Jews Disappoint the Republicans (OR Bush disappoints the Jews?) GOOD!

[seventhson]

Jews Disappoint the Republicans
October 29, 2004
Warm greetings to friends of the Tikkun Community!

www.tikkun.org (Rabbi Michael Lerner)

In today's Ha'aretz, Israeli correspondent Nathan Guttman reports on a new poll taken in one of Florida's counties most heavily populated by Jews. These are the older Jews who might have been expected to place Israel above all other considerations, and to be thankful to Bush for having helped Ariel Sharon torpedo the peace process and legitimate the deal that allows Sharon to hold on to the West Bank with its 240,000 settlers in exchange for removing some 7,000 settlers from Gaza.

According to the poll, taken the week before the elections, 82% of these Jews would vote for Kerry!! Only 15% will vote for Bush.If Christians voted like Jews, Kerry's election would be a certainty. And the entire array of Republican conservatives running the Congress would be gone. But what strikes me equally is the "spin" given on this fact by the Ha'aretz correspondent. Like so many people in the media, this reporter appears to see the world thorugh the framework of the Jewish establishment so powerfully that he cannot imagine any way to construe the facts except a way that will make the Jewish establishment smart and powerful and shrewd, so here is what he says:

"This finding should come as something of a surprise to anyone who has been following the Republican Party's efforts to bring Jewish voters to its side, and after innumerable assessments to the effect that, this time, a higher percentage of the Jewish electorate will vote for a Republican president..... "The Republican camp focused its efforts in the Jewish community on only one topic: support for Israel. With this single banner, Bush and his people tried to capture the hearts of the Jews in Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and all over the United States.

"When Bush rose half a year ago to deliver the keynote speech at the convention of the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) in Washington, many in the audience stood and called out "four more years." Now it turns out that these cries may have expressed the appreciation of the Jewish community for his friendly attitude toward Israel, but not acceptance of his policy on a long series of other issues. "The Jews of the United States who are going to the polls on Tuesday demand absolute support for Israel from their leader, but they are also interested in all the other issues that have turned the Jewish community into the leading group in the United States in the struggle for social justice and human rights. Four years of Bush have not provided satisfactory answers on this matter. During his term, cracks began to appear in the wall of separation between church and state, social gaps widened to the detriment of society's weaker sectors, and human rights became more limited. The Jewish community has proved that it is not a single-issue political group and that it cannot be made to give up its long-term principles only because of the Israeli issue."

[THUNDER HANDS]

1. yeah, jews aren't stupid

Most of us read up on what happened the last time the fundy Christians said 'trust us, we're here to help'

[tomfodw]

7. We can't afford to be stupid

We have to be smarter than our enemies.

[MallRat]

2. Kerry offers just as much, if not MORE REAL support of Israel than Bush.

Republican Jews are desperately trying to peel away Jewish voters from Kerry through scare tactics, making hyperbolic claims that Kerry will serve up Israel on a silver platter to the Palestinians.

For the most part, it's not working. Gore carried 79% of the Jewish vote in 2000. Kerry is going to at least equal that.

-MR

[bluestateguy]

3. Kerry's voting record is actually very pro-Israel

And most American Jews realize that the Republican far right doesn't give a damn about them, and is in fact very anti-Semetic. Only a handful of Jews are neo-cons.

[Hand]

4. Tough shit, goy boy...

Guess you thought we were ALL insane NeoCons like your poodle Wolfowitz. BAAAP! WRONG! Chimpy has about as much appeal to Jews as... lemme see... his father?

:grr:

[hatrack]

5. Well Go-----lee!

You mean, American Jews aren't persuaded by the "Get Your Armagedd-On" crowd of rapturist fundie nutbags?

You mean, they don't approve of the plans to slaughter the perfect roan bull on the Temple Mount as the official starting gun for World War III?

You mean, they aren't interested in choosing between Christianity and the Lake Of Fire when the Avenging Jayzus Superconqueror returns from the sky?

Who would have guessed it? :eyes:

[DinahMoeHum]

6. We should get this on Al Franken's "Oy Oy Oy Show" !!

on Air America Radio.

