Podhoretz asks: "Why are Jews liberals?"

AP via Yahoo! News ^ | Wed Sep 2, 2009 | By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer

[Beloved Levinite]

Podhoretz asks: Why are Jews liberals? Buzz up!17 votes Send Email IM .Share Delicious Digg Facebook Fark Newsvine Reddit StumbleUpon Technorati Twitter Yahoo! Bookmarks .Print .. AP – FILE - In this June 23, 2004 file photo, Norman Podhoretz is shown after receiving the Presidential Medal … .By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer Hillel Italie, Ap National Writer – Wed Sep 2, 7:02 am ET NEW YORK – Norman Podhoretz, the neo-conservative and former Commentary editor, is a stocky, confident man whose book-filled Upper East Side apartment features a bronzed wall image of Teddy Roosevelt with a bold-faced statement from the most bullish of presidents:

"AGGRESSIVE FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT IS THE NOBLEST SPORT THE WORLD AFFORDS."

Like Roosevelt, Podhoretz prefers periods to question marks, with declarative books such as "Making It," "World War IV" and "The Bloody Crossroads." Since leaving liberalism in the 1970s, he has not doubted his turn right or hesitated to confront former friends, especially in defense of Israel.

He is 79, proud and satisfied, even with Democrat Barack Obama in the White House. But one issue nags him past the point of thought, a disappointment he brands by punctuation. It provides the title for his new book, "Why Are Jews Liberals?"

[justiceseeker93]

I don't really think that "most American secular Jews ... love abortion." Speaking from a Jewish perspective, I've seen an occasional loudmouth Jewish female rant about "a woman's right to choose," but I've never even heard of even one particalar Jewish woman whom I've known who actually had an elective abortion. I am certain that the abortion rate among Jewish women in the US is far below the national average. The hypocrisy is amazing!

As to your statement that "most American secular Jews despise serious Christians," that's an overestimate. I think that comes into play primarily with direct proselytization. Serious Christians should understand the historical and psychological reasons for this and act accordingly, as many already do.

[Let's Roll]

Because they are masochists.

[justiceseeker93]

Republicans represent the establishment, normalcy, orthodoxy. Democrats are more representative of the outsider, the deviants.

That statement is grossly oversimplistic, a tired cliche. It depends upon what period of American history you are talking about and what defines "the establishment" and "the outsider." Obviously, many parts of the current "establishment," e. g., the massive government bureaucracy, are controlled by 'Rats.

And certainly Jews, in general, are not "outsiders" in today's US, from just about any objective standard. Probably the majority of American Jews alive today are at least second generation American-born and have ancestral roots in the US going back to before WWI. In addition, Jews as a group are wealthier and more educated on average, and receive no benefits from "affirmative action" (in contrast to other "outsiders").

Furthermore, it should be noted that the two most statistically antisemitic and anti-Israel groups in the American population, Moslems and black radicals, are pandered to by the Democratic Party.

The fact that the allegiance of the majority of today's American Jews lies with the 'Rats is more of a pathological addiction than a "tradition."

[steven33442]

And I think you are a cliche, my dear friend.

[Zman516]

I’m not Jewish so this is just a guess on my part, but I do think it is a factor, however small:

Since the Nazis have incorrectly been labeled by leftists as “extreme right wingers” since WWII, (well, Nazis and Communists hated each other, so they MUST be opposite ends of the political spectrum, right?) I think Jews have suffered from a kneejerk negative reaction to the thought of Republicans as being “right wingers”.

[justiceseeker93]

And I think you are a cliche, my friend.

Well, if you disagree with me, which I don't mind, let's talk facts and logic, and let's keep this on a higher plane than personal barbs.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I’ll concede the Dems represent the deviants, but as for being outsiders/anti-Establishment ? Nope. It’s my beliefs and standings that have been run down by these cretins, and I’ve been on the outside since the day I aligned with the GOP 23 years ago. The Dems ARE the Establishment (along with their RINO stooge/meatpuppets).

[Just A Nobody]

Jews as a group are wealthier and more educated on average, and receive no benefits from "affirmative action" (in contrast to other "outsiders").

Sounds about right to me. A number of years ago a brilliant Jewish friend could not get into med school. He was at the top of his class with test scores off the charts. Affirmative action was the reason he didn't qualify. It was the first time I understood what AA was all about.

[sheik yerbouty]

There should probably be an APA number for it, but some of it, in large cities, is a case of Stockholm Syndrome..

[9YearLurker]

I think there’s great (understandable) ethnic pride in the high IQ and intellectual contributions of the Jews, and a reluctance to separate themselves from an association with that.

[Eleutheria5]

There is some pathology, but the Democrats also (mis)represent to Americans the Jewish tradition of compassion for the poor, the infirm and the downtrodden. This association is mistaken, is the result of cynical deceit and demagoguery on the part of the Dems, but it’s usually made by Jews in good faith in their adherence to the Democratic Party. From this stems American Jewish sympathy for the Palestinians, who are held out by the MSM and the Dems as a downtrodden, oppressed people, and American Jewish antipathy for Israel, which then becomes the oppressors of the Palis. It’s nothing inexplicable or bizarre. It’s misguided and mistaken, but not willfully so.

