Florida Congresswoman and Democratic Party Chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz is under fire from Republicans over comments made about Israel. The Jewish state is a recurring election year issue as both Republicans and Democrats vie for Jewish voters in battleground states like Florida.
Republicans say the Democrats’ decision to remove a part of their 2012 platform endorsing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel shows a decline in that party’s support for the Jewish state. But the GOP has also removed similar language in its platform despite Presidential nominee Mitt Romney endorsing the city as the county’s capital. But Democratic Party Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz says it’s not words that matter, but the actions.
“Our party platform, and President Obama’s record—backed up by…defense minister, who said on U.S. television, that in his memory he has no recollection of their being a stronger friend to Israel than Barack Obama.”
Wasserman-Schultz also faces questions on whether she suggested that Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren said Republican policies are endangering Israel. Here’s Wasserman-Schultz responding to a reporter’s question on the issue:
Reporter: "Can you elaborate on this flap yesterday with Ambassador Oren?"
Wasserman-Schultz: "There was no flap with Ambassador Oren.”
In 2008 President Obama won 78 percent of the American Jewish vote.
