Campaign to Deny Josh Shapiro Vice Presidential Nomination Smells of Rank Anti-Semitism

Palestinian-Style Politics Threaten to Sabotage Kamala Harris and Subvert America

There is an ugly campaign to thwart Josh Shapiro’s ascension by left-wing congressional staffers and the Democratic Socialists of America. There are solid reasons to choose a vice presidential nominee other than Josh Shapiro, but his religion isn’t one of them. For the good of the country, it’s time to tell the fanatics to back off and return to the fringe where they belong.       

A key to victory for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is winning Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral college votes. Serendipitously, the battleground state has a sitting Democratic governor, Josh Shapiro, with a 57% approval rating, which includes a thumbs-up from 42% of Republicans.

Yet, this political juggernaut might be denied an opportunity to lift Democrats to victory because he’s Jewish. There is an ugly campaign to thwart Shapiro’s ascension by left-wing congressional staffers and the Democratic Socialists of America. These extremists have started a website, NoGenocideJosh.com, and they are urging their supporters to, “Tell Kamala and the Democrats now, say no to Genocide Josh Shapiro for Vice President.”

What makes this campaign so absurd, is that Shapiro is a moderate. In January he said, “I personally believe Benjamin Netanyahu is one of the worst leaders of all time.”  The Atlantic explains why this contemptible effort is about Shapiro’s personal faith rather than public policy:

Shapiro is the only veep contender subject to an organized campaign to capsize his prospective nomination…Anti-Israel partisans have every right to advocate against candidates who oppose their cause, and there is nothing inherently antisemitic about doing so. But as its name implies, the “Genocide Josh” campaign is not about applying a single standard on Palestine to all VP contenders; it’s about applying them to one person, who just happens to be the only Jew on the shortlist.

With less than 100 days until Americans vote, it’s clear that these shrill activists aren’t operating in the best interests of the Democratic Party or the country. We face a pivotal election that includes key issues such as, protecting a woman’s right to choose, lifting the middle class, expanding unions, reforming the Supreme Court, preserving LGBTQ equality, strengthening NATO, and saving democracy.   

Just this week, a video surfaced of J.D Vance insulting “childless cat ladies” and pushing a bizarre proposal that would give parents more votes than single Americans. An autocratic-sounding Trump told a group of evangelicals, “you gotta get out and vote. In four years, you don't have to vote again.”

Trump also spoke to the National Association of Black Journalists this week and questioned Kamala Harris’ racial heritage. “I didn't know she was Black until a number of years ago, when she happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black. So, I don't know. Is she Indian, or is she Black? I respect either one, but she obviously doesn't.” 

Instead of working to fight Trump’s racism or use their platform to register voters, these pro-Palestinian extremists are wasting time attacking Gov. Josh Shapiro, apparently unaware he is the Pennsylvania governor, not the mayor of Jerusalem.   

This undignified movement has chanted that it wants to “globalize the intifada”, meaning spread the violent Palestinian uprising against Jews around the world. In their self-righteous zeal, these vandals have destroyed art, defaced public monuments, picketed outside synagogues, and bullied Jewish students during campus protests.

In May, more than 10,000 protesters railed against Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden. The pro-Palestinian mob protested inclusion at the Paris Summer Games. They even sent threatening emails to Israeli athletes that read, “we intend to repeat the events of Munich 1972.” They were referring to Palestinian terrorists slaughtering 11 Israeli athletes and coaches at the 1972 Munich Olympics. 

Israel’s culture and sports minister, Miki Zohar, said the Olympic delegation’s security budget had increased by 50 percent. “It’s a bummer, but it is what it is,” Maor Tiyouri, an Israeli marathoner, told The New York Times before she arrived in Paris.

In Amsterdam, fans booed when Karol G mentioned that she saw fans in the audience from Israel. In June, LGBTQ Pride Marches were rudely interrupted:

In Philadelphia, pro-Palestinian demonstrators temporarily blocked the city’s June 2 march, confronting participants with placards that read “no pride in genocide.” In Boston, hostile clashes with police broke out during the city’s annual parade on June 8, leading to the arrest of three protesters. And in Denver, dozens of protesters bypassed SWAT teams to make their way onto the street designated for the city’s annual PrideFest this past weekend.

It's the ultimate privilege, arrogance and conceit to block LGBTQ Pride, when gay and transgender people would be beaten, jailed, raped or murdered if they came out as LGBTQ in the Palestinian territories. They have no business peddling anti-Semitism at Pride events, which are meant to embrace all people.

In December, the Philadelphia Free Palestine Coalition instructed its cohorts to "flood the streets.” In a fanatical frenzy, the hateful throng descended upon a Jewish deli chanting bigoted slogans.

I’m still trying to figure out what Pastrami sandwiches and poppyseed bagels have to do with Israel’s response in Gaza? This is the equivalent of LGBTQ people protesting the local hummus and falafel joint because they oppose Saudi Arabia’s barbaric treatment of its LGBTQ citizens.  

The Philadelphia incident prompted The White House to call the protest "antisemitic" and "completely unjustifiable." Gov. Shapiro said it was a "blatant act of antisemitism." Now these vindictive agitators are striking back at Shapiro and willing to undermine a key election to make the pettiest of points.

Those defending these vile tactics claim they aren’t against Jews and that they are simply expressing dissent of Israel’s policies. If this were true, why didn’t the demonstrators picket the Israeli embassy or consulate, instead of caterwauling at bagel shops and blocking LGBTQ floats with drag queens? The people they foolishly targeted have no control over the war in Gaza.   

What they are really doing is ratcheting up antisemitism to isolate and ghettoize Jews, well-worn tactics from the Russian pogroms, the Spanish Inquisition and Nazi Germany. In previous decades in the United States, Jews were denied memberships at country clubs, had their enrollment limited at leading universities and were deprived of employment at many top law firms and hospitals. Private clubs had signs that read, “No Dogs, N*****s, or Jews.”

