Jewish Americans Consider Rick Perry
Jewish American voters are getting their knickers in a twist (sorry -- reading too much British news lately) over Governor Rick Perry's conspicuous Christianity. Two items in particular have set off alarm bells -- the prayer rally he led this month and his reference to having been "called" to the presidency.
I confess that the first item did give me pricklings on the back of my neck. I like Perry very much on policy, but if he's going to suggest, through word or deed, that real Americans are only those who invoke Jesus to save the country from its discontents, he and I will quickly part company. I am not saying he has explicitly made any such allegation, but prayer rallies calling on any particular deity to rescue the country contain an implicit threat toward those Americans who aren't members of the club.
This kind of thing has the potential to morph into the dark side of "if you're not with us, you're against us." That may be far from the candidate's intention, but I can understand why Jewish Americans -- and Muslim Americans, and atheists, and everyone else in America who isn't Christian -- might be wondering a little anxiously just where the crowd under that tent will take the Jesus-invoking impulse.
Our own Jennifer Rubin, whom the Jerusalem Post identifies as "a bellwether of Jewish conservatism," put her concerns about the rally thus:
His words at the event were restrained but not ecumenical. And his use of public office to promote the Christian event was, to me, inappropriate. The event, while scheduled last December, is still reflective of the man who would be president. Would he do this in the Oval Office? Does he not understand how many Americans might be offended? Is he lacking advice from a non-Texan perspective?
As to the second point -- Perry's reference to having received a "calling" to the presidency -- come on. If anyone in American politics has ever believed he had a divine calling, it was Barack Obama. No one who swooned at Obama's messianic message during his campaign has any business criticizing Perry for claiming a heavenly inspiration.
Prayer rallies notwithstanding, conservative American Jews are impressed with Perry's record of job creation and heartened by his longstanding warmth toward Israel. During a visit here in 2009, he said, “When I was here for the first time some 18 years ago and I was touring the country, the comparison between Masada and the Alamo was not lost on me. I mean, we're talking about two groups of people who were willing to give up their lives for freedom and liberty."
Jewish Democrats, for their part, couldn't be happier with Perry's cross-waving. The Post cites a statement by the National Jewish Democratic Council in which it “encourag[es]” Perry to run, “given that his record will help repel American Jews and remind them why they support Democrats in historic numbers.”
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Oct '10
Re: Jewish Americans Consider Rick Perry
I don't dispute that people might feel that way, but this does not follow at all logically. Indeed, does it even follow in recent practice? Perhaps "the Jesus-invoking impulse" regularly takes tent-dwellers to mob-violence or sectarian policy-making, but I doubt it. Even the Episcopalians pray weekly for the country and its leaders, and a sorrier excuse for a revolutionary and exclusionary movement would be difficult to find.
Mar '11
Re: Jewish Americans Consider Rick Perry
As an agnostic, I'd be happier if the conservative candidates were less evangelical, but I have to accept that as a fact of life in American politics (I, too, read too much UK news, and still look at the US somewhat as a bemused outsider). It does play straight into 'liberal' stereotypes, though, and brings to mind the hated W.
Having listened to Mr Perry speak a couple of times, it seems to me just the way that he speaks, and I just accept him the way he is - his policies seem to me to be more important, and he is staunchly pro-Israel, as are Mrs Bachmann and - gasp - Mrs Palin.
Well, Norman Podhoretz wrote a whole book about this. I haven't read it, but heard him talk about it, and I still don't understand it. Roger Simon has written a shorter piece which explains it well.
But it still seems strange that Jewish voters would prefer Mr Obama, who attended the Rev Wright's church for 20 years (and apparently slept through the sermons).
Nov '10
Re: Jewish Americans Consider Rick Perry
You feel threatened whenever Christians pray for salvation. Really? Do you think so little of us?
Nov '10
Re: Jewish Americans Consider Rick Perry
If a Christian had written this post in reference to a Jewish prayer gathering, he would be denounced as an antisemite. Is it really acceptable to suggest that any large gathering of Christians is somehow threatening?
Edited on Aug 16, 2011 at 1:40amDec '10
Re: Jewish Americans Consider Rick Perry
Judith - I've been perplexed by possibly the biggest mystery in American politics. I've heard several authors/speakers try to explain it, but I just can't seem to get a handle on it.
