Posted on 02/14/2007 3:53:46 PM PST by The Blitherer
ABC’s Jennifer Rubin thinks she knows. According to her report, Mitt Romney announcing his candidacy yesterday at a museum named for Henry Ford has a lot to do with it:
Indeed, the incident may say something not only about Romney but about the GOP's problem with Jews. In his boatload of advisers, Romney apparently did not have anyone to say, "You know, a lot of Jews really hate Ford, and it might mess up your message.”
A few points here to counter Rubin’s hyperbole. At this moment, Romney has less a boatful of advisors than a handful. And, for what it’s worth, among that handful, my lantzmen are amply represented. Furthermore, most Jews don’t know about Henry Ford’s anti-Semitism and those that do couldn’t give a rat’s tuchas about it anyway.
What’s more, obviously Henry Ford’s fame doesn’t derive from his anti-Semitism. Romney’s announcement venue was as much of an issue (to all but the most hyper-sensitive Jews) as a photo-op in front of the Spirit of St. Louis would have been. Like Ford, Charles Lindbergh’s fame had nothing to do with his anti-Semitism. Now if Romney made an appearance at the next Leni Riefenstahl film festival, that would be noteworthy.
As an additional point of note, I’ve heard many Jews say they would never consider driving a German car as payback for the Holocaust. I have never heard a Jew say he wouldn’t drive a Ford, unless it related to the execrable quality of their vehicles. (In my younger days, I too used to say I would never drive a German car. When my financial situation changed, I amended that guideline to the only slightly less principled, “I’ll never drive a Volkswagen.”)
The ginned up controversy over Romney’s venue is hysterical, the kind of eye-roll inducing Jewish protest that makes me want to say to the complainers, “There are some very nasty people who want to exterminate 6 million of our co-religionists. Don’t we have bigger fish to fry?”
The complaints have come from the usual outraged suspects – I believe Alan Dershowitz is leading the charge this time. I love Dersh, but he’s always annoyed over some perceived slight. Dersh, Abe Foxman, Rabbi Heir – whenever these guys enter righteous outrage mode, it’s by nature a classic dog-bites-man story.
But let’s just say for the sake of ridiculous argument that the Republican Party is habitually not sensitive enough to the Jewish community’s concerns. The Democrats are better? Need I remind you that during the Democrats’ last presidential primary season, a so-called Reverend who had organized a virtual pogrom a few years earlier graced the stage at every debate. Since 2004, the Democratic extreme fringe has eagerly equated Zionism to systematic bigotry. The Grey Eminence of the Party, James Earl Carter himself, recently published a dreadful book that ludicrously asserted that Israel is an apartheid state. And, oh yeah, Wesley Clark just last week made a reference to how American foreign policy is dictated by “New York moneymen” with proboscises of unmentioned size.
In short, if you want to find the reason for the Republican failure to do better with the Jews, I guess you could choose to blame it on insufficient Republican sensitivity. But you’ll look pretty dumb if you do.
SO WHY DO JEWS VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS?
I think I’m in a unique position to answer that question since not only are some of my best friends Jewish, I too am Jewish. There are two main reasons: First, the social issues drive Jews into the Democrats’ sweaty embrace; second, it’s a tribal thing.
As far as the social issues are concerned, most Jews are liberal. Very liberal. They’re pro-choice, and they’re very concerned about the separation between church and state. These are serious matters for them. When Bush won re-election, I called to taunt one of my liberal friends, and she launched into a tirade that I think had something to do with back-alley abortions and legalizing date-rape. The American Jewish community in general is very uncomfortable with the virtually every position the Republicans hold on social issues.
And then there’s the church-and-state thing. Jews are concerned about being a powerless minority. The Holocaust haunts them; for a lot of Jews, it still lingers as a cautionary tale of how quickly and totally things can go south even in a society into which they’ve fully assimilated. That’s why nativity scenes and prayers at football games tend to elicit such a visceral reaction from some Jews. These things are reminders of the Jews’ minority status, and thus what they perceive as their vulnerability. (I’m not saying any of this is rational – I don’t think it is. I’m just being descriptive here.)
The other reason so many Jews vote reflexively and exclusively Democrat is because it’s a tribal thing. Their grandparents voted only for Democrats. So too their parents. Many of today’s Jews are going to do the same thing.
I’ve had conversations with Jews whose primary concern is Israel’s well-being. I point out to them that Israel has never had a better friend than George W. Bush. Objectively, that fact is unassailable. And yet Jews who are tribal Democrats refuse to even engage the issue. The notion that George Bush, an Evangelical Christian of all things, is a friend to Israel is so far outside their conceptual framework they can’t process it. They lack the bandwidth.
So what can Republicans do about this? Pretty much nothing. These things take decades to change. The attitude of the far left to Israel will drive some Jews to consider voting Republican, but nowhere near a majority. The South took a century after the Civil War to even consider supporting Republicans.
Like I said, these things take time.