The new epithet spewed to intimidate Jewish people from full participation in society is “Zionist”, which for most Jews simply means support for Israel’s existence. Those justifying obnoxious protests like to say that Jewish Voice for Peace participates in their actions. But that’s as disingenuous as when Republicans point to Clarence Thomas or Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) as representatives of African American interests. In reality, “85% of American Jewish adults believe it is important for the U.S. to support Israel in the aftermath of October 7”, according to the American Jewish Committee's 2024 Survey of American Jewish Opinion.

Those who deflect by saying, “not everyone who goes to such protests agree with the more extreme rhetoric and actions” is a copout. One can say the same thing about people who attend Trump’s MAGA rallies. In both cases too many people are lending their presence and voice to political monstrosities, but too few are standing up to the bigotry. Their silence is the result of indifference, agreement with the despicable messages or maybe some people are cowed by fear of the intimidating event organizers. Whatever the cause, those who aren’t countering the hate are normalizing it and helping such movements gain traction.

I’m deeply concerned that parts of the progressive movement have been infected by corrosive, disruptive and ineffective “Palestinian Politics”. I define this style of politics as elevating purity over solutions, imbibing in fantasy over reality, rewarding zealotry over sanity and valuing performative, emotive actions above achieving real success or power.

A perfect example is the Democratic Socialists of America revoking their endorsement of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) this month, for refusing to be more bombastic against Israel. Her alleged sin was sponsoring an event with Jewish leaders focused on combating antisemitism. The organization called AOC’s common-sense action a “deep betrayal.”

A betrayal of what, not promoting hatred of Jews? Do these actions sound like they represent a healthy, rational progressive movement seeking political power?

Look, the Palestinians have real grievances that should not be minimized. I feel bad for their plight and wish them nothing but prosperity one day in their own state. To succeed, however, the Palestinians only have one legitimate play—which is organizing a vast peace movement that galvanizes the world, isolates Israel’s crazy far right and persuade Israel’s Jewish citizens to share a tiny strip of land without fear of being eradicated.

Apparently, that’s too much to ask of the Palestinian leadership. Instead, of making wise moves to improve the lives of their people, they have ushered in decades of hijackings, intifadas, kidnappings and introduced the world to the suicide bomber vest. They have repeatedly rejected peace treaties and imprudently walked away from two-state solution opportunities.

Gaza residents, in their infinite wisdom, elected Hamas to run the costal enclave in 2006, following Israel’s unilateral withdrawal. Instead of investing millions of dollars in foreign aid to create a tourist destination, build universities and hospitals and bolster the economy, Hamas funneled the money into building terror tunnels and death rockets to terrorize Israeli citizens.

This violent culture of resentment and retribution, led directly to the October 7 rape, torture and massacre of 1,200 Israelis. Hamas fighters, giddy from their barbarous bacchanal, streamed back into Gaza parading 240 Israeli hostages. Anticipating Israel’s response, they hid in tunnels that lay beneath hospitals, schools and mosques, knowing this would drive up the civilian death toll.

Sure, Palestinian Politics resulted in more than 39,000 dead (and counting) and 50% of Gaza’s buildings destroyed–but Hamas isn’t bothered because they received likes on social media, hatred of Jews increased globally and they were able to distribute trendy scarves to college students, while teaching them the terrorist nursery rhyme, “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” (And will the Jew’s resettle in Atlantis?)

Even as Gazans scavenge for food, Hamas imbibes on the perverse fantasy that they are “negotiating” with Israel to end the conflict. It’s as if no one told them that their population is hungry and homeless, there is no Palestinian state in sight, and this week Israel audaciously whacked two of their leaders in Tehran and Beirut.

As the American left increasingly goes down the rabbit hole of Palestinian-style politics, I’m alarmed that they appear willing, even enthusiastic, to sacrifice the country to make a futile ruckus about Gaza. They now have their sights on disrupting the August 19-22 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

The Democratic Party is electrified with enthusiasm and on the verge of achieving unity not seen since Barack Obama’s first election. There is genuine excitement about the rise of Kamala Harris, and her early performances have been riveting. Victory is on the horizon if we hang together to fight GOP fascism.

Instead of joining this vital cause, these one-trick ponies are plotting how to create maximum chaos, so the Democratic gathering resembles Chicago’s infamous 1968 convention. No doubt, they want to provoke the police into committing violence, so they can hijack Kamala Harris’ message and make the week about themselves.

They do this knowing full-well that their actions will be exploited by cynical Republican operatives who will point to the pandemonium and proclaim that voting for Harris invites chaos, crime and anarchy. (They are already doing it—see graphic below)

Many voters will look at this manufactured mess and fall for the GOP’s deception. The result could be the destruction of American democracy and a Republican president with far harsher attitudes and policies toward the Palestinian people. As I recall, Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, recently floated the idea of turning Gaza into valuable waterfront property.

Unfortunately, this unruly faction won’t care about their demolition of democracy at home any more than Hamas gives a damn about the people starving in Gaza’s rubble. Their antics will get them new social media followers and their leaders can feel important by appearing on television. Isn’t that what matters?

The sickening campaign against Gov. Josh Shapiro is an early warning sign that must be nipped in the bud. Antisemitism has to be unequivocally condemned, and Democrats should avoid humoring these extremists. We can’t kowtow the way Republicans did to their base unless we are prepared to blow this existential election and forever lose control of our Party.  

There are solid reasons to choose a vice presidential nominee other than Josh Shapiro, but his religion isn’t one of them. For the good of the country, it’s time to tell the fanatics to back off and return to the fringe where they belong.