Bushes, GOP winning Jewish support

Palm Beach Post ^ | 04-27-04 | Brian E. Crowley

[veronica]

DELRAY BEACH -- Rabbi Richard Yellin praised Gov. Jeb Bush's support of Israel Monday during a ceremony at Temple Emeth celebrating the 56th anniversary of that nation's independence.

The rabbi presented Bush with a small, mounted Shofar -- a ram's horn blown during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur -- as a token of appreciation "for his support of Israel's economy."

Bush, who has made four trips to Israel, said "Israel holds a powerful place in my heart." He added that the relationship between Israel and the United States has grown closer since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America.

"It is important for us to remember the alliance between the United States, and particularly Florida, and the state of Israel," Bush said.

Bush and his brother President George W. Bush have become increasingly popular figures in the politically active Jewish community. Both are considered to be exceptionally strong supporters of Israel, a litmus test that even Democratic U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler of Delray Beach agrees has helped the GOP make inroads into the overwhelmingly Democratic Jewish community of South Florida.

Wexler, himself enormously popular in South Florida's Jewish community, said Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic candidate for president, will get the overwhelming majority of the Jewish vote, "but Republicans are making some gains."

Not with Murray Kalish, a Democratic activist and board member of the temple, who complained after Bush's speech that the governor has failed to support public schools.

"Teachers don't have any supplies," said Kalish. "Why isn't he doing something to pay for what teachers need?"

Bush spoke for about 10 minutes, then flew back to Tallahassee, where the state legislature is in its final week of the annual 60-day session.

Miki Arbel, the Israeli consul general, also spoke to the crowd of more than 500 at the West Atlantic Avenue synagogue.

[Coop]

Very weak article, IMHO. There's really nothing here.

[philosofy123]

A few Likudnick neocons Jews will vote for Bush, but the majority of the Jewish voters are LIBERALS!

[Naspino]

It will never make sense to me. The defining moment for most of the Jews alive was the holocaust. Those that survived and those that had relatives that survived. Yet you can draw eery parallels between the National Democratic party and the National Socialist party. Do they not see it?

[Simmy2.5]

Well, that is mostly true. However, even if all Bush gets is, 30% (a little high estimate granted, but still...), thats still 30% that isn't going to Kerry.

[ken5050]

I assume you've see the thread about Hillary's comments yesterday?

[Tennessean4Bush]

Well, that is mostly true. However, even if all Bush gets is, 30% (a little high estimate granted, but still...), thats still 30% that isn't going to Kerry.

30% is just a little more than what he got in 2000. I think he is looking for more like 40%, which would cripple Kerry's chances.

[jmstein7]

BUMP!

[JLAGRAYFOX]

Too bad the American Jews don't get it. Their boy Wexler and his boy John Kerry are going to produce a lot of "Daniel Pearl's" in the American Jewish community. Poor souls love being led to the slaughterhouse by their own people! Man, history does repeat itself. Only this time it is not Hitler, but themselves!

[philosofy123]

Bill Kristol, worked for the Republicans all his life, but votes Democrat.

[Mich0127]

As a Jew, I just don't get why any Jew could consciouly vote Democrat. As other posters said, everything that the Democrats preach mirrors laws of Nazi Germany. And why would any Jew in their right mind want to vote for a party, whose most solid members are Pro-Palestinian or Pro-UN, also anti-Israel? I just don't get it.

[BigWaveBetty]

"Teachers don't have any supplies," said Kalish. "Why isn't he doing something to pay for what teachers need?"

Sweetie, we've been hearing this old song since "the he-coon that walks at night" was governor and he was a dem. See if you can get the DNC to send new talking points Ms. Kalish and good luck to you, that Terry McAwful character doesn't appear to be all that effective. And he's ugly.

[philosofy123]

Do you WANT more Jews to become conservative and vote Republican?

And aside from insulting the crap out of those of us here who are committed conservative Republican Jews, what are you doing to make it happen?

It is not an insult to say that the majority of the Jews vote demon-rats! It is the fact. Do you have a problem with facts? I said that smaller number of Jewish American will vote for Bush - Do you have a problem with that too?

I guess Jews who vote Democrat are simply stupid. Do you have a problem with that?

[Qwinn]

I'm guessing the phrase "Likudnik neocon Jews" was what offended. Frankly, I can't blame him. And it's pretty clear you knew that was the offensive part, given that you didn't restate it when you did your little "What did I say that was so wrong?" rant.

Qwinn

[philosofy123]

How is it offensive to state the fact that conservative Jews are supporter of the likud party of Israel, and the back bone of the neo-conservative movement in this country. Fact are facts, and thin skin is boring.

[Edit35]

As a Jew, I just don't get why any Jew could consciouly vote Democrat. As other posters said, everything that the Democrats preach mirrors laws of Nazi Germany. And why would any Jew in their right mind want to vote for a party, whose most solid members are Pro-Palestinian or Pro-UN, also anti-Israel? I just don't get it.

Bravo, my friend.

Like someone said on Laura Ingraham's radio show a few weeks ago, America's Bible Belt is Israel's security belt.

By the way, can you please take some time and come to my place of employment and talk to my Jewish buds who view me and other Republicans as one step up from the devil.

It never ceases to amaze me. There are a few Democrats at work who openly advocate the position that the US should just abandon Israel and support the Arabs and then "everything would be OK""

But still my Jewish friends think that I and othe Christians are their worst enemy.

I will never give up, but it still blows my mind.

[Mich0127]

Sure! Where do you work?

Keep fighting the good fight! If no other Jew appreciates it, be confident in the fact that I do!

[philosofy123]

go on a thread about Catholic voting and call Catholics stupid for voting democrat (which they did in higher percentages for Hillary than we Jews did in NY).

I think Catholics who vote Demon-rats are just as stupid. The only people in my judgment who should vote Democrats are the fags, and the low class blacks who want something for nothing. Now, low class black people going to be offended?

As far as what I have done to get Jewish people to vote Republican? All the Jewish people I know are voting Republican. But, I only know a few southern Jews who are by tradition conservative. On the other hand, Bush, and the Republican Party support the Jewish issues much more strongly than the Democrats. The problem with the majority of the Jewish people (NY, and Cal) is basically, they are Jewish by name only. The religion is like a club rather than faith. They are mostly godless, and hate religions (in general), hence they y can identify with non-practicing Catholics like Kennedy, and Kerry. Please take no offence - thin skin is boring!