By Michele Justic
When considering Kathleen Rice’s vast impact on and continual presence in our community, it is hard to believe she has been the congresswoman for the 4th district for under two years. As NORPAC-LI president Stanley Stern joked at a Woodsburgh fundraiser on Sunday this week, “Tuesday you were at AIPAC, Wednesday at NORPAC, and today you are here. Do you do anything else?” This is even more fascinating when taken in contrast to the tenure of Rice’s predecessor, which Stern refers to as “Taxation without Representation.”
At the event, graciously hosted by Alex and Ilyse Sternberg and attended by close to 100 supporters, including Senator Todd Kaminsky, it was made clear that the days of being taken for granted by our elected leaders are over.
Congresswoman Rice made a common statement, which is uncommon in the way she realizes it time and again: “Support me because we can change Washington. People can have faith in public officials. I am opposed to cozying up to party leaders. My door is always open, and I will always be a friend to you.”
Alex Sternberg noted that Rice’s history of supporting the Jewish community came long before her election campaigns. Rav Moshe Weinberger, mara d’asra of Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, made a point of thanking her for providing enhanced security for synagogues in her capacity as the district attorney.
Ilyse Sternberg recalled how she became friends with Rice many years ago, and Rice has been there to stand with Israel, when planes were prohibited from flying there, speaking to AIPAC, and even earlier as a student there.
Rice’s most famous example of taking a stand for Israel was in crossing party lines and voting against President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran. She told of some of the pressure she felt, including from Nancy Pelosi, and some of the political fallout. Current affairs have proven her correct and she continues to fight for the optimal way to prevent a nuclear Iran in spite of the many allowances that were granted.
Rice relates that she recently completed a tour of the Middle East, including Egypt and Tunisia. Witnessing the precarious situations of aging leaders and losing ground to terrorists informs her policies on the House Committee on Homeland Security. She bemoans those who opine from ivory towers.
Senator Kaminsky described Rice as having a strong backbone. “She is put to the test many times for this constituency and that constituency, but makes the right decision each time.”
Rice attributes her steadfastness in part to her employability, saying, “Public service used to be a vocation. Now you can’t get people out of there. Death or handcuffs . . .” She noted she is not looking to become a lobbyist after office and is only in public service to do the right thing.
With an aging Congress, Rice hopes to bring on a new era of public servants more concerned with their electorate than getting reelected, who stick to their values regardless of the letter after their name, and who get out into the world rather than relying on sometimes-biased media reports. Assemblyman Kaminsky appears to be fighting the same fight on the state level.
She commends formal groups like NORPAC, which made a huge presence last week by sending 1,200 concerned citizens to Capitol Hill, as well as smaller groups, like SKA High School, which visit on a regular basis, for sending a direct message to politicians that cannot be ignored.
Rice faces reelection in November; she seems poised to win and continue to represent our community for years to come.
