182 Comments

1. Belladonna Rogers:

BULL’S EYE. This had to be said and you said it with perfect pitch. This is the truth, a truth often thought but almost never expressed. I hope it will awaken the sleeping, the sleepwalking and those on auto-pilot. We inherited a religion, to be sure, but there was no Eleventh Commandment: Thou Shalt Follow The Democratic Party Forever and Ever, Amen. The Eleventh Commandment implicitly is Thou Shalt Think For Thyself, Not like Thy Neighbor’s Wife, Thy Neighbor’s Ass or Thy Neighbors Themselves—especially you on the upper East and West Sides of Manhattan.
One of RLS’ finest posts in four years. It is not a desecration of the memory of our grandparents to cast a vote for a patriotic American such as John McCain. It is our responsibility to distinguish between our grandparents’ Democratic Party of the 40s and 50s and the dangerously ignorant foreign policy drivel that the party spouts today, aided and abetted by discredited re-treads from the Carter and Clinton years, including many of the worst enablers of their failed policies, who still dream of the Nobel Peace Prizes held in the grasping hands. Let’s not bring them back at this critical moment in our history—or any moment in our history.

Sep 21, 2008 - 11:16 pm 2. Justin Case:

As Roger’s important article makes clear, these political commitments do take on a religious zeal. Believe me, I’m known as an apostate in the university neighborhood where I live. It’s bad enough that I will vote for McCain, folks seem to think. What’s worse is that I say so out loud, like it was somehow acceptable. Around here, my neighbors wouldn’t think I was any loonier if they found out I lived with sixteen teenaged wives.

Sep 21, 2008 - 11:52 pm 3. Pajamas Media » Open Letter to My Fellow Jews: The Democratic Party is Not Your Religion:

[...] Read the entire piece here. [...]

Sep 22, 2008 - 12:47 am 4. Agim Zabeli:

Well written Mr. Simon. It is beyond me how one political party has managed to intimidate entire large, disparate groups of individuals into believing that whatever the party demands must be good for everyone in those groups, however obvious the facts to the contrary. African Americans, Jews, and women that dare to challenge the Democratic Party’s authority to speak for them are publicly attacked in ways that are nothing short of barbaric. Orwell would shake his head, and a people with the glorious intellectual tradition that Judaism rightly can claim, should be embarrassed.

Sep 22, 2008 - 12:49 am 5. SAF:

Yes certainly a bull’s eye.

My bet is that when the dust settles Obama will still get a majority of the Jewish vote. Jews have historically ignored grave danger until it was too late, Israel in the early days excepted.

Sep 22, 2008 - 3:01 am 6. Steve Bourg:

My Jewish friends think higher taxes are fine, because that’s the cost of making life good, and it helps the impoverished. They seem to have believed that for 40 years, even though circumstances have changed so much. When taxes get too high (as they are now, with marginals of 25% fed, 15% SS, 8% state, plus property taxes and sales taxes that ADD UP TO 50% for even mid-range middle-class), then our economy is terribly damaged, in many ways. And secondly, the incentives to poor folks in the cities have been destroyed. The Democrats’ model of helping the poor has proven to be a disaster. But, sadly, Jewish folk and liberals stick to the failed mantra that higher taxes are good. What an unbelievably horrid way to vote, and govern. The policy has failed, yet the liberals refuse to admit it.

Sep 22, 2008 - 4:04 am 7. Webutante:

Dear Brother Roger,

Excuse me while I pen a letter to my fellow Gentiles: the Democratic party is not your religion. Learn to think for yourselves devoid of idealogical and partisan bias. Learn to be Americans first, not party-first petty Americans.

Thank you for sharing.

Amen.

Sep 22, 2008 - 4:31 am 8. yochanan:

I stoped being an independent when the democrats put party before country when they went on the DEFEATISM RANT on iraq even when key democrats like hillary, edwards, and biden all supported the war when it was popular. Defeat in Iraq will be extremely harmful to Israel and jewish interests. It is also been noted that the left wing of the democrat party doesn’t support Israel and the democrat party support in general for israel is weaker than the GOP at this point.

Note the difference on iran between Gov’r Palin who says Israel has every right to defend her self and she will not second guess Israel’s defence and Sen Biden who has said Israel has to accept Iran getting a nuke bomb.

Sen John McCain will be ready to be COMMANDER IN CHIEF from day one.

Sep 22, 2008 - 4:52 am 9. martin smith:

I completely agree. Despite my name –I am Jewish and a political independent for all the reasons noted and more. I feel the Jewish leadership need to be more courageous. A better position would have been: Democratic party spokespersons are welcome but if not, a begazunt, Palin will speak anyway.

Sep 22, 2008 - 5:07 am 10. jerry:

Roger:

Well spoken now, at least 20 years to late. Had Jewish Americans been more literate in the Scriptures perhaps they would have been less willing to maintain their loyalities to the Democratic Party as it evolved into a totalitarian political movement. In bibilical times the Jewish community oscelated between faithfulness to the God of Israel and worship of their neighbor’s false gods. For at least a century Jews have worshiped at the false god of so-called Progressivism, which is nothing more then a polite word for Communism. As it was in the era of the books of Chronicils and Kings, the worship of false gods leads to calamity for the people of Israel. In a sense American Jews are reaping what they have sowed. Trading worship of the God of Abraham for the worship of Karl Marx will result in only more calamity for Jews around the world. Perhaps it is time for Jewish Americans to not only rethink their support for the Democratic Party but to re-evaluate the heritage of their alternative religion.

Sep 22, 2008 - 5:18 am 11. Lisa:

Screw that… as a woman, I say to other women, the Democratic party is not your party.

Sep 22, 2008 - 5:27 am 12. Toad:

The canaries haven’t died but they are starting to cough and choke in New York.

If you are Jewish I’d suggest getting out of NY city and state. Move to anywhere that has a “shall issue” concealed handgun license law.

If anybody leaves the Democrat plantaion these days the lefties controlling the party go beserk on them. I figure it is going to go from words to physical attacks fairly quick if it starts to look like they’ll lose the upcoming election.

Sep 22, 2008 - 5:30 am 13. Andrew Ian Dodge:

Nailed it as usual Mr Simon.

Sep 22, 2008 - 5:36 am 14. hermie:

This was supposed to be a gathering to show solidarity with the Jewish people and to protest the insane ravings of a man who wants to kill every Israeli standing, even if it means unleashing a radioactive demon.

The Obama people could’ve allowed Biden to come, but let’s face it; there are too many anti-Israel advisors and too many pro-Palestinian advocates who have Obama’s attention. To Obama, it was better to sabotage the entire event than to face the Iranian menace.

Palin has been a friend to Israel, and to deny her a place to stand side by side with other friends, just for the sake of pleasing Obama supporters, is not only a disgrace but will lose American Jews even more friends They will be seen as not only weak, but all too willing to abandon principle for political expediency.

Sep 22, 2008 - 5:53 am 15. Kirk:

It’s important to remember Democrats and leftists are self policing. I don’t know how it is internally in the Jewish community, but all their other constituancies control their own with a sort of “prison guard” and “trusted prisoner” system.

For example; black conservatives exist, but largely stay very quiet, even lie, about their views. To do otherwise risks extremely negative feedback from family, social peers, employment and media. The same goes for hollywood, feminists (example Palin), homosexuals and union members (example all academia). I would appreciate if some Jewish conservatives would address that issue ; if it exists and in what form it is in, if it does.

Sep 22, 2008 - 5:58 am 16. Art:

I have long wondered why American Jews would support a party that coddles Israels enemies.

If my party did so, I would be gone in a heartbeat!

…and I am not even Jewish.

Sep 22, 2008 - 6:08 am 17. EthelCarol:

Thank you, thank you, thank you for so publicly and so eloquently stating what I have been saying for years.

Those who slavishly follow a political party–or any ideology– without thinking of the consequences , are the destructive followers of a religion, similar to Jim Jones or the Ayatollah.

That the Dems exerted such terrible pressure against this rally opposing Ahmadinejad because of personal, petty reasons, once again demonstrates that they’re not good for America, not good for the Jews.

Keep on speaking up–you have many backers.

Sep 22, 2008 - 6:10 am 18. Alex Bensky:

When I say that heretofore I have been a lifelong Democrat I don’t mean merely that I almost always voted Democratic. I was not only a party member but was a precinct delegate, assistant director of a state presidential primary campaign, on the county committee, state platform committee, etc.

So it took me a while to realize that I was no longer a Democrat. I’m not an incipient Republican for reasons I won’t go into here, but I’m no longer a Democrat. The habit of a lifetime is hard to break but I started to do so when I realized that the party in which I grew up no longer exists. It’s the same name but a different group, really. At the end I called myself a member of the Joe Lieberman wing of the party, but the party read Lieberman out and I realized, like it or not, they’d read me out.

I made the decision to vote for McCain a few months ago and nothing has changed my mind. If I’d needed further convincing, the brouhaha over Palin’s rally invitation would have done it. It was more important to deny Sarah Palin some publicity rather than to show as much support as possible.

On a side note, the reaction of Democrats to Sarah Palin does sort of put an end to any pretense the Democratic Party has to be in favor of the little guy and to support women’s right to choose how they live their lives. You can almost see the contempt dripping from your computer screen–after all, Obama was Harvard Law and Palin..the University of Idaho. And you’d think the Palin family was a feminist’s dream: Mom has a bunch of kids and is able to handle an exciting career because Dad takes a very active role in child raising. And he’s not only genuinely working class but part of his ancestry is an approved minority. Instead the Democrats and their pundit friends are virtually shaking in their frenzy.

Apparently the Democrats are in favor of the little guy and gal, if the little guy and gal shut up and do what they’re told.

Sep 22, 2008 - 6:15 am 19. Dr. Kenneth Noisewater:

I wonder if there’s been much scholarship or study on the Jewish tendency towards leftsm? To me it reflects intelligence without wisdom. Scholarship has been an important part of Jewish culture for millenia, but without tempering that knowledge with an understanding human nature (good and evil) people become dangerously naive and strident.

Sep 22, 2008 - 6:16 am 20. JAT:

Roger,

Well said and I hope that your words are not just for the Jewish community, but for those bound to the Democratic party, such as unions, educators, and a host of other “liberal” thinkers in this country.

Thank you for your message.

Sep 22, 2008 - 6:21 am 21. Ex-Dem:

Baruch Ha’shem.

You’ve got it right. This has been truly unbelievable.
Being a former-Democratic Jew is frightening in that your “friends” won’t look you in the eye and treat you like an apostate.

Sep 22, 2008 - 6:22 am 22. jetski:

What, the keffiyeh’s weren’t enough of a tip off that “those days are over”? It took this rally to finally wake you guys up?

Wow! That’s stunning levels of willful blindness.

The Democrats want you people out of Jerusalem and the Palestinians back in power. And you people are going to vote them right into office. It’s almost like you’re making the bricks for the ovens.

Sep 22, 2008 - 6:23 am 23. ~Paules:

This sword cuts both ways, indeed, it’s an all purpose blade for any thinking voter. I abandoned the Republican Party when it became clear that self-interest by my representatives was trumping our national interest. It seems to me that neither party can put forth a coherent policy based on principle. A mugwump I am, and an independent I will remain until I see a clear platform based on conservative principles.

Sep 22, 2008 - 6:32 am 24. RKV:

“If you are Jewish I’d suggest getting out of NY city and state. Move to anywhere that has a “shall issue” concealed handgun license law.”

Not so fast. If they’re gonna come to the Red States, they should leave the Blue State state of mind behind. A couple of examples… 1) bigger government is the problem, not the solution 2) the Constitution, the whole Constitution, all the time, and not just the 1st Amendment 3) Evangelical Christians outnumber you, get over it, as they aren’t going to put you in a ghetto or start a pogrom. And so on… California USED to be a fairly conservative state (elected RR twice as governor), then the local population got overwhelmed, so there is a track record here, and let’s not make the same mistake twice. OK?

Sep 22, 2008 - 6:40 am 25. Susan Katz Keating:

Back in the Nixon years, when my dear departed Dad was nearly arrested for trying to pull the Nazi flag from a free-speech enabled Los Angeles storefront, my family was kept out of some of the toniest clubs in SoCal because… well, because our name was Katz. And yet, my Dad even then saw through the chaff of social injustice and widespread social unrest, and taught me a truth I hold dear to this day. National security = Priority 1 = Vote Republican.

Sep 22, 2008 - 7:09 am 26. Quick Links « Jeremy’s Conservative Blog:

[...] Jews: The Democratic Party is Not Your Religion [...]

Sep 22, 2008 - 7:17 am 27. fred:

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I am a former Marxist. In my days, thirty years ago, on the Left (late seventies into the mid eighties) we were told to call ourselves Progressives, not socialists or Marxists. I knew people of Jewish background who were fellow socialists like me. They never went to synagogue or practiced their faith. Marxism was their new religion. While I continued to go to Mass and practice as a Catholic (I was a seminarian too!)I did not realize it at the time that I was malforming my own faith: my true faith was the classless society and “social justice” described by the Marxist tradition.

It’s all about who your gods really are.

I laud Mr. Simon for his essay. It is a call for sanity and for clear thinking. It’s just that I do not consider the “progressives” who call themselves Jews to be real Jews at heart. In the modern world, ethnicity and religion are no longer one and the same. We decide our faiths. We’re adults and it’s time we began to act as adults.

I may be registered as a Republican now, but in reality I’m an refugee from the Democratic Party, which is no longer the same party it was decades ago. It has been taken over by people who I used to travel with and no longer agree with.

Sep 22, 2008 - 7:17 am 28. patrick neid:

Good luck Roger!!!

If my Jewish friends are any indication they would vote for “I’madinnerjacket” before they would vote for Palin/McCain. It’s anybody or no one before a Repub.

I’m not even sure if Israel disappearing would change their minds with a Dem in the White House. It would simply be contrived as the fault of previous Repub mistakes.

I seriously doubt that there is any hope in your lifetime, may you live to be 100, that Blacks and Jews will change their voting patterns in any measurable amount.

Sep 22, 2008 - 7:25 am 29. penny:

There is the real possibility that in the not too distant future Iran’s Muslim bomb could turn Israel into a sheet of glass. Are the mullahs crazy enough, I think so. The collateral damage done to Palestinians wouldn’t stop them either. They’d be considered martyrs to the cause. These are the nutballs that Obama would “dialogue” French style with.

Every once in awhile the mask slips with the Democrats and their inherent anti-semitism creeps out…..Jesse Jackson, Cynthia McKinney, hey, Hillary uttered “Jew bastard” as per Jerry Oppenheimer’s book in front of three witnesses that stood by that story.

