[images added by this website]    [Isn't it curious that the American press does not repeat these great quotations from American statesmen and politicians?] Israel, Monday, October 25, 2004   Bush courts Jewish votes, sends Rice to address AIPAC By Reuters WASHINGTON -- A speech by U.S. President George W. Bush's national security adviser to a powerful pro-Israel lobbying group in Florida eight days before the election caps a concerted Republican drive for Jewish votes that has so far yielded minimal results. Seemingly undeterred by a probe into whether the AIPAC lobbying group passed classified information to Israel -- an allegation it denies -- the White House has given the organization almost unparalleled access to top officials, from Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney on down. Bush addressed the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, in May, and declared that it was "serving the cause of America." [Website: He also described Ariel Sharon as a man of peace.] Now his national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, (right), who described AIPAC as "a great asset to our country," will address the group on Monday in Hollywood, Florida, in one of the most hotly contested battleground states in the November 2 race. Though Jewish-Americans, who make up about 2 percent of the population, overwhelmingly backed Democrat Al Gore in 2000, polls show support for Republicans is slowly growing. That could have an impact in states like Florida -- where roughly 4 percent of the population is Jewish -- as well as Pennsylvania and Arizona, all won by slim margins in the last presidential election, pollsters say. Jews could also make a difference in an unexpectedly close race for the traditionally Democratic-leaning state of New Jersey, where they represent close to 6 percent of the population. Administration officials say Rice will not mention Democratic presidential rival Massachusetts Senator John Kerry by name. But she is expected to tout the president's steadfast support for Israel and the policies of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, while defending the invasion of Iraq as a boost to the security of the United States and Israel. Democrats have criticized Rice for making speeches in battleground states, accusing her of compromising the traditionally non-political role of national security adviser. The White House insists Rice's speeches are not campaign events and are appropriate due to the importance of security matters. AIPAC does not rate or endorse candidates, and says it is a bipartisan organization. But when Bush addressed the group in May, the audience cheered on the Republican president, chanting: "Four more years." Rice and other White House officials were informed more than two years ago of the investigation into whether AIPAC was relaying information collected from the administration and Congress to Israel, officials said. Since then, nearly 40 high-level administration officials and top Bush advisers -- among them campaign manager Ken Mehlman -- have spoken at AIPAC meetings, not including informal sessions and briefings by phone. Undersecretary of State John Bolton recently spoke to its members about threats from Iran and Syria. Asked why Rice was addressing the group so close to the election, a senior administration official said: "AIPAC is a well-known and well-established organization with a wide membership that attracts speakers from both political parties and across the political spectrum." Kerry is sending his foreign policy adviser, former United Nations Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, [Website note: who is also Jewish] to the AIPAC meeting. Like Bush, Kerry has been reaching out to Jews in Florida, even sprinkling a few words of Hebrew into a stump speech last week. 'Very important voting bloc' Bush campaign spokesman Brian Jones declined to comment on Rice's speech at AIPAC, but said of Florida's Jewish vote, "It's a very important voting bloc for us." The Bush campaign has set up a "Jewish Team." Its Web site features photos of Bush at an AIPAC conference and (left) meeting with rabbis in the Oval Office. Republican Jewish Coalition Executive Director Matthew Brooks is also rallying Jews for Bush -- noting that Kerry has the support of Arab and Muslim groups. "You can judge political candidates by who their friends are," he said. While publicly optimistic, administration officials are realistic about what they can achieve. In spite of outreach efforts, 69 percent of Jews are still expected to vote for Kerry and only 24 percent for Bush, according to an American Jewish Committee survey. This would compare with near 20 percent for Bush in 2000, but Republicans say they still hope to win more than 30 percent of the Jewish vote.  Right: A touching scene in Jerusalem     Origins of anti-Semitism The bribetakers Latest list of your local US lawmakers and the cash they receive from Israel | Not unconnected: U.S. Congress overwhelmingly approves Bush's position on Israel 10 ways the Pentagon spy case may damage Israel | AIPAC asks for money help against allegations in Pentagon probe | FBI probes Jewish sway on Bush government | ADL is outraged, demands investigation of "leak" of FBI's probe | FBI about to arrest Israeli spy at Pentagon | FBI believes Israel spy at Pentagon influenced Bush regime | Leak probed for a year | Frequent visitor to Israel, served in Israeli air force | AIPAC's whining defense | Israeli embassy official did meet Franklin many times, says no documents changed hands Israeli newspaper: "Dual loyalty" slur returns to haunt Jews | Data update US Financial Aid To Israel - Figures, Facts, and Impact | Justin Raimond on the Pentagon bust: "The Axis of Treason" | Janes Intelligence on the Pentagon's Israeli spies: A Mole called Mega

Register your name and address to go on the Mailing List to receive or to hear when and where he will next speak near you