Jews Still In Dems’ Camp

[drdon326]

http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=8958&offset=0&B1=1&author=James D. Besser&issuedates=&month=01&day=16&year=2004&issuedate=20030724&keyword=

President George W. Bush will do better among Jewish voters in November than he did in 2000, even though Jews are much less supportive of his Iraq and anti-terror policies than other Americans.

And former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who hopes to be his Democratic opponent, will do better than some Jewish leaders predict.

The statistical portrait came in the yearly American Jewish Committee survey of Jewish public opinion, released this week at the start of what could be a watershed year in Jewish politics.

The 2003 survey also offered a slap at Christian conservatives, who are still seen as major propagators of anti-Semitism, and it pointed to continued Jewish resistance to government funding of religious schools.

There were hints of change, but also of a streak of political stubbornness in the Jewish community: For all the talk of a Jewish shift to the right, the community remains heavily Democratic, strongly liberal and deeply distrustful of some of the most conservative forces in American society.

...................................................................

interesting

[madrchsod]

1. maybe they figure

voting for a bunch of people who want them all to go back "home" so god can smite them dead then Christ will come back,isn`t in their best interest.the republican party has never been friends of the Jewish people.the latest was "george the lesser" having old nazi party members in his election campaign...

[Jack Rabbit]

2. This is what I would expect

I also believe that by November, Jewish support for Bush will be at lower levels than now.

Why should Jewish voters (or anyone else) concerned with Israel's well being be supportive of Bush's policies? He hasn't done anything to resolve the crisis; as long as that is the case, Israeli and Palestinian blood will flow. That is not a desrirable outcome for anybody.

Why should anyone who is really concerned about fighting terrorism support Bush's war on Iraq? The invasion of Iraq had nothing to do with terrorism. There was no connection between Saddam and al Qaida; the Bushies knew this, but continued to use it as a pretext. Saddam gave aid to Palestinian terrorists, but so do other Arab states and wealthy Arabs. Saddam's sins of this nature were probably not as bad as those of the Saudis. Otherwise, at this time last year, Saddam was a paper tiger who was not a threat to his weakest neighbor let alone Israel. The invasion of Iraq didn't prevent one terrorist act in the Levant in the last year.

A good Democratic platform would be one that would advocate a bona fide war on terror. This would be one aimed at putting terrorists out of business, not used as a pretext to force neoliberal restructuring down the throat of an unwilling developing nation. It would also be one that would promote Middle East peace by returning to President Clinton's activist role in bringing conflicting parties together, rather than Bush's hapless rhetoric and no action.

[drdon326]

5. While I mostly agree with you,

I think the issue is fluid.....sadly.

[Ms. Wonderful]

3. This is a surprise?

Wes Clark on Israel:


Let me be clear, Israel is the key U.S. ally in the region and has the right to defend itself - including going after terrorists who threaten Israelis - because violence will not work and must end. What we need now is a shift in momentum - away from violence and toward a safe and secure future.

the Israeli government has a duty to defend its people from the constant onslaught of bombers who attack innocent civilians on buses, in restaurants and on their way from prayer. As a retired general, I firmly believe that this is the least that any society expects of its leadership. We should never question Israel's right to self-defense. Indeed, we must continue to provide Israel with the resources - both financial and diplomatic - to aid its search for peace.

Currently, Israel is building a security fence - not because it wants to, but because terrorism has forced its hand. The fence is not a barrier to the peace process. No country can negotiate if the other side believes it has no alternatives. The fence will help contain the terrorist onslaught. It will warn other parties in the Middle East that they need to start negotiating - now. But it is not a sustainable substitute for peace.

A strong, democratic State of Israel is the key to the future of the Middle East. For 50 years, Israelis stood side by side with Americans in fighting against communism and terrorism. We forged a unique relationship based on common interests and a common dedication to the principles of democracy. In the aftermath of September 11, and with Israelis facing a fresh campaign of suicide bombings, this relationship is more firmly founded then ever before.





Howard Dean on Israel:


Howard Dean is committed to achieving a negotiated, comprehensive, and just peace between Palestinians and Israelis and remains optimistic about the chances for peace. The greatest asset in that effort is that majorities of both Palestinians and Israelis accept a two-state solution which would guarantee security, sovereignty, and dignity.

Recent developments in the region have created a new sense of opportunity. Any steps that lead away from violence and toward peace need to be encouraged and assisted. Continuing this progress will require the full engagement of the United States at the highest level. U.S. disengagement from the process during much of the Bush Administration has been unacceptable. No other country but the United States has the credibility necessary to facilitate negotiations and to mediate between the parties. Yet, in the end, only the Palestinians and the Israelis themselves can make and keep the peace and work out the specifics of a lasting agreement. Peace cannot be imposed by outside parties.

The basic framework for peace between the Israelis and Palestinians is a two state solution -- a Jewish state of Israel living side by side in peace and security with an independent, demilitarized Palestinian state. The best approach to achieving lasting peace is a comprehensive one, providing for fully normalized relations, peace, and security as part of an overall negotiated settlement between Israel and the Arab states.




"And former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who hopes to be his Democratic opponent, will do better than some Jewish leaders predict." Hopefully, for those who actually care for Israel, Dean will not be the nominee.

[Name removed]

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[rockymountaindem]

4. Now is my time to shine...

Well, I guess it's time to say it. I've been avoiding this issue but now is the perfect time.

I am Jewish, and I grew up in Colorado Springs and graduated high school in 2003. Colorado Springs, a town of about 300,000 people, is home to 17 right wing Christian organizations. People there define themselves by which church they attend. Going to a religious service with your girlfriend is considered a date there. There are 300 churches in CS, and until recently only one synagogue (now there are two).

I can't tell you how tired I get of these fundies telling me how great it is that I'm Jewish (I love being Jewish, but that's none of their business). I'm just trying to be a normal guy and they act like I'm the ambassador of the entire Jewish community. Most of my friends had never met a Jew before. One guy once told me I was cool. I asked why. He replied "because you're Jewish". I replied "I'd like to be cool for more reasons than just my religion". He told me "you're one of the chosen people, that's all you need". So, these people claim to know about my religion and yet have no idea of what the concept of the "chosen people" is all about.

What amazes me the most is their ignorance of history. As a lover of history myself, I can't believe they overlook the entire past 2,000 years of bad Jewish-Christian relations.

Furthermore, I know that deep down they have no respect for my faith. They assume that I don't know why they support Israel, but I know. All the Jews have to return to Israel, then the end times will begin resulting in the deaths of 2/3 of the Jews and the rest converting to Christianity. So basically these fundies are only supporting Israel and the Jews as a means to an end to bring about the end of the world and get rid of the Jews.

Let me make one more point. I know people as smart or smarter than me who really believe that the world is only 6,000 years old. A girl I know who got into Princeton and Yale believes that. I know people as smart or smarter than me who believe that we are within 10 years of the end of the world. These people are my best friends. We usually don't talk about these things, but I've known them long enough to have pieced together an accurate picture of their worldview.

Lastly, please don't think that I view all Christians this way. There are actually a few moderate ones in CS who I know who find these fundies as even more disturbing than I do. I do not view all Christians in this light, nor do I think these people represent a majority of the Christian faith. I simply want to give you an insider's view of the religious fringe that some of you who may live in Boston or San Francisco may not have. I mean no offense.

[Name removed]

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[Muddleoftheroad]

8. Perhaps you should run

[Name removed]

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