Rabbi Shulman Criticizes McCain for Condoning Bigotry

Press Release

Rabbi Shulman Criticizes McCain for Condoning Bigotry

Dennis Shulman would never stand by and allow Arab Americans to be smeared, as Senator John McCain did Friday

Dennis Shulman, the Democratic nominee in New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District who would be the first rabbi to ever serve in Congress, expressed regret that Senator McCain refuses to speak out against bigotry against the Arab American community.

Friday, "a woman told McCain: "I don't trust Obama. I have read about him and he's an Arab."

Rather than express the view that there would be nothing wrong if Obama was Arab - or correcting the misperception that he is Arab, which sadly does benefit McCain politically - McCain said, "No ma'am, no ma'am. He's a decent family man…[a] citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues. That's what this campaign is all about."

"We need leadership in the best tradition of America, leadership that embraces our diversity and recognizes that we cannot idly stand by and hope to benefit from bigotry," said Dennis Shulman, the Democratic nominee in New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District. "Senator McCain needs to forcefully speak out against those of his supporters who seek political gain by appealing to hate and making Barack Obama appear to be un-American. I believe that Senator McCain needs to explain his behavior to allies like Senator John Sununu of New Hampshire, who also happens to be Arab American. When elected, I will provide this district and my country with the kind of ethical leadership we need, which emphatically includes a willingness to speak out against bigotry."

SOURCE: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/10/mccain.crowd/index.html

Dennis Shulman was recently profiled by The New Yorker and Time as momentum for his campaign continues to grow, and recent polling in the district validates the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's decision to upgrade NJ-5 as an "Emerging Race" and to buy advertising time in the district. Only 31% of likely voters in NJ-5 plan to re-elect Garrett and, by a 68-17% margin, the district seeks change from George Bush's policies.

Dr. Dennis Shulman has gained international recognition for his 30 years of work as a psychologist, educator, and author. An ordained rabbi for five years and blind since childhood, he has lived in New Jersey's Fifth District for more than 25 years with his wife, Dr. Pamela Tropper, an obstetrician. They have two adult daughters.

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