(You can also read an OpEd supporting Hillary Clinton.)
“The person who agrees with you 80 percent of the time is a friend and ally – not a 20 percent traitor.” – President Ronald Reagan
“It’s because of you that a Marine can serve his country without hiding the husband he loves.” – President Obama at Hillary rally Nov 2nd 2016
Many people in the Torah-observant community are agonizing over the question of who to vote for in this election. Their social values are overwhelmingly conservative and have therefore historically voted Republican. Due to a bizarre and unexpected turn of events, Donald Trump has emerged as the Republican nominee.
The question that faces us is this: Are we okay with Hillary becoming the next president? If the answer is ‘no’ then your only option is to vote Trump.
It is immature and pointless to say ‘I don’t want her so I’ll abstain from voting or enter a third-party name’. If you do not want Obama and Bill Clinton to have a third term as president, you must vote for Trump. Otherwise you are helping to elect Hillary. It’s that simple.
Some sit on a “moral high horse”. They say, ‘Given Mr. Trump’s sordid past how will I explain my vote to my children?”
My answer is we are not electing the Rabbi or Saint in Chief. We’re electing the Commander in Chief. The most important responsibility of a President is to keep the citizenry safe. I do not look to my President for moral guidance, for virtues and for my life’s purpose. I ask of him just one thing, ‘keep America strong and our enemies on the run’.
If you believe that Hillary Clinton and her former boss Barack Obama, have succeeded in this mission, then by all means vote for her.
However, if you are concerned with Hillary…
- …continuing to deplete America’s military might and influence in the world;
- …allowing Iran to build a legal nuclear arsenal and sending them billions in former frozen assets;
- …failing to respond to our military trapped in Benghazi resulting in four dead Americans;
- …allowing tens of thousands of un-vetted Islamic refugees to flood our country;
- …associating with Huma Abedin, a woman with direct links to terror groups;
- …lying to the FBI about her private server, which we now are told, was hacked by our enemies;
- …hiring activists to foment violence at her rivals’ political rallies;
- …accepting millions to her Foundation from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other countries with a history of human rights abuses;
then your only option is to vote for Donald Trump.
I will also raise the issue of the Supreme Court appointments. The next president will very likely appoint 1-3 justices to the court. Hillary has told us she wishes to appoint judges who will advance her [radical] “social justice” agenda. This would easily impact America’s future for a half century, long after she has left the presidency.
Our daughters could be raised in a world in which they are forced to share bathrooms with “transgender men” and private institutions are forced to recognize “abominable marriages” and insure medical procedures that are against our Torah values.
What will you respond then, when they ask you why you sat back and allowed Hillary to become president?
To be clear, I am not a fan of Donald Trump and I am disappointed that he is our nominee. But the notion of a third Obama term should Hillary be elected, is quite unbearable.
Pro-Clinton advocates may harp on Trump’s moral failings and some of his questionable business practices. (I could do the same about Clinton and fill an encyclopedia.) These, however, are largely distractions designed to engage us emotionally rather than rationally.
Is Trump a conventional Republican? Most certainly not. Are there issues where I flat-out disagree with him? Most certainly yes. (His policy on trade is one example.) Will he adopt some controversial policies as president? Without a doubt.
But if I agree with him 80 percent of the time and with Hillary zero percent… who is the traitor?
Included are links that should be of interest.
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/ywn-videos/477462/watch-donald-trump-vows-to-protect-israel.html
Let's set the record straight says
There are a number of inaccuracies in this op-ed:
“Our daughters could be raised in a world in which they are forced to share bathrooms with “transgender men” and private institutions are forced to recognize “abominable marriages” and insure medical procedures that are against our Torah values.”
1. The Hobby Lobby Supreme Court decision has mandated that private businesses do not have to pay for insurance for birth control. I presume that is the issue that Mr. Schonfeld is erroneously citing above. But when did birth control become against Torah values?
2. If Mr. Schonfeld is concerned about politicians who recognize immoral marriages, he should check with Agudath Israel regarding the Moetzes’ ruling on supporting candidates that support same-gender marriage. I think he would be surprised to hear how the Moetzes ruled.
“…allowing Iran to build a legal nuclear arsenal and sending them billions in former frozen assets;”
Actually – this was Obama. The Iran deal was negotiated by Kerry under Obama’s leadership. Clinton actually led the sanctions negotiations that forced Iran into negotiations into the first place. I’m not excusing Obama and I’m not saying we should support the Iran deal, but you can’t blame Clinton for Obama/Kerry’s disaster of a deal. Same with his assertion that “[Clinton is] continuing to deplete America’s military might and influence in the world]. Numerous experts have discussed how Clinton helped reshape the world’s favorable opinion of the US following the Bush administration and the Iraq war. Again, let’s blame Obama but you can’t fault Clinton for Obama’s foreign policy direction or Kerry’s implementation of it over the last four years.
“…allowing tens of thousands of un-vetted Islamic refugees to flood our country;”
This is just right-wing fabrications. Yes there have been refugees granted asylum in the US but every refugee goes through 2 years of vetting by the State department and homeland security. Where does Mr. Schonfeld get his facts that they are unvetted? Breitbart?
A sound debate over issues is important – but let’s at least get the facts right when we do.
Rae says
SIr, do not be naive. I am sure Mr. Schonfeld has not the slightest problem with birth control, but from medical procedures which sometimes result from the lack thereof.
That is most likely what he is referring to.
Also, the point being that although Clinton may not have actually worked on the Iran deal, her presidency will be a continuation of Obama and his disastrous actions.
If you think that among the thousands of illegal immigrants are many ISIS operatives is a right wing fabrication, you are really naive. ISIS themselves have boasted that that is their plan.
and OUR CIA has said specifically that we cannot vet these people properly.
VOTE TRUMP !!
if you do not agree with any of Schonfeld’s solid reasons, I have two words for you:
NATIONAL SECURITY