‘#24forOK’: Doc Thompson Begins 24 hour radio marathon to Benefit Oklahoma Tornado Victims!

Politics

Casino Mogul Sheldon Adelson: I Didn’t Leave the Democrats, They Left Me

Nov. 5, 2012 10:24pm Tiffany Gabbay

FILE – Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson (Credit: AP)

In a thoughtful opinion piece on how the Democratic Party has changed over the years, casino mogul and philanthropist Sheldon Adelson tried to explain why the party to which he and his family had once so loyally adhered “left” him, not the other way around.

Adelson, who serves as chairman and CEO of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, which owns the famed Venetian Resorts in both Macao and Las Vegas, recalled his humble beginnings as part of an immigrant family in a not-so-affluent neighborhood of Boston. Adelson and his parents along with other relatives believed in charity, self-reliance and accountability — all hallmarks, the mogul maintains were once part of the Democratic Party in the 1930s and 1940s.

He noted that at the time, Republicans were considered wealthy elitists who did not care much for issues concerning the Jewish people, and that many times, their country clubs even banned Jews from entering. Adelson explains his upbringing in his Wall Street Journal article this way:

When members of the Democratic Party booed the inclusion of God and Jerusalem in their party platform this year, I thought of my parents.

They would have been astounded.

The immigrant family in which I grew up was, in the matter of politics, typical of the Jews of Boston in the 1930s and ’40s. Of the two major parties, the Democrats were in those days the more supportive of Jewish causes.

Indeed, only liberal politicians campaigned in our underprivileged neighborhood. Boston’s Republicans, insofar as we knew them, were remote, wealthy elites (“Boston Brahmins”), some of whose fancy country clubs didn’t accept Jews.

It therefore went without saying that we were Democrats. Like most Jews around the country, being Democrat was part of our identity, as much a feature of our collective personality as our religion.

Adelson then goes on to explain why he left the party, and, unlike his critics claim, it isn’t because he “got wealthy” or because he “didn’t want to pay taxes or because of some other conservative caricature.”

“No, the truth is the Democratic Party has changed in ways that no longer fit with someone of my upbringing.”

Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson (Credit: AP)

One example Adelson points to is the Democratic Party’s “new attitude toward Israel.”

“Nowhere was this change in Democratic sympathies more evident than in the chilling reaction on the floor of the Democratic convention in September when the question of Israel’s capital came up for a vote,” the entrepreneur writes.

“Anyone who witnessed the delegates’ angry screaming and fist-shaking could see that far more is going on in the Democratic Party than mere opposition to citing Jerusalem in their platform.” He also observed that there is, today, “a visceral anti-Israel movement among rank-and-file Democrats,” something that his parents’ generation “would not have ignored.” He adds:

Another troubling change is that Democrats seem to have moved away from the immigrant values of my old neighborhood—in particular, individual charity and neighborliness. After studying tax data from the IRS, the nonpartisan Chronicle of Philanthropy recently reported that states that vote Republican are now far more generous to charities than those voting Democratic. In 2008, the seven least-generous states all voted for President Obama. My father, who kept a charity box for the poor in our house, would have frowned on this fact about modern Democrats.

Democrats would reply that taxation and government services are better vehicles for helping the underprivileged. And, yes, government certainly has its role. But when you look at states where Democrats have enjoyed years of one-party dominance—California, Illinois, New York—you find that their liberal policies simply don’t deliver on their promises of social justice.

Adelson, who has truly achieved the American dream and elevated himself from poverty and in turn, “created jobs and work benefits for tens of thousands of families,” said he feels obligated to speak out in support “of the American ideals I grew up with—charity, self-reliance, accountability.”

“These are the age-old virtues that help make our communities prosperous. Yet, sadly, the Democratic Party no longer seems to value them as it once did. That’s why I switched parties, and why I’m now giving amply to Republicans.”

The staunch Republican ceded that while he doesn’t always agree with his adopted party on every position, as he is “liberal on several social issues,” he believes “there is enough common cause with the party for me to know I’ve made the right choice.”

“It’s the choice that, I believe, my old immigrant Jewish neighbors would have made.”

Adelson’s article can be read in its entirety here.

Benghazi, IRS, AP...What's next? Only TheBlaze TV offers the truth from Glenn Beck, Andrew Wilkow, and Real News from TheBlaze. Get instant access and a free trial here.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (30)

DOra Glasberg
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 11:05am
Maybe Shelly’s diaper need changing.
He should contact John McCain’s people.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Iggie
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 9:21am
ahh yeah… Casino Mogul Sheldon Adelson… great example there author Tiffany Gabbay and The Blaze. Who cares what this godless freak show thinks? He’s a rudderless money changer who, through his wicked business, has caused untold financial ruin and heartache to tens of thousands of people in this country. He’s a huge part of THE PROBLEM. I’m holding my nose and voting for Mittens. But remember….after Mittens wins tonight, it’s OPEN SEASON ON RINOS.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
BSdetector
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 7:47am
Well when the Republicans become Democrats and the Democrats become Communists, you end up where we are today…

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Iggie
  Posted on November 6, 2012 at 9:24am
  Hear Hear!!
  
