Advertisement
Jewcy Book Club
Welcome Authors
Benyamin Cohen
& Matthew Rothschild
who are posting all week.
Coming up:
- 12/08: Seth Greenland
 |
Putting Jews Back in Their Place |
|
| Palin ends a short-lived flirtation with the Republican party | ||
 by Daniel Levy, September 11, 2008 |
||
TAGS:
This Land is Our Land: Palin's church says Jews deserve to be victims of terrorismJews in America have, essentially since 1932, felt far at home with one Party and voted accordingly. Democrats could rely on a solid 75% plus of the Jewish vote and the Jewish community could comfortably feel that they had a home in a party which embraced positions and values with which they could identify. It looked for a time as if 2008 might be different and that the percentage of Jewish support for the Democratic presidential candidate might slip into the low 60s or worse. A considerable effort was invested in scare-tactics and smear campaigns against Barack Obama. Joe Lieberman was thrown into the mix. The McCain campaign had reason to be cautiously optimistic.That McCain hope may now be receding as the latest turn in the Republican campaign seems to have one unifying theme when it comes to the Jewish community: a determination to put as many Jews as possible back in their place -- in the Democratic camp. The GOP have scored an amazing trifecta -- choose a Veep candidate who is a neophyte on Israel and foreign policy and has never stepped foot in the Holy Land, stoke the kind of cultural wars that make the Jewish community distinctly antsy, and then deploy old and crude anti-Semitic stereotypes when attacking Obama.
Sure, there is about a quarter of the Jewish vote that is now solidly Republican. These are people who are Republicans because they want lower taxes on the most wealthy, more religion in the public sphere and a hard-line foreign policy both as it relates to America and to Israel. That demographic will remain Republican. But the additional 10-15% of the Jewish vote that the GOP tried to put in play this November is now feeling not only alienated, but downright offended by the latest offerings of the McCain message machine. That new Palin-powered propaganda effort may play well in parts of the country, and it may be enough to get McCain elected, but it is likely to have the opposite effect on the floating Jewish voter -- which could matter (perhaps a lot) in Florida and elsewhere such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, or even Nevada
The Obama campaign had already made significant inroads in pushing back the slur tactics and in creating a comfort level amongst Jewish voters with Obama's personal life story, his message, and him visiting Israel again recently. Putting Senator Joe Biden on the ticket -- someone with a long and strong history of trusted relations and closeness to the Jewish community, and deep, unquestioned foreign policy experience -- likely strengthened that trend. But the more important development is likely to be the GOP's decision to tightly embrace a politics and style that creates a maximum discomfort amongst even those parts of the Jewish community that were beginning to be susceptible to McCain's appeal. Part of this is a deep seated, understandable, and very real tension between the world views of the Christian right and of the mainstream Jewish community.
Three moves in particular have the potential to create a backlash amongst Jewish voters and to drive the Jewish community to find its place with the Obama-Biden ticket in numbers that match historical levels of Democratic support.
First, McCain chose a candidate for Veep who has no history whatsoever of interest in, understanding of, or concern for Israel. The Israel issue does not move all or even most Jewish voters, but it matters to many. Sarah Palin has never been to Israel. The only place she has ever visited in the Middle East is Kuwait. Her website issues page lists nothing on foreign policy or Israel, as others have pointed out (here and here). Governor Palin did meet with AIPAC during the recent RNC convention in Minneapolis and they did give her the kosher stamp. But one can fairly assume that this had more to do with AIPAC's confidence in its own ability to sway the possible future V.P. than with any deep appreciation for Israel's predicament displayed by the candidate. Surely all the pro-Israel groups from right and left could agree that a politician who has never visited Israel, who doesn't know the issues affecting Israel, and has so little national security and foreign policy experience should not be a heartbeat away from the presidency.
