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Young Florida Jews for McCain?
Next week I am going to post copiously about the 2008 Jewish vote as well as convening a conference and press gathering on the subject at Georgetown University. But before heading out to the office to work on that, I want to quickly draw your attention to a recently released Gallup Poll that challenges some conventional wisdom.
Many of us have been laboring under the assumption that young Florida Jews (as cajoled by Sarah Silverman) are inclined to vote for Obama. And many of us have been positing that older Florida Jews (as cajoled by Jackie Mason) are inclined to vote for McCain. For this reason, Ms. Silverman and others have organized a "great schlep" geared at getting Jewish grandparents to vote for the Democrat.
The problem is that aforesaid poll points to precisely the opposite nationwide trend. The results indicate that Jews 55 and older prefer Obama at a rate of 74%, while Jews between the ages of 18-34 prefer him at 67% (In fact, these younger Jews are far more likely to describe themselves as Conservative).
Put differently, Sarah Silverman might have been better advised to schlep out to campus Hillels in Florida, or places where Members of the Tribe like to skateboard, surf and tally scores in competitive J-dating competitions.
And since the over 55s show the strongest support for Obama, Jackie Mason might have gotten more bang for his buck if he directed his appeals not to seniors, but twenty somethings. In the process he could have helped researchers better understand the effects of jokes written in the Pleistocene era on the nation's youth.
This is all quite fascinating, but one proviso is in order: elderly Florida Jews might be something of an exception to the national Jewish rule. Unlike most of their co-religionists of the same age bracket across the nation, the Seed of Abraham in the Sunshine State retains a large proportion of migrants from other American cities.
These would be the same cities in which Black/Jewish tensions on the local level and the political level tended to spiral out of control from the 1960s to 1990s. Such a cohort might, at worst, harbor racist attitudes or, at best, look at African-American politicians with great skepticism.
In any case, the poll should make the Obama folks quite happy (another Quinnipiac Poll shows that he is doing fine among Jews in Florida). All of this suggests that, overall, he has no Jewish problem unless there is a Jewish Bradley Effect (The Brad Levy Effect).
More on Jews, lots more, next week.
By Jacques Berlinerblau |
October 23, 2008; 11:55 PM ET
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Posted by: Josh | October 27, 2008 10:12 AM
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A zionist, young or old, is still a zionist...
Posted by: blackspeak,DC,USA | October 27, 2008 8:19 AM
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Jackie Mason is a repulsive racist who described Mayor Dinkins of New York as a "schvartze with a fancy mustache." So it's fitting that McCain gets support from people like him, no matter what their age.
Posted by: denis arvay | October 27, 2008 7:33 AM
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Jews have traditionally voted Democrat since Roosevelt, even for John Kennedy who, like his father before him, didn't like Jews very much.
In this case "be careful what you wish for".
Posted by: Bob | October 27, 2008 6:13 AM
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When Biden, a Catholic becomes VP, will it put Catholicism in a better light? Or will the anti-abortion stand of the Catholic Church, which Biden does not support as a politician, have the final say and Catholic bashing will remain the same forever more?
Posted by: Anonymous | October 27, 2008 5:22 AM
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Why are enthusiastic Catholic bashers particular not to offend the feelings of Jews and Muslims?
Has it got to do with religion, political correctness or fear of retaliation?
What is it about the Catholic Church and faith of today that makes it a particularly easy target for bashing?
Posted by: Anonymous | October 27, 2008 5:08 AM
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Princeton Pro-Life
Posted by: Anonymous | October 27, 2008 4:02 AM
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Here a subject worthy of study:
How many posts on this ON FAITH blog can be classified as
Anti-Catholic (despite one quarter of the US population being Catholic; if one quarter of the US population were Jews or Muslims, would they put up with it?)
Materialistic (prosperity religion)
Highly politicized and partisan (blatant political campaigns bashing the opposing side)
Heretical (interpretations that rock the fundamentals of a religion)
Posted by: Anonymous | October 27, 2008 2:12 AM
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Here a subject worthy of study:
How many posts on this ON FAITH blog can be classified as
Anti-Catholic (despite one quarter of the US population being Catholic)
Materialistic (prosperity religion)
Highly politicized and partisan (blatant political campaigns bashing the opposing side)
Heretical (interpretations that rock the fundamentals of a religion)
Posted by: Anonymous | October 27, 2008 2:10 AM
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Bin Ladin wants Obama to win. The gays and lesbians. the atheists, the pagans, the abortionists, the ultra liberals, the Russians, the leftist part of Europe, the Islamic extremists, the Wall Steet traders. The Democratic Congress put us into this mortgage mess. The stock market dive was caused by greedy traders who were mostly Democrats. China's rise to super rich status was initiated by Bill Clinton's trade arrangements with it despite its still being a communist state and repression to religion. Not only did it made China more dangerous but also led to massive trade deficits undemining the U.S economy. Good if China is our ally like Japan but it's not.
