Calling Judith Levy!
The Great Adventure! ·
Sep 15, 2011 at 2:48pm
Judith - I know it's only one election (a special one at that) and wrapped up in it is the Wiener scandal, Obama's low ratings, the dismal economy, etc.
But, do you think the results of NY-09 - a resounding victory for the GOP candidate in a heavily Jewish district - portends a slow turning of the worm in the American Jewish vote?
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Mar '11
Re: Calling Judith Levy!
TGA, a large chunk of the Jewish voters in NY-9 consists of Orthodox Jews, who generally vote Republican.
Dec '10
Re: Calling Judith Levy!
Well, from stats I've been seeing this morning, the district is 40% Jewish. The district last elected a Republican in 1922. Anthony Wiener carried the district with 60% of the vote in November, when the Dems were experiencing their historic wipeout nation wide. So I have a hard time lining that up with what you're saying.
Re: Calling Judith Levy!
Ben Smith at Politico reports that 1/3 of the voters in that district are Jewish. And 1/3 of those are Orthodox.
He also suggests that the votes of blue collar Italian/Irish voters were key.
A lot of factors went into this win, but discounting the change in the way Jews voted would probably be a mistake.
Re: Calling Judith Levy!
He also suggests that the votes of blue collar Italian/Irish voters were key.
Sep 14 at 8:11am
To which John Podhoretz replies:
Dec '10
Re: Calling Judith Levy!
Thanx Mollie. There have been several discussions in the Ricoverse around why American Jews always vote democratic when it's the GOP who've always been much more supportive of Israel. I'm just wondering (hoping) if they're finally seeing that.
Mar '11
Re: Calling Judith Levy!
The Great Adventure!
Well, from stats I've been seeing this morning, the district is 40% Jewish. The district last elected a Republican in 1922. Anthony Wiener carried the district with 60% of the vote in November, when the Dems were experiencing their historic wipeout nation wide. So I have a hard time lining that up with what you're saying. · Sep 14 at 8:10am
Should have added: generally vote Republican when they vote. Larger turnout than usual among Brooklyn's Orthodox Jewish community. Many galvanized by Weprin's position on gay marriage.
Jun '10
Re: Calling Judith Levy!
It seems that the gay marriage issue was more important to the voters than support of Israel. And Obama's many failures were linked with Weprin.
Re: Calling Judith Levy!
This constituency is far from representative of the majority of American Jews, and as several commenters have suggested, this vote might have been a message about other issues. We should probably be careful, therefore, not to read too much into it as far as Jewish voting trends are concerned. Still, I can't help but be encouraged.
I was astonished to read this morning that the DNC has set up a Jewish outreach program. That such a thing is necessary speaks volumes about the damage Obama has done to the relationship. Eight out of ten Jews voted for Obama in 2008, but his approval rating among them had dropped to 60% by this summer. This is a rare moment: many American Jews feel duped by the president, and their minds are opening.
It's still difficult to imagine a majority of American Jews voting Republican, but they are in play. DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, she of the delusional "Obama is rock-solid on Israel!" meme, is getting a little anxious, as well she might. This marks an unprecedented chance for the Republicans to craft a message that American Jews will listen to. I hope they're on the case.
Edited on Sep 15, 2011 at 3:00amDec '10
Re: Calling Judith Levy!
I wonder about what I'll call the Sarah Silverman factor, she of the 2008 effort to get young jews to contact their elderly Florida relatives and try to convince them to vote for Obama, as visits might be diminished should they think Nana might be a racist. I genuinely think it had an impact, especially in DW Shulz's district.
I wonder how young jewish voters, or potential voters, are trending. I suspect that, recently out of the government indoctrination programs of our schools, they are torn with the reality of the (non)workplaces they are finding.
What applies in NY 9 (where gay marriage and Israel are perhaps more important) is not necessarily illuminating. What say you, College Feeders?
Re: Calling Judith Levy!
As an (albeit young and naive, with a bad cold right now) Jewish member of the vast right-wing conspiracy, I'd just like to put my two cents in.
My first thought was "absolutely not."
I did some reading up on the 1980 election and Jews, and surprise surprise, although Jimbo only got 45% of votes, the independent got like 15% or something.
Some of my buddies don't even realize that Obama/the left are worse friends of Israel than the right. Of course they're young and naive like myself, but... that's pretty ridiculous!
I don't think that there's a "a slow turning of the worm in the American Jewish vote". There should be- but there isn't.
Any vote against Obama is one I'll except, but, I don't think the majority of Jews are ready to embrace the.... *gasp* Tea Party, or.... *gasp* talk radio, or... *gasp* Fox News. A Jew voting against Obama's Israel policy is great. Woohoo.
But in the grand scheme of things, the only thing that matters right now is if we can get our message out to Americans. American Jews are also Americans.
Feb '11
Re: Calling Judith Levy!
Not "also." "Primarily."
Mar '11
Re: Calling Judith Levy!
I sure hope so. While I live in Israel now, I am American by birth. I have given up entirely on persuading my family in the US to accept this basic fact (that the GOP is much more supportive of Israel, as are evangelical Christians).
For my parents, it seems the Democrat talking points are in their DNA, and the facts be damned. Obama could join Hamas and they would call it a Tea Party conspiracy. Frustrating indeed.
Edited on Sep 16, 2011 at 12:57am