The following was originally published in the Jewish Journal and is republished in Times of Israel Blogs with permission.

He’s handsome, has great hair, and many say he has charisma. But when the world is burning and allies are under attack, style isn’t enough. Gavin Newsom has made clear that political ambition outweighs any obligation to moral responsibility.

Some have drawn comparisons between Newsom and a young John F. Kennedy. Charisma, charm, and style may invite such parallels—but true leadership is measured in moments of crisis, not in media appearances or applause lines.

The late Senator Lloyd Bentsen nailed it when he famously told Dan Quayle during the 1988 vice-presidential debate: “Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy.”

The same must now be said of Governor Gavin Newsom. He is no Jack Kennedy.

Kennedy understood something........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)