Kirk – How American Jewry divides their loyalties I can’t be sure, they don’t all behave the same. I suppose a vote for Barack Obama might be more hazardous to Israel’s survival, but I thought American Jews voted like American blacks, for the Democrats?
The Jewish vote in Florida is going 79-21% for Obama with elderly voters. For middle age and younf Jews, they want Obama by 68-24%, with 7% saying they are undecided. NYC’s Jews are supposedly going 80-85% for Obama in a poll taken a month ago.
Also, most of the not insignificant Jewish donor clout is going to Democrats, as it always has been. Obama himself, plus his wife, were given powerful patronage in politics and at University of Chicago by 3 Jewish billionaire families. (Crowns, Pritzkers, Klutzniks). His Team Axelrod is heavily Jewish. His ties to Ayers happened through wealthy Jewish ex-members of the SDS, such as Marilyn Katz and Bette Lu (Klutznik) Saltzman.
Chicago’s Jews have known Obama a long, long time, and they are not just comfortable with him, but they have been long-time boosters. A couple more of the well-known ones are Abner Mikva – famous power lawyer, and socialist Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (friend of Pelosi, husband served time in the Fed slammer for a financial scam).
Concerns about Obama and Israel appear misplaced. Many in his inner circle are avid Zionists. His visit to Israeli leaders had them saying (Shimon Peres, David Horowitz of the Jerusalem Post) that Obama had a better knowledge and mastery of the issues than John McCain..who showed up with, then leaned heavily on his good friend Joe Liberman when he drew blanks on matters Israel sees as vital.
Yes, Obama has separate circles of black Muslim and Muslim immigrant supporters. His Jewish backers do not seem to see it as any problem for Jews or critical Israeli issues, notably aid and Iran.
The reason Republicans seem to constantly focus on and obsess about Israel is as much due to rallying the evangelicals who call themselves Christian Zionists as desire, futile in a 50-year quest – to get more Jewish support. The CZs have a near-worship of Israel, exemplified by McCain’s old friend Preacher Hagee and Palins answer to questions with “We will never 2nd-guess what Israel wants”. A side issue is Republicans wanting to lay on the Israel fealty to persuade media markets they believe Jews dominate to treat them better, but that doesn’t seem to work, at least the Hollywood and MSM parts..
It doesn’t seem to be a smart Republican strategy. The Jewish vote and war chest is not in play, but other groups now aligning in the majority with Democrats are.
If, anytime a Republican is tempted to riddle a speech or pepper ads or an appearance with endless expressions of love and devotion to Israel and its backers – they instead should substitute groups they neglect badly. Which they’d be better off spending their time and effort wooing.
And we all know that Bush’s close association with hardline pro-Israel, anti-Europe and Muslim ME Neocons and following their advice – crippled his Presidency. And gave McCain one of his gravest liabilities – the sense in Middle America that he is hungry to start a 3rd major war and send soldiers to die and get oil cutoff to deepen our economic crisis – not in our vital interests, but to “help Israel”. Now, Christian Zionists are avidly in favor of that 3rd War, but not the large majority of the American people – nor any real ally we have defense treaties with, nor any other nation, save one.
There are a hell of a lot more votes with those groups leaning or in the Dem camp, which they give away by default.
A bit of attention to hispanic groups, mention of how much you care about Mexico, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic doing well (not just Cuba issues when a Republican realizes they are in Florida). Instead of going on and on about “the danger to Israel”, why not discuss the concerns of Filipino and Vietnamese and Chinese Americans and the issues they see as important here in America and with Asia? Mention that they are as eager to meet with Indian-American entrepreurs, academics, professionals and non-professionals, and small business owners – as the Republican is eager to meet with AIPAC or the local synogogue’s directors.
Right now, Republicans are building up Ahmadinejad the same way they built up Saddam as “the only problem worth talking about” back in 2002-2003, dismissing what othercountries and ethnics and voter groups in America saw as their big issues. And discussed Saddam and now Ahmadinejad as mainly as a threat to Israel, not us. And the Iranian guy is only a medium-level player in Iran, not unchallenged dictator like Saddam was. Maybe a little more attention on the leaders of Columbia, Mexico, India, Canada, Poland? How Algeria and Argentina are doing?
Why not, if you say “Israel” a thousand times in a primary, to bank that down to 500 mentions for “the Special Friend” – and substitute 100 about Mexico and jobs? Or add 60 mentions of the needs of gay people? Or even blacks?
If, just half the time a Republican mouth opens about “protecting Israel” or “helping our friends in Israel” – they instead say “protecting middle class jobs”, “helping women now caring for an elderly relative”, caring about our friends and fellow citizens in inner cities or California? Wouldn’t Republicans be better off?
(The same thing said about Israel could also be applied to endless declarations of admiration of “the troops”, and “hero cops”. Are there not groups or people in the other 297 million Americans that Republicans could find time to give public accolades and attention to? )
