Posted on 08/15/2010 6:03:42 AM PDT by maggief
For most of my adult life I have pondered the seemingly unanswerable, "Why do American Jews go against their own self interests by always voting for Democrats?" American Jews, in contrast to their insignificant population numbers are significantly at the heart and core of American intellectualism, professionalism, and most importantly, entrepreneurism, the engines that drive our capitalist economy. And yet, election after election, these supposedly smart, super achievers vote almost en bloc for Democrats. No group but blacks votes more in lock-step with Democrats than Jews, but blacks can in no way match the social accomplishments of American Jews.
As the decades have passed, the question has become even more baffling as the leftist elements of the Democrat Party, that is, most of it, have become increasingly hostile to Israel and even to American Jewry. We look at election results and we shake our heads, wondering what on earth can these people be thinking when they continue to elect those who bear them such ill will?
True, Jews have always been at the forefront of civil rights issues particularly as those issues regard blacks. But what then do we see in the form of reciprocation from so-called black leaders if it is not growing expressions of anti-Semitism that were they to be espoused by a white of any faith, would be universally condemned. Yet within that black community, so strenuously supported by the Jews, lies a glowing, growing coal of embryonic anti-Semitism which is ripe for fanning into flames of exploitation by Muslim activists.
What brings all this to mind is our President and his predilection (minus his bifurcated blather buddy) for speaking his mind before he engages it. Barack Hussein Obama's clearly stated support for the construction of a mosque at the site of 9/11, Ground Zero, surely must have jolted a few thousand more Jewish liberals into a sense of awakening reality they have long ignored. That is, to borrow from Osama bin Laden, they just may be backing the wrong horse.
To get back to the premise of the title, should that sort of awakening occur among liberal Jews, and should they shift their slavish financial support from Democrats to a more reasoned support of conservative American politicians, we could well see a significant swing of the political pendulum returning America to the sort of sensible, even-handed, middle-of-the-road governance its citizens favor. Even a small shift of that heavy Jewish financial backing to the GOP could well serve to bring Democrats to their senses, enough at least to step back from the abyss, at the bottom of which lie so many failed Marxist dreams and states, and possibly America.
Of course, if their liberal gag reflex absolutely prevents supporting Republicans, America's Jews could shift some of that Democrat Party funding to the many synagogue building funds in Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Indonesia and most especially, Saudi Arabia.
Take your pick...
Here’s my take on why Jews vote overwhelmingly for Democrats — Jews rightly view Adolph Hitler as the ultimate anti-Jewish force in the universe. Hitler was able to come to power and terrorize Jews only because he was able to unite Germans into a strong nation. So they resist any calls for nationalism, here or abroad, that seem to strengthen and/or unite a nation to speak with one voice. Jews have suffered because of nationalism in the past so they seek a weak central authority.
Socialism is largely a Jewish construct — why would they readily abandon it?
“Soros would be offended to be thought of as a Jew and Jews are offended that Soros is one of us.”
Doesn’t matter what Soros thinks. He is a Jew, he sold out the Jews and he is the primary funding source of the Leftwing of the Democrat party which is most of the party. Add in all the Hollywood Jews, the Ivory Tower Jews, the Media Jews and this is what you have. For the most part they are Trotskyites and or Elitists.
And it isn’t offensive. You don’t need thousands of Jews, you only need a few wealthy ones, although there are thousands. You cited one wealthy Jew who supports Republicans. I submit to you that there are many Jews who support Republicans.
Difference is the ones who support Republicans don’t support turning our country into a Trotskyite regime like the Jews on the Left.
I lived on a Kibbutz in the 70’s. It was supposed to be an egalitarian paradise based on the “each according to his needs” ideology.
Turns out, like every endeavor into socialism, the minute someone is put in charge Socialism becomes Communism. Then the inner circle become the haves and the rest become the have-nots.
Nothing mysterious here. It is just a fact.
And Kennedy, a drunk who murdered a girl, is a Catholic
And Ted Bundy is a Protestant
Funny thing is that we Jews don't think that way. But that is how you Gentiles think of us.
Soros may have been born to a family decedent from Jews but he does not identify with his religion or his people. He is no more a Jew then you are. So why do you go out of your way to identify him as such?
“Funny thing is that we Jews don’t think that way. But that is how you Gentiles think of us. “
Sorry to burst your bubble there, but I am a Brooklyn Jew who grew up in a Conservative Jewish house. And if you come down to Texas, yes, we think that way.