Second, and as part of the Palin-fest, the Republicans have made a strategic decision to place cultural wars front and center in this election campaign. Former New York Mayor Ed Koch has called Sarah Palin and what she represents "scary", and one can understand why. Palin is about as right-wing as it gets when it comes to the ideological and value issues she promotes. She has the hard right, Christian conservative wing of the electorate highly enthused and mobilized. Jewish voters and Jewish values tend to sit uneasily with positions such as making abortion illegal (even in cases of rape and incest), teaching creationism in school and blurring the separation of religion and state, and banning books--all positions espoused by Governor Palin. As Salon.com pointed out, such theocratic tendencies are more normally associated with Muslim fundamentalists. This is bigger than Palin; this now a cultural values election as much as it is an economics or national security policy election -- it is a defining moment, especially when Supreme Court nominations enter the calculation.
But there is also a Jewish specific cause for concern in the Palin pick. Just three weeks ago, with Sarah in attendance, Palin's church hosted the Executive Director of Jews for Jesus, David Brickner -- a group much criticized by the ADL. As Ben Smith pointed out in Politico, Brickner "described terrorist attacks on Israelis as God's 'judgment of unbelief' of Jews who haven't embraced Christianity". Palin's Pastor at the Wasilla Bible Church, Larry Kroon, warns of God taking retribution on a sinning America. She trades on an anti-intellectualism and playing of small town vs big city or suburban America that is alienating to most Jews. Mayor Koch is right: this is "scary" stuff.
Third, and perhaps most bizarrely, the types of attacks used by leading Republicans against Senator Obama should be making Jewish voters feel distinctly uneasy -- they are taken straight from the vernacular of classical anti-Semitism. When Rudy Giuliani during his RNC keynote address put a big sneer on his face and used the word 'cosmopolitan' to attack Obama, I was rattled -- literally shocked. Words have coded meanings, and I don't think it would be Jewish paranoia to remind ourselves of the coded meaning of 'cosmopolitan' when used in that insulting, demeaning, and group-defining political fashion. We Jews are after all the quintessential, rootless cosmopolitans. 'Cosmopolitan', 'elites', 'urbane', 'liberal media' -- in trying to negatively define Barack Obama, the Republicans have chosen to use a convenient and familiar existing vocabulary for defining the 'other' -- the vocabulary of anti-Semitic stereotypes. At the very least this is deeply insensitive to Jewish opinion.
It is shameful that Republican Jewish circles have been silent in the wake of this ugliness. It would be even more shameful if it was allowed to succeed. Fortunately Jewish voters, in Florida and elsewhere, will have a big say in the matter.
Israel's cynical effort to re-brand collective farming
Because collaboration is about suffering and loss, and Jews have...
She's black, she's white, she's Jewish—and she's pretty darn...
Exploring the weird, wonderful world of fan fiction
Shmuel Rosner discusses meritocracy and other fairy tales with...
| Dev Blog | Privacy | FAQ | Contact | |  | | Comment Policy | About Us | Submissions |
| Hosting provided by Tilted Planet | ||
Morganfrost
What's shameful is the way that people like you continue to shill for the Democrats, notwithstanding the fact that they've become the party of choice for the Israel-hating, Jew-bashing left.
So, Palin's church-- without her knowledge-- hosted one of the Jews for Jesus. Once. Compare that to Obama's church (before he abandoned it).
And as to "slur tactics," that's a pretty good description for what has been directed at Palin by hacks like you since the day she was picked.
She's got no "history" of interest in Israel? She's kept a freakin' Israeli flag in her office BEFORE she was chosen for McCain's VP. Obama's got a "history" of having received the cautious support of Hamas and a "history" of advocating a more "balanced" Middle East policy (code for screwing Israel). But you're convinced that Jews should support him-- why? Because it's not about Israel; you're just convinced that Jews should support the kind of imbecillic socialism that Obama represents.
No, Jews don't owe the Democrat party anything. And we have certainly listened to nonsense like the stuff you're spouting for far, far too long.
David N. Friedman
This is bad faith to say the least and I am pleased to push the proposition that all Jews should vote for McCain-Palin and rightly have fears concerning the Obama-Biden duo.