Even this Afghan and Iraq war was casued by bill Clinton's wrong policy with Afghanistan. Bin Ladin even trained his men to fly planes in the U.S.
What is at stake is a full control of democrats to 3 branches of government.
WITHIN 10 DAYS, DOOM WILL BE IRREVERSIBLE. REMEMBER AMERICA, YOU CHOSED THIS.
Posted by: spiderman2 | October 27, 2008 1:23 AM
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Here a subject worthy of study:
How many posts on this blog can be classified as
Anti-Catholic
Materialistic
Highly politicized and partisan
Heretical
Posted by: Anonymous | October 27, 2008 1:13 AM
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When Senator Obama claims to the effect, as he did in his talk at Planned Parenthood, that in the matter of abortion as a right, he will not BUDGE, and Planned Parenthood will not BUDGE, and he does not want the issue to be put up for a public referendum, there is a serious issue: Is Planned Parenthood and the President alone the last word on the law? Would slavery, enshrined into the constitution, have been an issue that was not up for public referendum or scrutiny by those who were fighting to overturn the constitutional right?
Posted by: Anonymous | October 27, 2008 12:51 AM
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Who are the young Catholics voting for? The young Protestants?
Posted by: Farnaz | October 27, 2008 12:13 AM
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When a politician changes his mind in the lead up to an election there are two ways of interpreting it: best case scenario - he is truly dedicated to truth and is changing his mind based on latest information made available; worst case scenario - he is simply saying what voters want to hear even if he doesn't feel one way or the other about it or continues to hold the earlier position but is willing to say what it takes to get more votes.
West European style socialist democracy is a good thing. So there is no need to be terrified. The rich in Western Europe get to pay a little extra tax; they are not hurt by it. The poor get to have their basic needs met, instead of existing for the rich to get richer while struggling to make their ends meet because of poor wages or whatever.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 26, 2008 11:28 PM
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When Senator Obama claims to the effect, as he did in his talk at Planned Parenthood, that in the matter of abortion as a right, he will not judge, and Planned Parenthood will not judge, and he does not want the issue to be put up for a public referendum, there is a serious issue: Is Planned Parenthood and the President alone the last word on the law? Would slavery, enshrined into the constitution, have been an issue that was not up for public referendum or scrutiny by those who were fighting to overturn the constitutional right?
Posted by: Anonymous | October 26, 2008 11:17 PM
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So if Senator Obama were acting as a Harvard trained lawyer for Planned Parenthood, he would read the Constitution as it suits Planned Parenthood, rather than the unborn child in the womb.
If the Christian church Senator Obama attended for twenty years teaches that abortion is a woman's right, then we have double whammy. Senator Obama would be a supporter of abortion as a right from religious conviction.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 26, 2008 11:12 PM
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It is possible to be pro-life and support Senator Obama. But there is no need to go gaga about his personality and treat him like a demigod and assume because he is a good politician he is perfect and his stand on abortion as a right is the highest moral ground. Lawyers are not judges. Lawyers are used to debating both sides of the issue. Lawyers defend criminals as much as they defend the innocent. A lawyer need not take a moral stand. That is the nature of the profession.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 26, 2008 11:07 PM
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Anyone who thinks that President George Bush enthusiastically supported "Abstinence-only" education because he is a religious nut, must know that an article in a *world class medical journal* suggested that providing contraceptives generously while telling the young to abstain from sex is not going to work.
If there is no message out there telling the young that abortion is taking the life of an innocent third party, there is no way they are going to be motivated to use contraceptives to prevent pregnancy. Abortion is not only being touted as not wrong, but as the constitutional right of a woman.
Do not expect any great fall in the level of abortions as long as abortion remains a right and freely available.
A president, adored by the public, who passionately supports abortion as a right is going to anchor that false message even deeper. Christian churches and religious groups who campaign in favor of abortion as a right, have some explaining to do - to science.
Hard core medical science has proven beyond a shadow of doubt that the humble, tiny, one celled zygote is in fact the beginning of every human being. It contains enough nutrition to sustain division for the first three days, after which it is nourished by the secretions in the mother's uterus. On day six the group of cells (which all along remained a separate entity), now called the blastocyst, begins to burrow into the wall of the mother's uterus which had been preparing itself to receive the child and nourish it. The process of burrowing (implantation) begun on day six is completed by the end of the second week. It is the hormones produced by the growing child embedded in its mother's womb that gives a positive pregnancy test. The humble, single celled zygote is already two weeks old even before the woman suspects pregnancy.
The happy compromise for reduction in abortion in the age of sexual permissiveness is comprehensive sex education (STD is rampant), free availability of contraceptives, help for women to carry children to term, quicker and easily available adoption, foster homes, orphanages; tougher laws which restricts easy access to abortion as a late term contraception - parental consent, detailed information on fetal development, mandatory counseling both psychological and social, waiting periods of three days to one week (adopted by other countries)...
