Last night, more than 140 Jewish community leaders, members of Congress, and administration officials gathered at Vice President Biden's home at the Naval Observatory to commemorate the Jewish New Year, Rosh Ha Shanah. The usual suspects like Abe Foxman, head of the ADL, were there.
The Kosher food selection included: North African meatballs, petite turkey slider on homemade brioche with cranberry aioli, classic tuna tartare presented in a mini wonton cone, wasabi mousseline, sweet tomato jam tartlets, and crisp vegetable ceviche shooters. The desert table was festooned with French macaroons, apple latkes served with a honey creme, petite honey and walnut cakes, and mini chocolate cupcakes with lemon frosting.
The party occurred a midst a flap over Biden's comments about the possible release of convicted spy Jonathan Pollard. The New York Times reported several days earlier that he said,"President Obama was considering clemency, but I told him, ‘Over my dead body are we going to let him out before his time. If it were up to me, he would stay in jail for life. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz later reported that he claimed to be misquoted.
Something good has come out of Biden inserting his foot in his mouth. The Jewish community has coalesced around Pollard. Biden has agreed to meet with a small group of Jewish leaders to discuss the release. Along with arguing for the release, the Jewish community possibly should pursue a different tactic and ask for the reason that the intelligence community is so opposed to his release. With the entire intelligence community united in their opposition, there must be more to his transgressions than what was publicly released during his case. Even if the the spooks can not divulge the entire basis for their antagonism because it is classified, maybe they can provide some color.
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