The Shapiro Question

The New York Times reports that various so-called progressive groups have been attempting to prevent Vice President Kamala Harris from naming Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as her running mate. Often referring to him as "Genocide Josh," their nominal objection is that:

The 51-year-old governor has stood by Israel’s right to self-defense and has condemned overt displays of antisemitism amid pro-Palestinian protests. He has been unapologetic in his love for Israel; he has visited often and even proposed to his wife there.

As it happens, Shapiro's position on the Middle East is virtually indistinguishable from Harris's, or from the other likely vice presidential candidates, including Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Nonetheless, only Shapiro has drawn organized opposition from the left. The Atlantic's Yair Rosenberg thinks he knows why:

And yet, activists have not organized in force to discredit any of the non-Jewish contenders for vice president on these grounds. There are no viral memes against “Killer Kelly” or “War-Crimes Walz.” Either the activists involved are extraordinarily lazy and never thought to investigate the other VP possibilities, or they think that Jews are uniquely untrustworthy. Seen in context, the “Genocide Josh” campaign and its tendentious reading of Shapiro’s record look less like a legitimate political critique than a rigged litmus test imposed on the Jewish lawmaker alone.

In fact, Shapiro might actually provide Harris with a "Nixon to China" opportunity. She has already signaled some distance from Pres. Joe Biden's nearly unqualified support for the Gaza operations. Shapiro himself has called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “one of the worst leaders of all time." That could be the beginning of a more nuanced policy for mainstream Democrats -- support for Israel and condemnation of Netanyahu and his thuggish coalition partners.

Former Pres. Donald Trump has called Harris's husband, Doug Emhoff, a "horrible Jew," and he regularly disparages Jews who vote Democratic. "If you’re Jewish, if you vote for a Democrat you’re a fool. An absolute fool.”

Josh Shapiro, who keeps kosher and celebrates Shabbat, could be just the person to prove him wrong.