Since women in committed relationships are less likely to abort their children, sex within committed relationships serves as a direct method to reduce abortions.
Abortion freely available as a right has a negative impact.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 26, 2008 11:03 PM
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I highly doubt that any but ultra orthodox young Jews(who do as the Rebbe says) are for McCain. Certainly none of the young Jews I know are for him.
I see this discussion also draws some serious anti-semites. No need to guess that they are McCain/Palin supporters. Every Jew knows when someone says "real Americans"- who that includes and who that excludes. I would imagine a number of Jews who were supporting McCain/Palin changed after that remark.
Posted by: Andrea | October 26, 2008 10:46 PM
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I'm an Orthodox Jew for Senator Obama, and, yes, a member of a small minority in the ultra-Orthodox community who supports him. I wasn't at first, but I followed him closely and listened to the 2nd and 3rd debates on the radio (the first was on a Friday night, the Jewish Sabbath.) I saw that he is a very intelligent guy, does his homework, isn't afraid to call the ball where it lies, never started throwing ad hominem insults (McC. started that each time), and showed NO signs of being anti-Semitic. He also seems unafraid to change his mind when he realizes he was ill-informed or just plain wrong.
How can you do better than that?
Yours from Bob Morris
Posted by: Bob Morris | October 26, 2008 10:14 PM
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Isn't it true that in Germany in the 1930"s, many liberal artsy Jewish folks supported Hitler....and of course they were the first to leave because they also had the funds. Leaving the smucks behind to face the problems caused by their foolishness. I assume with the situation in America today, many of the same Jews (related) with the same foolish voting patterns, are for Obama.
A Young Jewish Conservative....
Posted by: Woodstock1969 | October 26, 2008 9:30 PM
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Abortion for "hard cases" like rape, incest, illness in mother, fetal deformities, makes up only TWO PERCENT of abortions. If legal abortion covers the hard cases, it stands to really reduce abortions without any negative consequences for the woman. Abortion as a right is a different story. Why should any woman be motivated to give up her right to abort her child out of convenience? How could a right be morally wrong?
Posted by: Anonymous | October 26, 2008 9:03 PM
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The last sentence is all that matters - with all the GOP attempts to paint Barack as a "scary" or "dangerous" choice for Jewish voters, it isn't working. Jews (like me) are going Obama overwhelmingly like we always go Democrat and for that I'm proud. 100% unity just isn't possible, you can't convine everyone.
Posted by: Jeff | October 26, 2008 8:58 PM
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Anyone who thinks that President George Bush enthusiastically supported "Abstinence-only" education because he is a religious nut, must know that an article in a *world class medical journal* suggested that providing contraceptives generously while telling the young to abstain from sex is not going to work.
If there is no message out there telling the young that abortion is taking the life of an innocent third party, there is no way they are going to be motivated to use contraceptives to prevent pregnancy. Abortion is not only being touted as not wrong, but as the constitutional right of a woman.
Do not expect any great fall in the level of abortions as long as abortion remains a right and freely available.
A president, adored by the public, who passionately supports abortion as a right is going to anchor that false message even deeper. Christian churches and religious groups who campaign in favor of abortion as a right, have some explaining to do - to science.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 26, 2008 8:42 PM
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Mary Miserable:
In an article "The Prison of Sexual LIberation" by J. M Cameron, which appeared in The New York Review of Books many years ago, he wrote" "In the Biblical tradition there are three things a man may not do, even to save the city or his own life: he must not worship false gods, he must not spill innocent blood, he must not commit any of the sexual sins forbiddn by the Law."
This has been of special significance for me as an older Episcopalian woman shaped by the 1928 Book of Common Prayer because the modern Episcopal Church has flaunted all three by its legitimizing homosexuality, publicly lobbying for abortion-on-demand, and permitting to stand unchallenged Bishop John Shelby Spong's "Theses," which would sweep away all the traditional teachings under which I was formed in the Church.
In his address to Planned Parenthood Senator Obama makes clear his commitment to abortion-on-demand without restraint or compromise, discarding as an "ancient notion" women's place in the home or under the constitution. However, he did not mention the place of women in the wider community where we should all have a voice, as well.
It is important to stress the symbolic role of National Cathedral in this election season, for if there is a President Obama, a pro-choice majority in Congress and an accommodating "church for the nation," the Biblical traditions we Jews and Christians have shared will have to go into exile.
October 25, 2008 1:26 PM
__________________________________________
According to stats, 88% of abortions are done by UNmarried women, the vast majority of them BELOW the age of 24.
There is a powerful message out there for anyone who cares to look. The number of abortions rose exponentially after Roe vs Wade in spite of availability of contraceptives. So what is the missing link? The sexual revolution.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 26, 2008 8:29 PM
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Irischermann, thank you for taking the time to read my earlier post.