"Scare tactics" are not needed or wanted with the Obama story that speaks so loudly about his radical associations and extreme record. Worse, Obama has frustrated critics by continuing to hide so many things about his past, while McCain-Palin point with pride to their achievements and personal stories. The little we know about Obama, the way in which he took millions from both the government and Annenberg and made nothing of it, his 20 year history with a black radical preacher who has clear antisemitic and anti-American credentials, his ties with William Ayers, his statements of even-handedness concerning Israel in its battle for existence--just for starters--is cause for real fear. His arrogance is legendary and if this is frightening enough, he will not release his academic records so we can read what he wrote about in college, he will not release his full medical records and his background has not been vetted so people can say with at least some sense that they know what this man is all about. What we don't know is substantial and this is another part of the hesitation people have about this man and why he has had a downward track for the past 6 months since people easily say they have deep questions about him. They don't see him as a patriot, they don't see him as someone they can relate to, they have a very hard time being reassured by his contradictory remarks. He is simply not a very candid fellow and this creates doubt.
The Jews of Israel and America live lives a bit more precariously than others and doubt is the worst kind of quality to exhibit. Young Daniel brings forward Ed Koch as authority to suggest Obama is safe but neglects to admit that the same Ed Koch picked Bush so unless Daniel admits that followed Koch when he picked Bush as best for the nation and best for the Jews--it is rather hypocritical to highlight Koch when he now says he favors Obama. But please do not neglect to reveal the truth--Koch never admitted that Obama is better for the Jews of Israel and the Jews of America--nor did he say Obama would be better on the war against the terrorists. Instead, he merely ignored all those things and said that he favored Obama because he was more liberal on social issues such as health insurance and gay rights. The trouble for the 83 year old Koch is that he had already admitted that he is more liberal than Bush but sided with Bush because the former mayor said that he was putting the nation first and putting his ambitions for social issues second. Now, he failed to indicate why the change? If *country first* made sense in 2000 and 2004--why not in 2008? He did not even give a clue. If Bush is right for the country, why not McCain?
As a religious Jew, Sarh Palin has been my pick for VP for the entire summer. I lobbied hard for her selection and with this slection, McCain has gone further to express his solidarity with Israel. Among the Orthodox in my community, such a favorable impression is universal and the mood celebratory. A big sense of relief is evident and the fears of an Obama candidacy, who has made very few friends in Israel and very many in the Arab world and Biden who has many bad rants against Israel in his resume--were greatly relieved by the hope and realization that McCain-Palin can win and we will not have to fret about how Obama will lead. We can bank on McCain-Palin with no doubts or ambiguities.
Daniel's punchline is quite out of place since Rudy G is thoroughly pro-Israel and pro-Jewish. The elites desereve far more contempt from Americans than they have garnered and I happily cheer such rhetoric since the propaganda from the elite universities and media outlets is so grotesque in its lying and crazed caricatures of all that is right, normal and productive in our society.
Phantom
Anyone who is still shrill about their advocacy for McCain and his scary veep pick deserves another 8 years of downward spiral. You know what they say, you fool me once, shame on you, you fool me twice (and in this case it would actually be 3 times), shame on me! More war, deeper economic crisis, greater hardship for the middle class, more inflation, less status in the world of nations, fewer freedoms at home, these are the things we are sure to look forward to with McCain and his nutty sidekick. When they start teaching creationism and that dinosaurs roamed this land until only 4000 years ago, don't blame Daniel Levy; you'll only have yourselves to blame!
Ismail
"As a religious Jew, Sarh Palin has been my pick for VP for the entire summer."
Sarah Palin is not a religious Jew. What you mean is, "As a religious Jew, I've supported SP's candidacy for the entire summer."
Your political beliefs are terrible, but you might at least express them with a little grammatical correctness.
Thank you.
