American blacks are increasingly getting off the democrat plantation. I would urge my fellow Jews to do the same.
I can't say I disagree one bit, and have wondered about this very issue for years.
This is an EXCELLENT article! Thank you for posting it. I am surprised to see it in the Boston Globe, but that is where it belongs. I hope the New York Times and the Washington Post will pick it up.
Can this thread be moved to the sidebar so it will be seen for awhile? The article it links to is important and well stated.
Excellent piece. Jacoby has courage. Democrat ethnicities need to read this.
Jewish Vote In Presidential Elections[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.
The Israel Swing Factor
by Jeffrey S. Helmreich
15 January 2001