US House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Tuesday suggested that Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was overlooked for the role of Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate because of his Jewish background.
Johnson’s remarks, made during an interview with The Hill, followed the announcement that Harris had chosen Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her vice presidential candidate.
Johnson indicated that Shapiro, who was among the final contenders, “would have been a stronger choice” for Harris.
“I think that clearly was a major factor, is that she was reluctant to put a vice presidential nominee on the ticket with Jewish heritage because they’re having a split in the Democratic Party,” Johnson told The Hill. “They have a pro-Palestinian, in some cases pro-Hamas wing of the Democratic Party.”
“Sadly for Josh Shapiro, because of his heritage, I think that is the reason he was overlooked,” Johnson added.
Johnson dismissed suggestions that the decision had an antisemitic undertone but maintained that Shapiro’s Judaism was a “major factor” in the selection process.
“I’m not gonna call it that because I don’t — I just know that that was a major factor,” Johnson said. “I think it was transparently a major factor. And I think they made a political decision that is sad, and I think they’ll regret it.”
Former US President Donald Trump’s running mate, Senator J.D. Vance, commented on Tuesday that if Harris did not choose Josh Shapiro, “it will be due to the antisemitism within their own caucus and party.”
He added, “It’s disgraceful that Democrats have reached a point where this is even an open conversation. And it is an open conversation. Even if it is Josh Shapiro, he has had to distance himself from parts of his biography because the far left doesn’t like the fact that he is a Jewish-American. We have to be honest about this fact and call it out.”
The 51-year-old Shapiro, who keeps kosher and attended Jewish day school, has been supportive of Israel during the Middle Eastern conflict but has also criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, once calling him “one of the worst leaders of all time.”
Several weeks ago, before Harris made her decision public, CNN faced backlash after its anchor John King remarked that there were “risks” in putting forward Shapiro as the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee because “he’s Jewish.”
“He’s certainly under consideration,” King said, adding, “He’s a first-term governor, he’s Jewish, there could be some risks in putting him on the ticket, but certainly some of our voters here in Pennsylvania said, ‘Hey, we like Gov. Shapiro, give him a look.’”
It remains unclear what motivated King’s comments, who announced plans to convert to Judaism in 2008, but they were criticized by Jewish groups and individuals.
{Matzav.com}