Anonymous
Republicans have ALWAYS been willing to get in bed with anti-Semitic Christian fundamentalists. And while both parties support peace, justice, and security for Israel, the Democrats are aware these goals can never be achieved without negotiation and compromise. The Republicans support the tiny, unrealistic minority of Zionists who (rather delusionally) think its possible to achieve them by sadistically crushing the Palestinians. Democrats are the friends of Israel, Republicans are cynically using Zionism to bolster the agenda of the Oil companies. Jewish Republicans need to wake up and come home to the Democratic Party before it's too late.
Levitt8
With all of McCain's huffing and puffing about earmarks, why doesn't anyone challange him on his support for Israel. US aid to Israel is essentially an earmark. Is McCain forthright about anything anymore?
Anonymous
American Jews who support McBush/Palin are essentially destroying the biggest supporter Israel ever had. After America is destroyed financially, who do you think Israel's next sugardaddy will be? China?
Anonymous
I truly can't believe that you all don't recognize the biggest threat to American Jews is the immigration of muslims to the USA. Muslims that come to the USA make money and donate it to Hamas to fund suicide bombings. Also they vote for anti semetic political candidates. Do a little research - in the places in America where muslim immigrants gather (like Dearborn) the politicians are already running on anti israel platforms.
Put aside the fact that some of these muslim immigrants try to attack jewish cultural sites and murder jews in america (so far most of these attacks have been foiled)
The jews on this blog that don't vote to restrict muslim immigration to the US are signing the death warrant of our community in the US. Do a little research - find out what you are doing.
The sad part is that both McCain and Obama are enthusiastic supporters of more muslim immigration to the US, so i can't offer you any advice in this election
Anonymous
Actually,
the jewish community in the UK made the same mistake years ago that the readers of jewcy are making today. Jews in the UK welcomed muslim immigration to the UK. Just yesterday a group of muslim political leaders met and boasted that with their high birthrate they will be able to take over control of the UK. The jews of the UK will reap what they have sown. (article will be posted below) my point is, why oh why are we us jews arguing silly stuff like which party is better - republican or democrat. The number of pogroms against jews in the us is not going to be determined by which political party is in power it will be determined by how many muslims live in the us
Editor's note: Quit violating our comments policy by pasting articles into your comments.
Rod
Mr. levy's accounts and beliefs of the politics of McCain and Palin are out of touch with reality and obviously paranoid in their origins.
What the heck is with Judiasm and socialism / liberal fascism?
Disgusted.
"She is filled with the flames of righteous hatred that burn in the heart of our Lord Jesus Christ. She will purge this country of the weak and corrupt, and with the strong and pure she will restore American to its rightful place in the world."
Umm... yeah...?
jewlicious
"When Rudy Giuliani during his RNC keynote address put a big sneer on
his face and used the word 'cosmopolitan' to attack Obama, I was
rattled -- literally shocked."
Giuliani? Rudy Giuliani?? Wasn't he like... Mayor of New York or something? Talk about small town values...
---------------------------------
I blog at Jewlicious.com
Anonymous
Thanks for the article. I think it's right on the ball. I truly can not understand why any Jew would vote for McCheney-Palin. Then again, I can't really understand why anyone else would support this sleaze either, especially after the last eight years.
Morganfrost
"Republicans have ALWAYS been willing to get in bed with anti-Semitic Christian fundamentalists. And while both parties support peace, justice, and security for Israel, the Democrats are aware these goals can never be achieved without negotiation and compromise. "
Why do you say Christian fundamentalists are "anti-Semitic?" I'd say they tend to be more pro-Israel than most Jews (like you, Anonymous!). As to both parties supporting peace, justice and security for Israel, I agree that the Republicans do. However, my sense of the Democrat notion of "security for Israel" does not exactly coincide with anything resembling actual security.
You want anti-Semitism? Go read the Daily Kos. Go read the Democratic Underground. Hell, go listen to that doddering imbecile, Jimmy Carter. Sorry, friend, but the party of Jew-hating and Israel bashing is very much the Democrat party.
