Home
In this issue
June 17, 2013

Rabbi Simcha Weinstein: Black to the Future: American Apparel Gets Biblical

Patrik Jonsson: Minnesota Nazi: How did Nazi hunters miss Michael Karkoc?

Kate Irby, Ali Watkins, Trevor Graff and Kevin Thibodeaux: All the ways you're being watched
Don Lee: G-8 meeting will test NSA leaks' effect on U.S. influence

Patrik Jonsson: Fort Hood shooting: Judge nixes Nidal Hasan defense strategy. What now?

Stacey Burling: Why the stigma for migraine sufferers?

The Kosher Gourmet by Lisa Abraham: Does it work? 5 new kitchen gadgets put to the test

June 14, 2013

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: A spiritual budget: Religious economics and being a ruler

John P. Martin: Hitler insider's missing diary found

Matt Pearce: NSA surveillance disclosure could affect court cases
Peter Tinti: US bounties changes strategy on (Wild, Wild) West African jihadis

Daniel Pendrick, M.D.: Memory loss? Old age may be the least of it

Lauren F. Friedman: But it's all natural! Should we have an instinctive preference for herbal remedies?

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : Streisand and Alicia Keys in Israel; "Girls" Stuff; Mel Brooks, Another TV special; Superman (who is Jewish) returns --- Israeli plays his mom

The Kosher Gourmet by Sharon K. Ghag : Bored with salad? Bling it up a bit (4 effortless recipes that will result in a 'WOW!')

June 12, 2013

Stephanie Hanes: Little girls or little women? The Disney princess effect

Fred Weir: In tweak to US, Russia would 'consider' asylum for Snowden

Sharon Palmer, R.D.: What's so special about Omega-3 supplements?
Morgan Housel: What newspapers were saying when you should have been buying

Pete Spotts: How cockroaches evolved so as to bypass 'roach motels'

The Kosher Gourmet by Anjali Prasertong: Deep-dish cookie: Warm, gooey and a little over the top

June 10, 2013

Joseph A. Slobodzian: Faith healing and third degree murder: Thorny legal case
Lindsay Wise: Few options for online users to avoid spying, experts say

Sharon Palmer, R.D.: There are plenty of nutritional food bargains out there
Harvard Health Letters: Can bariatric surgery control diabetes?

Zach Murdock: Superglue helps doctors save infant's life

The Kosher Gourmet by Celebrated chef Mario Batali : As good as grilling gets: Rib eye with dry mushroom spice rub

June 7, 2013

Rabbi David Aaron: Beating jealousy

Caroline B. Glick: Wounded . . . and dangerous

Clifford D. May: Al Qaeda vs. Hezbollah
Harvard Health Letters: Fighting back against allergy season

Kimberly Lankford: Grandparents who use FSA to cover grandkid's braces and other must-know info

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom:J ewish Tony Nominees/Tony Awards; Jewish Teen Actor In Sci-Fi Flick; Jewish singer in "Voice" finals

The Kosher Gourmet by Anjali Prasertong: A tart filling so good it might not make it to the crust

June 5, 2013

John Rosemond: Mom, Dad: Talk More and listen less

Kristen Chick: Egypt court sentences 43 pro-democracy workers to prison

Sharon Palmer, R.D.: Mushrooms Have Medicinal As Well As Culinary Value
Morgan Housel: Why you never learn from your investment mistakes

Don Lee: In China, kindergarten rivalry takes deadly turn

The Kosher Gourmet by Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan: 30-Minute Coq au Vin isn't a dream

June 3, 2013

Molly Hennessy-Fiske: Military judge to consider letting Fort Hood shooting defendant represent himself

Richard A. Serrano: Pvt. Bradley Manning's WikiLeaks trial also a test for government

Mark Trumbull: Have degree, driving cab: Nearly half of college grads are overqualified
Kim Lankford: What to do when long-term care insurance premiums rise

Deborah Netburn: Study: Adults' mouth bacteria may help babies

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom: Jewish Contestant on 'The Voice'; Will Smith's 'Jewish movie family'; Bravo Gives Long Island Jews the Jersey Shore Treatment; Magicians and More

The Kosher Gourmet by Bill Ward: How to be as refined as the wines at a wine tasting

May 29, 2013

Andrew Connelly and Helene Bienvenu: The Little Synagogue that Refused to Die

Dennis Prager: The 'Muslims-Killed-by-the-West' Lie

David Clark Scott: Open war on teachers?
Morgan Housel: If you know only five things about investing, make it these

