Editorial: Biden's candor on Pollard

Seems like President Barack Obama just can’t seem to catch a break in his efforts to maintain Jewish support ahead of his 2012 reelection bid. His speech before the United Nations and use of the veto power to delay Palestinian statehood have been noted in the Jewish community.
But less than two weeks later, in a meeting with rabbis in Boca Raton, Florida, Vice President Joe Biden was quoted by The New York Times, offering a harsh view on efforts to secure a presidential pardon for Jonathan Pollard.
“President Obama was considering clemency, but I told him, ‘Over my dead body are we going to let him out before his time is up,’” Biden reportedly told the group. “If it were up to me, he would stay in jail for life.”
Biden’s inadvertent candor is as appreciated as his superior’s use of the veto power in helping Jewish voters choose their presidential pick. That being said, the economy remains the leading topic for voters. Unless the Republican presidential candidates are willing to speak out on the ongoing economic protests in downtown Manhattan, they will lose to President Obama by default.
Entering their third week, the demonstrators have kept a careful nonpartisan message on their banners. Initially ridiculed as unemployed youths with too much time on their hands, their efforts have now been dubbed in the mainstream press as an “American Autumn” following the Arab Spring.
The Republican candidates cannot rely on moral issues and foreign policy alone to topple Obama. The same way that Mr. Obama needs to make a historic sweeping gesture to retain Jewish support, the GOP must directly speak on unemployment numbers to secure the general vote.