Jewish Groups Irked by Cross on Republican Podium
Wed Sep 1, 6:39 PM ET
By Mark Egan
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Speakers at this week's Republican convention make their remarks at a wooden podium that some Jewish groups find offensive because its decorative panels appear to form the shape of a Christian cross.
A cross is even more visible in a waist-high gavel stand adjacent to the podium, leading some to question whether the party is trying to send a subtle message to its base among conservative Christians.
"It is the very height of insensitivity for the Republican Party to feature a cross at the center of the podium of this convention," Ira Forman, executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council, said in a statement.
"This wooden cross must be at least three feet (one meter) tall, and it sends a signal of exclusivity loudly and clearly."
Two other Jewish groups interviewed by Reuters expressed similar sentiments.
A convention spokesman declined to comment about the podium flap, telling reporters he did not understand why people were asking questions on the issue.
President Bush (news - web sites)'s chief political strategist, Karl Rove, told CNN he did not think the podium's decorative woodwork looked like a cross.
"My God, where do they come up with this stuff?" he said. "Does it look to you like it's a cross? I don't think so."
The hall at the convention, where Bush on Thursday will accept the Republican nomination to a second White House term, is sparse.
Its three main components are a billowing stretch of red, white and blue to symbolize patriotism and the American flag, a New York skyline devoid of the World Trade Center, destroyed in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and the church-like podium.
Beside the podium is the gavel stand constructed of wood panels, with lighter shades in the center in the shape of a cross -- the Christian symbol of the crucifixion of Jesus.
CHURCH AND STATE
"I'm a Roman Catholic myself, but I continue to be amazed about the inappropriate dissolution of the line between church and state," said Village Voice media critic Michael Musto, adding that he saw the cross as a "subliminal nod to the religious right."
Separation of church and state is a key issue for U.S. Jewish voters and among the reasons why they typically vote for Democrats. Bush, who will accept the nomination as the Republican presidential candidate on Thursday, refers regularly to God and his religion in his speeches.
With Bush neck-and-neck with his Democratic opponent Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) of Massachusetts, Republicans are keen to mobilize the religious right to vote for the Texan.
In the 2000 election against Al Gore (news - web sites), Bush took about one fifth of Jewish votes. But despite irritation among some Jews about the symbolism at the convention, his support among Jews could rise to about one third in November's election, said David Twersky, director of international affairs at the American Jewish Congress.
That increased Jewish vote will come from Bush's tough stand on terrorism, his assertion of Israel's right to defend itself and because his road map for Middle East peace demands that Palestinians must stop attacks on Israel, he said.
Twersky said that whether or not the image of a cross on the stage was a message to the religious right, much clearer signals were delivered by speakers at the podium.
"When Laura Bush said (the president) doesn't change his friends or his values and there was a thunderous roar from the delegates, that was a message that the president is with the Christian right on abortion and other issues," he said.
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I am a Christian, and I caught some of the speeches, I didn't see a cross on the podium, but after seeing this pic, and reading this post, I kinda see it.
