1988 Republican National Convention : ‘Sleeper’ Platform Plank Pitches for Jewish Vote

Republicans hoping to elect George Bush President are pitching hard for the Jewish vote with a “sleeper” plank in their 1988 convention platform that opposes two things anathema to American Jews: a Palestinian state and a U.N. resolution saying that Zionism is racism.

The plank is expected to be endorsed today by the Republican platform committee. It was adopted by drafters with relatively little argument, while most attention focused on disputes between moderates and conservatives over the party’s opposition to abortion and support for the Strategic Defense Initiative.

The Mideast plank won immediate approval from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the politically potent pro-Israel lobbying group in Washington. Tom Dine, its executive director, was so enthusiastic he scribbled a note to former Texas Rep. Tom Loeffler, chairman of the GOP foreign policy platform drafting session.

‘Best Platform Ever’

“Congratulations,” Dine wrote. “What this subcommittee has drafted is the best platform ever on U.S.-Israel relations by either political party.”

Because of its strong support for Israel, Republicans hope the Mideast plank will help attract Jewish voters away from their traditional home in the Democratic Party. Some Jewish voters defected to Ronald Reagan in 1980. Democrats began enticing them back in 1984. But during their Atlanta convention last month, the Democrats said not a word about the U.N. resolution or a Palestinian state.

Republicans believe that Jews will be especially receptive to appeals from the GOP because of the concerns many of them have about the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s influence in the Democratic campaign and in any future Democratic Administration. They regard Jackson as too critical of Israel and too friendly to its Arab adversaries, particularly Yasser Arafat, leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, whom Jackson once publicly embraced.

After testifying before Loeffler’s subcommittee, Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center of Los Angeles, and a harsh critic of Jackson, called the Republican plank “terrific.”

“We have to commend the Republicans for being very specific,” Hier said, adding that Gov. Michael S. Dukakis had an opportunity to make the Democratic platform just as specific. “Dukakis did not take the opportunity. When you hedge on the issues by not being specific, you tend to put people ill at ease. . . . The Republican Party is in a position to make inroads in the American Jewish Community.”

But Hier added that Vice President Bush should not take Jewish voters for granted. “He has to assure (them) that he would continue President Reagan’s policy toward Israel and Soviet Jews.” Tim Hagan, an Ohio Democratic leader who tried unsuccessfully four years ago to get the Democratic convention in San Francisco to condemn racism and anti-Semitism, called the Republican plank “unequivocal.” Democrats meeting in Atlanta last month pledged continued support for Israel in their platform but promised only to bring “new leadership” to the quest for Mideast peace through the Camp David process.

“I don’t think that there is a significant difference in the Dukakis posture and the Bush posture with respect to Israel,” Hagan said. But he added: “I think it is fair enough to say that some Jews would be concerned that . . . there isn’t as much of a commitment on the part of the Democrats.”

Hagan noted that Jackson tried in Atlanta to bring a resolution to the floor of the Democratic convention supporting self-determination for Palestinians. But it never came to a vote. “I think that was silly,” Hagan said. “I do not think that was good judgment on Dukakis’ part. He should have let the convention vote it down. That would have made a statement.”

The Republicans “have made a statement . . . “ Hagan added. “And it’s smart politics.”

Hyman Bookbinder, who recently resigned as Washington representative of the American Jewish Committee to become a Dukakis adviser, said the GOP plank would not have “any significant impact.”

“It is the same position as Gov. Dukakis’,” Bookbinder said. Jewish voters, he added, do not like Republican positions on other issues, such as abortion.

Shifting political allegiance among Jews is shown by polls of those leaving voting booths. In 1980, Jewish voters gave Republicans an estimated 35%-40% of their ballots, while Jimmy Carter got only 45% and John Anderson drew 15%-20%. In 1984, a Los Angeles Times poll of voters showed a Democratic increase to 67% and a Republican drop to 32%.

CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS 5 p.m. Call to Order. 6 p.m. Speeches by former Transportation Secretary Elizabeth H.Dole, former Sen. Paul Laxalt, and Rep. Jack Kemp. 7 p.m. Tribute to First Lady Nancy Reagan. 7:35 p.m. Speech by President Reagan. 8 p.m. Adjournment. CBS, NBC and ABC will provide live coverage of the convention from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. CNN will broadcast from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Times listed are PDT.