Other than Barack Obama, no single person had a greater impact on the NY-9 race than Ed Koch. The economy and marriage issues were also key, of course, but Koch explicitly framed the election as an attempt to send a message to Obama on Israel.
This March 2010 post from Ron Radosh helps make sense of Koch’s decision. Koch is a centrist Democrat, hawkish on defense and supportive of Israel. Like Joe Lieberman, Koch represents the Democratic party of an earlier day. Because of the War on Terror, Koch broke ranks in 2004 to support President Bush’s re-election campaign. Yet unlike Lieberman, who endorsed McCain in 2008, Koch campaigned enthusiastically for Obama in 2008. In Florida that year, Koch assured Jewish voters that Obama would be a strong friend of Israel. Koch also dismissed Republican attempts to cast doubt on Obama’s commitment to Israel as unfounded and hysterical.
This helps explain why Koch moved so aggressively to urge NY-9 to send a message to Obama. Koch must feel as though his pledges to the Jewish community on behalf of Obama now obligate him to speak out. You can see Koch’s distress in the message Radosh reproduces at the bottom of his post. Koch wrote it shortly after the first disastrous visit to America by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. There Koch calls Obama’s attitude toward Israel “blatantly hostile.” Koch also clearly believes that Obama has broken with the supportive stance toward Israel shown by every previous president. Koch ends by saying: “Supporters of Israel who gave their votes to candidate Obama–78 percent of the Jewish community did–believing he would provide the same support as John McCain, this is the time to speak out and tell the President of your disappointment in him.”
Obviously, Koch feels fooled by Obama. Maybe all those Republican warnings about the significance of the Jeremiah Wright and Rashid Khalidi connections weren’t so crazy after all.
About six months later, in November of 2010, at the Huffington Post, Koch responded to the Democratic defeat in the midterms by calling on the party to move away from its “radical left” position. Koch goes so far as to imply that the Democrats have been flirting with socialism. (H/t again to Radosh.)
So Koch stands for those traditionalist Democrats who enthusiastically supported Barack Obama in 2008, sincerely believing his claim to be a post-partisan pragmatist and friend of Israel. These are the Democrats who discounted warnings based on Obama’s radical past, and put faith in his smooth assurances. Now that the mask has slipped, it will be tough to get it back on.
I think if you replace the words "centrist democrat" with some other imaginary being, like say wood elf, you get a more accurate post. The same is true of "traditionalist democrat."
The truth is the democratic party has been co-opted by liberal fanatics. They run the party, hold all the positions of power and control the money raising apparatus. Like the peaceful Muslim, the moderate democrat may technically exist, but they play no role in the important business of the country.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseExcept that they just elected a Republican to one of the bluest districts in the country. I don't think there is ANY hope Obama can win re-election without the folks that turned on him last night. His situation is bleak to begin with. Having offended a major constituency in Florida, New York, and beyond, he's in the deepest of trouble. The Republican ran against OBAMA in the election, and won in a district with 3 to 1 Democrat support.
There will either be a reorganization of the Democrat party toward the center after Obama loses in 2012, or they truly will become a minority party.
People must NOT forget that Obama ran as a healer. He ran as a moderate. Forget that his record was extremely liberal, people truly bought that he was a moderate and bridge builder, and a compromiser. Obviously he can't run as that person this time around, and this notion that Obama is appealing as a fighter, as the extreme left is trying to push on Obama now, can win a national election is a pipe dream.
Obama has listened the far left gospel, followed it, and failed. Now, he's listening to them tell him exactly the wrong thing to do (be combative and rude) and he's following their advice again. The guy is truly a hopeless ideolog. He is incapable of "change" when it comes to his own ideas. That is why he is such a monumental failure. That is why those center Democrats will
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse...turn on him.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSince WW2, the two parties have presented the two faces of the ruling class. You'll note that policy has changed very little regardless of which side holds power.
The break up the New Deal Era will mean a break up the ruling class too. Historically, this has been a violent act. Maybe not so much here as we are an aging feminized country. But, the end result will be a different ruling class with different faces.
My SWAG is the Dems become a liberal minority party, the GOP is the establishment party and some new party takes up the role of the reform party. Maybe that's the Tea Party, under a better name.
I don't think the post-industrial, technological age will have room for a 19th century political cult.
I'll note this is the optimistic view. A military takeover is just as likely.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe truth is the democratic party has been co-opted by liberal fanatics. They run the party, hold all the positions of power and control the money raising apparatus. Like the peaceful Muslim, the moderate democrat may technically exist, but they play no role in the important business of the country.
So well said. And so true!
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse>Now that the mask has slipped, it will be tough to get it back on.
Tough, but knowing democrats, far from impossible. Everyone knew that Obama and neo-segregationist Wright ("Whenever I say Israel, the brothers suddenly get real quiet.") had gone back for 20 years. If Koch was incapable of grasping the screamingly obvious implications, the kindest thing I can say is that must have been one low SAT score.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis goes deeper. This is a combination of Glenn Beck in Israel with Herman Cain in tow, Joe Lieberman in sympathy+ the Ron Paul vs. Rick Santorum argument over Iran+ Turkey's response to Bill Ayers' flotilla+ the Nazi Party showing its face in Egypt+ the "necessary" Palestinian state comments by Jimmy Carter and other idiots+ snubbing Netenyahu+ slaughter of the Fogel family in Itamar... and on and on.