[VOA]

“This question has always puzzled me. But, I am but a “mere gentile,”
so I would love to hear the “Jewish FReeper” perspective.”

I’m not Jewish, so I can’t give you that particular perspective.

But I can tell you as a fervent listener to the Dennis Prager
Radio show while I was in Los Angeles during 1995-2005, he did a
show or two on how wrenching it was for American Jews to leave the
Demoratic Party.
Prager and a fair number of Jewish callers have recounted how
self-conflicted they were when they cast their first vote for a Republican.
Seeing how their families were committed Democrats and revered
FDR as being just a little lower than Jehovah.

[Pharmboy]

You're mixing up the religious aspects of Judaism with its cultural and genetic apects. Greeks who leave the Greek Orthodox Church or Armenians who leave the Armenian Orthodox Church, etc. etc. do not cease being Greeks or Armenians.

[ml/nj]

The fact that the allegiance of the majority of today's American Jews lies with the 'Rats is more of a pathological addiction than a "tradition."

Yesterday at my shul, the speaker was exhorting the faithful to show up for the demonstration on September 24 (supposedly) against Ahmadinejad. (My own view is that such gatherings tend to honor the guy, and that it would be better if no one noticed that he was here.) Ahmadinejad doesn't pay any heed to demonstrators in his own country. He certainly isn't going to be influenced by any in ours; beyond swelling his head

So there was all of the usual stuff about what a bad guy he is and the speaker even mentioned his association with another bad guy, Chavez. The one word never uttered during the talk was "Obama." It is as if the speaker hasn't noticed that Obama is more comfortable with Ahmadinejad and Chavez than he is with Netanyahu. Only Netanyahu is belligerent and uncooperative.

No. I won't be showing up to honor Ahmadinejad on the 24th. He isn't the enemy we need most be concerned about.

ML/NJ

[justiceseeker93]

...but the Democrats also (mis)represent to Americans the Jewish tradition of compassion for the poor, the infirm, and the downtrodden.

Good point. But most Jews should be smart enough to be able to see through the 'Rat hypocrisy by now, since it has been getting worse by increments over the last several decades, capped off by the current Administration and Congress. Now we have the spectacle of ObamaCare, whose primary champion is a "Jewish" doctor (Zeke Emanuel) who approaches medical care not from the point of view of preserving and improving every patient's life to the greatest extent possible, but from the standpoint that some lives are worth it and some aren't aren't, with rationing decisions to be made according to whims of government bureaucrats.

Zeke The Freak's approach is diametrically opposed to the fundamental Jewish value of the sanctity of the individual's life. I can't see how any Jew - even Reform - can support this monstrosity and still call himself a Jew.

[justiceseeker93]

I would disagree with your opposition to demonstrating against Ahmadinejad. But I would agree that demonstrating against “Osama” Obama is more important. And if your speaker was talking about a demonstration Sept. 24, how about talking up the bigger one this coming week in Washington?

[ml/nj]

how about talking up the bigger one this coming week in Washington?

It's on Shabbat. He didn't mention it.

ML/NJ

[justiceseeker93]

...how wrenching it was for American Jews to leave the Democratic Party.

Yes, there is an uncomfortable withdrawal to be expected when one breaks an addiction!

I'm Jewish and have never voted for a 'Rat in a presidential election. Nor am I inclined to vote for one for any elective office, because I've come to realize that they are just about all committed statists. So I've just said NO, and never had any withdrawal anxiety.

[Eleutheria5]

That’s where the pathological part kicks in. They simply cannot break out of this mindset, and by “they” I mean very close relatives of mine. “Democrats, compassionate, stand up for the little guy. Republicans, baaaaaaaad!” I saw through it years ago, and never regretted changing my thoughts.

Zeke Emanuel’s medical philosophy is nothing new. That was part of the Nazis’ slow march towards genocide. I cannot imagine what motivates this appalling little monster, and how this heinous ideology could ever again gain currency anywhere, let alone in the United States.

[MestaMachine]

Jew is NOT a race OR an ethnicity. There are, for example GREEK Jews and ARMENIAN Jews. Israeli Jews and American Jews. There is no where on earth called Jewland.
There are white Jews and black Jews, Chinese Jews, and brown, *hispanic Jews but you can’t do a blood test to determine who is Jewish.
If you intend to NOT be Jewish, then stop calling yourself a Jew and stop embarrassing the rest of us who are NOT atheists or secularists.
That is the point. Culture has nothing to do with it. If you are a CULTURAL Jew, you would practice Jewish traditions. THAT is the culture. Atheists and secularists don’t adhere to those traditions either, so they are not CULTURAL Jews.