If you are a Jewish parent you should be horrified at the vile anti-Israel and anti-semitic garbage your kid is exposed to everyday on college campuses. It’s not Republicans on the faculty spewing this.

The Democrats need Jewish donors beyond that they are expendable.

Sep 22, 2008 - 7:27 am 30. nlcatter:

Jews should not support lying , corrupt, book burning, creationists for VP.

well perhaps ultra orthodox

Sep 22, 2008 - 7:28 am 31. Holocaust not a big issue for Dems | Think Forward:

[...] Open letter to Jews. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “Holocaust not a big issue for Dems”, url: “http://kenanthony.bustablog.com/2008/09/holocaust-not-a-big-issue-for-dems/” }); [...]

Sep 22, 2008 - 7:32 am 32. Zevy:

I find that the more religious the Jew, the more likely he or she will vote conservative/Republican. I’m proud o say I’m at the “right” end of the spectrum!

Sep 22, 2008 - 7:36 am 33. runner:

Roger, you said it beautifully.

My parents, a’h, were classic educated East Coast American Jews and voted for every Democrat from FDR on, as well as doing precint work and contributing big bucks (like the commentator Alex, above). The only good thing I can think of about this election is that they are not here to see it.

Feh.

Sep 22, 2008 - 7:47 am 34. shneerhere:

Bravo. IT is time for Jews to do what every interest group does, vote for their interests. The pary of Humbert Humphrey and ‘Scoop’ Jackson no longer exists! It is now the party of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, albeit all dressed up and articulate. This dance some Jews have with their enemies, it is beyond iexplicable.

Have some pride, learn your history, and you will inherit your proper destiny. Nobody is your friend, but the Democrats are actively working AGAINST you. WE ARE NOT BARBARA STREISAND AND BARBARA BOXER! Millions of Jews understand what is at stake, and need to SHOCK the Democrats into the new reality.

Sep 22, 2008 - 7:47 am 35. Broadsword:

“…lying , corrupt, book burning, creationists for VP.” I agree with the corrupt and lying part. But he doesn’t burn any books;(you can’t plagarize ashes.) And doesn’t Biden pretend to be a Catholic?

Sep 22, 2008 - 7:50 am 36. Nate:

nlcatter – please reserve your stereotyped talking points for the echo chambers on the left. This is a THOUGHTFUL and RESPECTABLE blog.

Sep 22, 2008 - 7:50 am 37. Susan:

The more lies you tell about Hillary Clinton,the less credible you are. & not just you, but some of the even more egregious liars in your comments section. Clinton dropped out because the event had been politicized, and she did so at the behest of the Democratic Party. For you pretend that it was anything else is as petty as you pretend she is being. If I ever leave the Democrats, it will only be for their disgusting treatment of her, & certainly not for an even worse-for-anyone-but-Rich-White-Male-Xians Republican Party.

Sep 22, 2008 - 7:52 am 38. jerry:

Nlcatter’s idiotic repetition of Team Obama campaign big lies shows the contempt thaz the Democrats hold their Jewish supporters. They think if they just keep to script and insult orthodox Jews that the rest of group will stay placidly confined to their metaphysical Warsaw Ghetto. Unfortunately that is what American Jews will probably do.

Just remember that Obama’s two spiritual mentors are just Father Coughlin in black and white.

Sep 22, 2008 - 7:53 am 39. Art Hyland:

For decades I’ve been wondering why my Jewish friends and acquaintances were so tied to the Democrat party; I wondered if Fiddler “tradition” was so ingrained in the Jewish phsyche that logic was discarded as unimportant. They seemed quietly afraid to admit to siding with conservatives, despite their learned schooling and braininess, or their willingness to tolerate my arguments.

Perhaps things will change; I’ve also observed the same with Catholics, who would seem to have even more in common with political conservatives than Jews, especially in the area of abortion. As a Catholic, I wondered both aloud and in silence about how the rationalization process that evidently took place within the always-Democrat Catholics was formed and fed.

But I never lost the hope that one day both Jews and Catholics would see political conservatism as the friend they always had, and the path they can now follow.

Thanks for your article Roger; of course I didn’t just find out you were conservative with this writing, but to read your appeal to your fellow Jews so openly and sincerely is wonderful to see.

Sep 22, 2008 - 7:56 am 40. Upset One:

Roger:
As an American Jew, I have only one comment to your note:

AMEN!!!

Thanks for writing it.

Sep 22, 2008 - 8:08 am 41. Tina Trent:

I regret Hillary knuckling under to the DNC, but the woman is under no special, unique obligation to act, and there are plenty of non-conspiratorial reasons why she would take this step as she plays a grim third-fiddle to her party. Sure, I wish she would step away from the DNC. But, come on, she is not the issue here. The woman gets blamed for Sandra Bernhardt’s rant; she gets blamed for the audiences that cheered Bernhardt; she gets blamed for the actions of the people she opposed in the DNC; she gets blamed for Sarah Palin being denied an important forum. She’d get blamed for the weather, if it weren’t so nice out.

Put blame where blame is due — on those who disinvited Palin.

Sep 22, 2008 - 8:10 am 42. Sandy P:

If I ever leave the Democrats, it will only be for their disgusting treatment of her, & certainly not for an even worse-for-anyone-but-Rich-White-Male-Xians Republican Party.
—

The Dems are the Rich-White-Male party – have been for about a decade or more.

Sep 22, 2008 - 8:15 am 43. Alan Weick:

American Jews are, for the most part, totally secularized. If you did polling of Jews based upon religiosity you would find that the more religious the Jew the more conservative his political views tend to be. This makes perfect sense. It is no accident that the most vociferous radicals tend to be lapsed Catholics and lapsed Jews. Don’t forget, Stalin was a former seminarian. When one stops believing in G-d one doesn’t believe in nothing, one believes in anything. And, that “anything” in the modern world tends to be socialism. The modern secular Jew is not a member of a religion. He does not define himself as a Jew in a religious way, but, as a cultural artifact. In fact, most secular Jews are openly hostile to their inherited religion. And, those who do practice a watered down version of Judaism, such as liberal conservative and reform Judaism, put their political views first. It is not uncommon in liberal conservative synogogues to hear sermons regarding homosexuality and abortion as morally acceptable despite the fact that scripture and Talmudic writings are quite clear on their unacceptableness. The platform committee of the Democratic Party is the source of their values first. If traditional Jewish values coincide then OK. But, if there is a conflict it is the political value that takes preference. It is therefore, not surprising that most Jews are Democrats first. It is not that they do not understand their own self-interest. Since they don’t identify as Jews they do not perceive the creeping anti-semitism of the Democratic Party as important to them.

Sep 22, 2008 - 8:15 am 44. WR Jonas:

And to put a slightly finer point on Rogers dead on analysis . Can the Jewish community finally ,once and for all admit that Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were traitors and spies? They did receive fair and honest justice and were duly executed for their crimes .

Sep 22, 2008 - 8:17 am 45. Michael W. Perry:

Jews who vote Democratic should listen to FDR’s entire first inaugural speech and not just the “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” In that speech the new President blamed the Great Depression on a shadowy group of “moneychangers.”

Like Obama’s “lipstick on a pig” comment, you must ask yourself how FDR’s listeners took that remark when they heard him on the radio or in a newsreel shown in darkened movie theaters across the country.

The original “moneychangers” deserved Jesus’ anger. They weren’t a shadowy group guilty of some unspecified evil. Every one could have been named along with the specific high rates each was charging to convert coins to those used in temple services. All were Jews but, equally important, all their victims were also Jewish, including Jesus himself.

FDR’s context was different. A month earlier Hitler had come to power in Germany, promising to do something about the ills he said were caused by Jews. In the United States many wanted a similar scapegoat for their misery. FDR gave them a word his anti-Semitic listeners would take as a codeword for “Jews.” Recall that anti-Semites, including Obama’s pastor of twenty years, believe that the Jews in America are so powerful they can’t be attacked openly. In the first edition of Mein Kampf, Hitler claimed that only Henry Ford dared attack them openly.

Like Obama’s “lipstick on a pig,” we can debate what FDR intended by his remark, but in the end we’re left with the same dilemma. Either the Harvard-educated Obama is stupider than his audience, who instantly picked up on the illusion, or he is the sort of tacky male who calls women “pigs.”

Similarly, the Harvard-educated FDR was either completely clueless about anti-Semitism, even though it was common in his own patrician class, or he was astute enough to use a codeword that would appeal to anti-Semites, but allow him deniability if it became an issue.

It is in that context that American Jews need to judge FDR’s repeated unwillingness to make the United States a refugee for Jews fleeing Germany. A single appointment to the Supreme Court doesn’t make FDR an anti-anti-Semitic much less the sort of person who should be a hero to Jews.

–Michael W. Perry, editor of Chesterton on War and Peace: Battling the Ideas and Movements that Led to Nazism and World War II

Sep 22, 2008 - 8:17 am 46. Mike:

Susan–

Please explain why the event wasn’t already politicized when only Hillary Clinton was invited?

As with any other politician (Dem, Rep, or any other party) everytime she speaks and every event she attends is politicized, because her actions are designed to advance her interests.

Sep 22, 2008 - 8:19 am 47. notutopia:

Just the act of voting is NOT enough.
We are in an ensnared transformational process of our democratic government toward conversion to Socialism and dare I admit Marxism behaviors. We are hosting the evil incarnate himself into our home of the US of A again. Is this because we are so socially “progressive”? Are we really that overconfident of ourselves and our leaders? Stifling an opponents voice is not a behavior of confidence, especially when you threaten them with an ultimatum to ensure their removal to speak with the misrepresentation of our Constitutional law!I am sickened that this has become a political agenda.
Our complacency and comfort level here in the USA has become OUR enemy. It is not a time of our history to sit idle and just watch. We will be held accountable to the history of our Jewish prodigy here and to Israel if we just complacently walk toward the gas chambers ever again. What has happened to our Honour of RESPONSIBILITY to self, our Jewish community and to country? So, we have gotten to this stage of deceitful comfort, but the cost is to turn our backs on our faith and community to maintain that comfort? That is enslavement and slothfulness and unacceptably IRRESPONSIBLE!

Sep 22, 2008 - 8:21 am 48. Mark:

Great article, Roger. My wife is sending it to all her Jewish frieds, many of whom fit your description of having out-dated loyalty to the Democratic party, notwithstanding the fact that conservative Republicans are the better (much better) friends of Jews and Israel. Enjoyed seeing you on the panel at Blogworld. Good luck with PajamasTV.

Sep 22, 2008 - 8:31 am 49. Astroturfing Palin & Race-baiting, & more | The Anchoress:

[...] cover her if they can help it. Perfunctory coverage of her email being hacked, a distortion of her dis-invitation to today’s UN protest with no media coverage of the Obama campaign’s thug-like threats to the Jewish group who [...]

Sep 22, 2008 - 8:43 am 50. mike:

roger says jews should “not to retreat into the cocoon-like safety of an outmoded tradition”

HELLO!?!? isn’t that what judaism is all about? tradition, you know, fiddler on the roof?

if jews get rid of tradition they will suddenly all implode and disappear from the face of the earth. get rid of tradition….riiight.

Sep 22, 2008 - 8:44 am 51. jerry:

Susan:

As I pointed out on the other thread on this topic, Hilary was told to pull out because Obama is going to flip US Middle East policy. Having the Democrats support this rally would not be consistant with his main intended foreign policy. Obama needed cover to keep the Jews in line so he manipulated weak kneed socialist Jews to disinvite Palin and take down the rally. Obama is indifferent to a second Holocaust but I think a significant number of Jewish Americans who prefer to align themselves with socialism are indifferent as well.

Sep 22, 2008 - 8:46 am 52. Howard Hirsch:

Great job, Roger. My family thought I was crazy, but I had their number at age 15 (43 years ago!). They said the Democratic party was the “party of the people” and was better for the Jews, but time has proven that I made the right choice and stuck with it.

Howard Hirsch
Chairman, Lyon County Republican Central Committee
Dayton, Nevada

Sep 22, 2008 - 8:55 am 53. Self-hating boomer:

“I didn’t leave the Democratic Party. The party left me.

- R. Reagan

Excellent analysis Roger, but I think that while you focus on the general changes that have occurred in the political landscape, the biggest is the fact that the Democrat party itself bears little resemblance to the Democrat party of Scoop Jackson and Hubert Humphrey. The largest reason why Jews (and anyone else with a concern for the country’s future) should be wary of the Democrats is that they’ve slowly transformed over the past half-century from a big tent party, where there was room for almost any type of position to be tolerated, to a small band of hard-core leftists, who like leftists the world over have antisemitic tendencies. The day Joe Lieberman was essentially kicked out of the party was the point in history when it should have been evident to every Jew and Gentile that there’s no more room in the party for friends of Israel.

So it isn’t so much that the interests of the Jews themselves has changes as much as the parties have. The Democrats have become small, hostile, and very very, ideological.

Carving out a place at the Republican table will take some work, and many are doing that. The Republican party may not “feel” right at first, but I promise you, there’s no bouncer at the door who’ll give any Jew the treatment that the Democrats gave Lieberman.

Sep 22, 2008 - 9:01 am 54. hermie:

Obama has a number of anti-Israel ‘advisors’. Now, when a couple of them shot off their mouths, and told everyone what they really thought, Obama allowed them to ‘resign’. However, once he is in the White House, he will bring these same people back in policy-making positions because he no longer has to hide them from those Jews whose vote he expected.

Sep 22, 2008 - 9:23 am 55. exDemocrat:

In 2012 this entire fiasco will be a Palin TV ad that slaps down her presidential challenger, the collaborator Hillary Clinton.

Sep 22, 2008 - 9:26 am 56. Markus:

The fact that most Jews support the Democratic Party helps ensure that Congressional support, and elite establishment support, for Isreal is bipartisan. Republicans, having consigned the paleocons to oblivion, are going to support Israel/neocon foreign policy anyway, but the Democrats might not absent Jewish support.

Sep 22, 2008 - 9:40 am 57. larry in Seattle:

Remember that neither Hitler nor Stalin cared if you were a religious Jew, only that you had Jewish heritage. Also remember that the Nazis were National Socialist and the Communists are International Socialists. Other than that there’s not a lot of difference between them. Here in Seattle, where the Progressives have total control, we have the honor of having the only public bronze statue on Lenin on display on public property (free speech don’tcha know.

Sep 22, 2008 - 9:41 am 58. Elaine:

Thank you for being brave enough to take a stand and exhort Jews to think and decide for themselves, rather than blindly following the Democrats.