The reason I referred to National Cathedral in relationship to the anticipated Democratic sweep is because it is an Episcopal Cathedral. As is written in its website, "When a Cathedral is located in a Capitol, it can and should be made a strong spiritual influence both for the city and for the nation." I'm sure Mr. Berlinerblau is familiar with National Cathedral and would vouch for its symbolic role in Washington, if not recognized elsewhere.
However, the Episcopal Church has changed over the years since I was formed by it - and John McCain and Colin Powell as well. Although in recent years its consecration of a gay bishop received widespread media attention, under the radar screen is its public lobbying for abortion-on-demand and "assisted suicide," removing those “llife” issues from the conscience of its members.
If you haven't seen it, there is on YouTube Senator Obama's address to Planned Parenthood in which he makes a firm commitment to Roe vs. Wade without restrictions or compromise. I must admit I've been quite amazed by the passion of his address in contrast to the coolness many in the media have admired in his debate performances. Given the fact that current rates of abortion are much higher in the Black and Hispanic than in white communities, such a commitment coming from the McCain campaign would be thought racist., and in my opinion is just as true for Mr. Obama.
But getting back to the anticipation of a Democratic sweep and an accommodating national church, it may be difficult for a President Obama to rally the conscience of the nation from the lectern of National Cathedral. How ironic is that?
Posted by: Anonymous | October 26, 2008 5:34 PM
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Excuse me. Do I see a little racism in the posts here? I just reread the essay twice. Israel isn't mentioned. The racism here is appalling.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 26, 2008 4:34 PM
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Do have to wonder, though. AmerIndians are dying like flies here, earn 6,000 per annum. You Christians, with your oil loving ways, and your born-again Poulson with his billions in derivatives, when will you have enough lebensraum?
Posted by: Farnaz | October 26, 2008 4:31 PM
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Jews are not Christians or Catholics. You may vote for more blood and oil, more killing, etc., your manifest destiny.
Don't confuse us with you. Not ever.
Posted by: Farnaz | October 26, 2008 4:26 PM
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Still wondering about the young Catholics and Protestants, since it's the Cs and Ps who, as the majority, will determine who wins the election.
Don't know what Israel has to do with any of this, except that maybe C's and P's plan to vote for following their manifest destiny by further destroying Iraq and Afghanistan. Led by the born again pres. they elected, the born once VP, the Christian/Catholic Congress, look where we are.
Yup, we need to hear much more about the Christians and the Catholics slouching like sphinxes to be born.
Posted by: Farnaz | October 26, 2008 4:25 PM
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I think some of the recipients here need to stick to the subject at hand regarding Jewish generational support for the Democrats or Republicans. Yes I know Israel is an extremely important subject for some Jews. I would recommend being true to their Zionist leanings and making aliyah instead of being angry backseat drivers.
Posted by: Shai | October 26, 2008 3:24 PM
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Who cares? The Jewish vote (as opposed to AIPAC political activities) seems unimportant compared to the hispanic vote, the black vote, the protestant vote, or the catholic vote.
I only wish both candidates were felt freer to criticize the policies of Israel. Olmert had it right when he said its time to admit the current policies, which Jimmy Carter accurately called apartheid, don't work. The world (outside of the US) won't let Israel drive out the Palestinians and subjugation will never bring lasting peace.
Posted by: maier | October 26, 2008 3:21 PM
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WORLD_GUARDIAN,
Perhas this will clear up some of your misguided beliefs:
This female suicide bomber was getting free treatment in Israel and still planned to murder those who aided her:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okU0ZaSO6L8
Palestinian Woman Throws Acid On Soldier At Hawara Checkpoint
Nablus woman trying to cross into Israel hurls acidic substance at soldier's face, escapes. Soldier taken to hospital in mild condition
(09.10.08)
An Israel Defense Forces soldier stationed at the Hawara checkpoint, south of the West Bank city of Nablus, sustained mild facial injuries on Wednesday, after a Palestinian woman poured an acidic substance in his face.
The soldier was taken to the Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva for treatment.
The woman arrived at the Hawara checkpoint and attempted to cross into Israel using the humanitarian aid lane, which is meant for emergencies and therefore has no security checks. Upon approaching the soldier manning the lane, she threw the acid at his face and then ran back towards Nablus.
IDF forces are exercise lenience in all checkpoints, as part of the military's efforts to ease the Palestinian population's suffering during the month of Ramadan. Military sources said Wednesday that is was unfortunate that the Palestinians were making cynical use of the IDF's attempts to relieve the situation.
Hawara checkpoint has been the scene of many arrests in which Palestinians were apprehended trying to smuggle weapons and explosives into Israel.