Why would Jews feel threatened by their absolutely most ardent and loyal supporters? The evangelical Christians in the US are stalwart in their support for Israel. I won't even compare that support to that of the liberal left since their (the left's) entire aim appears to be "Let's throw Israel under the bus". And yet the Jewish community in the US is one of the most faithful Democratic constituencies.
I understand that politics may make strange bedfellows, but this one just strikes me as irrational. Any thoughts?
Jun '11
Re: Jewish Americans Consider Rick Perry
Judith - Though not an evangelical Christian and I am a Christian, with a wonderful Jewish daughter-in-law and three Jewish grandchildren, I consequently have a vested interest in the Christian and Jewish worlds. I suspect you (and I ) do not have a real reason to worry. - Frank
Edited on Aug 16, 2011 at 5:18amApr '11
Re: Jewish Americans Consider Rick Perry
The Post cites a statement by the National Jewish Democratic Council in which it “encourag[es]” Perry to run, “given that his record will help repel American Jews and remind them why they support Democrats in historic numbers.”
As a Jew, I'd love to hear exactly what they are to be reminded of. Obama's reprehensible treatment of Israel? His bowing to Islamic radicals around the world? White House parties with noted anti-semites like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson?Not to mention the Democratic party's disgraceful shunning of Joe Lieberman over the last several years?
No, the point is to drown out the real issues with an endless loop of nonsense to "remind" Jews (and any other ethnic interest group) that they vote for Democrats because Republicans are dumb and evil.
Oct '10
Re: Jewish Americans Consider Rick Perry
Judith, I realize you are only reporting, but along with David Williamson and The Great Adventure I just cannot understand why American Jews continue to support the Democrat party and the anti-Israel foreign policy of President Obama with such a large majority. I have read Norman Podhoretz and several others on this and I still can’t understand it. Any one who has read Melanie Phillips’ The World Turned Upside Down can understand why the progressive agenda is so vehemently opposed to the existence of the state of Israel. Certainly there are few Republican politicians who have been more pro-Israel than Rick Perry. What is the real problem here, and how can we get American Jewish leaders to reexamine their political position? It seems to me that on many levels they are supporting policy positions which are not in their best inerests.
Apr '11
Re: Jewish Americans Consider Rick Perry
For those raising the age old question, I refer you to Judith's wonderfully insightful (and concise!) post from June on why Jews are Democrats.
And props to Ricochet's search feature for helping me find it in under a minute!
Mar '11
Re: Jewish Americans Consider Rick Perry
Thanks Cutlass, I had forgotten Judith's post. It is very good:
"So until Israel really is under imminent mortal threat, or until an American president goes so far as to send US troops to force Israel's surrender or to sell F-15s to Hamas, the bulk of American Jews will almost certainly remain in the Democratic camp."
I guess we are not quite there, yet...
Oct '10
Re: Jewish Americans Consider Rick Perry
I can understand being somewhat creeped out by a politicians overly public displays of religiousness, I tend to feel the same way. However, referring to someone's belief in Christianity as conspicuous would be, I think, insulting to a lot of evangelicals.
I guess, as a non-evangelical American, I'm steeped in Christian culture and don't find evangelicals scary or threatening. Putting on my muti-culti hat, I would say it's like peaceful Muslims regarding their friendly neighborhood Islamists as harmless.
The difference, I suppose, is that I know enough about the person evangelicals are trying to emulate that it's just hard to get worked up about it, at least until I see something to get worked up about. Being frightened by evangelicals for their beliefs is like being frightened by a cult that worships Superman.
Oct '10
Re: Jewish Americans Consider Rick Perry
Cutlass, thanks very much for the post. As usual, Judith was insightful and informative. It brings me closer to understanding the situation than anything else I’ve read. However, I still have a problem with American Jewish support of the Democrat party. The Democrat party has changed dramatically in the last few decades. Their social policies are not designed to allow the downtrodden to escape their position, but rather to keep the downtrodden in their current position so they will continue to vote Democrat. The contributions of American Jews to America’s success have been so substantial that it is hard to understand that they still don’t feel accepted. The class warfare that characterizes the Democrat left will continue to attack Jews and others simply because they have succeeded. The root of the problems in the Middle East is not Israel, but that the Arabic Muslims have never accepted Israel’s right to exist. Maybe a logical argument won’t work, and we need to make an emotional argument instead in order to win them over.
