Bruce Kesler's essay on American Jewish voters is a great weekend read.
The expectation that the American Jewish voter will suddenly have an epiphany and convert to Republicans is again alive. It might even be called an eternal hope, so strong in the face of the weight of contrary evidence.I use that term "eternal hope," since it's comparable in some respects to the degree of realistic expectation among Jews across centuries that we would return to a state of Israel. Only a relatively small minority really believed that likely. It took the global catastrophe of World War II and the Jewish catastrophe of the Holocaust to bring about the creation of the state of Israel, which was still chancy at the time and its survival has remained so due to big power politics, waffling leaders, Arab attacks, and underlying prejudices.
While none but the most extreme, call them what they are, growing number of nuts on the far Left or their diminishing shell-partners on the extreme Right would hope for the end of Israel, the broader tendency among liberals to equivocate about or oppose American or Israeli armed firmness against terrorists could result in that destruction for Israel. It may take such a level of catastrophe, not expected or desired by any, to significantly shift American Jews from their Democratic Party and liberal inertia.
Read it all.
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Comments (8)
While I often wonder why so... (Below threshold)1. Posted by SCSIwuzzy | July 15, 2006 12:22 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
While I often wonder why so many Jews stick with the party that increasingly embraces ideals and elements that are hostile to their own interests, I don't understand the folks on the right that are so eager to 'get the Jewish vote'.
They are what, less than 2% of the US population? They have an influence well beyond that number would imply, to be sure, but I don't see the Jewish vote propelling any party to a sure fire victory.
1. Posted by SCSIwuzzy | July 15, 2006 12:22 AM |
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Posted on July 15, 2006 00:22
2. Posted by Tony | July 15, 2006 1:56 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Maybe because some people try to get along with everybody : )
2. Posted by Tony | July 15, 2006 1:56 AM |
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Posted on July 15, 2006 01:56
3. Posted by Tony | July 15, 2006 1:56 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Maybe because some people try to get along with everybody : )
3. Posted by Tony | July 15, 2006 1:56 AM |
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Posted on July 15, 2006 01:56
4. Posted by ted | July 15, 2006 6:17 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Here's hoping that Dem/Lib Jews finally see the light and join in the fight for their own survival. This, of course, will require that they depart from the religion of what is modern day "Liberalism" which has co-opted much of American Judaism.
The irony is that Jews are often deemed the most intelligent and learned, yet to side with and support the Israel-hating Bush-hating libs/Dems/msm seems the antithesis of intelligence.
4. Posted by ted | July 15, 2006 6:17 AM |
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Posted on July 15, 2006 06:17
5. Posted by Ol' BC | July 15, 2006 10:34 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Absolutely correct Ted!! The Donks they are supporting tend to favor the other side on the Israeli issues. At some point one would think a Jewish leader would step up and say "enough already." As my Dad says," I haven't changed much, the Democrats have changed." Of course he's 83 and hasn't voted for one since LBJ. It still hurts him to remember that.
5. Posted by Ol' BC | July 15, 2006 10:34 AM |
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Posted on July 15, 2006 10:34
6. Posted by hermie | July 15, 2006 11:46 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
You have the Sheehan/MoveOn anti-Jewish anti-Israel faction controlling the Dem party.
You have this far-out faction attacking Lieberman, a traditional Jewish liberal, because he supports the WOT; and Jews in the U.S. have to start realizing that the Dems giving control to these nuts means that the party has gone over the edge, and that the GOP is more a party of inclusion that the Dems have ever claimed to be.
6. Posted by hermie | July 15, 2006 11:46 AM |
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Posted on July 15, 2006 11:46
7. Posted by Lee | July 15, 2006 1:14 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"You have the Sheehan/MoveOn anti-Jewish anti-Israel faction controlling the Dem party."
Only in your dreams, Hermie.
7. Posted by Lee | July 15, 2006 1:14 PM |
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Posted on July 15, 2006 13:14
8. Posted by ed | July 15, 2006 1:33 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Hmmmm.
I think the reason why Republicans are so intent on gathering the jewish vote is that the seeming illogic of jewish voters supporting a political party that is rather anti-jewish fairly confounds Republicans.
The reality is that many American jews simply aren't zionists. I.e. they don't really support the existence of Israel. Then again they don't need the existence of Israel because they live securely in a nation where jews aren't an oppressed minority where dressing like a jew can get you assaulted on the street. However jews from other countries that are fleeing to Israel in the hopes of building a life don't have that luxury.
*shrug* IMHO People generally get what they deserve. Or at least what they choose.
8. Posted by ed | July 15, 2006 1:33 PM |
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Posted on July 15, 2006 13:33