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Jewish Voters Gravitating Toward GOP (Bush approval at 85%)
FoxNews ^ | April 24, 2002 | Katie Cobb

Posted on 04/24/2002 10:48:34 AM PDT by 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

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.



TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Breaking News; Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; Israel; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bush; bushdoctrineunfold; electionpresident; electionuscongress; gop; jewishvoters; jews; presidentbushlist; publicopinionlist; zionist
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To: america-rules
No, no, no. Democrats believe they own their constiuent groups, and they must do whatever the Democrats want, even if it's agaianst their interests.
21 posted on 04/24/2002 11:03:12 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: america-rules
Fox did a thing on this last night. I personally have spoken with liberal Jewish friends in NYC and Miami in recent days who have volunteered the same sentiments to me.

I hope it sticks.

22 posted on 04/24/2002 11:03:20 AM PDT by wardaddy
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To: Coop
I bet this will come as BIG NEWS to the Zogby brothers, huh? :-)
23 posted on 04/24/2002 11:03:54 AM PDT by Howlin
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Comment #24 Removed by Moderator

To: america-rules
No, no, no. Democrats believe they own their constiuent groups, and they must do whatever the Democrats want, even if it's agaianst their interests.
25 posted on 04/24/2002 11:04:23 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: DoughtyOne
Seems as thought American Jews have always been liberal. OTH, go to Isreal and count the liberal Jews there.
26 posted on 04/24/2002 11:06:37 AM PDT by banjo joe
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To: Howlin
Exactly. My blood has boiled many a time watching this witch rant.
27 posted on 04/24/2002 11:06:46 AM PDT by DoughtyOne
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To: RooRoobird14
Susan Estrich worked for Dukakis's campaign and is a RAT through and through. It's hard to take anything she says seriously. It would be amusing, though, if this party-switching of the Jewish vote continues.

Recent Estrich photo.

28 posted on 04/24/2002 11:06:52 AM PDT by isthisnickcool
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To: america-rules
Sorry, but I am a bit skeptical regarding this 'poll'. Let's wait until the primaries are over and then discern the Jewish voters tendencies a month, a week before the November 2002 elections. Nevertheless, I predict that this segment of the Dem base will return to the fold and again vote their usual, habitual socialistic manner.
29 posted on 04/24/2002 11:07:26 AM PDT by Stand Watch Listen
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To: america-rules
It's nice to see them talking the talk, but I'll wait to see if they actually walk the walk come Election Day in November before actually believing them.
30 posted on 04/24/2002 11:08:48 AM PDT by Timesink
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To: banjo joe
What's strange is that these folks really do support Israel too. I have never understood this one.
31 posted on 04/24/2002 11:09:15 AM PDT by DoughtyOne
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To: DoughtyOne
I'm with you on this one: if she's saying it, it's disinformation.
32 posted on 04/24/2002 11:09:17 AM PDT by Howlin
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To: america-rules
Yes you are right, but being the liberal animal she is I'd have expected her to downplay, not build up the potential for change as she did.
33 posted on 04/24/2002 11:10:52 AM PDT by DoughtyOne
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To: RooRoobird14
Estrich is loud and shrill but at least she's self deprecating.
34 posted on 04/24/2002 11:11:08 AM PDT by wardaddy
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To: nickcarraway
FOX needs to keep showing the photo of Hillary kissing ARafat's wife and also her taking money from Hamas for the senatorial campaign!
35 posted on 04/24/2002 11:11:15 AM PDT by princess leah
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To: america-rules
This is amazing?

It shouldn't be, but it is. I don't consider myself Jewish, either in attitude or religious practice, but my 88 year-old mother does. And she's a stone Democrat. Jews may be a bit high-brow as a group, but most of them are as habit-ridden as blacks, or whites, or even Arabs. Fortunately, the habits aren't as obnoxious as those of the Arabs. Unfortunately, the habit ridden in the group decided long ago that Nixon was an anti-Semite, Kennedy was cute, and Democrats were pro-Israel. Once a one-issue decision is made, there's rarely a need to reconsider. If it is being reconsidered, it is unusual--and unusual is a big deal. Even amazing.

And America rules, indeed. Nice hande.

36 posted on 04/24/2002 11:13:13 AM PDT by Pearls Before Swine
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To: america-rules
The last thing Daschle should do to attract Jewish voters is to whine "like a pig"!
37 posted on 04/24/2002 11:14:46 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: princess leah
Witch...
  


38 posted on 04/24/2002 11:16:33 AM PDT by DoughtyOne
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To: america-rules
Jackie Mason is in town for the next couple of weeks. Should I go see his show in celebration of this? I somehow feel that if any of my dollars go into politics they won't be to the junior senator from NY's party.
39 posted on 04/24/2002 11:17:03 AM PDT by xp38
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To: Lazarus Long
America rules - 50% of Jews under 30 vote for the Republicans? Astonishing - where did you get that statistic?

Also, what the news item fails to mention is that many Jews would have probably become disgusted with the Dems anyway because of the increasing numbers of black Jew-haters rising to prominence in the party - the "reverends" Sharpton & Jackson, Cynthia McKinney, etc. I mean, if you were Jewish in NY you'd have to be crazy (like Koch once said) to donate to that party.

Also, in the Middle East, where as the Palestinians used to just throw stones and ululate in protest, now they are well-armed. Who brought that about - good ol' Billy Boy Klinton.

40 posted on 04/24/2002 11:17:12 AM PDT by bulldawg
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