Sep 22, 2008 - 9:46 am 59. David John:

Amen,

This article and comments sounds like the family gathering conversations over the last 20 years. If my grandfather were alive he would vote for Palin and the old guy, because she seems to be a mix of conservative and libertarianism with a slant for cleaning up the house. She walks the walk and smiles while doing it, sort of a smirk smile, Kind of like Reagan, very underestimated.

Sep 22, 2008 - 10:03 am 60. Hadley:

Moses Wine would be proud of you, Roger, you solved the mystery of our age.

Sep 22, 2008 - 10:07 am 61. hermie:

Aren’t Jews concerned about a man who has to ‘correct’ his statements about an undivided Jerusalem, and blames both sides when Russia invaded Georgia?

He was too willing to look the other way at ruthless aggression, and too quick to blame the victim. It’s a pattern that doesn’t bode well for Israel.

Sep 22, 2008 - 10:12 am 62. Mark M.:

Susan:
The shot across the bow was that Democratic partisans would rather deny Palin an audience than have a crazy-bonanza rally.

If Palin had come you’d have wall to wall coverage on cable television of her visit because of the “controversy”. How would this have been bad for the Rally?

If Palin had come you’d have a huge crowd just to see her. This is the women who just drew a crowd of 60,000 in Florida (many of them ex-NYC residents) and she didn’t need a stadium and weeks of P.R. to do it.

Can you deny that a massive rally and wall to wall coverage would have been better? Your party said “no thanks” because they are afraid their constituents might like what they see.

Sep 22, 2008 - 10:23 am 63. Ikaika Kamakana:

The Jews believe that Dems serve their best interest. What they also know, but won’t discuss, is that these same Dems as well the Euros will never come to the aid of their country in a time of conflict. If the Dems won’t support their own American military personnel in a terroists war, will they sacrifice them for Jews? Didn’t they prove this in WWII? Remember, FDR was a Dem. American Jews won’t join any military so why should other Americans die for them as well? Your Obama has already said he would negotiate with your murderers and still you vote for him. Hurray for the American political system. It allows everyone to choose their own poison.

Sep 22, 2008 - 10:47 am 64. Jim Blusterman:

Roger:

Please, I love Moses Wine…if you only knew. I disagree
with this one. Have you forgotten that Sarah Palin quoted
the notorious anti-Semite Westbrook Pegler?? Sorry, you should
steer your rage in her direction. Go ahead and support McCain
you’ve become an old codger just like him! You should never
blindly support either party as a Jew, but clearly, Obama is
the better candidate to tackle what’s next. Golly gee whiz and
a plucky determination that she’s ready to co-lead just doesn’t inspire.

More Moses!

Jim

Sep 22, 2008 - 10:54 am 65. fred:

If Obama is the next POTUS, and the chances are very good that this will happen, Samantha Power will most likely become his National Security Adviser (Anthony Lake will not, because his dossier of leaking and double dealing is so thick Congress and the Senate would never confirm him as Secretary of State also)or his Secretary of State. That will close the deal with the Devil Obama has done. Israel will pay and pay and pay, in blood and treasure. Obonga will have stabbed Jews in the back. His Leninist ethics allow it. Remember this man was advised by a member of the Communist Party USA, Frank Marshall Davis – himself an expert at subversion, hiding, and lying.

Obama will do and say whatever it takes to get elected. You can take that to the bank.

One more thing needs laserlike attention, which the general public is still quite unaware of: his often stated, to private Leftist gatherings, that he intends to end the ballistic missile defense system. Now how is THAT going to affect our security interests and those of our allies? I can guarantee you, if Obonga is elected there will be celebrating going on in Moscow, Tehran, Beijing, and Caracas. Iran will get its nukes and use them.

Please, my Jewish friends, do not vote for this man. The butcher’s bill will be too high and the Devil will be paid.

Sep 22, 2008 - 10:55 am 66. E.B:

Roger L. Simon and most of the posters in this thread seem to forget…or perhaps not know that the vast majority of ethnic Jews are socialist – what other party would they rally around?

Sep 22, 2008 - 11:04 am 67. nora:

You are 100% correct. As a Mexican, Jewish, woman, I was a Democrat most of my adult life. I finally took a good look at what the Democrat party has devolved into and now I am a conservative Republican. I think and hope there will be an Exodus from the Democrat Party as people, Jews and Blacks especially, take an honest look at who really has the best interest of this country in mind.

Sep 22, 2008 - 11:06 am 68. hermie:

Jim:

Obama has had a clear history of NOT tackling anything.

As an obscure ‘community organizer’ he never tackled any problems. As an obscure State Senator he never tackled any problems. Illinois and Chicago is thick with political corruption and he NEVER tackled it. Instead, he ran off to the US Senate, leaving a financial mess in State government, corruption and nepotism run rampant, and there are still no solutions to the problems he should’ve tackled while he was there. He hasn’t even tackled actual problems in the US.

How the heck can he tackle problems like the middle east, Russian aggression, Chavez’ exporting terrorism, and the economy when he has no history of wanting to tackle it before?

Sep 22, 2008 - 11:08 am 69. Roger L Simon:

Hey, Jim Blusterman, Westbrook Pegler? You’ve got to do a little better than that. Pegler died when? 1965-1970? I’d be willing to be bet my house Palin never even heard of him. I know some people are claiming she was channeling him when she mouthed that cliche someone wrote for her about small town Americans being better than big town Americans, something that thousands of people have said. (And they may have been right, at least in part.) This is just more of the endless BS about Palin, just like the stuff of her banning Harry Potter when the books weren’t even published when she was in office. You are being the kind of reactionary that proves my point…. Not that the commenter who accuses Obama of being a Leninist is a lot better. BS on both sides.

Sep 22, 2008 - 11:09 am 70. Jim Blusterman:

Hitler died in what…1945? So do you absolve American Nazis that quote Mein Kampf? It is really as simple as this, I want a break, after a very dark color coded fearful life we’ve had to live for the last 8 years. I want to restore the balance to the three branches of government. I want the Patriot Act reviewed and scaled way back. I want the constitution honored. You should be the first to see that Republican support for Israel is ususally driven by the uneasy alliance between evangelical’s end-of-the-world vision and Israel. I suppose she should take any support offered, but be aware of the driving force.

For someone who remembers the individual (Fred Malek, Marriott executive) responsible to Nixon for “keeping track of the Jews in government” who later reappeared as amember of 41’s election team….the same team that drove 43’s electionand now runs McCain’s…why would any Jew trust Republicans? Obama will steer the party to the middle the way Clinton did…is that good enough for you my fellow brother? Do you not think Israel is capable of defending itself? I do, and would support any pre-emptive action if they felt so endangered.

From the Nation…the notorious Fred Malek in all his glory.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/capitalgames/181707

I still love Moses Wine….Please tell me you haven’t killed him off!

Jim

Sep 22, 2008 - 11:29 am 71. bleedingbrain:

It is wise for Jews to stay in the Democratic party.

Even though I would love for them to leave it and join the Republicans. For their own safety and the safety of the nation of Israel, I advise them to stay inside the Democratic party.

You see, whether the Jews vote for Republicans or not, Republicans will always support Israel and be friends to the Jews.

If, however, the Jews leave the Democrats, they can be sure that there will be repercussions by the ruthless elements within the Democratic party.

I believe the Republicans can keep winning the White House even without the support of the Jews and Israel will be safe.

If bad fortune arises and the Democrats win, at least the Jews can claim the ear of the Democrats in power and prevent an abandonment of Israel by the US.

Sep 22, 2008 - 11:35 am 72. jerry:

Jim:

Yes, the Nation, America’s leading Communist publication. When do you think they will be getting around to admitting that the Rosenbergs were guilty?

Sep 22, 2008 - 11:36 am 73. Jim Blusterman:

Jerry:

As they say, the facts are the facts…

Jim

Sep 22, 2008 - 11:41 am 74. jerry:

Jim:

Anybody who quotes the Nation as a source wouldn’t know a fact if it hit them in the face. The Nation’s notion of a fact is about as trustworthy as something coming out of Stalinist Russia.

Just remember “there is no truth in the news and news in the truth.”

Sep 22, 2008 - 11:51 am 75. Donna V.:

Markus wrote:

“The fact that most Jews support the Democratic Party helps ensure that Congressional support, and elite establishment support, for Isreal is bipartisan. Republicans, having consigned the paleocons to oblivion, are going to support Israel/neocon foreign policy anyway, but the Democrats might not absent Jewish support.”

So the GOP supports Israel despite the fact that most American Jews vote Dem. And the Dems will stick it to Israel the second the Jews switch parties, so it’s best to stay with the Dems?

Well, that’s really a great argument for staying on the Democratic plantation. The Dems are the “friends” of the Jews alright – just like Al Capone was “friends” with the small businessmen who had to pay him protection money.

And I’ve noticed that certain Democrats haven’t waited until the magic day when the Jewish vote goes GOP to turn on Israel – a certain former President comes to mind.

Sep 22, 2008 - 11:54 am 76. BC:

Well, on the other hand, if you are smart, well informed, ethical, and care deeply about this country and the world at large, the Republican Party, especially in the form of dopey gov.palin@yahoo.com and Senator McNasty, is absolutely, positively, definitely not for you.

Sep 22, 2008 - 11:54 am 77. DaveP.:

“Obama will steer the party to the middle the way Clinton did…”

Funniest line ALL DAY.

Sep 22, 2008 - 11:56 am 78. Lynn:

I read Palin’s speech at Haaretz. It was wonderful and she quoted Hillary Clinton in it. How petty J-Street is to have gotten up the petition to not let her speak. They didn’t win anything by doing that, just turned the rally into a partisan free for all. I am more convinced then ever I will vote for McCain. I didn’t leave the Dems, they left me.

Sep 22, 2008 - 11:56 am 79. Trimegistus:

The Democratic party has gone from being the party of John F. Kennedy to being the party of Lee Harvey Oswald.

It has gone from being the party of Robert Kennedy to being the party of Sirhan Sirhan.

An Obama presidency would be an unmitigated disaster for Jews and Christians, Americans and Israelis alike.

Sep 22, 2008 - 11:58 am 80. hermie:

JIM:
“It is really as simple as this, I want a break, after a very dark color coded fearful life we’ve had to live for the last 8 years. I want to restore the balance to the three branches of government.”

A fearful life? What rights have you personally lost? Are you fearful because you support Muslim extremists?

Restore balance? By continuing to let judges legislate from the bench and take Constitutionally-protected rights away?

These are the talking points of a typical troll and no longer worth reading.

Sep 22, 2008 - 12:09 pm 81. RedneckJD:

As a long time conservative, Catholic, white, male, I have supported Israel from the time I became aware of their struggle during the Six Day War. I could never understand my Jewish friends who continued to vote for the Democrats, when they were becoming more and more anti-Israel, and yes, anti-Jewish. I went to law school in Los Angeles, so yes, I had a number of Jewish friends. The survival of Israel, is vital to America, for a lot of reasons, but if nothing more than as a symbol of hope, and everything that America is supposed to be. Senator Clinton realizes the need for Jewish support in New Yawk, yet insults that community in the most evil fashion. Come into the McCain/Palin water; the temperatures fine, and you will encounter many friends.

Sep 22, 2008 - 12:15 pm 82. cedarford:

The great problem in this is that outside radical Islamist considerations, which greatly complicate matters (obviously) – nations will seek strategic military parity or parity under another’s “protection”.

Even if Iran wasn’t cursed with what appears to be dangerous, radical leadership, it would RATIONALLY be considering a nuclear deterrent – since it is surrounded by potentially hostile nuclear nations and under the protective nuke umbrella of none.

But because Iran is also radical and perceived to be not bounded by rationality – this natural drive comes with great concern not just to Israel, but global concern that Iranian nukes may be followed by Egyptian, Turk, Saudi, Syrian, and even our “dear freedom-loving” Iraqis, once we leave.

Bur seeking parity is inevitable and historically, what nations do as logic.

Be it the Royal Navy “umbrella” in the 18th, 19th Century – battleship parity conflicts in the League of Nations, airforce parity in the 1930s, or nuclear parity or falling inside the NATO/Warsaw Pact, China’s “nuclear umbrellas”.

Nuclear umbrellas and regional efforts to become “nuclear-free zones” by being a threat to no one – enabled some 30 nations with the technical capacity to become nuke nations to avoid it. We were able to also roll back nations that had started on a bomb path, even one that had the bomb, S Africa, and are trying to get the NORKs to do the same..with unsatisfactory progress.

The problem is the technology and expertise for enrichment, bomb design, and plutonium separation is now fairly well out there – Now about 60 of the world’s nations can now make a nuke weapon capacity if they made it a primary national priority – and nations like Israel cannot hope to exist with a technology barrier blocking regional efforts to get parity and end Israel’s regional bomb monopoly. Nor can a strategy of “surgical strikes” deter it’s rivals, only delay them. And the Neocon strategy of the US going to war with any ME nation that threatens Israel’s regional monopoly on WMD – does not appear sustainable in the long haul.

The strategic parity problem will not go away for Persia even if Ahmadinejad is magically ousted and a magic secular, democratic Iranian Gov’t formed. They still have nuke missiles in Pakistan, Israel, Russia, and USA pointed at them, or could be pointed at them, in minutes…
And lacking any coal reserves, with a few decades of oil and gas left and becoming to valuable to use for electric generation, they need nuke power plants.
That is why Iranians from all backgrounds, including opposition parties and Iranian expats overseas that HATE the Mullahs – generally strongly support the Iranian nuke program for energy and to defend it from ancient enemies with nukes – if need be.

So the problem is far bigger than just “I’m a Dinner Jacket.”

The nuke arms race is on in the ME.

In the long-term, the only possibilities are:

1. Destruction/ending of Israel, ending the race. Or destruction of Israel and its rivals in MAD.

2. Extension of the “nuclear umbrella” idea to the ME – but most Large parties are reluctant to bind themselves to nuclear war for the sake of “shitty little ME nations” like Iran, Syria, KSA, and yes, Israel..

3. Make the ME a WMD-free region like Latin America, Oceana, Africa are. All nations required to sign NPTs and remain fully open to NPT regime inspectors, especially if they have nuclear power programs. That requires finalized, mutually-agreed on borders. And may require large powers to agree to guarantee those borders.
============================
As for Jews and democrats, Jews and Republicans would be wise to explore with an open mind the “gaps” that block a more uniform Jewish voting and money donation distribution between the Parties.

