James Kirchick recently took aim at Kamala Harris’ 2024 campaign team, particularly criticizing an inquiry made to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro during the selection process for vice presidential candidates. He alleged that the campaign asked Shapiro if he had ever acted as an agent for the Israeli government.
In a Friday editorial in the Washington Post, Kirchick expressed concern that the suggestion of Shapiro having dual loyalties to both the U.S. and Israel reflects a troubling trend in the Democratic Party’s treatment of American Jews. He characterized this notion as one of the oldest anti-Semitic tropes, attributing perhaps a degree of incompetence to the implications presented by the campaign.
He cited Shapiro’s past claims about serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as a misunderstanding, stating that his participation was limited to a high school volunteer program that involved working on a kibbutz and helping at an Israeli military base.
Kirchick speculated that Dana Remus, a former senior aide in the Obama and Biden administrations, along with her boss, Eric Holder, might have been misinformed when casting doubt on Shapiro’s integrity as an American. He suggested that their concerns about Shapiro were likely rooted in the fact that he is a pro-Israel Jewish public figure.
Despite Shapiro’s involvement with the IDF, Kirchick pointed out what he sees as a double standard among progressives, proposing that their criticisms arise not from a genuine principle against serving in foreign militaries, but rather from an animosity towards the Jewish state.
In his opinion piece, he urged progressives to reflect on their position regarding Jewish Americans with ties to Israel, particularly given Israel’s status as a significant ally of the U.S. He hinted at a historical pattern where progressives have sometimes favored America’s adversaries, referencing conflicts like Vietnam.
Later on, he argued that whether it is appropriate for Americans to join foreign militias, like that of Israel, depends heavily on one’s perspective. Those who see Israel as an ally value those service members similarly to Americans who fought against Nazism. Conversely, Kirchick noted that some, like Remus and Holder, might view such ties as a security risk.
He concluded by critiquing the progressive rhetoric that undermines one of the Democratic Party’s dedicated bases, implying it reveals deeper biases within the party. Harris’ office has yet to respond to requests for comment.
In a preview of Shapiro’s upcoming book, “Where We Keep the Light,” set to be released soon, he mentioned an incident regarding a particularly provocative question asked by Harris’ team: whether he had ever served as an agent of the Israeli government. Shapiro remarked on how uncomfortable he found that question, reflecting on how revealing it was about the dynamics within Harris’ inner circle.
Shapiro has also indicated that he is examining his stances on various political issues, including addressing past comments regarding protests that have affected Jewish students at the University of Pennsylvania.
He noted that Remus eventually declined the vice-presidential consideration after he expressed that it might be too much of a financial strain on him and his family.