  Report this comment
Individualism
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 6:42am
if our troops end up in another country it will be partially thanks to this man who is a rich Zionist donor to the GOP now. so his company las vegas sands and other stuff he owns should be boycotted by the people if that happens.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
TurboCat
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 4:17am
What happened to the Democrats is explained extremely well in the book “Shadow Party” by David Horowitcz and Richard Poe. It is a real eye-opener.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- bobsmallcraft
  Posted on November 6, 2012 at 6:21am
  The Democrat party was taken over by community organizer types like Barrack Obama and led down the road to Marxism. Read fresh political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
  Report this comment
pepsicolakid
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 4:12am
Mr.Adelson nailed it. This is NOT your grandparents’ democrat party! God Bless You Mr. Adelson.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
drenfroe
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 12:57am
A lot of the elderly people and myself were Democrats but chose to switch. I think of myself now as an independant voter with conservative leanings. The Republicans seem to have values that are closer to what America needs, but there is still alot to do to undo years of bad laws, regulations, and too much big government interference contrary to our constitution and bill of rights from both parties. Bush put into motion things that really go against our constitution and some that are very iffy like the staffers being sworn in incase something were to happen to the president thye would go down a chain of command incase of presidential death (like nuclear bomb)and that person would steup as temp president in an emergency. This isn’t how our government works and should have never been done behind closed doors.Obama has way over done the executive order and if he is going to put people in jail for lying then all of congress would be imprisioned under the same law. Government needs to be held accountable to the same standards as her people. This is a republic and it is still “We the People” as far as an American is concerned.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
riseandshine
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 12:02am
“George W. Bush destroyed the Republican Party, by which I mean he sundered it, broke its constituent pieces apart and set them against each other. He did this on spending, the size of government, war, the ability to prosecute war, immigration and other issues.”—– Peggy Noonan

I agree…except for I don’t believe “ability” was ever the problem.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
loneindividual
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 12:01am
There is the Extreme Left. The Extreme Right. And the Extreme Moderates.

Ben Franklin (Mason) described himself as an Extreme Moderate.

The Mortar binds the Stones of Civilization together.

The Mortar is weaker than the Stone and the cracks in the foundation are filled with Mortar.

A new Foundation must be hewn by God himself…or…more simply…we must learn to stand upon the already existing Foundation.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Detroit paperboy
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 11:41pm
Democrats hate America…………… PERIOD.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
mrs.janet.murgatroid
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 11:33pm
Hey Sheldon, you need to replace those chairs in the convention meeting rooms at the Sands convention center. Most of them smell like stale farts, I’m not kidding.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
denkat56
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 10:54pm
They not only left you, they’ve left America. Looking at pelosi, ried, Clinton, and holder, they’ve left a black-eye on America for the rest of the world to laugh at us.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- 13th Imam
  Posted on November 5, 2012 at 10:59pm
  Code Words?
  
  Report this comment
sparkyrules
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 10:53pm
I like this guy.Sheldon Adelson.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- HKS
  Posted on November 5, 2012 at 11:11pm
  Seems like a reasonable guy to me, and I love his resort.
  
  Report this comment
13th Imam
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 10:51pm
The Great Ronald Reagan said the same thing. JFK couldn’t be a DEMOCRAT today. The Communist Party has taken over. And the rank and file DEMOCRATS, are now just straight Communists.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- oldguy49
  Posted on November 5, 2012 at 11:31pm
  or muslims
  
  Report this comment
KevINtampa
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 10:48pm
Both Romney and Obama are to the left of JFK. That says something.The Democrat party is no longer the Democrat party, same with the Republican party. Either way, tomorrow every one loses. Tomorrow we simply decide on who we think better sells us the same bad progressive policy. The slick “businessman” or the “sly organizer”. I feel for those who have placed hope in Romney just as I have felt for those who bought Obama’s hype and change. Two different sides to the same exact coin. Democrat and Republican supporters are just arguing over heads or tails.

Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. Hmpf.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- 13th Imam
  Posted on November 5, 2012 at 11:12pm
  Another Rue Paul, King of Earmarks, crybaby?
  
  Report this comment
- riseandshine
  Posted on November 5, 2012 at 11:53pm
  It’s always better to have your constituent’s tax dollars go to other districts.
  
  Report this comment
- DOra Glasberg
  Posted on November 6, 2012 at 12:49am
  No. Only Romney/Ryan lose.
  
  Report this comment
- riseandshine
  Posted on November 6, 2012 at 1:21am
  …or to the executive branch to be used for who knows what.
  
  Report this comment
- KevINtampa
  Posted on November 6, 2012 at 6:35am
  Hey 13thImam, your name calling is a very similar tactic to that used by the left. See what I mean.about the same coin now? Sad.
  
  What’s your messiah’s take on NDAA, the Patriot Act, and executive kill list? You are just as useful to the same ends as Occupy.
  
  Report this comment
DOra Glasberg
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 10:36pm
Well Shelly you do appear to have a few holes in your head.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Oneirishman
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 10:32pm
Over on Drudge, Obama campaign instructing Obama Sheep to remain calm tomorrow. I case some poll results are leaked early that favor President Romney.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Tigress1
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 10:30pm
The Democrat Party has been completely taken over by the Progressive/Socialist/Communist//New World Order Communists(Global Communists). This is the “Progress” that they want to take us to.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- rickc34
  Posted on November 5, 2012 at 10:36pm
  Getting rid of the Demon-cratic party is like getting rid of the clap. A welcome relief.
  
  Report this comment
gyro
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 10:28pm
the light is on in the windows and people are seeing it

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.