RNC Reaches Out to Jewish Voters, But Will They Listen?
Posted on 09/03/2004 7:53:23 AM PDT by SJackson
Written by Cinnamon Stillwell
Friday, September 03, 2004
Between the Republican National Convention in New York and the leftist protesters having a collective nervous breakdown outside, the Democrats’ man John Kerry isn’t looking too good. So it’s little wonder that the Dems are getting desperate. Why else would they resort to ridiculous tactics like those of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC)?
This is the group making a fuss over an alleged ''Christian cross'' they charge was built into the exterior of the wooden podium at the Republican Convention. The way the wood is carved does suggest a cross-like shape, but it’s a serious stretch of the imagination to accuse Republicans of surreptitiously embedding crucifixion symbols in the décor. Nonetheless, the NJDC is objecting to this ''outrageous'' blurring of the lines between separation and state. To quote Karl Rove, President Bush's chief political strategist, ''My God, where do they come up with this stuff?''
Of course, such a complaint could only come from the liberal, Democratic segment of the American Jewish population. It would be highly unlikely for politically conservative Jews to object to a display of religious belief (whether real or imagined), not being obsessed with secularism like their liberal brethren. As for Republican Jews, most have long since gotten over any squeamishness about their Christian comrades that they might once have experienced. In fact, the relationship between Christian and Jewish conservatives has become quite cozy as of late. It doesn’t hurt that Christian Zionists are some of the most vocal supporters of Israel, especially during a time when even many Jews have forsaken the Holy Land. And the worldwide rise of Islamic aggression against both Jews and Christians has only strengthened bonds already in place.
It is precisely this growing Judeo-Christian relationship that liberal Jews and the Democratic Party as a whole fears. For along with these developments have come a gradual shift in voting habits. Slowly but surely, Republican Jews are growing in number. Exit polls conducted by Voter News Service for the Associated Press and television networks show that the number of Jews voting Republican went up as much as 60 percent between 2000 and 2002, increasing to 35 percent from the previous 21 to 26 percent. Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) Executive Director Matthew Brooks is optimistic about such results, claiming that: ''We are seeing a major shift in American political party alliances and we expect these realignment trends to continue.''
This shift was definitely felt at the Republican National Convention, where among the crowd could be seen Orthodox Jews. No doubt they and other Jews watching were pleasantly surprised by the speech of former New York mayor and 9/11 hero, Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani not only presented Israel and America as firm allies in the War on Terror, but he also paid homage to the wounds suffered by Jews in particular at the hands of Islamic terrorists.
Giuliani referred specifically to the 1985 murder of American Leon Klinghoffer by four members of the Palestinian Liberation Front. It was on the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro that Klinghoffer, a wheelchair-bound elderly man, was, as Giuliani put it, ''marked…for murder solely because he was Jewish.'' He also brought up the 11 Israeli athletes that were slaughtered by Palestinian terrorists during the Munich Olympics in 1972, as well as the travesty that was Yasser Arafat’s Nobel Peace Prize in 1994. In bringing these incidents up, Giuliani did more to appeal to Jewish voters than almost any Republican before him.
The inclusion of Jews in the convention lineup also bespoke a burgeoning relationship. Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis delivered the closing prayer at the convention on Tuesday, August 31. According to The Jewish Press, for which Jungreis is a columnist, ''This was the first time that a leading female Torah personality had been invited to address a national convention of either party.'' As a Holocaust survivor, Jungreis talked about her first encounter with American soldiers when they liberated the Bergen Belson concentration camp in which she was imprisoned. Praising President Bush’s ''valor'' after 9/11, Jungreis also lauded his support for ''beleaguered Israel,'' particularly his insistence that terrorism is unacceptable wherever it exists. She then asked for a moment of silence for the victims of that day’s double bus suicide bombing in Beersheba, something the crowd of Republicans had no trouble obliging her in. Somehow it’s hard to imagine a similar scene among today’s Democratic Party.
Indeed, Republican strategists seem to be aware of such strengths and are ambitiously aiming for 30-35 percent of the Jewish vote in November. This has alarmed both the Democratic Party and their allies in the media, who, in an effort to dampen Republicans’ enthusiasm, recently pounced on the findings of a poll that showed Kerry leading Bush among Jewish voters by 75-22 percent. But the poll was conducted during the Democratic National Convention by a research group for the now raving National Jewish Democratic Council. In addition, the poll appears to have been taken mostly by non-religious Jews, with Orthodox Jews making up only 8 percent. The true test will come after the Republican National Convention.
