Posted on 07/24/2006 12:54:29 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
July 24, 2006
Bill O'Reilly got his show off to a surprising start this afternoon, with a novel theory as to why the big-city newspapers have tread lightly in criticizing Israel for its role in the current conflict. O'Reilly theorized, during his opening monologue, that the papers are fearful of turning off Jewish liberal readers.
As per Bill's theory, papers such as the NY and LA Times, Boston Globe and Washington Post have been taking big hits in readership and profitability. With Fox News Channel's ED Hill in the studio, O'Reilly continued: "liberal Jewish readers are all [those newspapers] have left" as a significant market segment. If the papers were to be too critical of Israel, it could alienate their last remaining readership niche.
It's hard to evaluate O'Reilly's statement since we can't look inside the minds of the papers' editors, and they would certainly never fess up to such a strategy. As someone who is a former liberal and still a Jew, I'd observe that I used to read the NY Times but don't anymore - except for purposes of perusing the online op-ed page to glean potential nuggets of interest for NB readers. That's a statistical sample of exactly . . . one!
But those same papers have not been hesitant to criticize Israel over the years. Is there really a sudden change of course? Or could it be, mirabile dictu, that there is surprising consensus in much of the world, even extending to portions of the MSM, that the Hezbollah thugs are a threat to most everyone this side of Tehran and Damascus?
If the Jews turn on it there will be no more Democrat Party. Blacks are hopelessly brainwashed so they will go down with the ship.
well, more Baker than Papa Bush. too much Baker State Dept. although plenty of folks will argue that Papa's world view is closer to Baker than Reagan... the history is left for debate.
It's funny cause it's true. :)
Perhaps, but it was Papa Bush's administration, and the remark was tolerated. Pat Buchanan as the spokesman for Republican morality didn't help either.
There are some jewish specific reasons there no doubt, but most look like the same ol reasons many liberals stay liberal. I wish there was a code to crack to break through, but it just comes down to keep fighting to reach people and never give up.
Is #9 referencing Monica or was she in some way a metaphor beyond herself?
I laughed too, so you're one up! I think you could apply the credit to tomorrow.
...et moi Aussi. The most interesting one, I thought, was the Washington Post, which recently ran an editorial to the effect that Israel is just a big mistake, trying to throw a bunch of European Jews into the Arab Homeland; might as well send the kikes elsewhere. I can't recall the fool's name, but what a sad comment on the Lefty Jews of D.C., Va., Md. that the Post is still bought by them.
The Jewish paper, but not the Wasp one.
Like liberal Irish Catholics, they are more liberals than members of their ethnic group. For each, liberalism is what informs their lives.
Palestine is not part of the Arab "homeland "and many Israelis, if not the majority are immigrants from middleeastern countries.
younger voters aged 18 to 29 chose Bush over Gore 59.3% to 40.7%. Gore received 95% of Jewish voters over 65 years old and 82.4% of those 30 to 49.
I'm the author of the original article at the source. When I posted the article here, I used the headline as it appeared at the time at NewsBusters. I later changed the headline at NewsBusters.
"What I dont understand in this day and age, why there are any liberal jews?" Because they live in communities where they hear nothing else? Remember that famous story about a New Yorker who asked how Nixon could have won when she didn't know anyone who voted for him? Could be someone from the family my daughter married into in Queens, I see them on holidays in Boca Raton. One had never met a Catholic, and was leary when she learned I am one. Her husband is a professor.. It is the same in parts of LA.
Most Jews are liberals. I know many Jewish liberals who are very supportive of Israel. It's liberal Christians who generally aren't supportive of Israel (as I know many of them too). I don't know the validity of O'Reilly's statements, since I don't often read the NYT or WaPo. I wonder if it has to do with the benign comments from the Arab world?
Richard Cohen?
There's also inertia, and cognitive dissonance. Dems make enough friendly staements about Israel to trick Jews into believing the Dem Party is a friend to Israel. There is also the concern about Christian antisemitism. The prominence of Christians in the Rep Party may also intimidate Jews, even though conservative Christians are extrememly supportive of Israel. People's childhood memories linger.
I was talking to a guy I know, who mentioned being beat up for being Jewish as a kid. He's supportive of Bush (WoT)& Israel, but I'm sure there are many Jews who are apprehensive of Christians.
Is it possible that those left wing, Israel-hating Jews are mentally ill? Should some efforts be made to have them evaluated at Bellvue?
O'Reilly's comments are no surprise.
Vatican Condemns Israel for Attacks on Lebanon
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1665678/posts
Richard Cohen
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