The past two months have seen a 16-year-old boy arrested with two pipe bombs and a knife, and an 18-year old Palestinian arrested after a search of his person yielded six pipe bombs, a rifle magazine and gun powder.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3594697,00.html
Exploiting Israel’s Humanitarian Policies For Terror Activities
They don't seem to need doctors so badly.
Posted by: Yishai Kohen | October 26, 2008 1:03 PM
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As the younger Jewish population assimilates, they reflect typical upper middle class generic white voters which can be either Democrat, Republican or Independent. It should be noted however that Sarah Palin's rallies scare the bejezus out of all Jews. The mob mentality is vaguely reminiscent of a fascist past. Palin as mayor considered banning books. Heine would have had a comment for that notion. The younger Jews may seem impervious to some of the residual shtetl fears harbored by an older generation. Birthright trips and films remind college age Jews that they are vulnerable....true or not. I see it in the university where I work. Many of the Jewish students support Obama essentially because they are Democrats and fearful of the Palin effect.
Posted by: Shai | October 26, 2008 12:38 PM
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One of the biggest mistakes Jews have made is to switch from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party (the same party that did business with, and in many cases sympathized with the Nazis).
The reason is simple: The Republicans, sensing an opportunity to exploit American Jews, did so by enacting a doctrine of "Israel can do no wrong" and "We support anything Israel does, no questions asked."
This is a hardline approach, and is the wrong approach.
The Democrats never have and never will abandon Israel. Democrats will never side with Iran and other countries in the hatred toward Israel.
Democrats would, of course, authorize the U.S. military to defend Israel.
The Republicans have fooled many American Jews into thinking that the Democrats are anti-semitic, and it's a foolish move to believe the Republicans.
A two-state solution makes sense for everyone.
Even better than a "separate but equal" situation would be an all-inclusive, non religious state of Israel. Change the flag and make it a nation for anyone of any religion, with equality for all.
Posted by: Mike of Atlanta | October 26, 2008 12:36 PM
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The poll shows that American Jews are by and large not as stupid as some of their Zealots Israeli Settler "Brethren".
Many of us are ashamed to read in the Jerusalem Post that 120 International Physicians were barred by the IDF from entering Gaza to participate in a Mental Health Conference.
JPOST reports:
"Some 120 physicians, academics and health professionals from the US, Canada and Europe who have arrived to attend an international conference on mental health in Gaza on Monday and Tuesday are protesting an IDF refusal to let them enter the Strip through the Erez crossing.
Some of the organizers and delegates to the Gaza Community Mental Health Program's fifth International Conference, to be held in cooperation with the World Health Organization on "Siege and Mental Health, Walls vs Bridges," will hold a press conference in an east Jerusalem hotel Sunday morning to voice their outrage.
"We protest this last-minute decision by the Israeli authorities and regard it as a deliberate attempt to stop professional communication and exchange between the international medical community and Gaza medical professionals," they said, in an invitation to the press conference.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017624178&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Posted by: WORLD_GUARDIAN | October 26, 2008 11:54 AM
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This certainly dispels the long held belief that all Jews are smart. Considering how liberal Jews are as a whole, perhaps this is just the kids' way of rebelling?
Posted by: daweeni | October 26, 2008 11:49 AM
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Amazing. Even after his close relationships with Israel-hating creeps like Wright and Farrakhan, Jews are still voting for "The One"? They are either self-haters or on a suicide mission.
Posted by: PJ | October 26, 2008 11:00 AM
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I think the older jewish voter remembers the "knife in the back" campaign that brought Hitler to power and is appalled by how closely the McCain campaign resembles it.
Posted by: jreed11665 | October 26, 2008 10:58 AM
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The Jewish organizations that target younger Jews --both religious, including Aish haTorah and Chabad, and "pro-Israel," like the Israel Project, the David Project--are allied with the most reactionary elements of Israeli society and their American cohorts. Aish haTorah, which helped produce the DVD "Obsession" and credits its Hasbarah Fellowships for the thousands of presentations of on college campuses. The video about Muslim extremists which is being used to support the Republican smear campaign against Obama as being a secret Muslim in league with Islamic terrorists. The Chabad movement has made no secret of its open support for the Republican agenda of the past 8 years and is completely supportive of the McCain-Palin campaign. Look at the list of speakers that the Israel Project, Caravan for Democracy, and other college organizations, brought to the US over the past 8 years--many of them were closely linked to the Benjamin Netanyahu-led Likud party, which has been completely "in the tank" with Jewish Republican neocons (and vice versa). AIPAC and the Republican Jewish Coalition offer Jewish students internships that subject them a brainwashing of a "pro-Israel" agenda that focuses almost exclusively on US policy towards Iran, according to which any move towards improving US-Iranian relations is de facto advocacy of Israel's destruction.
In the face of this onslaught of purportedly "pro-Israel" (and anti-Obama) propaganda, I am quite amazed that the number of young Jews supporting Obama has remained as high as it is. It is a tribute to our young Jews that so many of them have been taught and have retained both the values and the critical thinking skills to understand that being "pro-Israel" as not limited to embracing a single party line that is knee-jerk hawkish, Likudnik, neo-con, Iran-bombing and Republican.
