For Jewish Democrats, Hagel Prompts Crisis of Faith

President Barack Obama’s nomination of former Sen. Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense (R-NE) has been greeted by Jewish Democrats with the following “logic”: Obama is pro-Israel (despite the evidence), therefore Hagel is pro-Israel (despite the evidence). 

Pro-Obama gay advocates have largely–though less uniformly–used the same reasonin (i.e. Obama is pro-gay rights, so Hagel’s views must have “evolved,” as well). The hidden presumption is that Obama possesses pure motives and complete truth. 

In other words, it is not a logical proposition but a theological one. Yet Jewish Democrats, who surely know that Hagel (a Republican!) ought to cause some trepidation, must be feeling some doubts. Do they believe in Obama’s divinity, even now? 

A crisis of faith.