Jewish Voters Gravitating Toward GOP (Bush approval at 85%)

FoxNews ^ | April 24, 2002 | Katie Cobb

[america-rules]

Jewish Voters Gravitating Toward GOP

FNC
Bumper stickers showing U.S.-Israeli ties were handed out at a recent pro-Israel festival in L.A.

Wednesday, April 24, 2002

By Katie Cobb

LOS ANGELES — Jewish Americans make up only 2.5 percent of the U.S. population but they vote in higher percentages than any other minority group in the country.

Typically, they are known as staunch Democrats, but as more of the traditional left of the Democratic Party gravitate toward the Palestinian cause, American Jews are indicating that they place more trust in the party of George W. Bush.

"Prior to Sept. 11 on my radio show, a lot of people would call and say, ‘Rabbi, how dare you support a Republican,’" offered Rabbi Chaim Mentz, a Los Angeles radio talk show host.

"Now, all of a sudden, after Sept. 11, they notice there is a moral clarity which America never showed, which is an alliance with our brethren that may be living in Israel," he added.

At a recent pro-Israel festival in Los Angeles, Jewish American voters signed up to support the Republican Party.

	AP
	Rep. Tom Delay, R-Texas

"I want to be a Republican. Why? Because I’m disappointed in Democrats," said Claire Shpayer, a Jewish voter.

"The Republican leadership has been standing up for Israel. The Christian Coalition, which is part of the Republican Party, stands up constantly for Israel," said another Jewish voter, Bennett Zimmerman. "I think it’s a matter of saying that on many key issues I agree with them."

Of course, not all Democrats are willing to make the leap across party lines to the Republican camp.

"My issues go beyond support of Israel," said voter Ian Russ. "They’re also a lot of American issues, a lot of economic issues, with which I would disagree."

Politicians from both parties rushed to buoy their support with the powerful Jewish lobby this week at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., told committee members that the United States Senate stands with Israel in these difficult days.

"Israel has always had fair-weather friends. What it needs now are foul-weather friends," Daschle told the lobby group, which held its annual convention in Washington. "As long as I'm the majority leader of the United States Senate, we will be a friend to Israel in fair weather and in foul," he said.

Most notable, however, were speeches by prominent conservatives and members of the administration.

In a speech inspiring a standing ovation, House Majority Whip Tom DeLay, R-Texas, called the Palestinian Authority "a holding company for terrorist subsidiaries."

"Let me assure you this morning, as long as I am in Congress, I’ll use every tool at my disposal to ensure the Republican Conference, and the House of Representatives, continues to preserve and strengthen America’s alliance with the State of Israel," he told the conference.

DeLay also plans to drum up support for a resolution that calls upon the House "to remain committed to Israel’s right to self-defense," and recommends $27 billion for Israel in supplemental aid.

Speaking to an audience of approximately 3,500, White House Chief of Staff, Andrew H. Card Jr. said, "Our differences are differences of true friends — friends who respect each other, friends who share the same values and the same dreams, friends whose affection for one another is genuine and abiding and unshakable."

Gary Bauer, a popular Christian conservative and 2000 Republican presidential candidate, has also come out strongly with pro-Israel statements, as has the conservative National Review and talk show host Rush Limbaugh.

A poll of Jewish voters shows that President Bush’s approval ratings among the Jewish community are over 80 percent. Political analyst Susan Estrich said this is an opportune time for the Republicans to start dipping into the wide support Democrats receive from Jewish Americans.

"Right now George Bush has an opportunity that no GOP president has had in our lifetimes — to change the dynamic of the Jewish vote in America," she said.

[Holden Magroin]

I'm not preaching demagoguery. I'd like to see Jews vote for conservatives. Hell, I'd like to see 100% of the electorate vote for conservatives; but that's not going to happen.

[CARepubGal]

Where was the BARF ALERT? Those were hideous shots of PIAPS and her fellow grifters!
Freegards!