Republicans support a weak central authority (Federal Gov) and Jews have nothing against American Nationalism so that’s not the answer.
That are many reasons for may results but the bottom line of how Jews vote would come down to two issues- in my opinion- location, location, location, and personality, personality, personality (of the candidates).
I could go down through every single Presidential race post war and explain to you very legitimately why Jews voted the way they did and in every instance the person’s perceived friendship, or not, to Jews/Israel is a reliable indicator. Not to say Jews were not (very) wrong in some of those perceptions.
The simple truth is that except for Reagan there has never been a Republican candidate that had a history of friendship to Jews and some had a quite hostile history.
You’re a Jew and you see Soros as being a Jew like you? Strange.
“You’re a Jew and you see Soros as being a Jew like you? Strange.”
Ahh, we are defining what a Jew is. Cool. I am a Jew. Soros is Jewish. Two completely different things.
But it still doesn’t change the fact of your initial post.
Socialism is a secular construct embraced by secular Jews... and quite a few others, I might add. Socialism is a violation of God’s law: it validates theft of a neighbor’s property and places the State above God as an object of worship. Many Jews (like me) have long been awake, even if many of our extended relatives are not. Many more are waking up.
It's called "too smart by half".
I don’t get what you are saying.
This article was about Jewish contributions to a political party.
In the context of the article “Jewish” referred to a community of people.
I’ll ask you again, do you believe that Soros is in the Jewish “community” in any way shape or form?
Jounolist Jews = JINOs. Communism/socialism is their true religion. Jewish conservatives like myself are tired of being tarred with the same brush that paints them.
It breaks my heart to say this, but don’t hold your breath.
No ...
OTOH, one particular Jew is the Saviour of America (and indeed of the whole world). America should return to following His ways.
The Jewish Vote
The divisions that now define American Jewish voting patterns are framed and influenced by a number of elements. A new generation of voters includes a significant Orthodox cohort, along with a growing presence of Russian, Iranian and Israeli activists, who generally reflect a more conservative political bent and represent an important and growing factor in the ever-shifting Jewish political scenario. Possibly a far more interesting and emerging base of support can be found among male baby boomers (55 to 64 years of age), whose voting patterns have increasingly reflected a shift to the right. This political transition is particularly significant among Jewish voters, as this age cohort dominates the Jewish population base. Not only worried about their own economic status, this constituency is deeply concerned by what they observe as the erosion of support for Israel.
This spring, in a study of American Jewish voters, McLaughlin and Associates reported that 42 percent of those polled would support the president’s re-election, while 46 percent indicated that they would support another candidate. Among Orthodox/Chasidic voters, 69 percent noted that they would likely support someone else, in comparison to 17 percent who expressed support for the president. Among Conservative-affiliated voters, the proportion was 50 percent to 38 percent. Reform Jews, by a slim majority of 52 percent, supported Obama, while 36 percent indicated they would consider someone else. Fifty percent of the Jewish voters polled in this study expressed support for the president’s handling of U.S. relations with Israel; 39 percent said they disapproved. These numbers become significant when one realizes that the president received nearly 80 percent of the Jewish vote just two years ago.
There appears to be a more general shift in the reshaping of “liberalism” on the part of the Jewish electorate, where moderate positions are replacing the more traditional left-of-center political perspective. This shift is reflected in a number of ways, as voters are more selective in identifying with liberal causes and, in turn, are redefining how they interpret the nature of their ideological credentials and voting positions. This pattern of social moderation is not limited to the Jewish liberal community but is prevalent among a growing sector of Democratic voters.
The center-left Jewish groups, including the labor-Zionist organizations, are struggling in this environment to maintain their base as well as to attract new audiences to their political perspectives and institutional message. The downsizing of this once-formidable bloc of liberal Jewish activists is reflected as well in the shifts we are likely to see in the changing patterns of institutional affiliation among younger Jews, whose loyalty and commitment to Israel has come into question. .....Much more at source
Then it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to vote liberal, because whatever liberals may be, on thing they ain't: advocates of a weak central authority.
Halakhah determines who is and who is not Jewish. If George Soros' mother was Jewish, then he is Jewish, no matter how little he identifies with Jews.
Bobby Fischer was a Jew FCOL, and he was an anti-Semitic nutcase.
Who knew?
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.