does a Jew really have a snowball's chance in hell of becoming President?

[pruner]

not necessarily (God forbid) Lieberman, but any Jew?

as a Jew from the Northeast, I don't really see it happening anytime soon.

especially after Mel Gibson's new movie comes out. (only half-kidding)

[ibegurpard]

1. I think so

But not LIEberman

[JNelson6563]

2. I'd vote for Levin

but unfortunately he has no aspirations along those lines....

Julie

[salin]

18. I would as well.

Voted for him as senator - proudly. Would vote for him for higher office. He IS a man of integrity and great wisdom.

[Corgigal]

3. Jon Stewart

would get my vote and he has such lovely hair. HA

[mitchum]

15. Stewart said he used to be Jewish...

until he "saw a soldier break a little girl's arm"

[Ein]

4. Yes.

I don't care about gender, race, religion, or any shit, other than the policies.

And if Joe Average doesn't feel that way he can go hide behind his hood some more.

[MiltonLeBerle]

5. not if his name is Joe Lieberman.

Jon Stewart, maybe.

[newyorican]

6. I don't see why not...

Racial/Religious/Ethnic accidents of birth are of no consequence to me. Issues, issues, issues....

[charlie]

7. Considering that Barry Goldwater

was chosen as original standard bearer by the xenophobic wingnuts in the Republican party, I'd say yeah.

[mitchum]

14. Actually Goldwater wasn't Jewish...

I too had always assumed that he was, but found out just a couple of years ago that it wasn't so

[charlie]

20. Doesn't matter though

Whether he was or not, he got the backing of the segment of the population that would be hyper-wary of anyone with the "taint" of Jewishness.

[GBD4]

16. He was raised

as an Episcopalian, which was his mother's faith

[Devlzown]

8. America elected a jewish

VP in 2000. Therefore, I don't think it's out of the question that a jew would be elected for the top job.

[CarlBallard]

12. Good point

n/t

[mopaul]

33. exactly devl

anyone who voted for gore, like me, voted in theory for a jewish president. al gore gets hit by a truck and zoingo, a jewish president. perhaps the real hard ass people in charge just could not accept that idea and threw a coup.

[Eloriel]

9. Sure -- just not

this Jew. And his problem has NOTHING to do with his Jewishness, at least not in my mind. I never even think about it until someone brings it up.

Eloriel

[GBD4]

10. Ed Rendell

someday, perhaps

[Ein]

13. Are you a penna. person?

Do you have any relavent links on Rendell's history, his politics and such. Haven't looked into him much, though I vaguely remember him talking down about Bush when he came to Scranton.

[GBD4]

19. Floridian here

I just happen to know that Rendell is Jewish, and that's the topic here. I know nothing about his politics, other than the fact he's a very popular Democratic Governor of PA who was extremely successful as Philadelphia Mayor supposedly.

[MarianJack]

34. A Former PA Person

I used to live in PA before moving to Maine. Ed Rendell first became D.A. in Philadelphia in 1977 replacing a dunce in the primary. He served 2 terms. He became mayor in 1991 and rescued the city from financial disaster. He became governor in 2002 and was the first Democrat from Philadelphia to win statewide office in decades.

I always thought that he would be a perfect Atty. General under the next Democratic president to undo some of the ashcroft damage.

I always loved that Rendell is a voice of reason & common sense. He has been pleading with the Democratic candidates to stop the bickering.

By the way, when I say "he became...", I mean the year he was elected.

Ed Rendell is one reason to be proud to be Democrats. In PA the rethuglicans have arlen specter & lil' rickey santorum.:eyes: In the 1994 campaign, Theresa Heinz described santorum as "A Forrest Gump with an attitude". Smart lady!:bounce:

[Cha]

11. It's not the label it's the man or woman!

:kick:

[SharonAnn]

17. Not in East Tennessee, no way!

Not now, not probably ever in my lifetime.

[flamingyouth]

21. No, sadly, I think not

Have we ever had a non-Christian president?

I'm just wondering.

[unblock]

22. the early presidents were deists

washington never publicly claimed to believe in christ. he rarely attended services, and wasn't particular when he did.

if he felt aligned with a particular sect, he kept it a secret.

[Kamika]

31. wasnt he a mason?

I thought all the early founding fathers were free masons

[dfong63]

23. while you're at it,

... why not ask the same question about a woman, a black, or a latino - all groups whose population is far greater than that of Jewish Americans, yet are vastly under-represented in congress, and have never had one of their number elected president.

if you look at the number of Jews in the senate, congress, and statehouses, vs their percentage of the population as a whole - i think Jews have little grounds for complaint.

one data point: CA has 2 Jewish senators. what are the odds?

[Stuckinthebush]

24. Sure...I don't think that matters anymore

Of course to some people it does, but the majority just doesn't care.

[Blue_State_Elitist]

25. How about a non religious president

Religion is the reason this world is the way it is. From extremists to pro lifers.

[Melsky]

26. I'm holding my breath until we elect a black female pagan!

Just kidding, but I would like to see a president who is not a white christian male in my lifetime.

[jagguy]

27. been thinking about this one all evening

and I have to say no. Ditto for another Catholic. Most don't remember what a BIG deal it was when Kennedy was running. People were convinced that the Vatican would be calling all the shots. Seriously !

I think there is a much better chance of having a woman or a black winning before anyone with a polarizing religeon does.

[kentuck]

28. Absolutely!

But his loyalty to America must be stronger than his loyalty to Israel. And his religion must not outweigh the laws of our Constitution - just as JFK had to put his Catholicism on the back burner while he was President. So, yes, a Jew could be elected President but I don't think Joe Lieberman is electable.

[DeanMachine]

29. Not if his name's LIEberman

Any Jew who ran for president must be anti-Zionist. That is as self-evident as the need for a Palestinian state.

[Kamika]

30. no sorry

I just dont see it happen especially how the rightwing christians has so much power.

as i see it except for the white Man only a black Man has a chance of becoming president right now MAYBE a latin Male too.

But that needs to be someone really extraordinary like Colin Powell



oh and forget a woman

[mopaul]

32. good question

i also don't like lieberman. but i think it could happen, if it was the right guy/girl. if you actually left it up to the american voters, and not the electoral cheating system. i think a jew could win, given the right approach. or a black man or woman. i used to think it could never happen, but things change.

joe may be a little 'too' jewish for most haybenders. i frankly don't care about a guy's religious persuasion if it's genuine and benevolent. monkeyboy uses phony religion to appeal to the dumbest of the dumbass bornagains, cause that's one of their most reliable voting bases.

we had a catholic president, and i remember hearing nasty things said about catholics around my house that i'd never heard before from the parents. they are protestant, and they worried about it. i'd rather have the average jewish american for president than the average southern baptist. one of the bad ones that is. anyone but devil boy.

[bleedingheart]

35. i am not sure

but remember anyone can be president...

Currently we have an unelected twit ... so you never know...

Personally I don't care as long as the president doesn't try to convert me...(that goes for christians as well)...

I really don't like excessively religious politicians like Santorum..etc