Correcting the Record on the Jewish Vote in 2010

[Omaha Steve]

Run time: 01:30 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzrSyp-9Joo   Posted on YouTube: November 04, 2010 By YouTube Member: jstreetdotorg Views on YouTube: 308   Posted on DU: November 04, 2010 By DU Member: Omaha Steve Views on DU: 541

 

It was a very tough election to watch, but for J Street, the real work starts right now.

Our election night polling showed that American Jews stood strong in the face of the conservative tidal wave and remained a rock-solid progressive and liberal constituency -- and deeply supportive of strong American leadership to achieve a two-state solution.

Yet neoconservative and partisan activists and organizations are furiously spinning the media, claiming that pro-Israel, pro-peace candidates suffered and that Democratic electoral losses are somehow the result of President Obama's Middle East policies.

They are wrong. And we have the data to prove it.

I just recorded a quick video message about the election and what you can do right now to help us spread the truth about the popularity of pro-Israel, pro-peace views in our community.

Click here to watch the video.

The Jewish community and our elected leaders need to know just how popular bold American leadership to achieve a two-state solution really is amongst American Jews.

Here's how you can get prepared to push back on this campaign of misinformation:

1. Come get the truth about the American Jewish vote and Israel in 2010 on a telephone townhall tonight at 8:30PM Eastern with Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (fresh off her victory in the Illinois 9th Congressional District), American Jewish opinion expert Jim Gerstein, and J Street Founder and President Jeremy Ben-Ami.

Click here to RSVP for the call before the 3pm Eastern Deadline. For those who can't make the call, we will post a recording the following morning on our website.

When you RSVP, we will call you tonight between 8:30 and 8:40 PM Eastern and place you right on to the call. You'll be able to pose questions and hear important information from our participants, as well as a few special guests.

2. Visit 2010.JStreet.org -- We built this website repository of critical polling information, fact-sheets, one-pagers, and more so that you could pass it on to your friends and family. Click here to go to 2010.Jstreet.org.

3. Check out the Top Ten Facts about the American Jewish Vote and Israel. Click here to see the super-easy-to-share Top 10 Facts.

4. Read through all the polling data, analysis, and more from Pollster Jim Gerstein. Click here to view the full data.

Thanks so much for all you do. And don't forget to forward this email to 5 friends and family right now.

It was a tough night, but the fight is just beginning.

We'll be in touch,

--Isaac

Isaac Luria
V.P., Communications and New Media
JStreet
November 4, 2010

J Street is the political home of the pro-Israel, pro-peace movement.

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[JDPriestly]

1. Thanks. Here on DU there are a lot of misunderstandings

about Israel and the Jewish community. Thanks for clarifying this aspect of the issue.

[garthranzz]

2. I guess I'm an anomaly

I'm an orthodox Jew, opposed, strongly, to a "two-state solution." (Historically, such a situation is inherently unstable and will not last.)

I am also a very strong supporter of President Obama. To the befuddlement of my Republican and conservative friends, I argue that Obama's policies protect Israel better than Bush's - and the facts (simple ones) prove it.

What American Jews have to realize is that no American President can support Israel unconditionally - it would violate his (or her) oath of office. To paraphrase, the conflict lies not in Washington, but in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv (and the "suburbs" of New York, etc.).

But to say that the neoconservatives with their empty pro-Israel talk have not made strong inroads into the Jewish community - not just the orthodox - is delusional. The Jewish community used to be the one of the most solid Democratic block, sometimes with percentages higher than even the Black community. 66% is much less than the 80% of less than two decades ago. And in a time of close races in key states, a swing of 3-5% of a key demographic can be disastrous. So the Republicans have made it a wedge issue, successfully. They don't need a majority of Jews, just to reduce the majority that the Democrats have.

The number shift may simply reflect a socioeconomic shift - Jewish business folk vote like other business folk. I'm not convinced. I think the confusion in Israel over Israel, and the left's biased - and often shrill - pro-Palestinian positions have also contributed to the flight or fear of many not-so-orthdox Orthodox and Conservative-only-in-synagogue Jews. Recruiting such Jews with Rovean language and tactics has been a clearly stated goal of the Jewish Republicans.

I'm not offering answers here, just observations. One of my frustrations is how much Israel has become a wedge issue in the Jewish community, making it difficult to get more observant Jews lined up where they would otherwise align themselves - on the side of progressive issues.

(It was an interesting video. And an ironic name. Isaac Luria was a major Kabbalist.)

OK. Now the flaming can start. I'm expecting it, from past experience, and have my flame wall up.