It is really troubling to me that the mass destruction of headstones at an obviously Jewish cemetery is not deemed a bias crime. This, on the heels of a recent beating of a Hassidic Jew in Lakewood, which was also not deemed a bias crime. In fact, the last crime against a Jew that was officially a bias crime may have been the Crown Heights pogrom in 1991!

It is obvious that the hate crime laws were put on the books to protect other groups, but not Jews. I have no doubt whatsoever that if a black cemetery was destroyed to the degree that the New Brunswick one was, it would be national news and we would have the governor on down demanding prosecution as a bias crime.

We are now in the midst of the primary season, and it is important for the Jewish population nationwide -- particularly with the upcoming primaries in New York and New Jersey -- to understand the importance of casting votes, and in so doing, casting them in particular to support the nomination of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

Senator John McCain has a 20-plus-year history of support for Israel and stands tall in opposing any and all terrorist threats nationwide, with particular focus on Israel. This past July, in an address to a national convention of Christians United for Israel, he stated in part "... there will always be a close and enduring US-Israel relationship. When it comes to the defense of Israel, we simply cannot compromise... ensuring that Israel maintains its qualitative military edgeÉ. Israel's strength will be put to the test.

The world's chief sponsor of international terrorism, Iran, defines itself by hostility to Israel and the United States. When the president of Iran calls for Israel to be wiped off the map... it is clear that we are dealing with an evil man and very dangerous regime. Teheran's continued pursuit of nuclear weapons clearly poses an unacceptable risk."

This was followed by a list of suggested measures, including economic isolation followed by the military option, which "must remain on the table". This was reiterated in his statement published in the November/December issue of Foreign Affairs.

It is very easy for a politician who has no foreign policy involvement in Congress -- governors (Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee), mayors (Rudy Guiliani) -- to claim/state that they are pro-Israel. They have never had to vote on any bill in Congress.

The Jewish population needs to support the one man for president who has a track record of support for a strong Israel: Sen. McCain.