Norman Podhoretz's false accusations of "dual loyalty" - Greenwald

[grassfed]

One of the nation's most Churchillian and courageous warriors, Norman Podhoretz, is now devoting himself to the complaint that most American Jews are liberals rather than neoconservatives. He has a whole new book about this. The argument he's making about why Jews should be neocons rather than liberals is really quite notable. Here he is in the Wall St. Journal today:

Since 1928, the average Jewish vote for the Democrat in presidential elections has been an amazing 75% -- far higher than that of any other ethno-religious group.
Yet there were reasons to think that it would be different in 2008. The main one was Israel. Despite some slippage in concern for Israel among American Jews, most of them were still telling pollsters that their votes would be strongly influenced by the positions of the two candidates on the Jewish state. This being the case, Mr. McCain's long history of sympathy with Israel should have given him a distinct advantage over Mr. Obama, whose own history consisted of associating with outright enemies of the Jewish state like the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and the historian Rashid Khalidi. . . .

In 2008, we were faced with a candidate who ran to an unprecedented degree on the premise that the American system was seriously flawed and in desperate need of radical change—not to mention a record powerfully indicating that he would pursue policies dangerous to the security of Israel. Because of all this, I hoped that my fellow Jews would finally break free of the liberalism to which they have remained in thrall long past the point where it has served either their interests or their ideals.

Apparently, The Godfather of Neoconservatism believes that American Jews do -- and should -- base their political beliefs not on what is best for their own country, but on what is best for a foreign country (Israel). According to him, even though Obama shares most of their views on political matters ("on abortion, gay rights, school prayer, gun control and assisted suicide, the survey data show that Jews are by far the most liberal of any group in America"), American Jews should have nonetheless voted for McCain because of McCain's alleged "long history of sympathy with Israel." Isn't this the "dual loyalty" argument that nobody is allowed to make upon pain of being accused of all sorts of bad things -- that the political beliefs of some American Jews are shaped primarily or even exclusively by loyalty to Israel? Yet here we find not Walt and Mearshimer or Chas Freeman making this claim, but Norman Podhoretz.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/09/11/podhoretz/

[atreides1]

1. When does Norman leave

Any "American" who feels a stronger sense of loyalty to another country should move their asses out as soon as possible!

[Howardx]

2. hypocrisy from an israel supporter?

its a first!

[Sezu]

3. Horseshit from Howard X

NOT a first!

[grassfed]

4. The consequences of Podhoretz's words

http://www.uruknet.info/?s1=55&p=24885&s2=21

[Kurska]

8. Those pictures are not directly related to the article.

Thus you can get in trouble for linking them here.

[Vegasaurus]

5. What a stupid article

American Jews are the most loyal Democratic supporters, with both funding and voting.

This is just a smear tactic.

[Violet_Crumble]

6. The article wasn't stupid. You clearly didn't understand what it was about...

You appear to be confusing the author of the article with the person he's writing about. A pretty stupid mistake to make...

[Alamuti Lotus]

7. The response indicates a cursory glance at best

Though your reply is only accidently relevant to the piece, the "smear tactic" originates with the subject itself, Norman Podhorriblez. From what I can decipher from his awful article, his argument is basically what you say but only turned on its head--"sure Jews are loyal Democratic supporters, liberal whatever yeah sure but vote Republican because Israeli rawkz LOLzzzz". The point is actually that HE is putting forth that smear tactic by quite willingly imitating and advocating the worst aspects of the "dual loyalties" line of reasoning.

And you know what, I gathered that even from merely skimming the original posting and spending about a minute on Podhorrible's piece; what's your excuse? The subject of the piece is stupid (and possibly the commentary that has followed), not the analysis of his stupidity itself.

[LeftishBrit]

9. Podhoretz seems to want to use any excuse to attract Jews to the Right..

And it won't work.

Moreover, right-wing Republican policies are *not* good for Israel. The biggest 'dual loyalty' that people like Podhoretz expect is from Israelis, who, in exchange for temporary support, are expected to serve as pawns in right-wing American games of Empire at best, Armageddon at worst.