When my wife and I moved to Josephine County six years ago, I was a conservative Democrat, and she was a Republican. Coming from Portland, where politics lean heavily left, it was refreshing to be in a more centrist or conservative community. Shortly after settling in, I decided to join my wife in the Republican Party, believing that our presence would add some diversity to the local political landscape.
Unfortunately, my expectations were far from reality.
The local Republican leadership, along with their supporters, targeted me and my family personally. They filed false reports on social media to silence me, hurled insults, defamed my character, and encouraged others to do the same. Shockingly, the level of animosity I encountered far exceeded any that I had seen directed towards other community members, even those involved in contentious political disputes, like the failed recall of Mayor Sara Bristol.
One particularly troubling aspect of these attacks is the religious intolerance I’ve faced. As someone who is not Christian, I’ve been labeled a “Satan-worshipper.” This ignorance is disheartening, especially considering that the foundation of Christian faith was built on Jewish teachings, and Christianity’s revered thinkers like St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas drew heavily from Jewish wisdom. However, instead of engaging in respectful debate, local Republicans resort to name-calling and insults.
Despite sharing core values like “loving your neighbor,” the leadership in the local Republican Party seems more focused on denigration and divisiveness. My support for the recall of John West, driven by concerns about his leadership on the Board of County Commissioners, has only intensified the attacks against me. The communications chair of the local Republican Party has taken to social media to encourage these attacks, even boasting about having a record of my posts.
Why is the local Republican leadership so obsessed with one Jewish individual who holds no political power in the county? The only conclusion I can draw is that antisemitism may be at play. While they claim to support Israel, they seem less welcoming towards Jewish people within their own community.
I’ve heard whispers of a desire for change within the local Republican Party—a move towards a more inclusive, positive, and inspiring leadership. As a Jew and a unique individual, I believe that such a shift would benefit everyone in Josephine County, creating a “big tent” party that welcomes all conservatives. That would be a much-needed breath of fresh air.