"Why Do Jews Not Vote For Republicans?"
EVERY Jew I ever knew was a frothing-pro-abortion-dim. Forget tax cuts, freedom, socialism, Hitler. Many are past and present friends, but the abortion on demand is fixed.
It's interesting to compare abortion to the Holocaust in front of them, you always get a well rehearsed Democrat song and dance!
I am shocked at what I see here on this thread. I never thought there were so many people on free republic with such negative feelings towards Jewish people.
You might find it interesting that the RJC did a poll of Jewish voters, (but all of them were found in two states and one district (NJ, FL, PA 6)) so its not perfect.
Its main findings:
26.4% of Jews voted Republican.
Younger Jewish voters supported Republican candidates in even greater numbers.
Among those under age 55, 30.7% voted Republican, compared to 23.8% of those age 55 and over.
It also found that Jewish men are more inclined to vote Republican (30.6%) than women (22.6%).
And, among those who attend synagogue almost every day, 35.2% voted Republican, those who attend once a week, 31.8% voted Republican, and only 23.1% of "occasional attendees" voted Republican.
Reform Jews voted 23.0% Republican, Conservative 25.2% Republican, and Orthodox 42% Republican.
The more religious, the more Republican.
the urban-small town and Southern rift is bigger than you think. Politics is cultural and jews are very urban. I think Giuliani leading the ticket would induce a small number to change.
Accoarding to opensecrets.org Morey Amsterdam in a constant contributor to the GOP.
You're assuming entirely too much rationality in human nature. Guns and Jews rarely mix, even if, as you point out, they should.
The attitude of the far left to Israel will drive some Jews to consider voting Republican,
"Many of us have seen the light."
These are the ones that knew how to vote in Palm beach I assume.
Not anymore! Just got the broadband!
OI!
Mark Levin, who impresses me greatly, Michael Savage, who I like also and listen to a lot, Ben Stein, a very intelligent man, are examples, among others as well, who are Jewish, and are fiercely conservative. They feel somewhat betrayed by the Republican party, as I do, but are on the right nonetheless. Mona Charen is conservative and a brilliant columnist. Unfortunately, they are a minority among the Jews. Liberal Jews have strayed from God and embrace liberalism as their religion, and probably have a golden statue of Bill Clinton that they worship. The sick, diseased, treasonous democrat party is an enemy of Isreal and have this touchy-feely relationship with the Islamofascists who want to kill them all. These democrat fools dont realize that they would be the first to be rounded up; homosexuals, Jews, showbiz celebrities, hollywood movie makers, and yet they cozy up to the enemy. Liberal jews are fools, plain and simple for following a party like that. Like Savage says, liberalism is a mental disease. God help us if Hillary Clinton is elected, but one thing is sure, liberal Jews will vote for her. This once great country will truly descend into the abyss when the socialist/communists that populate the democrat party take over.
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]
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In case anyone is interested in another thread.
From the mouth of a perfidious Jew, for many reasonable people reading either thread, Why So Few Jews Vote for Republicans one answer is painfully obvious.
"The far left Jews care nothing for truth, law and our history."
No, the far left cares nothing for truth, law and our history.
It has nothing to do with whether someone is Jewish or not.
I am so sick of the constant Jew-bashing on F.R.
Keep it up, and this life-long Republican WILL become a Democrat because it is clear there is no hope for this country and it needs to go to Hell.
"The last statistic I saw was that 85% of Jews voted Democrat."
Yeah, and over 60% of Roman Catholics voted for Jon Carey.
And Pelosi, Jon Carey, and Ted Kennedy are all Roman Catholic! Leaders of the Dim party!
What's wrong with the Roman Catholics!? Don't they know the Dims favor divorce-at-will, gay marriage, and aboriton-on-demand!?!
Don't the Roman Catholics LOVE children?!
DOES THE ABOVE SOUND ABSURD TO YOU? Racist? Bigoted, even?
Well, so does all this constast crap about Democratic Jews.
Secural urban people vote Democratic. Jews --- many of whom are JINOS are largely Urban. Ergo, they are Dims.
Same with Roman Catholics.
It's no mystery.
"It's my understanding Sirhan Sirhan is/was at the time of the RFK murder, a Palestinian Christian."
Correct. He was raised a Maronite Christian. At other times called himself a Baptist and a Mormon. But never a Muslim.
Excuse me?????
Congratulations! This is the all time championship Stupid statement on FR.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you a wondeful example of anti-semitism.
Jimmy Carter and Cindy Sheehan would be SO proud of you!
sofaman, I have no words :(
That is a silly statement.
I guess that means "Christians" only vote Republican! sheesh.........
"I don't know about all Jews, but I do believe that when it comes to the United States of America,the common nightmare of all Liberals is Nationalism.
They are at war with the concept, out of unadulterated fear. "2/15/07 TET1968"
Not even close. I updated my previous election list, which I'll post next along with KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle's response
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