NJDC Statement on the Obama Campaign’s Hiring of Ira Forman to be Jewish Outreach Director

NJDC — August 16, 2011 – 2:25 pm | Election 2012 Comments (0) Add a comment

National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) Chair Marc R. Stanley issued the following statement in response to the news that President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign has hired former NJDC CEO Ira N. Forman to serve as Jewish Outreach Director:

On behalf of the National Jewish Democratic Council’s Board and Staff, I am ecstatic that the Obama campaign has chosen Ira Forman to lead their outreach to the American Jewish community. I had the opportunity to work closely with Ira for a number of years when he served in his capacities as NJDC’s Executive Director and CEO. I cannot think of anyone better suited to help the campaign reach Jewish voters. Ira’s knowledge and understanding of the Jewish community is unsurpassed, and his passion for the Democratic Party’s principles makes him a perfect fit for his new role. We wish him nothing but the best as he joins the campaign.

Adam Kredo of Washington Jewish Week first reported on the story:

Ira Forman, former head of the National Jewish Democratic Council, is set to become Obama’s new Jewish outreach director, according to a source on the campaign team.

‘I am truly honored to be able to work toward President Obama’s re-election,’ Forman said in a statement provided exclusively to me. ‘This President deserves the backing of our community for his outstanding support for the U.S.-Israel relationship and his strong record on domestic priorities and shared social values.’

Forman went on to defend Obama’s pro-Israel credentials.

‘The President has already assembled some of the most prominent pro-Israel and Jewish civic leaders to assist in this effort, and I look forward to working with them,’ Forman said. ‘We believe Jewish voters expect an intelligent discussion of the issues, and President Obama’s campaign is demonstrating that it believes that Jewish community deserves both this discussion and extensive grassroots outreach.’

Kredo quoted a campaign official who said,  “Nobody knows the intersection of the Jewish community and Democratic politics better than Ira Forman, a nationally respected leader in both areas.” The same source also said that the addition of Forman “shows the campaign’s commitment to working with the Jewish community and keeping the lines of communication open through dialogue and outreach.”

The Jewish Week’s Adam Dickter also covered the news:

In picking a Jewish outreach coordinator for his re-election campaign, Barack Obama tapped the man who literally wrote the book on Jews in politics (actually, an anthology of Jewish politicians), Ira Forman. The former director of the National National Jewish Democratic Council, also worked for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in the late 1970s, and later in the Clinton administration before his 14-year stint at the NJDC, said JTA, which broke the news of Forman’s appointment today.

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