Born in Pittsburgh and raised in New York City, Rep. Bob Filner earned a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry from Cornell University (1963), a Master's Degree in History from the University of Delaware (1969), and a Doctorate in the History of Science from Cornell University (1973). He moved to San Diego to become a professor, enjoying a successful career in academia. Throughout that career, however, he felt compelled to public service, as he served in a variety of public offices while maintaining his professorship until 1992 when he left academia to run for Congress. Now a senior Member of Congress, he serves as Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. As a young man, he was inspired by the legacy of his father, who, in World War II, participated in liberating the Nazi concentration camps. Bob says of his father, “having viewed such painful and flagrant suffering, he became an advocate for all human rights and a strong supporter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He understood the devastation that is caused by discrimination and hatred, and he decided to do everything in his power to stop the spread of prejudice. I was fortunate to grow up under his positive influence, and I am proud that many Jews, and many Americans of all faiths, share his love of freedom and equality.” He demonstrated this belief at a young age, spending months in a Mississippi State Penitentiary at age 18 for being a “Freedom Rider” in the Civil Rights Movement.
A strong Jewish progressive in the House of Representatives, Congressman Filner is also a robust critic of American foreign policy and stalwart advocate for Middle East peace. A distant cousin of former Israeli Prime Minister and current Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, he has spent extensive time touring the Middle East, visiting Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Morocco and Tunisia. During the 2006 war with Hezbollah, he was one of only 28 Democratic Members of Congress – and the only Jewish Member – to courageously sign a resolution calling for a cease-fire in that conflict. He also signed the 2007 Ackerman-Boustany letter that supported the Annapolis Peace Conference, a House Resolution expressing support for the appointment of former Senator George Mitchell as Special Envoy for Middle East Peace, and signed the Cohen-Boustany-Carnahan letter expressing his support for President Obama’s Middle East policy.
On Iraq, Congressman Filner voted against the Iraq war resolution and has both actively tried to end that conflict and demanded accountability in its execution. He introduced a bill to eliminate mercenary training camps, supported a bill to end the use of private security firms in Iraq, and attended a protest against Blackwater. As deeply as he opposes the war, he is equally strong in favor of veterans’ rights. As Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, he introduced the “GI Bill for the 21st Century” in June.
J Street is proud to re-endorse this established champion for Middle East peace for reelection to Congress.