Excerpt:
Getting conservative figures on board was always a challenge for the campaign to free Pollard. The recent congressional letter,
headlined by liberal Democrat Barney Frank, had no Republican co-signers. Republican lawmakers have spoken in private conversations of their concern about defying the defense establishment and of their belief in tough punitive measures for serious crimes.
Conservative pundit Erick Erickson, who runs the website Redstate, argued in a recent post that Shultz and Mukasey’s statements should not be viewed as a sign of change on the right.
“There are few conservatives within the actual conservative movement who are paying attention,” Erickson wrote, “but the bulk of those who are do not want Pollard released. They want him hanged or shot as a traitor to his country.” Support for Pollard’s release has been consolidating in the Jewish world, as well. The major organizations were long reluctant to take on the issue, fearing allegations of dual loyalty. But they have gradually become more supportive of the call for clemency.
The Presidents Conference and the National Council of Young Israel were early backers. But the slate of Jewish organizations represented in a January 3 letter to Obama included leaders of all Jewish denominations, alongside hundreds of rabbis from across the nation.
http://www.forward.com/articles/134822/#ixzz1BaC08eFx