We have had enough.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAfter a decade of frustration about the Jewish community’s seeming indifference to the Left’s growing hostility towards Israel and the Jews, today feels like a hopeful vindication. Yes, they finally seem to get what we were saying all along, we got through before it was too late.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt is good that Mayor Koch figured out that Obama and his policies are actually a threat to the survival of Israel. The question is, with what appears to be the emergence of more Iran-like "Islamic" states from the Arab Spring, will Obama reverse his anti-Israel ways before it is too late? Sadly, I doubt it. After sitting in the Rev. Wright's church for 20 + years, Obama's anti-Israeli beliefs and prejudices are set in stone. The only way to change the US policy toward Israel and an increasingly militant Muslim threat is to get a new President of the US who actually believes Israel should survive and prosper.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe administration doesn't care about the lessons learned in governing America, or to learn from mistakes. NY-09 is only a casualty in their cause as they faithfully follow an ideology to "radically change America". I don't expect any change in their political direction. But I do expect a full-speed-ahead agenda before Nov 12.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'm a New Yorker living in London the past two years. It was quite a shock to me to see that the Queensborough Bridge has been named after this nasty old man who cares only about Israel rather than the US or NYC. What did Ed Koch do for New York other than use it in his self promotion? Just an idea - would Israel be willing to buy this bridge?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYes indeed Mr. Kurtz, except for one problem...
There is no such thing as a "centrist Democrat".
Having experienced the tenure of Mr. Koch, I can assure you he is not from the center, nor does his work/support for the Democratic Party project moderate.
This remains the huge problem, which is unfortunately enabled by many even on the Conservative Side. The attempt to say to Democrats, "see, here are some logical Democratic Politicians", hoping many will see the light, always enables the worst. The ploy never works. It is harder, but it is essential to be honest and accurate about the delusional political embrace of the contemporary Democratic Party.
For example, every time someone tries to exploit the Clinton image of "centrism" they enable the opposite - as the Clintons pushed for everything we see today with Obama. They tried to Nationalize US Health Care, opposed/vetoed Welfare Reform, treated the threats of war with Islamic Radical Militants as a mere law enforcement issue, appeased dangerous threats like North Korea - Arafat, gave Americans one of the biggest tax increases in modern US History, even produced budgets after budgets calling for massive deficit spending, etc. The Clinton folly, including mindless loan guarantees for Enron, helped create numerous problems for the American Public.
Sending the message this misguided lean to the left, dedicated to the disastrous Democratic Partisan Machine is something "centrist" is a huge mistake for all. It gives all Americans the wrong impression, and only enables the worst.
We all think Ed Koch is a little more healthy, reasonable, decent in tone. We welcome his professional manner. But his political leans are quite evident. Blurring this reality is a mistake.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI am glad that Koch endorsed Turner and wonder why it took him so long to see through the man who had sat in the Rev. Wright's church for over 20 years without complaint. I hate to say, "I told you so", but I must say it. We can only pray that the damage that Obummer is doing to the Middle East, our economy, etc., can be reversed.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou know, I don't hate to say it. I am your average, middle-aged lawyer, who gave a you-know-what and did some very quick research on the then-Senator and discovered, to my horror, his radical associations and philosophies. I provided external links everywhere I could and spoke out loudly to my friends and aquaintences. I can forgive people for so desperately wanting a change from the same-old, same-old Washington as usual, but to give this neophyte, who's only real-world experience has been in community organizing (snicker) the helm of the US? That is an electorate who chose the "how bad can he be?" surprise behind door number two and now complains about what they got? Americans better start vetting the candidates,for themselves, especially those on the Left,because the MSM won't. They are already trying to pick the the most unelectable Republican nominee. Thomas Jefferson said it best: "The price of liberty is constant vigilence."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseCome on AliceL, it takes every bit of impulse control I posses not to shout I TOLD YOU SO, so I know you don't hate saying it. :). Wright hates Israel, his church circulated a Hamas propaganda piece in its newsletter, and Obama spoke at a dinner for the PLO apologist Khalidi (Maybe this would be a good time for the LA Times to release the tape). How indeed did Koch and other Pro-Israel, but Liberal Jews not know - People see what they want to see until its so obvious that you can't look away. The problem with "I told you so" is that it would have been better to have been wrong.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI respect Ed Koch and he's an experienced politican, but did he seriously believe during the 2008 presidential campaign that Obama would be a friend of Israel once in office? Obama's world view was plain for all to see during the campagin and almost nothing he's done after becoming President has surprised me. There must be some other explanation than that Koch was "fooled" by Obama on his Israel stance.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Other than Barack Obama, no single person had a greater impact on the NY-9 race than Ed Koch."
Anthony Weiner's underpants disagree with this contention.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIs Ed the Zeppo of the Koch brothers?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOF COURSE IT WAS THE MARRIAGE ISSUE THAT FLIPPED THIS TO TURNER.
THE ORTHODOX COMMUNITY MOBILIZED AND SENT MORE PEOPLE TO THE POLLS THAN EVER BEFORE TO FIGHT WEPRIN AS HIS VOTE FOR SAME SEX MARRIAGE WAS A MAJOR EMBARRASSMENT TO ORTHODOX JEWS.
ALL THE MAJOR ORTHODOX JEWISH PRESS WAS PUBLICLY ALIGNED AGAINST WEPRIN BECAUSE OF HIS VIEWS.
THIS WAS A GREAT DAY IN JEWISH HISTORY AS THE JEWS VOTED FOR TORAH VALUES EVEN AGAINST ONE OF THEIR OWN LOST BROTHERS. MAY WE CONTINUE TO SEE THIS LEVEL OF IDEALISM!!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseCongratualtions to Mr. Koch on his efforts in NY-9. In today's UN speech Obamanation has shown he has learned nothing from the defeat in NY-9. He said that there would be peace when the Israelis and Palestinians cound step into each others' shoes. That is like equating suicide bombers and those who defend themselves. There can only be peace when the arabs accept the right of Israel to exist as a jewish state. That has still not happened after 90 years of rejectionism. This youtube video shows the path of rejectionism throughout the ages.
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