PITTSBURGH — More than 50 members of Steel City’s Jewish community squeezed into a conference room last week to find out if Democratic Sen. Bob Casey still endorses Rep. Summer Lee after she blamed Israel for Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre — in a statement released this Oct. 7.
Casey, a 17-year-incumbent, wouldn’t revoke his endorsement of the freshman congresswoman and Squad member.
“I think I’ve been pretty clear about condemning categorically what was said in that statement, condemning categorically hateful speech or speech that was antisemitic,” he told Jewish Federation Community Relations Council Communications Director Laura Cherner.
“I realize that some want me to get involved in other races. I got a race in the United States Senate. I’ve got to concentrate on bringing the vote of our people,” Casey elaborated.
Casey’s Republican opponent, Dave McCormick, has repeatedly tied him to Lee, and some Jewish voters present were not happy with the senator’s answer.
“Casey repudiated Lee’s statement, but not Lee herself,” Amitai Bin-Nun, a resident of Pittsburgh’s historic Jewish neighborhood Squirrel Hill, told The Post.
Some went much further.
“I think he bullshits everything,” said Etti Martel. The Israeli American moved to Pittsburgh 10 years ago.
“The fact of the matter is he’s already involved by endorsing. We want him to step away from Summer,” she added.
Casey said he endorsed Lee in 2023 after she was elected to the House. He helped launch her re-election committee in September and is the first face on her endorsements page.
That’s a problem for Martel and her family, who became much more active in politics after Oct. 7.
“I want what’s best for Israel. That’s my number-one priority,” she said. She voted for the pro-Israel candidate in the Democratic primary to unseat Lee, who Martel says “supports Gaza and terrorists.”
Lee pushed for a cease-fire in Congress just 11 days after Oct. 7. She demands an arms embargo against Israel as it fights Iran and its jihadist proxies and accuses the Jewish state of committing genocide.
Martel thinks Casey removing his endorsement could hurt Lee, even in a solidly Democratic district — and would benefit Casey.
“I think she would lose a lot more votes,” she said, noting “a lot of people respect” Casey, even her Republican family members who could consider voting for him “if he wasn’t endorsing Lee.”
Martel didn’t want to say how she plans to vote this November, except that she supports her friend Rona Kaufman, a Duquesne law professor who’s been outspoken about voting for McCormick because Democrats have not expelled anti-Israel elements from the party, Lee included.
But other members of the Jewish community defended Casey, including two men who accused your correspondent of having an “agenda” for asking if Casey would revoke his endorsement of Lee — which the conversation’s host said several people wanted to ask.
Though the two men wouldn’t share their views with The Post, a much friendlier man did.
Gil Schneider said Israel is not his most important issue.
“Life’s a tradeoff,” the retired businessman said with a smile, arguing Casey can disagree with Lee on Israel: “Look at all the issues they agree on,” he said, listing their shared support for voting rights, gun control and continued military aid to Ukraine.
Having voted against Lee in both Democratic primaries, Schneider considers her a necessary evil for Democrats to retake control of the House of Representatives and hold the Senate.
“The only way to get things done is if you can win both houses,” Schneider said, echoing Casey’s promise to eliminate the Senate filibuster rule to pass progressive priorities like abortion rights with a simple majority.
Though Schneider called Lee an “irrelevant backbencher,” he suggested losing her support could hurt Casey, who is already being outspent and close to losing his lead to McCormick.
“It’s a fight for every vote,” Schneider said, explaining Casey’s reason for condemning Lee’s statement but not going further.
“This is a political game.”