Republicans unfortunately think it is All About Israel – and they can ignore the policies and cultural issues that keep Jews at arm’s distance from them – if only Republicans position themselves as to the Right of the Likudniks. Jews need to be more open-minded and less confrontational with Republicans and tell them that a Party that has a Base that seeks to eradicate all moderates and “RINOs” in the North and Midwest also loses the moderate Jewish population from ever considering becoming Republicans.

Sep 22, 2008 - 12:24 pm 83. jerry:

I see our neo-Nazi friend Cedarford could not resist coming to the party. Ironically, his arguments are far more compelling then the Obama trolls (that’s a complement) What does that say about Obama-ites when they sound less reasonable then a neo_Nazi

Sep 22, 2008 - 12:38 pm 84. Self-hating boomer:

Palin quoted the notorious anti-Semite Westbrook Pegler??

I read a rumor online that somebody said that they think they heard somebody say that both Obama and Biden had Wagner’s wedding march played at their weddings!!! OMG!!! They’re both antisemites!!!

Sep 22, 2008 - 12:39 pm 85. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Roger L. Simon
RE: History Repeats Itself….

….in politics as well as religion.

They ARE a ’stiff-necked’ lot.

In many ways this is a blessing. But in one….

Regards,

Chuck(le)

Sep 22, 2008 - 12:45 pm 86. eaglewingz08:

At the time the quote used by Gov Palin, Mr. Pegler was not an anti semite, but was an antitotalitarian. True in his later life he began to go off the deep end. But it hardly seems to matter to dems, as Djimmah Carter went off the deep end years ago, but has been given places of prominance at the 2004 and 2008 dem conventions without much protesting by Democraps or Jews.
Why the affiliation of Jews with democraps, the reason is socialism. The jews that came over from Europe during the mass immigration were jewish socialists for the most part. Hence, FDR, socialist par excellence naturally attracted them. Of course, at the same time, the Republican party was deteriorating into what the dem party is now, a sullen isolationist institution. The democraps took in the Jewish immigrants as part of their fledgling identity politics.
The Jewish voters considered themselves part of the good ole time socialist dem religion to this day. It is also fascinating that the two most rabid anti semites in the past sixty years were Harry Truman and Richard Nixon, but one of them birthed the Jewish State and the second saved it during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. (Most Jews still won’t thank Nixon for this extraordinary act which Nixon had to do over the obstructionist tactics of West European countries). So now, all Jews have left is the dem party of death socialists who are increasingly antisemitic vs Republicans who are the party of life and most in line with traditional Jewish values.
The Jews seem to believe that a strong state will protect them especially if socialist, but the history of socialist states in Europe and Asia prove that is the path to self destruction for Jews.
The only other possibility of why Jews vote democrap is to show to the rest of America that the stereotype of Jews being smarter and more cunning than everyone else is completely erroneous cause only true morons could vote democrap year after year.

Sep 22, 2008 - 1:21 pm 87. cedarford:

Cute, Jerry. I am an equal opportunity criticizer who goes after Muslim countries, Russia, Rising China, and Europeans with greater vigor than I slam Israel or AIPAC on policy. And regularly have much negative things to say about American corporatists, feminists, black radicals, intolerant Christian Talibanis, meddling Muslims, Open Borders Catholic nuts, Lefties.

But there is a contingent that believes somehow, criticism of Jews and Israel for engaging in vigorous efforts to transform America, the law, the culture…and the ME…is “morally off-limits”. And while other groups may be criticized, even without qualifying it by saying “Of Course, not all inner city blacks have problems, plenty of good things to say about KSA or the Chinese or French” – somehow ANY criticism of Jewish groups or Israel is “verboten”? And delegitimized as “neo-nazi”?

Your veiw would be less absurd if Jews and Israel were so removed from active involvement in major policy matters that criticizing and mentioning their role would seem odd. Just dredging an obscure group no different in beliefs, power, influence on a per capita level from other “identity groups”. Like if someone made criticism about Filipino and Ukrainian Americans activities and the “many” policy problems America had to make decisions on at behest of those ethnics affecting all of Asia or Europe and Russia over the Philippines and Ukraine.
But we do not. Because those Americans are pretty much low-key and no more involved in shaping domestic and foreign policy than the average American.

My advice? Get over the idea that only Jews amongst all the world’s peoples had great historical wrongs done to them before most Americans were even born, and of all peoples, those wrongs make only Jewish activities and significant involvement in various movements & special interest groups morally off limits from criticism. Or Israel..

As for you notion that Obamites are incoherent on the ME threat(s)…while many are…you also have Republicans that are so incoherent and simplistic on ME matters that they think it is all easily boiled down to “our heroes in the military can solve everything” aided by the wise guidance of the Israeli Right-Wing. (which is a minority smaller than the Republicans in America, in Israel, BTW..)

Much of my criticism of Israel and other ME nations, also ‘Oh By The Way’, comes from regular reading of Ha’aretz. Which is a great source newspaper.

Sep 22, 2008 - 1:34 pm 88. Pchas:

You could substitute the word “gay” for the word “Jewish” in your piece and it would ring just as true.

The Democratic Party treats gay people as if we were their “b*tch”. We are consistently taken for granted and treated badly, but we still come back for more. Earlier this year, the DNC fired gay and lesbian outreach director Donald Hitchcock because his partner made some remarks critical of the Democratic Party. Obama, has ties to the black churches, some of which are virulently homophobic. The Obama campaign featured Donnie McClurkin, a “reformed” gay gospel singer. And there is no difference in the party planks regarding gay and lesbian issues–they aren’t addressed either pro or con. So tell me again why I should vote for the Democratic Party?

Sep 22, 2008 - 2:03 pm 89. SAF:

Pchas:

I can’t tell you why but I will be willing to bet you the majority of the gay vote will go to Obama.

Remarkable when you consider how the Taliban dealt with homosexuality and the fact that Bush pushed them out of power. And the points you made as well.

I just don’t get it.

Sep 22, 2008 - 2:29 pm 90. penny:

The Democratic Party treats gay people as if we were their “b*tch”. We are consistently taken for granted and treated badly…

The modern Democrats are a plantation of victim groups – feminists, blacks, gays, Jews, whomever they can snare with a historic gripe or a handout. It’s fear mongering at best. Big socialist labor unions, Marxist academic hacks that just won’t die and the arrogant nihilistic chattering/artsy class of course have a home there too. They’ve set America and our noble experiment in tolerance and equality back for decades with their divisive games.

I’m not Jewish but as a friend once observed, it’s not a complete life if you don’t have Jewish friends, how true, they are generous to a fault, funny, smart, family oriented, all good things until you get to their toxic politics.

Thank you, Rodger, for putting this out there. It breaks the ice and starts a dialogue that is long overdue.

Sep 22, 2008 - 2:54 pm 91. Chuck Pelto:

TO: SAF
RE: Not Getting It?

I just don’t get it. — SAF

It’s really quite simple….

….they’re out of the freaking minds.

The why of it relates to a degree of self-hatred that is quite remarkable. As no sane person would be opposed to someone who prevented their mortal enemies from taking control of their lives.

And even if Obama became president and allowed for a total Sharia law implementation, they’d STILL BLAME BUSH.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[When all other options have been eliminated, the one that remains MUST be the answer. -- Sherlock Holmes]

Sep 22, 2008 - 2:54 pm 92. Fred:

Well, if you believe that G W Bush is an evangelical, and that the evangelicals are responsible for the war in Iraq. And if you also believe the war in Iraq is immoral, then the Christians begin to seem like terrorists too.

You leaped over too much in your argument.

Now some of these left-wing Jews believe that the evangelicals started the war in Iraq to protect Israel. Which they oppose because, um, it’s Jewish?

But those protesting Ahmadinejad can’t be all bad, right?

It’s always possible their lawyer told them they’d lose tax-free status if they had politicians from just one side. Possible?

Sep 22, 2008 - 3:08 pm 93. AJ:

I would not have been so kind, Roger. As Jew who woke up on 9-11, ALL Jews should vote Republican. There is NOTHING in the Democrat/Defeatist party for us. The liberal “Jews” I know are seriously deranged and have no interest in America or Israel, nor do they follow any news not on CNN. They are fools, and while some may wake up someday, sadly, many will not. Very stubborn and wrong.

Good write up though. I sent it out, but only got hate mail back.

Sep 22, 2008 - 3:17 pm 94. jerryofva:

Cedarford:

I have encountered you on many blogs and your anti-Semitism comes shining through even when Israel is not in the conversation.

Example: During the Virginia Senate race in 2006 you agreed with Webb’s denigration of Jewsih military service over the life of the Republic on Ann Althouse.

Sep 22, 2008 - 3:19 pm 95. fred:

There is a very good reason why Satan wants to destroy Israel and kill all the Jews. The Evil One wants to prove to the rest of us that God cannot keep His promises. That he cannot protect his Chosen People. In fact, the more he can convince Jews themselves to collaborate in this dastardly project the better.

Obama, his advisers, Islam, and the totalitarian Left are a severe existential threat to Jews and to Israel.

Sep 22, 2008 - 3:19 pm 96. v for victory:

Thank you for saying this, Roger.

Big tough Hillary and Obama can stand up to Fox News Network but are not willing to tell Ahmadinehejihad to go to the nether regions? Total bosh.

I have a feeling that the naval aviator and snow machine racer will be able to stand up to Ahmadnihejihad pretty well.

Sep 22, 2008 - 3:31 pm 97. Howard:

The reason blacks, for many years, were Republicans, was because it was the party of Lincoln. The reason for the solidly Democratic south for many years was because the Republicans were the party of Lincoln. Similarly, the reason many Jews were European leftists was because the rightist parties in Europe wanted nothing to do with the Jews, while the leftist parties (Liberals, generally) were the ones who opened the ghetto doors and the possibility of citizenship. Only about the time of our civil war did England decide that Jews could at long last hold elective office. Meantime, the rightist parties in continental Europe remained strongly anti-semitic, and when the Dreyfuss Affair rolled around, it was the left that stood up in defense of Dreyfuss and civil liberties generally. That immigrant Jews in the US tended to the left should be anything but a surprise, nor that they long regarded rightists, even in America, as suspicious. And not a few thought that the Republicans continued to be anti-Semitic until quite recently, seeing themselves vindicated when Nixon’s casually anti-semitic conversations were released on tape and in memoirs. The surprise is actually the numbers that have come over to the right. Often bitten, more than twice shy.

Sep 22, 2008 - 3:38 pm 98. ricpic:

The very term social justice makes me see red. And I was raised in a Jewish FDR-is-God household. But it’s all a lie. A malicious mendacious lie at that. Social justice and the social engineering done in its name makes hell on earth.

You know what real social justice is? Real social justice is LEAVING PEOPLE ALONE. That way cream rises and dreck founders and that’s that.

Sep 22, 2008 - 3:47 pm 99. SAF:

Chuck Pelto:

I agree, but still I can’t believe how out of their minds they are.

Since it is so much against their own interests you need to wonder how did they get so lost.

The lost tribes and the others seems lost again.

Sep 22, 2008 - 3:59 pm 100. Herb:

“But remember that Hillary Clinton – that paragon of the Democratic Party, a woman who calls herself a “progressive” (oh, desecration of the English language!) – was willing to forego the protest of the man who is arguably the most significant enemy of the Jews since Hitler for partisan and (most likely) personal pique reasons. How morally repellent is that!”

I don’t know, Rog. I take a dim view of protesters in general. This world needs fewer rallies and sign holders and more ACTION. What do you think will be the ultimate result of this protest?

Sep 22, 2008 - 4:01 pm 101. Marius:

As a gay Christian priest in the Episcopal Church, I’m supposed to vote democrat! My bishop supports the Palestinians unreservedly. Yes, the Jews should love their neighbors but they have a right to protect themselves if the neighbor wants to destroy you and your family. I have to “hide” from my colleagues or be discounted. Just like I have to hide my orientation from the Christian evangelicals I grew up with. I’m still voting Republican, and the gay community is committing self-destructive behavior by supporting the democrats. Remember, Obama never said he was “pro” gay. He justs said “play nice.” Mr. Simon has hit the nail on the head. I pray those who cleave to party will wake up and smell the coffee.

Sep 22, 2008 - 4:27 pm 102. Canadian Neighbour:

Jews have a reputation for being shrewd and clever. As a Jew myself, I must tell you: “It ain’t necessarily so”
American Jews especially, who have made the Democratic Party an object of worship are particularly blind and stupid. They, and their parents and grandparents have substituted FDR and the Democratic Party for Moses and the Torah even though FDR was an enemy of the Jews. Liberal American Jews- political idiots- Feh!

Sep 22, 2008 - 4:45 pm 103. Dr. Kenneth Noisewater:

I want a break, after a very dark color coded fearful life we’ve had to live for the last 8 years.

When you invent the time machine so we can go back to September 10, please let us all know!

In the meantime, wishing the war on terror away is as useful as looking for Big Rock Candy Mountain..

Sep 22, 2008 - 4:51 pm 104. DisturbedEma:

TODAH!!

I could not agree more with you- and as a woman with a special needs child, I am in full support of the change of the McCain ticket. . .

As a Jewish woman, I was raised to believe that this party was in my corner. . .and wow, if politics are so important, even more important than unity and bipartisianship in the face of a madman. . .I am out-

I am officially out of the party- and will continue on as an independent, L’Chaim!!

Sep 22, 2008 - 4:55 pm 105. Jim Blusterman:

You all seem to have lost any hope. How do you
square your comments with anything representing a
spirtual hopeful future outlook….so important
to religious and secular Jews. I’m sorry you’ve
let the cynicism creep in to your future. Ok, I
might be a dreamer, but most of you have lost your
soul.

In this environment, there’s always a boogie man.
Russia, China, Iran, Saddam, Bin Laden, Muslims,
Chavez, Castro. Perhaps another advanced weaponary
system will defend us a little more effectively.

If you believe that Iran has any chance at survival
should they launch a volley, you’re flat out wrong
Time to stop treating Israel in a paternalistic fashion.
I have every confidence that this is best handled by them,
and that they’re well equipped to defend themselves.

One last thing, if you think that Israel has a unified opinion
on Iran, you’ve never been to Israel.

Jim

Sep 22, 2008 - 4:55 pm 106. fred:

Jim Blusterman,

It would only take one Iranian nuke to utterly destroy Israel (such is the power of the hydrogen bomb)and inflict awesome collateral damage to Israel’s Arab neighbors. Israel does not yet have a BALLISTIC missile defense program, and we are just in the process of successfully developing ours. But Barack Obama has vowed to end that program.

