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"A Jew is a Jew is a Jew."
This is the ideal. Unfortunately its not the reality. Since the late 1800's Judaism has existed as a divided religion. Judaism refers to its denominations as movements. As with other religions, denominationalism is hurting Jewish unity and hence the Jewish people. Also as with other religions advocates of each denomination sincerely believe they are the "true" or most accurate representation of what the Jewish people should believe and do. Having divided themselves into these exclusivist camps reasserting the lost unity is difficult if not impossible.
The Orthodox Movement (which is divided into several subsects) believes itself correct because it is teh most "Torah observant" and views itself as maintaining the standards and traditions of previous ages.The Reform Movement believes itself correct because it presents Judaism in ways modern people, including Jewish Athiests and Agnostics, can accept without abandoning the sense of Peoplehood and scientific truth.
The Conservative Movement believes itself correct because it does not go to either extreme but presents a Judaism that fits in with the modern world while maintaining the ancient traditions and essnetials in tact.
Once the divisions began other groups emerged such as the Reconstructionists. There is also a large Independent Movement in the making composed of unaffiliated synagogues and individuals.
So... which movement is right? Which philosophy is most correct? What does it mean to be "Torah observant?" These questions are currently divided Jews along party lines.
To makes things even more confusing we have the question of converts. The Orthodox Movement only accepts as Jewish those who convert through them. As is so often the case there is more to than party politics (although that is a factor as well). Since the Orthodox stress tradition and rabbinic authority and view the non-Orthodox as non-Torah observant they reject those who convert through them.