Sara Reardon: AGenome detectives change the donation game

Deborah Netburn: A one-way ticket to Mars? 78,000-plus and counting apply by video

The Kosher Gourmet by Bev Bennett: CHEDDAR AND CHERRY MUFFINS --- your mouth is already watering

May 24, 2013

Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb: When I didn't so 'humbly disagree'

Caroline B. Glick: Thank you, Hafez al-Assad

Diana West: From the Brooklyn Bridge to London
Morgan Housel: Why spotting bubbles is so much harder than you think

Environmental Nutrition editors: NuVal labeling to the rescue?

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : Memorial Day: Jews Serving and KIA in War on Terror; Liberace Bio-Pic; Jew Wins "Survivor"; Shalom, Dr. Brothers; More

The Kosher Gourmet by Emma Christensen: HIDE THESE FROZEN TREATS FROM THE KIDDIES!: Sangria pops; Irish cream pudding pops; mango Lassi pops

May 22, 2013

John Thorne: They launched the 'Arab Spring' but now yearn for the good old days of a strongman

John Rosemond: 'Disciplinary math' adds up to parental successl

Warren Richey: Are prayers before public meetings OK? Supreme Court to decide
Rick Montgomery: Use of ADHD drugs as study aid raises concern on campuses

Brierley Wright, M.S., R.D.: 6 convincing reasons you should keep carbs in your diet

Eoin O'Carroll: Scientists examine nothing, find something

The Kosher Gourmet by Carole Kotkin: This soup is made from one of the great pleasures of spring: A wonderful pairing of rosy color and earthy tang

May 20, 2013

Richard A. Serrano: Is Meir Kahane's assassin now a changed man?

Hannan Adely: Town raises Palestinian flag at City Hall

Melissa Healy: Genetic copies of living people from embryos no longer science fiction
Morgan Housel: When smart investors do stupid things

Sharon Saloman, M.S., R.D.: Hunger games: Eat more, weigh less, without starving

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : Jews Inducted into Rock Hall of Fame; Anton Yelchin co-stars in New "Trek" film; Kutcher (but not Kunis) visits Israel; Jewish TV Star Praises Jewish Rap Star

The Kosher Gourmet by Cathy Pollak: WARNING: This WALNUT CAKE WITH PRALINE FROSTING, perfect for afternoon coffee, is addicting


Jewish World Review April 30, 2008 / 25 Nissan 5768

Dream Teams May Test Party Ties

By Jonathan Tobin



Printer Friendly Version

Email this article



Pennsylvania's Democratic slugfest may leave some Jewish votes up for grabs


http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Despite Sen. Hillary Clinton's decisive triumph in the Pennsylvania primary, when supporters of Sen. Barak Obama look at the totals of pledged delegates elected to the Democratic convention, they know that the Illinois senator's eventual coronation in Denver is still the likely outcome of the Democrats' nominating marathon.


Nevertheless Democratic officials know that the wounds opened up by his slugfest with Clinton may be felt long after the primary is forgotten.


Though the dominant theme of post-Pennsylvania analysis has been Obama's failure to capture the affection of working-class Democrats, exit polls here revealed another potential problem for him: the Jewish vote.


In many of the previous primaries, Jewish Democrats who are generally part of Obama's favorite demographic — upper income professional whites — either supported the senator from Illinois or split the same way as the rest of the white vote.


But Pennsylvania was different. Here, the 8 percent of voters who identified as Jewish went 62-38 for Hillary, seven points higher than her overall margin.

GOP HOPES LIVE
Though not exactly earth-shaking, it was probably enough to give hope to Jewish Republicans who never tire of predicting the end of Democratic dominance of the Jewish vote.


They're headed for disappointment. Unless the Democrats nominate Jimmy Carter at their Denver convention instead of Obama or Clinton, there's no doubt that the majority of Jewish votes will go to the Democrats, no matter who wins the nod of the super-delegates.


Though polls have shown that some Clinton voters would either stay home or vote for Republican John McCain if Obama is the nominee, Democrats have scoffed at suggestions of mass defections. And no group feels the pull of partisanship during what is surely one of the most partisan moments in American political history than the Jews.