You are unfamiliar with the religious thinking of the Mullahs, who believe the 12th Imam comes to clean up the destruction, chaos, and rid the world of the kafirs. The Mullahs believe that in loosing the bombs it will usher in the return of the Mahdi. Your reasoning is bereft of an understanding of Islamic scripture and theology, as well as breathlessly naive.

MAD does not work with these people. You assume it does and you assume incorrectly. They will lose millions, and will not bat an eye over that. Israel and the West will lose millions, and we will consider it a calamity and even a global disaster.

One of the Devil’s most important strategems is to convince us that either he or evil do not exist. To convince us that the world is really in Oz Land.

I’d like to know what your choice of pharmaceuticals is.

Sep 22, 2008 - 5:11 pm 107. cedarford:

jerryofva:
Cedarford:

I have encountered you on many blogs and your anti-Semitism comes shining through even when Israel is not in the conversation.

Example: During the Virginia Senate race in 2006 you agreed with Webb’s denigration of Jewsih military service over the life of the Republic on Ann Althouse

People were calling Webb “anti-Semitic” because he pointed out that certain groups, like his Scots-Irish, Native Americans, and evangelical Southerners have always made a disproportionate sacrifice in national service while other groups like Jews, wealthy WASPs, and Midwest Scandanavians tend to duck service, if they can.

And Webb said in the context of the military having recruiting problems when the Iraq war was at it’s most sour – did that as a call for other groups “shirking” the military by ethnicity or by being “sons of privilege” – to step up and serve.

Webb was making factual statements. Solidly backed up by historical stats and DOD data. I backed him up after looking at info on the folks who volunteered by state and ethnicity, back to the Civil War.

And he “helpfully” pointed out as he ran for the Senate how sons of neocons most in favor of more wars, and wealthy Republicans were also bigtime shirkers.

For that he was called “anti-semitic” by those that equate any criticism of Jews as illegal, or something that should be illegal – while I guess his slams on Scandanavian-Americans, rich Republicans and Neocons was “allowed” and not termed ignorant Red State Democrat “hatred.”

================
Off-topic to Simons column, but Webbs observations are worth knowing.
And the pattern persists through the Iraq War.

Sep 22, 2008 - 5:12 pm 108. nlcatter:

boradsword agrees but post no evidence

[The latter part of this post was removed for obscenity. Please refrain.]

Sep 22, 2008 - 5:27 pm 109. nlcatter:

I crafted the statment and workd order myself , dem organizers are too stupid to be clever

Corrupt = troopergate
lying – bridge to nowhwere
book burning – a book about Gays
creationist – AOG member and quote

[the latter part of this post was removed for obscenity. Please refrain.]

Sep 22, 2008 - 5:30 pm 110. Annabel:

Cedarford, you know full well that “neocon” is code for Jewish. And as for rich Republicans shirking duty, what about rich Democrats? As a child growing up in the early 70’s in a Democratic home in the middle of Los Angeles, the only person I ever met who actually served in Vietnam was the son of wealthy Republicans. Not a single one of my parents’ mostly Democratic friends’ teenage sons served. I’d say the “shirking” of military duty is a bi-partisan (or non-partisan) phenomenon among the wealthy.
And even now, as an adult still living in the heart of liberal LA with almost exclusively Democratic friends and family, the only young people I know who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan are the son of a prominent Jewish neo-con and the son of a Salvadoran nanny.

Sep 22, 2008 - 5:47 pm 111. Shalom Beck:

Conversation overheard at my synagogue picnic on Saturday (as Dave Barry would say, I am not making this up)

Reuben: If I weren’t Jewish, I’d vote for Obama

Simon: If you weren’t Jewish, you’d be pro-Israel, and so you’d be voting for McCain.

Sep 22, 2008 - 5:56 pm 112. fred:

Annabel,

You have to get used to c-fudd. His anti-semitism kind of grows on ‘ya. He thinks he’s clever and properly coded about it, but the Buchanan and Fr. Coughlin influence are unmistakable.

I was born in 1955, so I was a kid and a young teenager when the Vietnam War was going on. Since I was an altar boy at the Catholic school I attended across the yard from the church I had to leave class sometimes to serve funerals and I served about nine of them for flag draped coffins come back from the Republic of Vietnam. A lot of kids from Democrat families in Peabody, Massachusetts served in the armed forces during that period. After high school, I did a three year hitch in the Army. I met a lot of veterans of that war. Of all faiths.

I’ve been called a neocon elsewhere (c-fudd has not called me that, curiously)and I’m not Jewish, but most often when that epithet is used, especially by people on the Left and the paleocon Right it DOES mean “filthy Jew, traitor to the Left.” I am, by the way, a traitor to the Left.

I have no answers as to why in a place like SoCal there is so little patriotism and has been that way for some time. But it isn’t the only place where there is a dearth of a willingness to serve the country in the U.S. military. I think it is a function mainly of the education system, which is inhabited by Gramscian Marxist denizens – cultural Marxists who never pass up an opportunity to scorch the nation and its heritage. That and Howard Zinn’s textbooks.

Sep 22, 2008 - 6:05 pm 113. Elle:

Thank you for this article. As I learned more about the pressure that Jewish Democratic organizations were bringing to bear on the organizers of the anti-Ahmedinejad rally, I became enraged at these fools who, for political reasons, would do anything to further their ends–even disrupt a rally against a man calling for genocide of the Jews. I became enraged because this reminded me of the Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust. At that time, even in the darkest days, the various Jewish factions (such as the socialists, religious, zionists, communists, etc.) would not come together to discuss how to fight the nazis. Only after 90% of the Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto were dead did the various factions finally decide to work together to fight the nazis in what became the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

Sep 22, 2008 - 6:09 pm 114. Netsailer:

Right on! I’m an old ex-hippie/gentile academic who is surrounded by person of extremely high intelligence (why, they see and say it themselves) who simply cannot understand why I don’t agree with them. They recoil in horror when I bring up information from those dasterdly blogs, which obviously has not been subjected to the extreme rigor of the NYT, LAT and other prestigious organizations. I do win bets tho, since they are truly fixated in their religious obsession, wherein all that is good and moral obviously emantes from their side. so somehow facts, like about Iraq, are scoffed at until finally even the MSN takes note. and, I win a free lunch or two.

Sep 22, 2008 - 6:53 pm 115. Judy, NYC:

jews don’t much favor chaos. we tend to become either a rallying point or a target, in which case we have the option of packing our cardboard suitcases or sticking around to hear all the shit. the reason we all voted democratic party (with the shocking exception of my cousin, Larry) was the legacy of FDR and Eleanor, harry truman and fiorello laguardia. jews liked the zeitgeist despite the ever present anti-semitism. i never knew anyone, while i was growing up, who was not a socialist, or anyone who ever crossed a picket line. it wasn’t so much political, as philosophical. the democratic party, after all, had been in office a long time, and a benevolent form of capitalism wasn’t menacing workers with guns or 10cents an hour wages. it put a much better face on capitalism (which may have led to the desertion of the reagan democrats). the extreme jewish left are zealots. pacifists in ww11 and jewish anti-zionists from the outset, they are psychotically anti-semitic and the driving force in this democratic party. barry obama and this crazy bunch is just plain scary. many jews are in denial because they will not admit that the democrats of their memories are gone and, just like the nytimes, so is the democratic party. i am voting mccain-palin, and i sure hope they win.

Sep 22, 2008 - 7:16 pm 116. EricTheRed:

Holy moly! You’ve got beitzim, Roger. Fantastic article!!!

http://VocalMinority.typepad.com
Jewish and Republican?? Oy gevalt

Sep 22, 2008 - 7:25 pm 117. Pinni:

A concise clarification of your essay:

It is secular Jews that are Democrats and they will never leave the party as their parents and grandparents were members. It is similar to previous points in Jewish history where Jews chose to be naive and believe in the best of a person, regardless of evidence to the contrary.

Orthodox Jews are mostly conservative and usually do vote Republican. However, with the latest bailout (socialistic) plan by the Bush administration, a lot of conservatives are questioning whether they should vote for McCain this time around, as opposed to a third party. My response to that is Palin is libertarian on the economy and if McCain wins now, she will win in 2012.

Sep 22, 2008 - 7:26 pm 118. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Judy, NYC
RE: Hate To Tell You This, But….

was the legacy of FDR and Eleanor, harry truman and fiorello laguardia — Judy, NYC

They’re all dead. Along with JFK. And the party you ‘honored’ for so long died with the last of them and then the party started its long downward spiral to where it is today.

I figured that out in 1979 and voted for Reagan in 1980.

Are you a slow learner? Or just young?

Regards,

Chuck(le)

Sep 22, 2008 - 7:38 pm 119. Jeremy, Dallas:

I though I was the only Jewish Republican!!
What a relief to see there are others. It would also be helpful to actively denounce the most obnoxious members of our tribe (such as Sarah Bernhard) whose foul and ignorant rants bring dishonor to us and to all Americans. Her remarks about Sarah Palin were some of the most disgusting that I have heard from any Liberal entertainer’s mouth.

Since the Days of Atonement are approaching, this is a good time to take stock and change our old voting habits.

Sep 22, 2008 - 7:43 pm 120. Terry C:

Bottom Line: Arabs do NOT like Jews and of course, America. Who will protect America, Israel and the Jews?….Not the Dems. Out.

Sep 22, 2008 - 7:56 pm 121. achalle:

Sir:
As usual, well written and purveyed.
No prisoners.
No. Absolutely no exceptions.
See you in ‘09.
AC Halle

Sep 22, 2008 - 8:21 pm 122. miriam:

My (Jewish, atheist) family are so committed to the Dems that if they knew I was a Republican they would never speak to me. I know this for a fact, since this happened to a cousin who dared to dispute the party line.

I hate to be around them because I am afraid to be myself.

Sep 22, 2008 - 8:23 pm 123. David Warner:

“Palin quoted the notorious anti-Semite Westbrook Pegler”

She’s also quoted the notorious tyrant Lincoln and the notorious slave-owner Jefferson. Who’s next, the notorious terrorist Ben-Gurion? Oh, wait…

Sep 22, 2008 - 8:23 pm 124. fred:

miriam,

Your experience is not far-fetched and you are not alone in that kind of experience. And you don’t have to be Jewish to experience it.

The Left, right now, seems to be lapping at its high water mark. Even in my days on the Left thirty years ago it was not nearly so popular and powerful. This has been building for some time, and we will see if they finally do take it all this November. The aging Older Cohort of the Boomers in academia are getting close to retirement age and so their best work of indoctrinating is now behind them. I think academia, even though it is solidly Left, may be on the verge of a crisis because of the shocking degree of indoctrination and bias it exhibits. It’s bad when junior faculty and students have to hide who they truly are and what they truly think in those environments, just to survive and get a job or get a good grade. I think this Stalinist environment is ripe for a revolution.

Sep 22, 2008 - 8:49 pm 125. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Netsailor
RE: Go For the Gusto!

I do win bets tho, since they are truly fixated in their religious obsession, wherein all that is good and moral obviously emantes from their side. so somehow facts, like about Iraq, are scoffed at until finally even the MSN takes note. and, I win a free lunch or two. — Netsailor

My usual wager in such a situation is a six-pack of the winner’s favorite carbonated beverage in 12-oz containers. I’ve won so many that they just don’t bet against me anymore, unless it has to do with my alma mater football vs. theirs.

Back on betting….

….however, the wager is shared while facts leading to the winning are examined. It helps, but I still haven’t been able to convince many people of much. But at least they are learning to ‘pay attention’.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[The most simple-minded way of proving a systems effectiveness is the ability to win bets based on it.]

Sep 22, 2008 - 9:27 pm 126. Gary Rosen:

“I am an equal opportunity criticizer who goes after Muslim countries …”

That must be why C-fudd praised the savage Islamofascist child killers of Hezbollah for their “heart and courage”. Needless to say this, like almost everything he spews is a flat-out lie. For a window into a classic example of the antisemitic personality disorder, inventory this:

http://minx.cc/?post=66320

Especially post #51. That was a couple of years ago but he has continued on through Belmont Club, Althouse and onward. I could only laugh when he tried to suck up to Roger, claiming (falsely no doubt) to have read his novels. The only thing he is as addicted to as antisemitism is the pompous, turgid blather he emits, most of it regurgitating the the talking points of his hero Pat Buchanan. He’s been exposed at numerous blogs (and kicked off a few) and he’s looking for new ground so he’s even willing to come groveling to Roger even though Roger is one of the dreaded Ashkenaz Jews (six times more likely to be homosexual, at least according to research helpfully supplied by the C-fudd Institute for Historical Review bwahaha).

Sep 22, 2008 - 9:57 pm 127. Mary in LA:

TO: Chuckle
RE: Read the whole thing!

I think you missed the last line of Judy NYC’s post… might want to give it a second look.

Sep 22, 2008 - 10:06 pm 128. poul:

all israeli jews i know, who live in usa, vote republican. voting democrat is part of the ghetto mentality, fear of angering the neighbors. time to get over it – democrats aligned themselves with worst antisemitic forces out there. no wonder obama’s church worships farrakhan, and pat buhanan worships obama.

Sep 22, 2008 - 10:22 pm 129. nlcatter:

Palin quoted the notorious anti-Semite Westbrook Pegler”

Pegler ’some white patriot of the Southern tier will spatter Kennedy spoonful of brains in public premises before the snow flies.’

yes such a hero, next she will quote Goebbels

Sep 22, 2008 - 10:22 pm 130. Yaakov Watkins:

Since we are having a Jewish discussion here it seems appropriate to quote the Mishnah. Avot 2:3

“Beware of officials, they only befriend a person for their own needs. They appear friendly when it benefits them, and they don’t stand with a person in his time of trouble.”

Sep 22, 2008 - 10:48 pm 131. mwfsu84:

I am a Christian Republican. Contrary to what most liberals think, most of us do not handle snakes, we do not believe in theocracy. We are among Israel’s strongest supporters for historical as well as Biblical reasons. Israel is the Jews’ ancient homeland. And after the Holocaust, everyone – on the Left and Right – recognized the urgent need to establish and support the new nation of Israel. For some reason, many on the Left no longer feel that way.

Whether Jews vote Republican or not, you will always find Israel’s strong allies on our side of the political aisle.

Sep 22, 2008 - 11:09 pm 132. Blogs For Victory » Will American Jews Abandon the Democrats?:

[...] 23rd, 2008 at 06:02am Mark Noonan Roger L. Simon thinks they should: From the days of FDR, the vast majority of American Jews have identified with the Democratic Party [...]

Sep 23, 2008 - 3:02 am 133. daniel:

Many Jewish Americans, are Americans first and Jews second. This is their right and we should not question their integrity.

