounts to a strong indication that he is seriously leaning towards a presidential run, we learned recently that Chris Christie has established a political action committee (PAC) that would allow him to start hiring staff members for a 2016 campaign. Christie, who named his PAC “Leadership Matters for America,” could utilize this new tool to fund his travel expenses and other miscellaneous activities.

Yes, “Leadership Matters for America.” However, my dear Governor, in case you have not yet realized it, leadership matters for New Jersey as well. While you seek to exhibit leadership on a national level, you seem to have forsaken the mantle of leadership that you were handed by the electorate in New Jersey.

While you jet around the country and lay the groundwork for what appears to be an inevitable presidential run, you inexplicably and inconsiderately turned your back on the people that you pledged to represent in New Jersey. It seems as if you would prefer to be in any other state in the union but the state that you were charged with managing. New Jersey has gone from being the “Garden State” to becoming the “Forgotten State.”

Instead of hobnobbing with Jerry Jones in the posh owner’s suite and on the sidelines at Dallas Cowboys games, perhaps you should focus on the job that you have to do at home.

Aside from engaging in damage control measures as a result of self-inflicted controversies and scandals, there is real work to be done here and important issues that need to be addressed.

With improvements needed to the state’s transportation infrastructure, including many of its roads and bridges, money needs to be restored to the Transportation Trust Fund. With so many New Jersey residents still suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, more help is needed for those whose lives were torn apart by the storm. With New Jerseyans struggling under a crushing property tax burden, relief is desperately needed. With the state pension fund in dire straits, stabilization of the fund is imperative.

New Jersey residents did not elect Chris Christie to be their governor for the 62-percent of the time that he was actually in his home state last year; they elected him to be their governor for 100-percent of the time. With a governor that is going more than he is coming, New Jerseyans feel like a neglected child whose parent has abandoned them.

Leadership requires one to lead, not leave. It is okay for Governor Christie to have political ambitions; however, his professional dreams cannot come at New Jerseyans’ personal expense. An absentee governor is not the answer to solving New Jersey’s problems. Someone ought to tell that to Chris Christie.

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