Posted by: Profco | October 26, 2008 10:07 AM
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Mary Miserable,
You wrote:
"It is important to stress the symbolic role of National Cathedral in this election season, for if there is a President Obama, a pro-choice majority in Congress and an accommodating "church for the nation," the Biblical traditions we Jews and Christians have shared will have to go into exile."
This is rather extremist to say. Simply because Obama is a Democrat, or a Liberal, or simply because he doesn't endorse EVERY Judeo-Chrisitian principle, doesn't automatically mean he's the Anti-Christ or that he's going to abolish Biblical tradition for Christians and Jews in this country.
I understand how you and others place a great deal of value on tradition and life itself. I submit to you that McCain is NOT the answer you're looking for in this regard. If you truly believe life is sacred and abortions are sinful, then I sincerely hope you do NOT support war. Murder is murder, whether it be by a doctor's hands or a soldier's. McCain is a clear and adamant supporter of war, even before diplomacy, and supporting him would be an obvious contradiction of your part. Too many hypocrites spewing their duplicitous sanctimony about valuing life, opposing abortion but supporting war already fill the ranks of the Republican party. Please don't become another one.
I'm a Christian and I also believe upholding principled traditions is important. There are several principled traditions in this Christian-influenced secular nation that I believe supersede Jewish/Christian ones: Democracy, Justice, Liberty and Freedom. These are the principled traditions allow Christians and Jews to believe and practice their own traditions instead of just one set from one religion or even none at all. Truth be told, the national religion of this country is Religious Liberty.
Posted by: Irischermann | October 26, 2008 9:06 AM
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Glad to hear that my fellow Jews are now coming around to Obama. If not all the young ones are in line yet, I'll have to give em a swift kick in the tuckus to vote for the man who will bring back our high standing in the world and will heal our ills at home!
There shouldn't be a Bradley effect among whites. They can vote for Obama's white half; blacks can vote for his black half. And Asians should like his half-Asian sister and his origination in Hawaii's true melting pot. Everybody's got something to be happy about - he is one of Michener's "golden men" filled with the aloha spirit of Hawaii. I have faith he will do good for all people, including Jews and Israel.
Posted by: spatula | October 26, 2008 8:43 AM
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John,
That's a lie. This is why even according to the United nations, the definition of a "Palestinian refugee" is one who lived here for just TWO years.
They chose war. They chose their own misery- time and again:
The Philistines would have had a state IN PEACE in 1937 with the Peel Plan, but they violently rejected it.
They would have had a state IN PEACE in 1939 with the MacDonald White Paper, but they violently rejected it (and Jews would have even been restricted from BUYING land from Arabs).
They would have had a state IN PEACE in 1948 with UN 181, but they violently rejected it (and actually claimed that the UN had no such mandate!).
They could have had a state IN PEACE in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza from 1948-1967 without any Jews- because the Arabs had ethnically cleansed every last one; but they violently rejected it. In fact, that's exactly when they established Fatah (1959) and the PLO (1964).
They could have had a state IN PEACE after 1967, but instead, the entire Arab world issued the Khartoum Resolutions:
A. No peace with Israel
B. No recognition of Israel
C. No negotiations with Israel
They would have had a state IN PEACE in 2000 with the Oslo Accords, but they violently rejected it- as always.
The Arabs will just have to learn to "make do" with their own 99.9% of the Middle East- including all of the oil, and stop trying to steal OUR tiny 1/10th of 1% without oil. The Philistines won't have a state here in Israel, and if they don't stop their violence, they won't even exist here anymore. They will have to go to their own land- elsewhere.
Posted by: Yishai Kohen | October 26, 2008 8:42 AM
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"If you want to talk Lebensraum, that's clearly the Arabs. Israel is 1/10th of 1% of the Middle east and not looking for any more. The Arabs can't "make do" with the 99.9% that they presently occupy."
The people who lived in that .1% for generations, whose homes, property and livelihoods were stolen by military force, and who cannot return to their property, do not see it that way. In fact, nobody does, except for the noisy minority that have a screw loose when it comes to Israel.
Posted by: John | October 26, 2008 8:22 AM
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So long it's been good to know you...Israel
Posted by: CALIFORNIAMARTY | October 26, 2008 5:50 AM
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goldhatresearch,
1. As the polls clearly show, that isn't the case.
2. Are you saying that Obama is better for Israel than McCain?
3. Are you saying that this is why American Jews will be voting for him?
4. If you want to talk Lebensraum, that's clearly the Arabs. Israel is 1/10th of 1% of the Middle east and not looking for any more. The Arabs can't "make do" with the 99.9% that they presently occupy.