Kerry too has tried his hand at damage control, but his attempts to curry favor with the Jewish community have further exposed his propensity for flip-flopping--only this time about the Middle East. He once called Yasser Arafat a ''great statesman'' only to recant later on and label him ''an outlaw to the peace process.'' And the Democrat Party overall has a problematic history of anti-Semitic commentary from the likes of Cynthia McKinney, Earl Hilliard, Hillary Clinton, Jesse Jackson, Ernest Hollings, and James Moran, as well as showcasing notoriously anti-Semitic figures such as Al Sharpton. Then there’s the Congressional Black Caucus, which votes consistently against Israel. When it comes down to it, the Democrats have little to offer American Jews beyond the religion of liberalism many still subscribe to.
Whether or not a major shift has occurred among Jewish voters remains to be seen. If Republicans only gain a small amount of such votes, it could make the difference, particularly in states like Florida And even among the Democratic Party, changes seem to be afoot. It doesn’t take a genius to notice that some of the most hawkish Democrats happen to be Jewish. Ed Koch, Diane Feinstein, Tom Lantos, and of course, Joe Lieberman are just a few examples. The threat of annihilation has once again reared its ugly head and Jews have begun to take notice. Now it’s up to the Democrat and Republican Parties to answer the call of history.
Recognized Israel, and imposed an immediate arms embargo, on Israel, not the Arab states. Were it for Truman's policies, Israel likely wouldn't have survived.
"We are much more like Zell Miller... our former party has left us, and we are POd and we have found a new party to embrace. And you will see that trend do nothing but grow in the months and years ahead."
I hope you're right.
The numbers are not there now and I don't see that changing. Too many liberal jews "hate" christians of the evangelical persuasion. I don't think that they have good reason to do so, but then logic is not the issue.
Please keep up the good work. It isn't easy, but can make a difference. I think you have an uphill battle, but I know about those. I am an NRA member living behind enemy lines in the People's Republik of Kalifornia. Republican governor or not, our state legislature is a wholely owned subsidiary of the DNC.
Seriously, ponder this..inroads into Jewish support of Dems are more valuable for the $$$$ they deny Dems than for possible voters shifts.. That's becuase the vast majority of the Jewish voters are in states where even if W got 50% of the Jewish vote..it wouldn't make a difference..NY, Cal. Florida is a unique case..High Jewish population..but mainly older..they're dying out.. they still think that the GOP wants to tke away their SocSEc checks...hard to change theri minds..Possible states to impact could be Ohio..( Cleveland area) PA and NJ..a 10% shift in the Jewish vote in some states could tilt them to the GOP...but I think it's got to be a more targeted, localized campaign..
Proof? Two words: Robert Byrd.
Proof of what? Byrd garnered 78% of the vote in the last election, an impressive total, in a state with a Jewish population of 0.1%. It's not West Virginia Jews electing the Klansman.
LOL! How many women will you have to check out to find it?
No, but they support his party.
What about Bush's pretty much leaving Israel alone: "They have a right to defend themselves"?
I know that American Jews are American, but I think many also care alot about Israel's troubles.
Would they vote for Bush if the Dims stuck Arafat out there as the canidate?
(... heh.... Now that I think about it, I can't decide which would make a worse President. Kerry or Arafat...)
Closer to home, there's the recent boneheaded comments of Fritz Hollings. Inez Tannenbaum's (she's running for Holling's vacated Dem seat) husband is Jewish, and he has hastened to explain that Holling's antisemitic remarks are not antisemitic.
And IN SPITE of this American jews vote 90% RAT. I just do not get the logic of it. As I said, I believe it is because of their unreasoning hate/fear of evangelical christians.
Hmmm. Good question. I was thinking I'd have to find the moil who did the job 54 years ago. But now that you mention it, I suppose I could have just absent mindedly left it somewhere.
Excellent speech by Dennis Prager yesterday at the Republican Jewish Coalition (where Cheney spoke also). He told the enormous crowd that they should not fear the so-called religious right, and why they shouldn't. He made his point so well! I'd love to post a copy of that speech.