[Cinnamon Girl]

I disagree. Statistically, the trend of Jewish voters IS toward the Republican party. So quit trashing Jews.

[maxwellp]

I'm a Christian and I fully support Israel in her current fight against terrorism. However, if the liberal Jewish community in the United States continues to support the Democrats they will deserve what they get. And what will they get? Anti-Semitism that's creeping throughout Europe via Arabs/Muslims and will probably arrive on American shores eventually. Why is Barbra Streisand so strangely quiet at this point in time? I think she's afraid.

[TopQuark]

Why are you throwing out biblical principals when you follow the jewish faith? How did I throw out Biblical principles?

[TopQuark]

Welcome to FR, SouthRonGenX!

[rdb3]

Kinda sad that Jewish support is only dependent on support of Israel.

Not really. I look at it as a "wedge" issue. Oftentimes, as was the case with me, all it takes is one wedge to eventually open the door.

A little off topic, but in the same vein as your point, a severe wedge issue for American blacks is school vouchers. We know that the RATS are fighting tooth and nail to prevent this from ever becoming a reality. But, just provide that wedge. That's all. You'd be surprised.

[rdb3]

In the meantime, the bigots among us scare away minorities --- not only Jews, but the Blacks and Hispanics as well.

It was worth repeating.

[DoughtyOne]

That's about it. Grrrrrr....

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks for the comments.

[DoughtyOne]

What you see with the Democrats is their vocal championing of causes and people guaranteed to endear the populace to them. Behind the scenes they make alliances with groups that would do you far more harm than the ill-advised posters on this forum.

Are you aware that the Democrats are tied to the hip with those anti-war protesters in Washington, D.C.? That organization held a two hour and twelve minute rally on Saturday the 20th. Every single protester in that rally damned Israel. Let me tell you, those people were supporting the Palestinain cause on the West Bank. For the whole program they were chanting "we are Palestinian."

I am currently working up a a list of the people who allign themselves with Democrats. The are some of the most vile people on the planet. There are multiple common themes, prose, styles and tactics used by these groups.

Nut cases will alway exist, but I recognize in you the ability to dismiss the idiots and deal with those who have at least a few brains. That's to your credit. Don't be turned off by idiots. If you did, you'd be turned off by people from both sides, but almost everyone from the left.

I'll keep you in mind when I've documented the fellow travelers that I am working on. You'll be amazed.

You did touch on one subject that bothers me though. I want you to understand where I myself am coming from when I criticise blacks, hispanics or anyone else.

I was raised by my grandfather. The man was a very direct and frank individual. While he was frank and direct, you always knew where you stood with him. He was honest and fair. That's what I try to be. I don't run from issues. I don't cage my comments. But I try not to be unfair or racist. I don't hold any race in contempt. I do have major problems with some things members of them do. But I also have major problems with things my own race does. When it comes to anti-Semitism, I right there with you.

You take care.

[DoughtyOne]

Okay, okay. You got me on that one. I'm so ashamed! LOL

[Coop]

In the meantime, the bigots among us scare away minorities --- not only Jews, but the Blacks and Hispanics as well. There presence among us undermines the conservatives' cause and does us all a disfavor.

Most definitely. Just remember that they're not the majority voice.

The point is that, as perverted the Left is, this does not happen among Democrats.

This is where we very much disagree. It's just that the media doesn't focus on the bigotry when done by Dems.

[SauronOfMordor]

As I mentioned already, almost 50% of Jews under 30 voted for Bush instead of Gore, and this is a natural consequence of the New Deal FDR loyalists dying off, not of any recent - in the past year - change of heart due to Bush's stance on Arab terrorism.

Jewish attachment for the Left pre-dates FDR. At the beginning of the Russian Revolution Trotsky found quite a few people on Manhatten's Lower East Side to go over and help. David Horowitz's "Radical Son" has some interesting background data

But, in any event, Socialism is having less and less attraction for the latest generation, as you've noted.

