Rick Santorum, the latest GOP presidential hopeful to land in the spotlight, has long touted his pro-Israel and anti-Iran policies on the campaign trail. But Santorum’s ultra conservative ideology, which includes an opposition to abortion rights and denial of the theory of evolution, has always been a barrier distancing him from the Jewish electorate.
Now, on the eve of the Iowa presidential contest, Santorum’s supporters are touting the former U.S. senator’s outreach to Jewish organizations in fighting for religious freedom and combating anti-Semitism despite their differences on family and domestic issues.
“He takes his religion very seriously,” said Barbara Ledeen, a former Senate staffer who worked closely with Santorum referring to his Catholic beliefs. “He always told me he believes that Catholics and Jews are the canaries in the coal mine warning against religious prejudice.”
Santorum’s appeal to Jewish voters is based on his proven congressional history of supporting Israel. “Very few things speak as compelling to a voter or to a supporter as a record, a history of what you’ve actually done,” said Ben Chouake, president of NORPAC, a New Jersey-based PAC that raises money for candidates based on their views on Israel. “You have a guy like Gingrich and a guy like Santorum, two candidates who have been extraordinary on our issue when they were in office. It wasn’t a side issue,” Chouake added, “it was, how can I get this done.”
Santorum’s Senate record includes key sponsorship of a bill aimed at imposing sanctions on Syria and initiating legislation toughening existing measures against Iran. In his December 7 speech at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s presidential candidates forum, held in Washington DC, Santorum blasted the Obama administration’s policy on Iran and Syria and predicted that the looming threat from Iran could eclipse economic issues by the time Americans go to the polls in November 2012.
Santorum’s main backer in the Jewish community is fellow Pennsylvanian Alan Miller of Pennsylvania. Miller, who sits on the RJC’s board, is the chairman and CEO of United Health Services, one of the nation’s largest hospital management firms. Santorum was a member of UHS’s board of directors, a position he resigned after announcing his bid for presidential nomination.
Perhaps because of his close ties with the powerful Jewish community in his home state of Pennsylvania, or because of his strong religious beliefs, Rick Santorum stood out in his efforts to reach out to the Jewish community when elected to the Senate.
As chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, one of the key Senate leadership positions, Santorum initiated a semi-annual meeting of Republican members with representatives of all Jewish organizations, regardless of their views. The atmosphere in the meetings, recalled a Jewish activist who was took part in the discussions, was positive and both sides avoided touching on thorny issues such as judicial nominations or family values.
Santorum also was the driving force behind the formation of a caucus on religious freedom, in which representatives of all faiths raised issues they had concerns about. Following the 2001 Durban Conference, Santorum summoned representatives of U.S. non-governmental organizations to discuss the conference’s anti-Israel bias and he later sponsored a Senate floor discussion on the rise of worldwide anti-Semitism.
“Whatever Jews may think about his views on abortions or gay rights, he was really engaged on issues important for the community,” Ledeen, Santorum’s former aide, said.