Mar '11
Re: Jewish Americans Consider Rick Perry
Dammerman: I think you're a bit out over the edge with regard to the antisemitism remark. Judith's point isn't that a bunch of Christians prayed in public and Rick Perry happened to stop by. It's that Rick Perry arranged and led the rally as a sitting governor.
That is walking an extremely fine line. He didn't offer ecumenical prayers to Providence, he used his official position to convene a clearly evangelical Christian event.
I'm not saying that right off the bat that this action is by definition over the line, that's something we can debate. I think Judith has a point.
Historically, there were individual states in the nation's formative years that were openly identified with one faith or another (Maryland, for example). Nevertheless, the effort to disestablish the Church of England in Virginia by some of the Founders, for example, suggests that this history is mixed.
Fine to have the debate, we needn't suggest any anti-faith bias is at the bottom of legitimate concerns over state/religion relations.
May '10
Re: Jewish Americans Consider Rick Perry
Clearly Jewish voters should then vote for that great friend of Israel, Barack Obama. Israel will be much better off with another 4 years of Obama than it would be with Rick Perry.
Better to vote for someone whose church's preaching runs to "G*d D*mn America" and class warfare than some snake-handling Jesus freak.
Oct '10
Re: Jewish Americans Consider Rick Perry
I wonder if Romney would fall far enough into the 'other' camp, contra evangelicals, for Jewish Americans to see him as non-threatening.
Come to think of it, any discussion of the Republican candidate's religion could backfire because it could be seen as hypocritical after the leftist indignation over any mention of Obama's Rev Wright baggage.
Apr '11
Re: Jewish Americans Consider Rick Perry
Regarding Judith' s second point about Divine calling....
"If anyone in American politics has ever believed he had a divine calling, it was Barack Obama."
However this did not stop Jewish Americans from voting for him. Why would Perry's similar call affect them differently?
As an aside - Is this notion specifically Christian?And Do we not have other examples of Presidents feeling "called" to the position? Just curious.
Re: Jewish Americans Consider Rick Perry
Good heavens. Dammerman, that isn't what I said or what I think. Indeed, I think exactly the opposite. Still, I've clearly offended you. I apologize.
To clarify: my point is not that Christian prayer is inherently threatening. My point is that when a man who will shortly announce his candidacy for president leads a prayer rally explicitly to save the United States, he is intermingling religious expression and patriotism in a way that can't help but make those citizens who are not members of his religion feel excluded, and even vaguely fearful that they might be considered unpatriotic for not being members of that religion. (continued in next comment...)
Re: Jewish Americans Consider Rick Perry
(continued...) This particular anxiety goes right to the core of the Jewish American experience. I was going to point you toward the piece I wrote in June, but Cutlass beat me to it (thank you, Cutlass!). Jewish Americans are often deeply conflicted about Israel, so evangelical Christians' staunch support of Israel does not reassure them. Remember that American Jews, for the most part, want to be more American than the Americans. Their deepest fear is an accusation of dual loyalty. A rally that all but announces that real, patriotic Americans are Christians taps a deep vein of Jewish anxiety: a fear that deep down, that's what most Americans believe.
Jun '10
Re: Jewish Americans Consider Rick Perry
The Jewish fear of devout American Christians is unjustified and unsettling. If living in a predominantly christian country that has never had a history or outbreak of violent antisemitism worries you so much, there are other places to go. Gov. Perry has a right to express his religious faith, and to call on Jesus Christ in public if he chooses to, and to believe that he is called to public service because he has prayed about it and been fortified by that prayer in the decision. You can discriminate against him if you'd like to, but it is baseless to charge that it threatens Jews. If American Jews would rather vote for a democrat -- Obama -- who has shown hostility to Jews by his chosen associations and certainly has shown hostility to Israel, over Perry on this basis, then they are fools. Look at the policies and try to control your unfounded emotionalism.
Jun '10
Re: Jewish Americans Consider Rick Perry
The "you" in my last post is not you per se, Judith, but those frightened Jews are referring to in your post. It is only you to the extent of the prickliness you felt on the back of your neck.