The Jewish case for Dave McCormick
OpinionGuest Columnist

The Jewish case for Dave McCormick

"McCormick is a strong supporter of Israel, a defender of American values and a patriot who understands the threat Islamism poses both here and abroad."

From left: Rona Kaufman, Dave McCormick and Dan Senor at the Indigo Hotel, Pittsburgh, Oct. 28, 2024 (Photo by Toby Tabachnick)
From left: Rona Kaufman, Dave McCormick and Dan Senor at the Indigo Hotel, Pittsburgh, Oct. 28, 2024 (Photo by Toby Tabachnick)

For our Jewish community here in Pittsburgh, the past year has been difficult. In the aftermath of Hamas’ brutal massacre of innocents in Israel, we’ve seen hate up close. Jewish students at the University of Pittsburgh attacked in our neighborhoods. Our institutions defaced with antisemitic graffiti. And support for Israel falsely denounced as complicity in genocide. Something has to change.

These difficult times demand elected leaders who will be loud and proud advocates for the Jewish people, Israel, and the values our community holds dear. Leaders who will act with moral clarity, even when it means going against their own party.

Dave McCormick has that moral clarity.

McCormick has consistently shown up for our community this past year. I first met him at one of our Bring Them Home vigils in Squirrel Hill. It was there that I learned that McCormick is a strong supporter of Israel, a defender of American values and a patriot who understands the threat Islamism poses both here and abroad. Since then, I’ve bumped into him on Forbes Avenue, I met with him at Bunny Bakes on Murray Avenue, and I celebrated with him at a friend’s sukkah. Last night I had the great pleasure of introducing him and Dan Senor for a conversation at the Indigo Hotel. Each time I meet McCormick, I become more certain that he is the best person to represent us as our senator in Washington D.C.

McCormick is a combat veteran who attended West Point and helped create hundreds of jobs in Pittsburgh as an executive and then-CEO of FreeMarkets, a software company. He and his wife, Dina, an immigrant from Egypt, are proud residents of Squirrel Hill.

McCormick has been one of the most outspoken voices in Pennsylvania supporting the Jewish community. After Oct. 7, he and Dina traveled to Israel to show solidarity with Israelis and see for themselves what happened on that terrible day, visiting Kfar Aza and meeting with the families of hostages held by Hamas.

McCormick was one of the first leaders to call for the resignation of now-former University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill after she was unable to tell Congress that calling for the genocide of Jews would violate the university’s code of conduct. His opponent, Sen. Bob Casey, declined to do so.

I don’t doubt that Casey is sincere about his expressions of support for Israel. But these dangerous times demand strong leadership, not career politicians focused on political expediency. Casey declined to call for Magill’s resignation. And despite the Pittsburgh Jewish community’s denunciations of Congresswoman Summer Lee for her openly antisemitic rhetoric, Casey has repeatedly refused to disavow his endorsement of Lee. That’s disqualifying.

Casey says he’s a serious legislator, and he’s the lead Democrat sponsor of a straightforward bill to combat antisemitism on college campuses. Yet despite 18 years in the Senate and a close relationship with Senate Democratic leadership, Casey has failed to get a vote on the bill, which passed the House with strong bipartisan support six months ago. I fear that Casey is putting election-year politics ahead of taking action against antisemitism.

In sum, Casey picks and chooses what antisemitism he calls out. McCormick has demonstrated throughout his campaign that he will be a strong leader who will not equivocate, no matter who it is.

Finally, Casey has failed to take the threat posed by Iran to Israel’s existence seriously enough. He was a deciding vote for the 2015 nuclear agreement that gave the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism access to billions of dollars in frozen assets. The money, weapons and training that flow from Tehran to Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis are being used to threaten Israel and its people each and every day.

McCormick understands the threat from the regime in Iran and will use his experience in the military and as a member of the National Security Council staff to stand up for Israel and hold Iran accountable for its support for terror and attacks against Israel.

The past year has shown us that the status quo of violence against Jews, hate-filled, antisemitic protests on college campuses, and politicians normalizing lies about Israel cannot continue.

We need to vote for change on November 5. That’s why I support Dave McCormick. PJC

Rona Kaufman is a lifelong Democrat, a proud resident of Squirrel Hill, an associate professor of law, and an educator committed to combating antisemitism in all its forms. The views expressed here are her own. They do not represent those of her employer or any other organization with which she is affiliated.

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