However, we should realise that Judaism is not a matter of race, or blood. Judaism is a state of mind, a worldview of a particular nation.

Our mistake is to identify people as Jews who would be Jewish under Hitler’s racial laws, but who may not feel (completely) connected to our collective experience of galut, shoah and geulah. They may be leftists, socialists, they may view themselves as world citizens, first and Jews or Americans second.

We should not ask them to change who they feel they are.

What makes Israel so important to so many of us, is that it is an antidote. The Shoah was a massive occurance, but the psychological effect -which will last generations- was dampened by the creation of Israel. It gave us hope, it returned a sense of trust, because even though the bottom fell out eventually there was a renewal.

Having this renewal threatened -by the Islamists and the Iranian atom bomb- forces those who identify themselves primarily as Jews (but also al large amount of Christians) to deal with the true meaning of the Holocaust. This we would rather nog do, because the true meaning of what happened 60 or so years ago is that there is no meaning, good doesn’t prevail. There is no sense to this universe, and God -if he exists- is most certainly not good.

I cannot accept the Shoah as part of a plan to bring about Israel, I do embrace Israel as a cure. We went from Galut, to Shoah, to Geulah but with the possibility of the Iranians nuking Israel out of existance, seem to be entering a 4th fase: Si’ut.

Nightmare.

Sep 23, 2008 - 3:21 am 134. RLM-Florida:

As a Southern Baptist gentile, Whose hero and saviour is a Jew I may have a view that is held by others like myself.

You (the Jews) are the apple of Gods eye. He (God) makes that very clear to us gentiles through what we know is his infoulable word, the Bible. And, we hold his word as being the food of our soul and spirit. We totally accept this as true and agree, having a whole and contrite heart.

What is mystifying to me and others like me, is how any Jew could possibly reconcile what the liberal party (who has hijacked the democrat party) stands for today compared to ANY of the fundamental Jewish beliefs. This is just mystifying, what has gone wrong and when?

I just don’t understand why a godly and proud people who are the “apple of God’s eye” are following a false prophet of gold (again).

Sep 23, 2008 - 4:07 am 135. cfbleachers:

The seminal question raised by Roger asks the implicity question:

Why do Jewish voters overwhelmingly align against the Republican Party, why do they adopt a nearly genetic imprint toward liberalism, why are they enthusiastic in parroting Democratic political talking points?

The answer is too complex for this forum and even a simplified attempt would not reach the core of a sound answer, but there are cultural forces that intertwine to make the fabric of secular Jewish life a cauldron of peer pressuring elements that work upon the Jewish psyche.

1) Jews are culturally very inclined toward academia. Some cultures place higher education and academic achievement as a “life command”. While this is true in Asian cultures as well, inter alia, some Brahman cultures…Jewish academia …

2)Champions the underdog. It is often thought of as an AMERICAN trait…to root for the underdog and champion his cause. In reality, this stems in some part from media and entertainment influences on the culture. Secular Jews have long been drawn to Hollywood and media outlets because comedy, free press journalism, and artistic expression were channels open for upward mobility at a time and in places where that did not always exist. (a parallel for blacks in sports arenas existed to give the same pressure valve release).

3) Hollywood, academia and media outlets drifted further and further leftward, many people believe in the 60’s…but actually it began a bit earlier when the flirtation with Communism became “chic” a couple decades prior. The Viet Nam war galvanized this leftward drift…and the drifting left grabbed the reins of virtually every element of our information stream. For nearly 40 years…the whole of our national communication system was bombarded with leftist talking points. Academia froze out humanities from anything resembling centrist or conservative thought. Hollywood became a hotbed of subtle and not so subtle propagandizing against anything but leftist principles. Network “news” shows were anchored by elegant warriors for leftist ideals. Cronkite, Jennings, Rather, …played a duality role…APPEARING as neutral and delivering as partisans. The inky brethren of the dailies and monthlies…began locking out centrist and rightward thought in lockstep with Hollywood/entertainment and academia.

This predated the world wide web and talk radio boom. The voice of the centrist was strangled and shameful caricatures of non-liberals were foisted upon the country’s subliminal psyche. Racist, sexist, greedy, mouth-breathing, not nuanced, reactionary, war-mongering….if you were not a liberal…you not only weren’t able to sit at the cool kids’ lunch table…you were probably stupid, venal and evil. If you take your cues from professors, comedians, entertainers and journalists….

4) The last thing you want to be is prejudiced against minorities or any other “underdog”. If you are culturally inclined toward compassion, if you respond to conflict with a Pavlovian instinct to mediate and toward self-examination and guilt…you will see the caricature painted of non-liberals…and

5)You will NEVER, EVER, EVER…allow yourself to be aligned with Republicans. The Democrats may hate you, they may be anti-Israel, they could openly despise “Jew Lieberman” on the Koz Kidz blog…but, your aversion to “non-liberal” caricaturing is so deep and abiding, you won’t be caught dead voting against a liberal.

Liberals today are simply one of two categories. People who are unwittingly brainwashed and those who see the game for what it is…and choose to further the cause intentionally.

Sep 23, 2008 - 4:50 am 136. hermie:

Knowing Obama’s history, at the first sign of trouble, he’ll throw Israel under the bus, along with Wright, his grandmother, etc.

Sep 23, 2008 - 5:13 am 137. Jim Blusterman:

Talk about ghetto mentality! You’re either with us or against us..come on, that bs has really helped in Iraq.

I’ve always chosen and identified with the intelligence and wisdom of Solomon and Mamonides rather than the necessary and heroic actions of David and Judah. We’ve protected (needed) Israel for quite a while, but at this point, they are perfectly capable of defending themselves. Iraq will never surprise them.

Sorry, in my opinion, dialogue always trumps blunt instruments when it comes to defeating your enemies. Those that can’t compete in that arena, those that adhere to the “Bush Doctrine”, continue to battle yesterday’s war.

One last thing, this blog is seeded with people that defend Israel as a means to and end…literally. Why else would there be so many references to hell and Satan? No matter how many times I read the “Old” book, I’ve fail to find references to either.

Be careful that these so called “friends of Israel” don’t have their own agenda. It’s still all about “perfecting” the Jewish people.

Sep 23, 2008 - 5:35 am 138. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Mary in LA
RE: Yeah…

I think you missed the last line of Judy NYC’s post… might want to give it a second look. — Mary in LA

….I saw that.

My points still stand:

[1] All the good Democrats are dead. All that’s left in the Left is a bunch of anti-American socialists.
[2] Why’d it take you so long to figure that out?

If it hadn’t been for these peoples’ stiff-necked nature, i.e., voting party line without rational self-interest, we wouldn’t be in the mess we are today. And that goes for BOTH SIDES OF THE ISLE!

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[Stupidity got US into this mess. Why can't it get US out?]

Sep 23, 2008 - 6:12 am 139. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Jim Blusterman
RE: [OT] Of Hell and Satan

One last thing, this blog is seeded with people that defend Israel as a means to and end…literally. Why else would there be so many references to hell and Satan? No matter how many times I read the “Old” book, I’ve fail to find references to either. — Jim Blusterman

Are you ‘blind’? Or am I misunderstanding you about no reference to ‘Hell’ or ‘Satan’ in that ‘Old Book’?

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[Satan's greatest trick was to convince people that he doesn't exist.]

Sep 23, 2008 - 6:18 am 140. newton:

It is good to see that someone is telling it like it is here, Roger. But we also have to point out that this is not the first time in Jewish history that this message has had to be sent – for a different reason, of course.

How many took a stand during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising? A small percentage, I think. How many stood during the last siege at Masada? A few. There always seems to be a few among the Jewish population who is not afraid to take a stand, while the majority go on like lambs, even to the slaughter.

But I take comfort in one thing. In the first Book of the Kings of Israel, the prophet Elijah complained to God that there was no one in Israel to stand with him for what was right, and that he alone remained. But God replied to him that were were yet “seven thousand in Israel who had not bowed before Baal.”

Let’s focus on those “seven thousand.”

(BTW: I’m not Jewish.)

Sep 23, 2008 - 7:24 am 141. newton:

“who is not” should be “who are not”. I can’t believe this! Argh!!!!

Sep 23, 2008 - 7:25 am 142. Bob Mulroy:

Good on’ya!

I think perhaps, only physicians vote in their own worst interest more frequently than jews.

Sep 23, 2008 - 8:09 am 143. Richard:

I have never understood Jewish support for Democrats. First, the core principle of the democrat party – group identity politics. Jews know all too well the outcome of this kind of demogoguery. Second – class warfare. Again , demonizing successful people simply because they are successful? Sounds an awful lot like the “greedy jews” smear to me. Third – a comfy and appeasement-oriented relationship with Islamic throatcutters,leftist tyrants and other anti-Semites. Of course I understand the reluctance of jews to associate with the party of exclusionary country club european Protestant aristocracy, but I think that is becoming more and more a caricature. Besides, who says it has to be one party or the other?

Sep 23, 2008 - 8:48 am 144. Lawrence:

I live in Israel, Tel Aviv to be precise and whenever I meet American Jews I expect them to be PC know-nothings caught in a timewarp, stuck in 1968, civil rights, the Vietnam War, Nixon – and sadly I am usually right. They are living forty years ago in the past. Just in the last two years I have heard them endlessly bash Bush (who I personally dislike too), however at the same time their silence over the Iranian madman was deafening, Hamas and Hezbollah too don’t seem to exist to them. It’s as if they think that if they keep blathering on about the evils of the Republicans (real or imagined) the Islamist enemies of the Jews will just go away. It’s all so pathetic, and American Jews are for the most part a pathetic clueless bunch, educated and miseducated in everything but what matters the most, how to survive in a world brimming to overflowing with Jew-haters. Rule number one – don’t support your enemies.

Wake up American Jews it’s 2008, not 1968. And I find it similar with Canadian Jews btw.

In truth I have no hope for American Jews – look at Hollywood, if you were to go by their “political” movies where they think they are being so “brave” gag gag to knock the Republicans and pretend that Muslim fundamentalism is either a side-issue or non-existent or all our fault – yeah you will earn the accolades from the Europeans – tell you guys what, I think one-way tickets to Paris, France (French Jews get it btw, not like their American cousins) or Gaza City for those Hollywood Jews would be a reality check for them…or maybe not, after all if you are blind and deaf, you are blind and deaf.

I cannot think of a single Hollywood movie which either acknowledges Muslim fundamentalism as an evil unto itself without sinking to apologetics and moral equivalising with the West, nor can I think of a single Hollywood movie (and I include the smaller low-budget films) that even recognises the pervasive reality of Left-wing Jew-hatred. Am I wrong? pathetic, cowardly, shameful and stupid – an utter disgrace.

Sep 23, 2008 - 8:56 am 145. Jim Blusterman:

Are you ‘blind’? Or am I misunderstanding you about no reference to ‘Hell’ or ‘Satan’ in that ‘Old Book’?

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[Satan’s greatest trick was to convince people that he doesn’t exist.]

Chuck:

Please show one piece of text that mentions Satan as a Devil type entity. Obviously Satan is one of God’s angels, but you will never find a reference in Jeewish teachings about a concept like Hell. You may spend an uncomfortable 11 months in what is referred to as Sheol or Gehinnom. This refers to the burning the soul feels at the heavenly trial after death. I found this very thoughtful section from an Orthodox Jew…stated much more elegantly.

Essentially, we are brought to the heavenly court (God) and judged. Satan (literally the accusser) is the prosecutor and wants to introduce all our sins into the equation. God is merciful, and drops some of the sins before the trial begins (Rambam, Hilchos Teshuvah). After that, the soul basically watches two movies- one is- what your life was- the other, what your life could have been. The soul feels shame at the lost opportunities, at what it could have been vs what it is. It is this shame that feels like an eternity of burning. The burning is not a literal one- it is the burning of shame that it feels at realising how it has transgressed, when it could have been so much more! Think of how, for us with physical bodies, the shame of being shouted at by a parent/teacher/ boss can feel like burning- how much worse for a soul which is a pure being and has no physical imperfections or mental imperfections to give it excuses! But though it states that this “burning” feels like an eternity- it truth, it never lasts for more than 12 months. God is much too loving to give out eternal punishments, just as a loving parent would never punish a child for forever.

Come on everyone, this downer attitude that the world is evil and that our life after 9/11 will always dark and negative is totally out of synch with Jewish teachings and enlightened thought in general. Be brave and fight on. Israel, under constant threat, never, and I mean never allow terrorists to rule their life. This administration has played the old okie dokie with those of you ready to support Republicans based on some percieved stronger position on Israel. As far as I’m concerned, I’ll always question authority, never trust anything the government spoon feeds the public. This administration has proven that your chances of success don’t increase based on the size of your blunt instrument…time to talk.

Republicans always seem to want to elect a father figure (and this cycle a mother figure) for president. Talk like the Duke, chew tobacco, dress a moose, play a Terminator, and you qualify to be a Republican candidate. Time to grow up, this ain’t your daddy’s world anymore. We don’t need another elderly flyboy given the tremendous issues in front of us. Pops just won’t have any energy at 72

Roger, my apologies for this veering off-topic.

Jim

Sep 23, 2008 - 10:02 am 146. Roger L Simon:

Jim Blusterman, you certainly are off topic. You obviously don’t read this blog frequently. For the record, I am a near atheist and completely disinterested in Satan (except in the South Park version when Satan had an affair with Saddam Hussein – very funny).

This comment thread seems to have veered off and I may close shortly.

Sep 23, 2008 - 10:08 am 147. fred:

Finally, someone who agrees with my analysis of what is going on with American Jews. “daniel”

daniel is exactly right. To use the term “secular Jew” is about as ridiculous as to use the term “secular Christian.” Neither observes their religion or identifies with it. Secular Jews cling to ethnic identification because those Satan’s spawn called the National Socialists and others, decided to racially stigmatize, persecute, and kill ALL Jews without distinction. Even Jews who were converts to Christianity were hunted down and sent to the camps or hunted down by the cossacks and brutally murdered or driven out. That’s why Zionism, a secular Jewish creation, came about.

But today’s secular Jews are not really Jews, just as Christians who have also opted for some variant of Marxism are not really Christians. What Mr. Simon, whose essay I still do respect and I get what he is trying to say, really should declare is that he is an American through and through who believes in the right of Jewish people to have their own homeland and defend it against their Muslim enemies who are trying to wipe it out.

I am beginning to think that there are more of us Christian gentiles who defend Jews and Israel than there are American “Jews” who believe the same thing. Let’s call these people what they are: apostate Jews who now believe in socialism/some variant of Marxism, and who identify more with America’s and Israel’s enemies than they do with their former faith community.