5. There's no such thing as "Palestine". There could have been but #4 killed that.
6. The Jewish vote never mattered anyway. Jews are a small percentage of the American population.
7. Yes, we are YOUR master- because you are a pathetic loser, but we are obviously not the American people's masters.
Posted by: Yishai Kohen | October 26, 2008 5:47 AM
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For jews, it is always Israel first. No matter what jews will never vote for anyone who may interfere with the lebensraum in Palestine. Fortunately, the world sees thru it and the jewish vote really does not matter any more. An underlying strength of Obama is its ability to stand up to our jewish masters.
Posted by: goldhatresearch | October 26, 2008 5:19 AM
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I live in an orthodox Jewish community in New Jersey. I am part of a very small minority that will vote for Obama. He is talked about as though he were a stand in for Hitler. My friends in New York have had their Rabbi's advise them to vote for McCain, because Obama will precipitate the end of the world. It's just that extreme.
He is still considered anti-Israel in orthodox circles. My advise to him would be to say that he is going to pardon Jonathan Pollard and every orthodox vote will flip to him. He doesn't need those votes, but I sure would like to not have to fight with all my friends about this election.
Posted by: Sora Ehrlich | October 26, 2008 4:57 AM
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What this shows is that while the older generation of American Jews is solidly ideologically liberal, the younger generation is much more in line with other Americans.
One might assume that the corollary of this is that as time passes, they will be even more in line with other Americans in their political attitudes. I think that that's a healthy thing- for everyone.
Posted by: Yishai Kohen | October 26, 2008 4:31 AM
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It is way past time for people who belong to the Jewish religion to start seperating their religion from politics. Don't they realise that putting themselves in a special basket from the rest of the human race they are behaving like the Nazis?
It is also way, way past time that this insidious group lost their all-powerful influence on US politics. Israel gets billions in US tax dollars and continues to committ war crimes and groos human rights abuses.
I don't give a fig whether a person is Hindu, Jewish, Muslim; what matters is how they treat their fellow creatures on this earth...and the occupying Israelis are cruel and inhumane.
Posted by: Pathina | October 26, 2008 2:12 AM
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Sarah Palin's connection to "Jews for Jesus" and McCain's serving on the board of an organization that was connected to Nazis should dissuade every Jew.
Posted by: War Eagle | October 26, 2008 1:00 AM
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And what about 34 - 54 year-olds? This is such
fluffy writing, in its "facts" and theories, and
so silly in its effort to use hip pseudo-insider
Jewish slang (does anyone really talk this way?)
that one wonders why the Post continues to
present it as meaningful and lead readers to
expect it might be. Press conference to come?! Oh, my...
Posted by: esthermiriam | October 25, 2008 10:18 PM
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And what about 34 - 54 year-olds? This is such
fluffy writing, in its "facts" and theories, and
so silly in its effort to use hip pseudo-insider
Jewish slang (does anyone really talk this way?)
that one wonders why the Post continues to
present it as meaningful and lead readers to
expect it might be. Press conference to come?! Oh, my...
Posted by: esthermiriam | October 25, 2008 10:17 PM
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The Democrats are the cause of this world financial meltdown. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081020/ap_on_bi_ge/the_influence_game_housing
The whole world, not only America, would be scratching their heads as America rides smoothly on a seemingly well paved highway until it crosses a broken bridge the Dems built earlier.
This mortgage mess are just one of the bridges they built.
BE AMAZED AND BE READY TO SCRATCH YOUR HEADS coz the THREE STOOGES HAS ARRIVED.
It is the time when the Dems will be in charge of the 3 branches of government -executive, legislative and judiciary.
The good part is there will be few babies crying coz they were sucked out even before they can develop.
The bad part is, most people would be scratching their heads bald.
Posted by: spiderman2 | October 25, 2008 7:07 PM
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In an article "The Prison of Sexual LIberation" by J. M Cameron, which appeared in The New York Review of Books many years ago, he wrote" "In the Biblical tradition there are three things a man may not do, even to save the city or his own life: he must not worship false gods, he must not spill innocent blood, he must not commit any of the sexual sins forbiddn by the Law."
This has been of special significance for me as an older Episcopalian woman shaped by the 1928 Book of Common Prayer because the modern Episcopal Church has flaunted all three by its legitimizing homosexuality, publicly lobbying for abortion-on-demand, and permitting to stand unchallenged Bishop John Shelby Spong's "Theses," which would sweep away all the traditional teachings under which I was formed in the Church.
In his address to Planned Parenthood Senator Obama makes clear his commitment to abortion-on-demand without restraint or compromise, discarding as an "ancient notion" women's place in the home or under the constitution. However, he did not mention the place of women in the wider community where we should all have a voice, as well.
It is important to stress the symbolic role of National Cathedral in this election season, for if there is a President Obama, a pro-choice majority in Congress and an accommodating "church for the nation," the Biblical traditions we Jews and Christians have shared will have to go into exile.