[rdb3]

Most definitely. Just remember that they're not the majority voice.

I hope that this is the case. But I tell you what. I make the request that those who espouse bigoted and/or racist views among us be hammered without mercy.

There is absolutely no upside to allowing this sort of thing to go on unchecked.

[Coop]

I agree. Remember, the forum's policy is zero tolerance. But of course the bad stuff still sneaks in there. But what bothers me even more than bigoted, hate-filled comments is the occasional lack of internal policing. As you said, we users should not tolerate such actions. The moderators and Robinsons can't be everywhere.

[TopQuark]

Most definitely. Just remember that they're not the majority voice. I do, Coop. I know they are far from being in majority: this is America, thank G-d. Not to argue with you, therefore, but to explain a further detail of a persecuted psyche: in Germany, Nazis were not in a majority either. It is always a few that kill. After the fall of the Berlin wall, when anti-Semitism became a part of free speech in that part of the world, only a few --- very far from majority --- are burning down the flats of the Jews remaining in Russia. Very few desecrate Jewish cemeteries.

What is the point of that? If you are a minority, having learned to live some threats, you are not scared of the bigoted few: you are scared when the majority does nothing about those bigots.

I am not telling you that an average Black, Jew, or Gypsy has studied the Holocaust and came to this conclusion. What I am saying is that, even a person with the least education, feels that in his veins. You can fight back against a few, or you can try to run away. But there is nothing you can do when you are beaten by a few while surrounded by a silent crowd.

This may explain the eternal puzzle of the Republican Party. The slaves were liberated under Lincoln. The Affirmative Action was signed into law by Nixon. Does average Black today knows or even cares to know about that? Not at all.

On the other hand, it was the wealthy Southern Democrats who have enslaved the Blacks in the first place and refused to reform their racist views for quite some time. My blood boils when I think of Senator Byrd. Not only he was a member of the KKK, he has a physical revulsion towards Blacks: he said, to wit, that "he would not sit in the same car with one." Today, he is one of the most respected senators, praised for his expertise in the procedural aspects of Congress. There is no question that you are correct: there are bigots among them as well. What is the difference: the expressions of bigotry are suppressed. This allows Black, Jews, and Hispanics to function within that party without loosing dignity, towards common goals.

Compare and contrast this with our movement. Just wonder into this forum, and you will find plenty of the old hatred, expressed with old methods, based on old false accusations. It is on this board that you get the posts about B. Franklin warning America about "the Jews," and even the "Elders of Zion" --- perhaps the most well-known, completely debunked fabrication. Of course, much of the prejudice is masked by "I am America-first," as if any of us is not. But within a few lines the falsehood is clear: why is that he boils when thinking about our aid to Israel, yet says not a word about a much greater aid to Europe, which we continuing to give despite the end of the Cold War? And this is not just about Jews, of course: you see the same with regard to Hispanics. Under the pretense of being America-first, someone would be adamant about closing "the border." It turns out "the border" is only one half of it: with Mexico. Why is he not bothered by the porous border with Canada ---- even after you point out to him that it is thought that border that most criminals infiltrate? The answer is, he is not "America first:" he dislikes Jews and Hispanics, and merely find that umbrella convenient: this umbrella confuses other conservatives because the bigot sounds reasonable.

Well, when you are beaten, your skin get to be more sensitive. The minorities who consider leaving the Dems hear quite well all these remarks; they are not confused: they know a bigot when they see one.

Do not get me wrong: I am optimistic. Just witness the voting statistics: of all Jews under 30, 61%voted for Bush in the last election. Witness the many people on this board who are Jewish, Hispanic, and Black. We make progress, a great deal of progress. The point I am making --- the point in which I am convinced -- is that for every minority we win over we loose ten to the Democrats because of the expressions of bigotry that we allow in our midst.

This is America: bigots have the right to speak. But a movement or a party does not have to allow that in its midst. I repeat my position: bigots among us defeat the cause of the conservative movement.