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 to 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
ByN. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
