I have written many letters to media outlets but this one is particularly painful. It’s easy to be critical of the NY Times and the other left-wing mainstream media about their anti-Israel coverage, and I find it refreshing to take refuge in The Jewish Link, which is “my” kind of newspaper. Because of this, I felt like I was punched in the gut when I saw the two items on Cory Booker in the August 9, 2018 issue.

The first was the editorial “Talk to Us Senator Booker. Talk to Us Now!” in which you complain that Booker took large amounts of Jewish communities’ money, but when the chips were down, he deserted us. By your own count, he supported the catastrophic Iran Deal, voted against the Taylor Force Act, condemned the U.S. Embassy move to Jerusalem, refused to co-sponsor the anti-BDS Act and was seen at a conference attended by pro-BDS activists, holding an anti-Israel banner. With this whole litany of openly anti-Israel actions staring you in the face, you come out with the astonishing statement, “We aren’t sure anymore what this man stands for when it comes to Israel.” Good Lord. What does he have to do to convince you that he has thrown his lot in with the far left anti-Israel, anti-Semitic, pro-Palestinian wing of the Democratic party dominated by the likes of Sanders, Ellison and Farrakhan? Does Booker have to actually wrap himself in a Palestinian flag and shout from the rooftops, “death to Israel, death to the Jews” to finally convince you?

In the companion commentary, “Have We Lost Cory Booker?”, Ms. Kratz also echoes similar sentiments. However, I think a better question is not, did we lose Cory Booker, but rather did we ever really have him. Judging from his recent activities, it looks more like we have been had by him, as in snookered, duped, or conned.

In the face of this duplicity I expected a much stronger response from The Jewish Link than the very weak “we implore you talk to us” asking him to give us a few reassuring platitudes, so we can continue shoveling all sorts of money his way. It harkens back to the Obama days, when he constantly humiliated Netanyahu, and vilified Israel, but remained the darling of most Jews because he “spoke nicely.” Apparently for most Jews, it’s all right to throw Israel under the bus as long as you speak nicely while doing it. I guess the old adage “actions speak louder than words” is not a Jewish thing.

I think a much better response by The Jewish Link to Booker would have been to challenge him to defend his outrageous actions, and not like we’re looking for a way to forgive him.