Reflections on the 2012 GOP Convention

Tuesday, September 3, 2012 
By: Matt Brooks, Executive Director, Republican Jewish Coalition

The Republican National Convention this year was more than a ceremony to nominate Mitt Romney for President of the United States. It was a great opportunity for the GOP to showcase the tremendous talent and passion of its leaders and the deep bench the party has developed. The nation heard from rising stars like Mayor Mia Love, from great governors like Brian Sandoval, Nikki Haley, Chris Christie, and Susana Martinez, as well as a host of House and Senate members who are committed to turning this country around.

The core principles of the Republican Party were also on display. The ideals of individual freedom, economic liberty, our shared responsibility for our neighbors who are poor, elderly, or suffering, the vital importance of strong families and strong communities – all of these resonate deeply with Jewish voters and were prominent elements of the convention.

For Jewish Republicans, it was a wonderful time to gather with like-minded members of the tribe from all over the country and talk politics. The RJC has had a presence at every GOP national convention since 1988 and this year was the best. Large, enthusiastic crowds came to our events to hear from top GOP officials.

The caliber of speakers and the size of our events say a great deal about the place of Jewish Republicans in the GOP and how welcome our community is in the party of Lincoln.

Of course, now the Democrats are taking note of the warm relationship between Jewish Republicans and the party, and worrying that even more Jewish voters may make themselves at home in the GOP this year. They are worried about President Obama's loss of Jewish support and about the wedge of victory represented by Jewish voters in swing states. They are right to worry, because more than ever, Jewish voters are seeing the clear and significant differences between the two parties.

All in all, this convention was a great start for the big push to November – we were inspired and energized by the events in Tampa last week, and we are ready to go out and make a difference. The RJC will bring that energy to Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania on September 9 and 10, when hundreds of RJC volunteers will engage in a massive grassroots outreach effort including sign waving, literature drops, and phone banking. We are going all out to make sure that Jewish voters are educated, aware, and focused on the most important issues facing our country and our community. We'll make sure that our community "remembers in November!"