By Daniel Rosen, President of the American Jewish Congress
Published originally in the Wall Street Journal.
Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania is the new punching bag of the American left. Kamala Harris is reportedly considering him as a running mate. Mr. Shapiro is committed to U.S. support for Israel, and he is the only Jewish prospect on Ms. Harris’s list.
A New Republic hit piece called him “the one vice presidential pick who could ruin Democratic unity.” An anonymously registered website, NoGenocideJosh.org, invites visitors to sign a petition urging Ms. Harris to choose anyone else. Mr. Shapiro isn’t being opposed merely for his political positions, statements or belief; he is being vilified and maligned because he is Jewish. This ugly campaign against him risks showcasing what kind of country we have become and where we are heading.
Mr. Shapiro has shown strong support for the Jewish state and the U.S.-Israel alliance. But these positions are broadly shared by all the politicians being spoken of as running mates for Ms. Harris. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D., N.Y.) put it well when he pointed out that Mr. Shapiro is being singled out even though he is “well within the mainstream of the Democratic Party.”
Sen. Mark Kelly told Israelis in October that he would “speak to members of Congress one by one if that’s what it takes to get Israel the munitions that you need to defend yourself.” Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky ordered flags to be flown at half-staff “to both grieve with Israel and to let them know we stand with them.”
The attack on Mr. Shapiro is part of a far-left campaign to portray Jews as perpetrators or enablers of genocide. The logical extension is that either the Democratic Party should refuse to embrace Jewish candidates because of their identity, or that such candidates should renounce their Jewish identity to please the antisemitic mob.
Whether or not Ms. Harris selects Mr. Shapiro as her running mate, it’s important to confront this antisemitic smear campaign and shut it down.
The antisemitism on display isn’t only a political and electoral blight on everyone associated with it. It is an affront to all Americans who want our country to remain an open and tolerant society for everyone—including Jews.