With the majority of Jews critical of the war in Iraq, McCain's pro-life record on abortion (a key issue with Jewish women who like Hillary) and with the economy in a downturn, there are plenty of reasons for Democrats to be optimistic.


But what the Pennsylvania results should remind us is that all it will take to switch the Keystone State from the blue Democratic column over to the red Republican ledger is a small shift in the numbers, not a huge one.


Here in Pennsylvania, Jews comprise only about 2.3 percent of the total population. Yet in the Democratic primary, they accounted for an estimated 8 percent of the vote. That means that even if the majority of Jewish Clinton backers embrace Obama, should a significant minority of them consider his drawbacks too much to take, that could possibly tip the scales of the overall vote.


The same holds true in other states where, like Pennsylvania, the presidential race is likely to be close. And when one considers that polls show McCain being only a few percentage points behind Obama in an otherwise solidly Democratic state like New Jersey, the significance of any sort of shift among Jews (who make up 5.7 percent of the total population there) would be telling.


Though backing for the Jewish state has been the GOP's sole wedge issue for Jewish voters, Obama has undercut doubts on that score by endlessly repeating his mantra of support at every conceivable opportunity. Republicans and some Clintonites may question his sincerity, but Israel alone is not going to cost Obama many Jewish votes.


Yet Clinton clearly scored at Obama's expense with Jewish voters and others with her willingness to threaten Iran if it acquires nuclear weapons while Obama was still talking about engaging its leaders.


Obama had also thought he had put his 20-year association with the radical Rev. Jeremiah Wright to rest in a speech given here in March. His rhetoric convinced most of his fans in the media that it was a non-issue, but Wright's refusal to shut up has exacerbated the problem.


The cleric's April 28 speech before Washington's National Press Club made it clear that the notion of his extremism was no media invention. His stated support for Louis Farrakhan, belief that America brought 9/11 upon itself, and that the U.S. government invented the AIDS virus and spread drugs among blacks were every bit as venomous as the sound bytes previously aired on the cable networks.


Obama's association with Wright and former Weatherman terrorist Bill Ayers are the sort of thing that increases doubts about his judgment and character in a way that is particularly scary to many Jews. Unless Obama stops trying to have it both ways and simply disowns Wright, his former mentor will continue to hurt him badly.


Likewise, he is going to have to start sounding tougher on Iran lest he give McCain the chance to make it sound as if he would acquiesce to a situation in which Israel's existence might be endangered.


That said, it must still be considered a given that McCain has little chance of matching the modern Republican record for Jewish votes that Ronald Reagan set in 1980 when he won just under 40 percent against Jimmy Carter.


And if Democratic leaders can put a shotgun in the backs of their two candidates and force them to accept an Obama/Clinton "dream" ticket, then they may well be able to maintain their hold on the 75 to 85 percent of Jewish votes they have generally received in the past. The Lieberman Factor

THE LIEBERMAN FACTOR
However, Jewish Republicans have their own "dream" ticket in mind. That would mean McCain tapping his close friend Sen. Joseph Lieberman as his running mate.


Lieberman, who ran as Al Gore's running mate in 2000, has repeatedly said he won't do it. His standard disclaimer is "Been there, done that, got the T-shirt." But if McCain offered him the nomination, don't bet on Connecticut's sainted junior senator turning him down.


Such a choice would enrage conservatives who didn't back McCain, but have nevertheless been demanding that the irascible Arizonan show them a little love. But as political guru Stuart Rothenberg recently wrote on the Realclearpolitics.com Web site, Lieberman is the perfect choice to help the Republicans win independents and Democrats in November. He also notes that McCain is also exactly the sort of person who would delight in a pick that would infuriate his two least favorite groups: ultra-conservatives and liberals who see the pro-war independent Lieberman as a turncoat.


Lieberman is an unlikely choice for McCain. His stand on Iraq and willingness to make nice with Republicans also means that many Jewish Democrats will probably not follow him. But given the fact that all of the other GOP possibilities have their own serious drawbacks, choosing Lieberman may actually turn out to be the least illogical choice available to McCain.


Obama's weakness may be leading Republicans to overestimate their chances this year. But if they get their "dream" ticket, then you can throw all previous commentary about Jewish voting patterns out the window.

Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in Washington and in the media consider "must reading." Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.

JWR contributor Jonathan S. Tobin is executive editor of the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent. Let him know what you think by clicking here.

Jonathan Tobin Archives




© 2007, Jonathan Tobin