Why the Only Jewish Republican in Congress Thinks His Ranks Will Grow
Lee Zeldin, Republican from New York's 1st Congressional District, is interviewed by Roll Call.
Photograph: Tom Williams/CQ Roll CallThe average Las Vegas summit might include tournaments of golf and poker—but likely not a Shabbat dinner, too. This weekend's Republican Jewish Coalition Spring Leadership Meeting will have them all. It brings together a constituency that so far has produced much more in the way of political clout than in representation in Congress.
Host Sheldon Adelson, the largest individual donor in the last presidential election, has attracted an all-star cast of speakers headed by former President George W. Bush and two fellow Texans in various stages of mulling a run for the office Bush once held: Senator Ted Cruz and former Governor Rick Perry. Also on the agenda are 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and House Speaker John Boehner, who invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress last month without first notifying the White House.