A new Republican ad targeting Jewish American voters will begin airing next week just after GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney heads to Israel for meetings with top officials.
The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) ad, called "My Buyer's Remorse," pictures a Jewish American voter named Michael who discusses his growing disillusionment with President Barack Obama since he took office in 2008.
"I'm a life-long Democrat. I've never voted for a Republican president," Michael says. "This time I'm going to vote for a Republican president."
In the ad, Michael mentions the president's "disrespectful" treatment of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a May 2011 trip. Michael also names Obama's speech on the 1967 borders of the state of Israel as another reason he is reconsidering his vote.
The "Michael" ad will only be the first in a series filmed by the RJC encouraging Jewish voters to take another look at their voting record.
"These folks, in telling their own stories, give voice to the nagging doubts that many in the Jewish community feel about Obama," RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks said in a press release from Wednesday.
The ad will be released next week in key states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania. This weekend, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will visit Israel for meetings with top officials and make a foreign policy address in Jerusalem.
Ahead of the Romney visit, the Obama White House came under fire when it could not clarify a position on the status of Jerusalem.
"Our position hasn't changed," White House Spokesman Jay Carney repeated after being repeatedly asked the question during a press briefing. "You know the answer," he added.
The White House eventually issued a follow-up answer to the question, released as an asterisk attachment to the press briefing transcript sent to reporters.
"The status of Jerusalem is an issue that should be resolved in final status negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians," the follow-up read. "We continue to work with the parties to resolve this issue and others in a way that is just and fair, and respects the rights and aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians."
The Romney campaign subsequently issued a proxy statement from House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Virg., in which he said, "At a moment when Israel is facing so many perils, the United States should be standing by our ally, not quibbling or quarreling about its capital city."
The Obama administration hopes the combined Jerusalem issue and political ads don't hurt their chances with Jewish voters in November. In a move to remind Jewish Americans of the White House's commitment to Israeli security, the president signed the U.S.-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act Friday.
The act reconfirms strong U.S.-Israeli ties in the aftermath of repeated attempts on the lives of Israeli citizens and diplomats worldwide and adds an additional $70 million contribution to Iron Dome, a mobile, all-weather missile defense shield.
"As many of you know, I have made it a top priority for my administration to deepen cooperation with Israel across the whole spectrum of security issues - intelligence, military, technology," the president said during the signing Friday.
"What this legislation does is bring together all the outstanding cooperation that we have seen, really, at an unprecedented level between our two countries that underscore our unshakable commitment to Israel security."
by RTT Staff Writer
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