GOP Makes Gains with Jewish Voters

Washington Post ^ | 6/25/02 | Thomas B. Edsall

[Coop]

Leading congressional Democrats are increasingly concerned that party critics of Israel are helping drive Jewish voters, donors and opinion leaders toward the Republican Party, according to Democratic strategists and leaders.

While support of Israel is strong among most Democrats and their leaders, a small but significant faction is openly questioning whether the Bush administration has tilted too far in favor of Israel. They include some of the most senior members of the House, as well as a sizable number of the Congressional Black Caucus.

For the rest of the article, click here.

[Coop]

This seems like pretty big news to me, but curiously the ComPost has it buried back on page 13. :-)

[Ciexyz]

Hope the Jewish voters come on over -- the water's fine!

[eureka!]

I sensed this months ago when LIEberman was asked that very question. His obvious discomfort and lies were something to behold....

[Coop]

Yeah, the signs are all there. But I said it earlier, and I'll say it again. Until I see evidence in votes cast, I'll remain a bit skeptical. But I was quite amazed to see a mention in this article (quite good, I must say, especially for the ComPost) about a Tom DeLay Jewish fundraiser netting $50-100K. Oy vey! :-)

[July 4th]

This is very good news, and it's nice to see the GOP is winning over voters simply because of its stance on an issue. Much too often, politicians sculpt their image to bring certain groups into the fold.

But here, simply by doing the right thing on Israel, the GOP will reap the benefits.

[evad]

Hope the Jewish voters come on over -- the water's fine!

yeah...I just hope they're finally waking up to the pitfalls of all their liberal leanings.

NAH..too much to ask. We'll just take small attitude changes for now.

[elbucko]

"Hope the Jewish voters come on over -- "

So do I. but I won't hold my breath.
I think the above article is wishful thinking. (sorry)

[eureka!]

Re#4 Yep. Methinks we may be in for a pleasant surprise. Time will tell....

[hchutch]

It's one of those situations where we had good terrain all along, and it was just a matter of time before the Dems screwed things up really bad with them. Sometimes, you need to be patient and wait for the other side to step in it once too much.

[lideric]

As I told my jewish friend: Jews are smart at most things but when it comes to politics they're dunces. Why else would the jews continue to vote for the rat (national socialist) party year after year?

[SauronOfMordor]

as well as a sizable number of the Congressional Black Caucus.

The big issue in the Democrat Party over the next couple of years will be how to keep the Black Caucus (with its need to keep their growing Black Muslim constituency happy) on speaking terms with the Liberal Jewish wing

[eclectic]

Ironically enough the worst enemies of Israel are Jews in high places. Considering that the current administration is almost free from Jewish persons, its sympathetic stance towards Israel is hardly surprising. Same applies to the Republican party at large.

[monkeyshine]

Bump FYI

[babble-on]

Jewish Republican Freeper here weighing in. I think skepticism is warranted if you expect 80-20 support for Dems to become 80-20 support for Republicans. However, in several states a shift to 60-40 support even if that still favored Dems would make a big difference. Think Florida, New Jersey, Illinois and Pennsylvania and you have big battleground states where a 20% swing would mean 50-100,000 votes away from Dems and toward humans.

[babble-on]

There's an old saying that Jews live like Episcopalians but vote like Puerto Ricans. So the secret would seem to win the Puerto Rican vote and the Jews will follow. Weirdly, that seems to be actually working.

[Coop]

I think skepticism is warranted if you expect 80-20 support for Dems to become 80-20 support for Republicans.

Come on! Give me a little credit! :-)

[1bigdictator]

"I sensed this months ago when LIEberman was asked that very question. His obvious discomfort and lies were something to behold.... "

Speaking as a Republican Jew who did not support Lieberman in 2000, and who recieved some grief from the more liberal elements w/in the Jewish community where I live. I feel vindicated, validated... and all those other fuzzy touchy feel-good words liberals like to use.

Lieberman, a couple of months ago on one of the Sunday talkies, was one of the first Democrats to advocate pre-emptive strikes against Iraq, regardless of the Middle East situation. I almost respected him until he had second guess Bush strategy on how events were being handled. As a Jew, perhaps I can say what I know many of you feel: If the stupid liberal Jewish polititians would examine the "cause and effect" impact which blind allegience to the Democratic party has on U.S. policy, vis-a-vis Jewish issues, they would realize they are in bed with the enemy.

[Drango]

As I understand it, some evangelical churches have voter registration booths that always have the Republican option available while the Democratic option is nowhere to be found.

Is this the next thing at the local synagogue?

[I_Love_My_Husband]

We're here! We're here! We're swimming already! ;)

[1bigdictator]

Moreover, any Jew who supports gun control, please see how the Nazis disarmed the Jews in the 1930s. Any Jew who supports abortion, please re-read the talmud and old testament again. Any Jew who believes government funded socialized entitlements are an efficient answer for societal ailments, please take a refresher course on the downfall of the Soviet Union, and note how Jewish Refusniks were treated. Any Jew that believes race-based preferences are a way to elivate black culture out of the 40 year rut its mired in-- please read Walter Williams and listen to J.C. Watts. Moreover, any Jew who believes the liberal black ("gimme reparations") is an ally for American Jewery, please note how the majority of the parents and teachers of these inner-city cest-pool schools refuse to teach students about the holocaust, and claim it to be a myth, because they believe slavery gives blacks a monopoly on suffering and discrimination.