Posted by: Mary Miserable | October 25, 2008 1:26 PM
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jews are the scholars of christianity ,lest you forget that paul was a jew the author of son of god mythology.
what is the difference between the old delusionism of greco-romanism and the old testament and the young testament?
if the americans people are left only to chose between secularism and conservatism (juchristianity )then at least let the american people study and know their back ground that is not only traced to the *founding father renaissance* but all the way to juchristianity.
obama and macain are the contented gemeni who they suckled on one uno ana 1 moma .
Posted by: palm beach | October 25, 2008 8:26 AM
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Mr. Berlinerblau, as a 56 year old Jewish woman, your comments offend me. This country has come a long way, thankfully, in ten years, much less thirty. Why drum up the past. It's dead and gone. And good riddance.
Barack Obama is a wonderful man. A mentshe. He has a wonderful wife and children, also.
I truly believe Barack Obama will heal this country and the world from the damage and destruction of this current repulsive administration. I am one of the ones who gets giddy at the prospect of an Obama administration. And for your information, so does my husband and son.
Posted by: Zel | October 25, 2008 3:03 AM
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Religion
Florida is mostly Protestant, but Roman Catholicism is the single largest denomination in the state. There is also a sizable Jewish community, located mainly in South Florida; no other Southern state has such a large Jewish population. Florida's current religious affiliations are shown in the table below:[50]
Roman Catholic, 26%
Protestant, 40%
Baptist, 9%
Methodist, 6%
Pentecostal, 3%
Jewish, 3%
Muslim, 1%
other religions, 2%
non-religious, 16%
So why is the Jewish vote in Florida so important???
Posted by: Concerned The Christian Now Liberated | October 24, 2008 11:40 PM
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Reposting from previous thread ---
Sam:
If you want to look at secularism, I think you should take a deep look at India, where a unique flavor of it does exist and has managed to survive against several forces. Secularism is an ideal all educated people who live there defend and accept is fundamental to the long term coexistance of that nation's future. Its far from perfect, but it has allowed a Sikh to rise to the highest office and a muslim to become President. Most people are actually conservative in their outlook and values, but still consider secularism as a fundamental principle. The beauty of secularism is freedom and choice. You can chose to follow your faith or none at all and no one will interfere between you and your God as long as you are as respectful of others as others are to you.
October 23, 2008 5:21 PM
__________________________________________
What does American media have to say about this?
Posted by: Unable to post | October 24, 2008 11:02 PM
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If the survey is accurate it just means that the younger Jews are learning. The Bible says that the future Jews will believe in Christ and that the thorn between their enemies and themselves will be gone.
The younger Jews are showing the right way towards their bright future. The older Jews should awaken.
Posted by: spiderman2 | October 24, 2008 6:37 PM
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Maybe we're just seeing the after effects of Sarah Silverman's 'Great Schlep'. It must have worked...
Posted by: Jim Farley | October 24, 2008 2:55 PM
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That proves that young jews are radical extremimsits.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 24, 2008 11:50 AM
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John McCain is getting 29 percent of a certain constituency's vote, and this is a strength? Yes, compared to the overwhelming support among old Jews there's a relative weakness. But this is grasping at straws. It's like saying a football team lost the first half by 35 points and the second half by 31, and then making conclusions based on the trend.
Regardless, young Jews -- by and large -- live in the larger cities and their suburbs on the East Coast, areas that are hardly contested in national elections. (Pennsylvania isn't looking like a swing state these days, regardless of the GOP's hopes.)
Older Jews retire to Florida and Arizona, which are swing states. McCain picked a gun-loving rural governor who doesn't believe in evolution. And this was going to appeal to retirees from Morristown who voted twice for Stevenson?
Posted by: Josh | October 24, 2008 11:39 AM
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How about young Catholics, young Protestants for McCain? What are the percentages?
Posted by: Janet | October 24, 2008 11:34 AM
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what you said about younger jews....that is not what the poll shows
it has younger jews (18-34)at
67 Ob
29 Mc
what are you talking about? is there some smaller cohort for FL?
I dont see it in the survey, unless you have access to cross tabs for FL.
Posted by: peterboy | October 24, 2008 11:16 AM
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The comments to this entry are closed.
This truly is a productive path you've led us down, Professor Berlinerblau. Thanks. Based on a statistically insignificant difference between younger Jews and older Jews, you wrote a piece suggested something is afoot in Florida. It was nonsense, and now you've given a platform to (let's see) anti-Semites, anti-Zionists, and people who just hate Obama generally.
And while I can't blame you, directly, for any of that, you've got people talking in anecdotes that don't match the poll data -- and for THAT, I do blame you. It was your entire thesis.
Can't tell you just how much I'm looking forward to your other many thoughts about Jewish voters, seeing as you know us so well and are so capable of reading statistical data.