The Israel Swing Factor[T]he greatest political strength of American Jewry lies in the fact that it is a uniquely swayable bloc . The issue of support for Israel has proven capable of spurring a sizable portion of Jews to switch parties - in large enough numbers to tip the scales in national or statewide elections. Moreover, the "Israel swing vote" is especially open to political courtship because, unlike the interests of other minority groups, support for Israel has long been compatible with traditional Republican and Democratic agendas. By contrast, most other issues (abortion, affirmative action, etc.) cannot be embraced by Republicans or Democrats without alienating certain support bases. A pro-Israel stance runs no such risk. On the other hand, being distinctively unsupportive of Israel can significantly hurt a candidate's chances.
by Jeffrey S. Helmreich
15 January 2001
| Year | Candidate | % of Jewish Vote |
| 1916 | ||
| Hughes (R) | 45 | |
| Wilson (D) | 55 | |
| 1920 | ||
| Harding (R) | 43 | |
| Cox (D) | 19 | |
| Debs (Soc) | 38 | |
| 1924 | ||
| Coolidge (R) | 27 | |
| Davis (D) | 51 | |
| La Folette (Progressive) | 22 | |
| 1928 | ||
| Hoover (R) | 28 | |
| Smith (D) | 72 | |
| 1932 | ||
| Hoover (R) | 18 | |
| Roosevelt (D) | 82 | |
| 1936 | ||
| Landon (R) | 15 | |
| Roosevelt (D) | 85 | |
| 1940 | ||
| Wilkie (R) | 10 | |
| Roosevelt (D) | 90 | |
| 1944 | ||
| Dewey (R) | 10 | |
| Roosevelt (D) | 90 | |
| 1948 | ||
| Dewey (R) | 10 | |
| Truman (D) | 75 | |
| Wallace (Progressive) | 15 | |
| 1952 | ||
| Eisenhower (R) | 36 | |
| Stevenson (D) | 64 | |
| 1956 | ||
| Eisenhower (R) | 40 | |
| Stevenson (D) | 60 | |
| 1960 | ||
| Nixon (R) | 18 | |
| Kennedy (D) | 82 | |
| 1964 | ||
| Goldwater (R) | 10 | |
| Johnson (D) | 90 | |
| 1968 | ||
| Nixon (R) | 17 | |
| Humphrey (D) | 81 | |
| Wallace (I) | 2 | |
| 1972 | ||
| Nixon (R) | 35 | |
| McGovern (D) | 65 | |
| 1976 | ||
| Ford (R) | 27 | |
| Carter (D) | 71 | |
| McCarthy (I) | 2 | |
| 1980 | ||
| Reagan (R) | 39 | |
| Carter (D) | 45 | |
| Anderson (I) | 14 | |
| 1984 | ||
| Reagan (R) | 31 | |
| Mondale (D) | 67 | |
| 1988 | ||
| Bush (R) | 35 | |
| Dukakis (D) | 64 | |
| 1992 | ||
| Bush (R) | 11 | |
| Clinton (D) | 80 | |
| Perot (I) | 9 | |
| 1996 | ||
| Dole (R) | 16 | |
| Clinton (D) | 78 | |
| Perot (I) | 3 | |
| 2000 | ||
| Bush (R) | 19 | |
| Gore (D) | 79 | |
| Nader (G) | 1 |
Jewish voting patterns, and you could extend it to minority patterns, isn’t a matter of religion but liberal voting patterns. NY and NY may have a Jewish Senator, but Wisconsin has 2, Minnesota and Oregon one each, states where you need a search party to find the local Jewish population. They’re elected from states characterized by the westward movement of Northeastern liberalism, across the from Ct, NY, and NJ across Pa, Mi, Wi and Mn, to Oregon and California.
You can complain about religious voting patterns all you want, it’s not the issue. You can complain about bigotry, both sides have it, it’s not what anyone is voting on. Issues are a different matter, and what votes GWB picks up will likely be based on his handling of the war on terror (not Israel), and in the younger generation taxes and social security.
On a conversational level, if you asked Inez about Fritz Hollings or Cindy McKinney she’d counter, successfully to an existing Democratic voter, with Pat Buchanan, David Duke, and James Hart. Jimmy “*uck the Jews” Carter, we’ve got James “*uck the Jews” Baker.
You won’t win votes with most of the nonsense posted on these threads, and when the “Jews should get what they deserve” and “GWB should cut off aid to Israel” nonsense starts up, you’ll lose them.
Not to worry, I don't think anyone reads the article.
look at the votes for nixon-reagan etc i predict at least 30%.if not i give up--(as a jew)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.