Vice President Kamala Harris’ selection of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate sparked varied responses from Jewish organizations.
“This is the same individual who notoriously stated, ‘One person’s socialism is another person’s neighborliness.’ Seriously?” a post on X by the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) lamented on Tuesday.
This statement followed Harris’ much-anticipated choice, confirming Walz after considerable speculation regarding several potential candidates.
Reports indicate that Harris’ final decision was between Walz and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a widely supported governor from a swing state crucial to the vice president’s aspiration of securing 270 electoral votes in the upcoming November elections.
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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz talks to reporters after a White House meeting with President Biden on July 3, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Harris’ selection of Walz over Shapiro, the only Jewish candidate considered, also sparked significant conjecture that she faced pressure from certain Democratic Party members more sympathetic to Palestinians, particularly amidst ongoing hostilities in Gaza. Critics also chastised the “No Genocide Josh” campaign for pressuring Harris, interpreting the resistance to the Pennsylvania governor’s candidacy as containing “an undercurrent of antisemitism.”
“Those on the far left attacking Josh Shapiro’s pro-Israel stance differently from how they challenge non-Jewish vice presidential candidates are revealing their biases,” stated Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., during a CNN interview on Monday.
“There is a strong undercurrent of antisemitism involved, which is unacceptable,” he added. “Every candidate’s stances on all policy matters, their records in public office—these should all be thoroughly scrutinized. However, holding him to a different standard due to his religious background is simply not reflective of the values of the Democratic Party.”
Concerns have also emerged from some pro-Israel supporters regarding Harris’ support for Israel, which they feel may have diminished in light of her being the first administration figure to advocate for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza and her reportedly troubled dealings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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The RJC’s statements reflected these anxieties, emphasizing that Harris’ choice of Walz is of “particular concern to the American Jewish community” due to his “alignment with” Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who the RJC has labeled “the most vicious anti-Israel and antisemitic Member of Congress.”
“This is the same disreputable Ilhan Omar who has propagated antisemitic conspiracy theories, erroneously accused Israel of genocide and apartheid, and opposed funding for the Iron Dome missile defense system, which protects numerous innocent civilians in Israel from terrorist missiles,” the RJC expressed.
Rep. Ilhan Omar has been described as “the most vicious anti-Israel and antisemitic Member of Congress.” (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Conversely, other Jewish organizations viewed Harris’ selection more favorably, such as the Jewish Democratic Council for America (JDCA), which commended the decision.
“Vice President Harris and Governor Walz align with the majority of Jewish voters on all key issues, and we believe that robust support from Jewish American voters will be critical for their success in November,” JDCA CEO Halie Soifer stated in a press release.
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“Vice President Harris has made an outstanding choice by selecting Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. We hold deep respect for Gov. Walz’s passionate defense of our values, including reproductive rights and the safeguarding of our democracy, especially as both are currently under assault by MAGA Republicans led by Donald Trump,” JDCA Chair Ron Klein added. “Having been elected simultaneously and served alongside Tim Walz in Congress, I can personally attest to his capacity to confront Republican extremists and succeed. We are confident that he and Vice President Harris will triumph this November, bolstered by strong support from Jewish American voters.”
This decision was also praised by Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, an organization dedicated to “building a multiracial, multiethnic, intergenerational movement of Jews and allies nationwide, rising to construct an American future free from white supremacy, antisemitism, and racism.”
Gov. Tim Walz arrives to address a press conference on Aug. 1, 2024, in Bloomington, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
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“By opting for Walz, a Governor known for unprecedented investments in public education, infrastructure, paid leave, free college, and reducing poverty rates among children and the elderly, Harris conveyed a definitive message to voters: we confront those obstructing our safety and freedoms, advocating for an economy rooted in care instead of fear and division,” stated Bend the Arc CEO Jamie Beran in a press release.
The Harris campaign has not yet responded to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
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