Soulcase
What is with the kneejerk Jewish pro-left response to everything? I mean, I open the Jewcy page, and I see this article and "McCain peddles nonsense." What the fuck people? Which candidate has been endorsed by Hamas and pro-regime Iranians? Not fucking McCain. I don't understand the irrational Jewish hatred of the right. Here's a test: go to a small town in Texas or Alabama, some place so red state it hurst. Walk around saying, "I'm Jewish and I support Israel." You won't hear a peep. Some might even support you. Do the same in Berkeley, or Dearborn, or anywhere else in SF. At the least you'll get the stinkeye, you might get your ass beat. The hard left HATES Israel. Every anti-Bush or antiwar protest has a contingent of pro-Palestinian terrorist clowns. The antisemitism of the South, or the Right, is a 50 year-old relic that is somehow still peddled into the modern Jewish mind.
Go ahead, keep voting Dem, they won't sell you down the river. Every western socialist government has persecuted the Jews. Idiots.
Anonymous
There is not a shred of difference between McCain and Obama on the subject of arab immigration to the US. Both candidates enthusiastically support arabs moving to the USA - despite evidence that many of these arabs engage in anti jewish violence once they get to America.
How many murdered jews will it take before the readers of this blog wake up and hear the cries of tortured and murdered jews
(Editor's Note: don't post full-text of articles. It's rude. Link.)
Zeevico
"There is not a shred of difference between McCain and Obama on the
subject of arab immigration to the US. Both candidates
enthusiastically support arabs moving to the USA - despite evidence
that many of these arabs engage in anti jewish violence once they get
to America."
What is this? Idiot hour? What about the arabs in America? Expel them? Interment camps, for the danger they pose? What next? How many enemies do you want to make in one sitting, kiddo? Do you understand the incredible importance of the current ideological struggle between fundamentalist Islamic movements and the West? Do you realise what this move will do to Arabs and Muslims not aligned with those movements? The point of the 'War on Terror' is not to kill Osama Bin Laden. It is to eliminate the base of support for fundamentalist Islamic movements, whether they be Al Qaeda, Hamas, or what have you. If you WANT Arabs to join those movements, then restricting Arab immigration for this reason is an excellent move, much like running into a brick wall.
Ismail
"...despite evidence that many of these arabs engage in anti jewish violence once they get to America."
Please cite one teensy particle of evidence for this claim. No, your cut and paste from the NYT doesn't count, having nothing whatsoever to do with Arab immigration to the US.
You will be unable to provide such evidence, of course, so my second suggestion would be that you go fuck yourself. Repeatedly. Without lube. On a very sandy beach.
Marya
You're criticizing Obama for not releasing his medical records? What, you think he was once diagnosed with anti-Semitism and he's trying to cover it up?
And, seriously, what is with the anti-Arab paranoia among the commenters today? If it weren't for the references to Israel, I'd think that I had stumbled into an Aryan Nation message board.
Rubén
Finally! Somebody else who wouldn't mind a little cited evidence! Was I absent from class when wild, random, unsupported statements became acceptable?
Additionally.... yes! With no lube! A VERY sandy beach!
Some of us should REALLY be careful who we align ourselves with... make certain that they really ARE on your side in the greater scheme of things and not just one issue.
Zeevico
God, those links are so insightful.
frankenjew20817
The Republicans appear to be attempting to split the Jewish vote through very crude and mean-spirited tactics, mostly (coded) racial appeals, especially to older Jewish voters in South Florida. But c'mon. His name is Baruch! And he's as pro-Israel as it possible to be. There are plenty of Israeli leftists who be shocked and appalled at Obama's chauvinism, let's not forget that.
Howard
OBAMA = BETRAYAL
Obama supporters are foolish to think that he will never betray them.
Obama was a close friend of Pastor Wright for TWENTY YEARS.
Obama threw Wright under the bus for personal ambition.
McCain would not betray his country even after 5 years of torture.
You can put lipstick on a traitor, but he's still a traitor.