Mr. Simon is a rare apostate Jew who has not latched on to socialism. His loyalty is the same as mine: to the United States of America and its Constitution, which guarantees our right to live in peace and practice any religion or no religion at all.

The only remaining ghettos in America are really ghettos of the mind.

Sep 23, 2008 - 10:09 am 148. hermie:

I believe that the post WWII alliance with the Democrats was partly a result of the Rosenberg trial and subsequent executions.

The Rosenbergs, as we have recently seen, are now finally acknowledged as having been agents of the Soviets. But when they went on trial, it was turned into an issue of anti-Semitism, not anti-Communism. The GOP, who was the dominant political party, was blamed for this perceived bigotry.

The Left took this and tarred the Republicans with every evil; every form of bigotry they could throw. Jews who had significant voices, accepted and relayed these lies. Despite the facts to the contrary, Democrats were perceived as civil rights advocates, while their party leaders like Al Gore Sr and Robert Byrd were being instrumental in trying to derail civil rights legislation.

The fable of the Rosenbergs lived on for decades, and accepted as fact. The Democrats rode this fable to make Jewish voters a sure thing when it came to votes.

Despite Carter’s embrace of Arafat, despite Clinton’s work to make Israel weaker in the face of state-sponsored terrorists, the fable is more powerful and may take another generation to become just another fable.

Sep 23, 2008 - 10:30 am 149. BMoon:

“It is in that context that American Jews need to judge FDR’s repeated unwillingness to make the United States a refugee for Jews fleeing Germany. A single appointment to the Supreme Court doesn’t make FDR an anti-anti-Semitic much less the sort of person who should be a hero to Jews.”

True. But in fairness, FDR was sympathetic to the Jews and to Zionism but was weak and subject to his cadre of elitist advisors like the Dulles brothers. Thus his administration showed a passive-aggresive kind of Anti-Semitism that allowed the Holocaust and severely limited Jewish immigration. FDR also cut a deal with Ibn Saud, in collusion with the corrupt Aramco-bought Dulles brothers, and against his own sentiments, to help arm the Arabs and not to help the Jews in the soon-to-happen war against them in Palestine. Truman though did a lot to balance the FDR administration’s passive-aggresive Anti-Semitism.

My great garndparents were refugees from late 19th century pograms in Eastern Europe. Despite some persecution and hardships, they found in the U.S. the freedom to settle and prosper in security. My Jewish grandfather was a stockbroker who was adamantly Republican from the 30’s until he died in the 70’s, not because they were any more or less Anti-Semitic than the Democratic Party, but because he deemed that they understood something the Dems never did – economics.

Sep 23, 2008 - 10:31 am 150. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Roger L. Simon & Jim Blusterman
RE: Variance in Topic

This comment thread seems to have veered off and I may close shortly. — Roger L. Simon

No need to shut this thread down yet. I’ll move this particular off-topic discussion about Satan vis-a-vis some Old Book to my own venue. I’ll reply to Jim’s latest there…..and provide a modest link here…..all are welcome to participate…..

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[Do you realize that Santa is Satan misspelled?]

Sep 23, 2008 - 10:46 am 151. Chuck Pelto:

P.S. Roger, from your comment about being an ‘atheist’ of Jewish descent, I would certainly appreciate seeing your perspective on the subject of ‘Satan’…..

….it will be up tomorrow, as I have several other matters to attend to today.

Sep 23, 2008 - 10:49 am 152. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Roger, et al.
RE: Politics v. Religion

I think that it is vital to understanding politics to understand the morals that drive political discourse and the making of ‘law’.

All Law, as I see it, is based upon a concept of morality. All morality, as I see it, is based upon a concept of ‘religion’….including atheism, a.k.a., human secularism or whateveryouwishtocallit.

One cannot separate morality from law. Therefore, one cannot separate Law from religious belief.

If you think there is no such an entity as a god, you can do whilly-nhilly whatever you please. Including killing and eating your neighbors daughter, because you thought it was a good idea at the time.

On the other hand, if you think there is such an entity as a god, and one that will judge you to an eternity of bliss or torment…….well……what can I say…..

The Democrats, as of the Johnson administration era, seem to have decided that the best way to gain power in this country is to pander to the base-nature of humankind. That’s from observations made from the 1960s, when I became ‘cogent’ to date.

And that is how we got to where we are today….at a cross-roads…..

It will be interesting to see which way the nation goes. However, whichever way it goes, I’m confident in my relationship with powers above this venue.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[Every people get the governance they deserve.]

P.S. Based on what I understand of what’s going on around here, things are going to get a LOT worse before they get any better…..

Sep 23, 2008 - 11:03 am 153. hans:

message from holland:
I am glad to read this. and please do not believe that all europeans go for obama. I turned my face from him, when, for opportunistic reasons, he dropped his religious teacher who proved to be a black racist, in chicago. obama has two faces, and a hidden agenda..
absolutely nothing against black people, and I have lots of respect for your condoleeza, a fantastic lipstick-pittbull in politics, and standing straight for a safer and free world !
I really hope tha right person will be chosen, and that’s not obama !

Sep 23, 2008 - 11:11 am 154. WorkinStiff:

Was I Dreaming??? Or did I really just read today that 52% of Jews in New York support McCain/Palin while just 38% support Obama/Biden????…

Sep 23, 2008 - 4:31 pm 155. david levavi:

Jim Blusterman:

…I’ve always chosen and identified with the intelligence and wisdom of Solomon and Mamonides…

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, Jim. Before reading maimonides commentary you need to read the Bible.

Solomon was the first true Jewish royal. Born in the palace and bred to the purple. A tyrant son of a whore and a murderer whose first act is to kill and exile any and all opposition to his kingship. Solomon’s massive building projects, including the Temple made slaves of large numbers of Jews for the first time since the exodus from Egypt.

If you can provide an example of Solomonic wisdom that benefited anyone but Solomon I’d like to hear it. (Don’t get confused about two mothers claiming the same baby. The Bible isn’t a children’s story. Solomon’s point was authoritarian. If the true mother hadn’t stepped back that baby was as good as carved.)

Maimonides was our first modern rabbi and like his namesake, a great teacher and leader. His Thirteen Articles were reactionary, however, forcing a credo on the Jews which we did very nicely without. I would respectfully argue, furthermore, that his installation of a messiah and an afterworld in the last three Articles offends Abraham’s monotheism and true Jewith faith.

…Iraq will never surprise them….

Only months ago, the Russians surprised Israeli advisers in Georgia and captured the latest in Israeli surveillance drones. The recent dustup with Hezbollah in Lebanon also doesn’t inspire great confidence in Israeli military preparedness.

…Be careful that these so called “friends of Israel” don’t have their own agenda…

American Jewish attitudes toward Christian Evangelicals are obscene. English Evangelicals imposed on the Turks to protect Jews in Palestine from Arab pogroms in the mid-Nineteenth Century before Theodore Herzl was born and modern Zionism was established. I am a Jewish Palestinian whose family was among those the British Evangelicals pressured the Turkish Sultan to protect. Christian Evangelicals are the the rare Gentile group to whom the Jews genuinely owe a debt of gratitude.

(Anyone interested in this chapter of Jewish history may read Barbara Tuchman’s, Bible and Sword)

…We don’t need another elderly flyboy given the tremendous issues in front of us. Pops just won’t have any energy at 72…

Flip and smug, Jim. And grossly unbecoming for someone I would bet never served in the armed forces of the US or Israel. Contemptuously ageist as well from someone so full of Maimonides’ teachings on penance.

Sep 23, 2008 - 5:20 pm 156. Jim Blusterman:

Roger:

Understood and fully agree. Actually I read this blog daily…I like the variety. Thanks for the soapbox, I’m done….and I do agree about the Southpark version of Satan!

Peace,

Jim

Sep 23, 2008 - 5:31 pm 157. alan klein:

My own personal observation has been that “African Americans” and secular leftist generally are more likely to be anti-semetic and anti-Israel than are Christian conservatives. My other observation is that no other country has done more to protect the safety and freedom it’s Jewish population than has the United States. Mainly for those reasons and due to my gratitude for having been born in the U.S. I have been a political conservative since my college years. It confounds my Jewish mother, but she still thinks fondly of the civil rights and women’s rights days of the fifties and sixties. It’s an easy thing for her to do, staying married to the same religious man for close to 50 years, living in a gated community, watching CNN and the John Stewart show.

Sep 23, 2008 - 7:44 pm 158. Yusef Hakimian:

I am an Iranian born Jew who was educated, and has lived in the US for over 45 years. Unfortunately to many American Jews voting for the Democrat Party seem like Addiction, no matter what that seems to be the way to go

Sep 23, 2008 - 11:02 pm 159. Gary Rosen:

A couple of years ago, an occasional poster with the handle “Brown Line” made a very insightful and thoughtful post on why Jews still vote Democratic, all the more notable for the fact that he is not Jewish himself. Here is his post with my response:

:
“I would have thought that American Jews would be the most conservative voting block in the country. It sometimes seems that Israel gets more support from Christians in the US that Jews in the US.”

Barrett, I’m not Jewish, but I’ve worked for and with Jews practically all my life. In my observation, most Jews do strongly support Israel, privately, through donations and personal support. I am constantly surprised at how deeply many Jews will dig for Israel, and how strong the personal ties are. No, I think most Jews strongly support Israel.

What Jews don’t support is conservatives, despite the fact that we also support Israel. I think that this is principally due to the fact that until the Reagan Revolution, most flavors of conservativism were more or less anti-Semitic. I’m sorry to have to say it, but it’s true. William F. Buckley’s National Review was the first mainstream conservative publication to explicitly eschew anti-Semitism; but to this day, some ‘conservative’ spokesmen – I’m looking at you, Pat Buchanan – still flirt with anti-Semitism.

Most Jews also distrust fervent Christians, again because in the not-so-distant past, fervent Christianity often was anti-Semitic. For example, I am a practicing Catholic who’s in his mid-50s, and I can remember many expressions of overt anti-Semitism from my childhood and youth, both from clergy and laypeople – assertions of the sort that recently landed Mel Gibson in hot water. And it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that the same was true in many Protestant communities as well. Jews heard what was being said as well as I did, and they remember. Wouldn’t you?

Jews have long memories; they haven’t survived so many millenia as a people by giving their trust easily. Long, bitter experience has taught them to trust themselves first, and everyone else warily. It’s an attitude that’s entirely understandable, given how the world has treated the Jews over the last 3,000 years or so.

Speaking for myself, I have personal and professional reasons to be thankful to Chicago’s Jewish community. I will never forget their generosity to my family when we were in need.

:
That is an *excellent* description of the influences and mindset of most American Jews. I doubt if many of my fellow Jews could sum it up so succinctly.

One small correcton – Pat Buchanan does not “flirt” with antisemitism, he has been in bed having perverted sex with it for decades. On the other hand, his stature in the Republican party is fortunately vastly less than it used to be.

This, however, is a somewhat recent development. I’m a typical American Jew, to the liberal manner born, but my politics were beginning to drift rightward as long ago as the early ’90s. However, at that time two of the most prominent figures in the Republican party were Jim fuck-the-Jews Baker and Pat gas-the-Jews Buchanan so I kept voting Democratic a little longer (maybe too long). As you say, Jews have been around for millenia and have long memories so it’s taking a long time to let go of the traditional liberalism. Jimmy Carter is certainly helping the process along, though (I had some first-hand experience of this just a couuple days ago at a family reunion I attended over the holidays).

An additional comment – I want to second Brown Line’s citation of Bill Buckley in reducing right-wing antisemitism in America. Buckley recognized that after the Holocaust traditional right-wing antisemitism would be poisonous to the conservative cause and has worked tirelessly to eradicate it. While there are still Buchanans lurking on the fringes, Buckly has been remarkably successful in this effort, for which both conservatives and Jews should be thankful.

Sep 23, 2008 - 11:15 pm 160. Gary Rosen:

Oops, the colons should have been the two posters (Brown Line first, starting with the quote from Barrett, then me, starting with “That is an excellent description …”

Sep 23, 2008 - 11:16 pm 161. alan stein---:

The particular Jews who instigated the disinviting of Palin should be excommunicated or better yet put on Saturday Night Live.

When the party of my parents embraces terrorists like Bill Aryes and racists like the Reverend Wrong, Jews should flock to the alternatives. I will never vote Democrat again. That party has lost all of my respect.

Sarah Palin’s speech was published and we should all broadcast it to our friends and foes alike that we will pay any price to insure that theocratic lunatics like those who reside in Iran will not realize their Hitlerian wannabe dreams.

Sep 23, 2008 - 11:38 pm 162. Marc Malone:

My experience with Jews is consistent with the news of the day. I’m part Jewish, as well as a real mess of other things. Personally, I have not much use for them. I admire them when they devoutly practice their faith, but when they stray… whew! They never learn! They stray, they get in REAL trouble, then come crawling back to Yahweh, who makes them suffer for their fecklessness. They’ve been that way since Eve.

Now, they’re socialistic. Can’t get much further from your faith than that. Iran will eventually nuke Israel, and 6,000,000 Jews will die, and all that will be left are the feckless ones here in the U.S. WWII drove them out of just about everywhere else. The numbers elsewhere are insignificant.

We are their last port of refuge, and they support a party that works against their very survival! Jews: always turning their backs on God! A truly feckless people who deserve every bit of suffering they will be getting.

Sep 24, 2008 - 3:32 am 163. david levavi:

The self-defeating contradictions in Jewish voting patterns are well recognized but the reasons remain elusive.

Jewish voters are habituated to Socialism we are told. Secular Jews fall back on Socialism as a substitute for religion. Jews associate the Republican party with Pat Buchanan, Joe Sobran and Fascism. Jews can’t shake loose of FDR and memories of the local urban Democratic Club.

All true, I’m sure, but there has to be more to it.

Fear I believe is the primary motivator. A need by Jews to ingratiate themselves with the “people” whom, deep in their psyche, they dread. Not to be thought elitist, separatist or tribal.

In any event, talk is cheap. Especially in the middle of a heated election. What is needed is action. A Jewish voter registration drive by Jewish Republicans would be a good start.

The smarmy J Street Jews need to be answered. Activism is a two way street.

Sep 24, 2008 - 5:57 am 164. daniel:

but to this day, some ‘conservative’ spokesmen – I’m looking at you, Pat Buchanan – still flirt with anti-Semitism.

Actually I shouldn’t be in this discussion, as I am a European Jew. But I can tell you this: If there were as many anti-semites on the left as there were on the right, there would be no anti-semitism to speak of.

I despise Mr Buchanan, but he is a minority whereas on the left the antisemites are the majority.

Buckley recognized that after the Holocaust traditional right-wing antisemitism would be poisonous to the conservative cause and has worked tirelessly to eradicate it.

That’s correct, but why would this reflect badly on the right? Nobody on the left felt a similar need, and antisemitism blossomed on the left. Shouldn’t that be a problem for the left?

Sep 24, 2008 - 6:22 am 165. George:

I am a Canadian married to an American. I am of the goyem, my wife is tribal.

She is a fervent Obama supporter and almost spits out the words McCain or Sarah.

I cant understand her fervour. Yes Buchanan et al are clerical fascists, more at home in Salazars Portugal than in the USA, but shirley he does not represent conservative America.

Sep 24, 2008 - 9:15 am 166. Chuck Pelto:

TO: Jim Blusterman
RE: Of Hell, Satan and Politics

As promised, HERE is the off-site, off-topic discussion of how Hell and Satan relate to politics and, in some respect to religious beliefs.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
[Where you stand determines what you see.]

Sep 24, 2008 - 2:48 pm 167. Marc Malone:

You’re being too generous, Mr. Levavi. Many Jews just cannot pull for the common cause. During the Warsaw uprising in 1945, when the Germans seemed on the run, before the fighting was even done, some of the various Jewish factions started firing upon one another, so as to be in position to win the peace afterwards. Even after a terrible plight in occupied Warsaw, they still had bullets for one another. Feckless.

Sep 24, 2008 - 4:57 pm 168. Javelin:

Mr. Malone
maybe it seems a little elitist, but what are you talking about? There was the Warsaw Ghetto uprising in 1943, mainly Jews. Then there was the general one in 1944, where the Polish Home Army was ground down by the Nazis while the Reds watched them do in the rivals to their new Red Poland. By 1944 there was nary a Jew left alive in Warsaw. But 1945, no uprising, the Reds had securely occupied Poland and snuffed out the remnants of the Home Army that Hitler didn’t get.

Sep 24, 2008 - 8:11 pm 169. Javelin:

Funny thing is, most of the Arabs and Muslims believe that even Obama is controlled by the Zionists, like the rest of America.
If so, then vote for McCain and really put the screws on those Islamo-fascist scum!

Sep 24, 2008 - 8:15 pm 170. Gary Rosen:

Javelin,

Don’t even bother trying to “reason” with Malone. Like all antisemites he’s a nitwit and born loser. *Of course* he doesn’t know what really happened, just regurgitating Stormfront “talking points”.

Sep 24, 2008 - 9:38 pm 171. david levavi:

Marc Malone:

We Jews are many things, some unbecoming and unworthy of emulation. But feckless– ineffectual, incompetent (Schlemiel in Yiddish)–we generally are not. Witness our survival and our influence.

Feckless people are the objects of pity or contempt. Feckless people are easily dismissed.

Jews are criticized for disproportionate influence and power, not the lack thereof. Animosity toward Judaism is rooted not in the conviction that Jewish belief is confused, mistaken or incomplete, but in the irrepressible suspicion that the opposite is true.

Consider J Street. J Streeters are anything but feckless. Their effectiveness was clearly demonstrated in the suppression of turnout to protest Ahmadinejad’s appearance at the UN.

J Streeters, of course aren’t garden variety libral Jewish Democrats. J Streeters are a recent mutation of an old and familiar virus. Seditious, committed enemies of the US, Israel, Christianity and Judaism alike.

Patriotic Jews, loyal to their Jewish traditions and the American nation who wish to clearly distinguish themselves from such degenerates and their liberal Democrat fellow travelers have an easy solution.

Register Republican.

Sep 24, 2008 - 9:43 pm 172. Javelin:

IDK Gary
I’ve lived most of my life outside of jewish america, used to fight with liberal fluff head relatives who loved all our enemies and hated all our friends. I’ve lived in small towns and country side too so I have a good grasp of their way of life and thinking and if I could move away from this second rate metro area I am in, I would.
The Malones are more prevalent on the Right then the bigmouths would like to admit. Some of those beknighted red state people harbor really ugly attitudes towards Jews, not just simple stereotypes but ones of we are devils and Hitler was right. I am not saying they are the norm but you can’t brush that away either.
Though, ironically, it is the Palins, Bushes and McCains who give Israel the support that some, not all, demcocrats would not.
The left may have dropped Israel not so much out of anti-semitism but out of the fact that Israel is not an underdog in a normal sense and the Palestinians are seen as underdogs, not as the pointmen for Israel’s destruction they really are. I mean, since when did Arabs/Muslims give a hoot about the civil rights of minorities?
Though by doing that they fell into bad crowd of Muslim bigots.

Sep 24, 2008 - 9:59 pm 173. Gary Rosen:

David Levavi:

“Patriotic Jews, loyal to their Jewish traditions and the American nation who wish to clearly distinguish themselves from such degenerates and their liberal Democrat fellow travelers have an easy solution.

Register Republican.”

Done :^)

Javelin – I know there is still a fair amount of Buchananite right out there. But I really think things have changed over the last few decades. The Holocaust was a sobering wake-up call to many Christians who may have previously held casually antisemitic beliefs and the reaction manifested itself, for example, in the effort I cited above by William F. Buckley to eliminate this bigotry on the right. He didn’t completely succeed but he went a long way towards his goal. I used to have the same suspicious of evangelical or “extreme” Christians that many Jews have but my views have changed from personal engagement with some of them who are very fine, upstanding people and who do not have any traces of antisemitism, especially the younger ones.

As for the left, they keep trotting out this mantra that “you can’t call us antisemitic just because we criticize Israel” but there is just too much overlap between anti-Israelism and antisemitism. After seeing pious creeps like Jimmy Carter sarcastically and derisively referring to Jews as the “Chosen People”, or Pete McCloskey addressing a convention of Holocaust deniers, I have very little inclination to give any benefit of the doubt.

Sep 24, 2008 - 11:42 pm 174. Marc Malone:

Javelin, you’re right. It was very late ‘44. My bad. I should know that off the top of my head. The Russians had stopped to rest in Sep, and claimed to be unable to go any further. Of course, German and Russian soldiers were bathing in the river within shouting distance of one another, with nary a shot fired while the fighting in Warsaw raged. Tacit armistice.

Mr. Levavi, another definition of feckless is careless and irresponsible. When Jews stray from their faith, that’s how they seem to me. In short order, the wandering away leads to dire consequences for their race. Jews absolutely have to remain on guard. It sucks, but it’s true. There are many things that I admire about the Jewish culture and faith, but I tend to meet only the strays. When I think about it, without their faith, they do seem to meet the other definition.

For clarification, I have no use for those who would threaten Israel, but then, I’m a Repub.

Sep 25, 2008 - 1:09 am 175. Yori Yanover:

To start, I don’t believe it’s a respectable argument to suggest the reason someone holds a position has to do with their emotional deficiencies (“Many Jewish Americans still do this for reasons that are at best sentimental and nostalgic, and at worst self-destructive.”) I’m a registered Democrat and I have many good, material reasons to my preference. In the past, when I did not support a Democratic candidate I withheld my vote (I couldn’t bring myself to vote for Hillary Clinton for the Senate, for instance). Just this past September 15, in the primaries (which in NYC are tantamount to the real election, since we don’t have Republicans, we ate the last one in 1964), I voted for the press-beleaguered Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver despite the vast, emotional media campaign to “throw out the bum.” (Silver won by 68% – shows you what the NY Times can do with its editorials). My vote is always material, always based on meat and potato issues, never over sentimental stuff.

Indeed, to suggest, as Roger L. Simon does, that the brouhaha over the anti-Ahmadinejad rally should be the watershed moment over which I should forever change my vote, is at best sentimental, and at worst self-destructive. What happened there had little to do with protesting the Iranian’s official anti-Semitism and much, much more with total mismanagement on the part of the organizers. I stop shy of actually accusing them of a power grab, because I give them the benefit of the doubt. So let’s assume they’re f u c k u p s and not sinister Republican operatives, scheming to embarrass the Obama campaign. They certainly did not have the best interests of Israel in mind.

As the McCain campaign is going down in flames (Obama-Biden are at last opening 2-digit gaps in the polls), the Republicans have little left but game-tweaking tricks to support what is perceived by the majority of voters as the third term of a failed administration. To suggest the Jews should somehow align themselves with the loser because he wears his aggressive militarism on his sleeve is something one would expect of a Hollywood screen writer. I don’t happen to think that the war in Iraq was good for the Jews, just as I don’t believe bombing Iran is good for the Jews, either. And, for the record, I don’t believe Ahmadinejad is a modern-day Hitler. And anyone who uses that worn out metaphor loses a lot of credit in my view.

Sep 25, 2008 - 5:05 am 176. Vivian:

I’m really happy to read so intelligent comments from so many here, and to find your column, Roger. I live out on the left coast, in Seattle, where we have giant statues of Marxists and not nearly enough Jews–so please, some more of you please move out here!
I have a few questions for some of you: I don’t really understand the terms “neocon” and “paleocon”. Every time I think I’ve got a definition of “neocon” based on the context, I encounter someone using it in another way. Is it the same as conservative? And what about “paleocon”–what does that mean?

****change of topic
I have been horrified the past couple of years to sense the growing anti-Semitism here in the U.S. and abroad. A cyberfriend of mine in Israel is constantly receiving hatemail of a sort this young boomer never thought she would ever see in her lifetime. I’m a conservative Christian, and know many other conservative Christians, both Catholics and evangelicals, etc. While talk radio via wonderful people such as Dennis Praeger and Michael Medved has managed to put me in touch with conservative voting Jews, I’m amazed that there are not more of them.

Speaking for myself and all of the Christians I personally know—we consider the Jews to be our cousins, our family. The New Testament says that we believers in Jesus are grafted in to you, God’s family. So, whether you believe in Jesus, or even if you don’t believe in God, I hope you will understand that in our eyes, you are our elders and our family. If anyone ever tells you otherwise or mistreats you, they are not speaking as Christians.

Bible study promotes the feeling of deep kinship with the Jewish nation. Since the common person could not have access to any scriptures until after the development of the printing press and the Reformation, Biblical literacy has been a slow growth process. I just can’t see any serious Christian person being able to harbor anti-Semitism–it’s counter to everything that we study and know. Furthermore, many Christians spend thousands of dollars on trips to Israel to see where God made covenants with his people. Michael Medved organizes trips every other year here in Seattle for Jews and Christians to visit Israel together. If I had the money I would do this in a heartbeat. (Sadly, I’m one of those “white, poor, female Republicans).

Sep 27, 2008 - 11:45 pm 177. MIKE PEYSER:

Wrong, not nostalgia or habit. Reformed Jewish women think that government’s most important function is killing babies. And that is their religion (their own self-extermination program as well).

Sep 28, 2008 - 12:53 am 178. Lou A:

The thing about the Jewish left is their inability to hear read or comprehend anything that does not fit into their existing beliefs. Show them this article and they will regurgitate after reading the title that this is just right wing propaganda. Show them the documentation of the anti Israel perspectives of Obama’s chosen advisers and they will deny the source and become hostile. Show them documentation of his long term relationships with anti Semites, communist revolutionaries and terrorists and they cry guilt by association. The republican party is more dangerous than Ahmadinejad, Kim, or Chavez. The idea is to be progressive but to stay the same. To insulate in the smug knowledge that being Jewish means once upon a time people on the right and Christians were our enemies, we must continue to dislike them even when many of our enemies are now on the left. Look at the ADL, they still spend more time on Christian than leftist hate groups. Saving the whales is more important than saving Jews. Understanding our enemies is more important than protecting ourselves from those enemies. They feel sorry for people who teach their children to hate us and deny it could ever happen.
In the concept that if one people suffer or are put upon we can be put upon Jews miss that many underdog’s are faking it and want to destroy us; even if we are kind enough to give them the votes, or the guns to do it.
When did trying to be a good person become being self righteous and not seeing the dangers coming from the left?

Sep 28, 2008 - 2:34 pm 179. Lorenzo:

What’s more important than who Jews vote for, is for all Ameicans to work towards removing money from political races. When Fannie and Freddie were revealed to have paid off memebers of both parties to allow them free reign to cook the books, then what’s the point in voting to perpetuate a corrupt money driven process in which both the Democrats and the Republicans are equally corrupt. What’s more, having two year election campaigns that require hundreds of millions to finance, is excessive and narcissistic and ultimately corrupting. Ditch the Jewish angle and work for the restoration of a fair and honest economy and vote for whoever the hell you want.

Sep 28, 2008 - 3:49 pm 180. Marc Malone:

Lorenzo, I get so tired of the head in the sand argument. It’s the economy, stupid. Pay no attention to the little evil man behind the curtain.

I say this again and again to liberals: they always want to talk about “the issues”, not about right and wrong.

There are simply more important things in the world than my damned pocketbook (fair and honest economy). I think the survival of 6,000,000 Jews in Israel, and the survival of the Jewish race in general, is more important than the average increase in middle-class income. But, that’s just me.

Sep 29, 2008 - 1:31 am 181. jafamimi:

Roger, and all of those who have written such insightful comments. I know I am late in responding, so I have no idea if anyone will ever read this but I wanted to say the following; I am a 60 year old baby boomer, evangelical Christian. I never in all my forty years, as an evangelical, have heard anyone teach, preach or speak at any Christian gathering, anything other than that the Jews are God’s chosen people and that everything in our lives, as gentiles, has to do with and is affected by what happens to Israel. For those of us who know scripture, Israel is the key to everything. We are very aware that any people groups who are against Israel, are against God, regardless of what they purport. Our beliefs revolve around what happens to Israel and those of you who are God’s chosen people. Those of us who are true believers in Christ, will always be FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND ISRAEL. We are your greatest supporters.

So glad to find this wonderful blog and comments. Please know, whether you are secular or not, we true Christians are praying for you and standing with you against any enemies of Israel. Those who do not, have never read or disregard what the Bible teaches.
Please do not be fooled by political persuasion, but decide by what is good for this country, so that we never, ever have a dictator, or a police state, telling us what we can and cannot believe or speak; A road we seem to already be heading down. It is very frightening.

Oct 7, 2008 - 4:39 pm 182. Why So Many Jews in the Democratic Party? « Don’t Drink the King’s Wine:

[...] of the danger of blind affiliation with any political party. Secular Jews, Simon argues in this open letter, are particularly susceptible to blind affiliation with the Democratic [...]

Oct 23, 2008 - 1:34 pm

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