:evilgrin:

[seventhson]

10. send it to him

please

[npincus]

8. the Chosen People choose Kerry!

tee hee

[seventhson]

9. Just ask Jon Stewart!!!!

He'll tell ya

[KharmaTrain]

11. Israel Is Not Sharon...Nor Does AIPAC Represent This Jew

First, I'm an American who is culturally Jewish...I am proud of my religious heritage and the contributions my brothers and sisters have and continue to offer the world in so many creative way.

However, I detest the concept that as a Jew I must view every issue in regareds to how it affects Israel or to give that country a special status when it comes to international law or civil rights. Or that if I speak up against this, I am not a Jew.

It's bad enough there's a growing Jewish Orthodox movement that looks at those who are Reformed, Conservative or Traditional as not as Jews. These people are as bad, if not worse than Christian fundie and have a lot of influence in AIPAC, Likud and in alliances with Christian Fundie groups.

Most Jews I know consider the past 4 years in Israel as some of its worst, and it all began when Sharon grandstanded up the temple mount that started the latest intifada. No, I'm no supporter of Arafat and I'm not going to get into the Israeli/Palestinian debate, but this regime's support of Sharon and the total shitcanning of Clinton's peace plans for the area pissed off many American Jews. A working peace was close in those days and now further away than at any time I can remember.

If anything, this regime has done a lot to hurt Israel in the eyes of many American Jews. It's disdain for civil rights and religious intollerance are prime reasons many Jews I know could never vote for any Repugnican and especially this regime.

[noonwitch]

14. You draw a good parallel between orthodox jewish groups and xtian fundies

The fundies are always saying that you can't be a "real christian" and a liberal at the same time. Some catholics say you can't be a catholic if you are pro-choice, although it appears that the church itself is willing to still take donations from pro-choicers. I guess they have to pay off the victims of their priests somehow.
And now, some jewish groups say that you can't really be a jew if you don't support Sharon in Israel.


As far as fundamentalist christians go-I think that there are two kinds. There are those who were raised that way, and those who have converted. Of the second group, I think that those who have decided that their way is the only way, and all who disagree are damned, are people who have a deep and sad psychological need to have enemies, and to envision the eternal suffering of those enemies to feel better about themselves.

[KharmaTrain]

15. It's The Need To Belong

I've known several friends go over to "the dark side"...Orthodox Judaism...going through the full transformation from what I'll say "normal" to the very strict, regimented life that I can only equate to joining a cult. They truly sell their soul for acceptance and security. These people are ones who've had traumatic episodes in their lives and need to fill massive spiritual and personal holes. If this is how they chose to live and they're happy, so be it.

I draw a big distinction to those who were born into a fundamentalist situation and those who chose to live that way. It's like dealing with a reformed smoker...they feel they need to overcompensate for their earlier sins or bury a past life or create a brand new personna...and the guise of fundamental religion gives them the ideal cover to do so...and to be sanctimonious as well.

One common thread that runs in all these groups are their feeing off ignorance and suffering to keep their flock in tight formation. There are many who want certain answers to unaswerable question (life after death) and this creates that comfort. That's all well and good if it's a personal concept, but when it crosses into public discourse, then I'm one of the first to call it out.

[DuaneBidoux]

12. American Jews look at Bush and his gang and see too much

that reminds them of Germany at a certain period in time...

That is the heart and soul of the entire issue.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

13. Bush voters disappoint this American

I'm sorry but launching unprovoked/agressor wars never sat well with me.

[The Chronicler]

16. Bush's grandfather = funder of Hitler (nm)

[Hand]

17. And Kerry's grandfather=Jewish!

Which is quite cool, and I'm slightly surprised it's received so little attention (for better or worse). His parents were Jewish converts to Catholicism (that's where the name "Kerry" came from) who immigrated to the US... well, not all that long ago.

Kerry's 1/4 Jewish; I really like that!

:hi:

[theboss]

18. This should be such a non-issue

It's one really Pro-Israeli candidate versus another really Pro-Israeli candidate. Israel shouldn't even be discussed.

[bloom]

19. With the US increasing terrorists recruitment (and anger) under Bush*

this is not surprising - even (esp?) for Jews that consider Israel to be a main issue.


And Kerry supports Israel - so - :shrug: