. Democrats, Try to Avoid This One Self-Inflicted Wound in 2020

. As Democrats go about trying to choose the best candidate to confront Donald Trump in what may be our last chance to stop the destruction of the political system of the United States, it would be nice if Democrats avoid needlessly alienating one of its most loyal constituencies — American Jews. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Peter Buttigieg have taken positions which, in other years, might have had American Jews just whistle past the graveyard, hold their noses and vote Democratic from the top of the ticket to the bottom.

. These are not other years.

. Ever since the New Deal, American Jews have voted Democratic in presidential elections by large majorities. Since 1988, no Republican candidate has gotten even one-third of the Jewish vote for president in any election (in 1988, George H.W. Bush got 35%). Although American Jews represent approximately 3% of the population, their registration and voting rate of 90% of eligible voters is far in excess of the registration levels of any other religious group. They raise and contribute large sums of money for Democratic candidates at all levels, and are extremely active in organizing political campaigns and getting out the vote. In normal circumstances, Jewish activity on behalf of the Democratic Party would be a given and would not merit much discussion.

. These are not normal circumstances.

. Over the last several years, the number of anti-Semitic incidents has greatly increased in the United States. In 2017, the…