Staff Reports
The political landscape has certainly shifted since the year 2000, when Al Gore made history not just with his infamous post-election drama but also by picking Joe Lieberman, an observant Jew, as his running mate. Back then, Lieberman’s presence was celebrated, a proud milestone for Jewish Americans as he boldly stepped onto the major party ticket. The media couldn’t get enough of it, churning out stories that detailed Lieberman’s faith as if they found a rare jewel in the political thrift store. This was a time when being Jewish in the Democratic Party meant something positive, or at least not fatal to one’s career.
Fast forward to 2024, and the situation has transformed dramatically—enter Josh Shapiro, the Governor of Pennsylvania, and another Jew eyeing the vice presidency. However, the prevailing winds in the Democratic Party have made it quite clear that not only is it not the same ballpark—it’s a completely different sport. Where once a Jew could run without being tarred and feathered by their party, Shapiro’s prospects face intense scrutiny, much of it stemming from the now-dominant antisemitic rhetoric embraced by segments of the Democratic base.
Today’s Democratic Party is like a high school cafeteria where the pro-Israel kids have suddenly been bullied out of the room. Shapiro’s Jewishness is being weaponized against him, where once it was an advantage. For current Democratic power brokers, expressing any form of support for the State of Israel might as well be a scarlet letter. It’s become a litmus test of loyalty, where ignorance reigns, and vilifying Jews gains applause. Groups that have swapped equity for antisemitism are now the loudest voices in the room, demanding a platform where anything less than a total rejection of Israel’s right to exist gets you tossed out like yesterday’s garbage.
While Joshua Shapiro’s predecessors might have navigated their Jewish identity with political finesse, today’s climate is quite different. The Democratic Party’s new heroes often pop up on social media waving Palestinian flags, echoing calls for destruction without regard for the historical complexities at play. As it stands, it’s almost a rite of passage for the modern Democrat to embrace radical anti-Israel sentiment, even if it alienates a significant portion of the Jewish electorate. To clarify, anyone who thinks Israel deserves any legitimacy is now considered “problematic.” At the same time, the party engages in a dangerous race to the bottom when it comes to who can be the loudest critic of the Jewish state.
Interestingly, most Americans outside the elite liberal circles seem to have kept their heads straight and are embracing virtues like tolerance and acceptance. Still, those at the grassroots level within the Democratic Party are making it clear they have a very different set of priorities.
Students nowadays, particularly Jewish ones, can hardly attend college without the fear of being at the wrong end of an angry mob blaming them for Israel’s existence—something that was virtually unheard of in the 1990s. This growing tide of antisemitism has led to a grave reduction in the safety and optimism Jewish students once had regarding their futures.
Thus, political historians might well compare Joe Lieberman and Josh Shapiro as two polar ends of a spectrum, showing just how far the Democratic Party has drifted into dangerous waters. While Lieberman could expect a warm reception among his peers in the party (even if it was simply for show), Shapiro’s aspirations are met with skepticism—not because of his capabilities, but simply due to the identity he wears. It’s a glaring example of how identity politics have taken a dark turn, revealing the uncomfortable truth that, in today’s Democratic landscape, being a Jew can be a liability rather than an asset.
