Move Could Help Bush Among Jewish Voters

Washington Post ^ | April 15, 2004 | Dana Milbank and Mike Allen (Analysis)

[Cincinatus' Wife]

.........The reaction in the Arab world -- already inflamed by the uprising in Iraq and the strong U.S. military response -- could not have been more contrary. "We reject this; we will not accept it," Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia protested.

There is a possibility that the action by Bush could further aggravate the situation in Iraq, just as Israel's killing of a prominent Palestinian militant set off rioting in Iraq several weeks ago. Independent pollster John Zogby, who has surveyed extensively in the Arab world, said: "This is pretty much the final nail in the coffin of the peace process as far as Arabs are concerned." He said his polling indicates the Palestinian cause is among the top three issues for 90 percent of Arabs in all Arab countries he has surveyed. "It's not even a political issue, it's a bloodstream issue," Zogby said.

Domestically, though, the move could enable Bush to chip away a few more of the Jewish voters who have traditionally been loyal to Democrats. And in a tight election, the small minority of Jewish voters -- who tend to have strong turnout levels -- could give Bush an edge in battleground states such as Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

"Given that Jews turn out at an 80 percent turnout rate, if you swing the Jewish vote 10 percent in Ohio, that could give you Ohio," said Nathan Diament, a lobbyist for the Orthodox Jewish movement. Though he believes Bush's motive is principle rather than politics, Diament also notes that the courting of Jewish donors -- hugely important to Democrats -- could aid the Republican Party...............

[MNJohnnie]

Independent pollster John Zogby, who has surveyed extensively in the Arab world, said: "This is pretty much the final nail in the coffin of the peace process as far as Arabs are

Correction, Democrat Pollster, John Zogby. Hey John, How many Americans did Israel kill on 9-11? We know who our real enemies are.

[ccmay]

Correction, Democrat Pollster, John Zogby.

Correction to the correction, Arab Democrat Pollster, John Zogby.

-ccm

[Cincinatus' Wife]

March 13, 2004 - Poll suggests Arab-Americans'support for Bush has lessened***WASHINGTON -- Arab-Americans surveyed in four battleground states have "deep dissatisfaction" with George W. Bush's policies and low support for the president's reelection, a poll indicated yesterday.

That suggests a shift from the 2000 presidential campaign, when Arab-Americans in Michigan, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania -- all expected to be closely contested this year -- strongly favored Bush, a Republican, over Democrat Al Gore.

"This community's vote is decidedly moving in a direction that is not in favor of Bush's reelection," said James Zogby of the Washington-based Arab American Institute, which commissioned the tracking poll.

Arab-Americans surveyed rated Bush lowest for his handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, one of three issues of greatest importance to this group of voters. The others were civil liberties, which Arab-Americans have seen as being under pressure since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and the war in Iraq. On these issues as well, those polled gave Bush low marks.

.......However, Zogby, a member of the Democratic National Committee, said Kerry could capitalize on Arab-Americans' unease with Bush. "Where a shift could take place is for John Kerry," he said. "Arab-Americans don't know him yet." One of Bush's new ads now has drawn the ire of the Arab American Institute. Zogby suggested that Bush not run the commercial because it shows a picture of an olive-skinned man with bushy eyebrows above the phrase "Weaken Fight Against Terrorists."

.........The tracking poll, which will be repeated four more times before the Nov. 2 election day, was conducted by Zogby International, a polling organization headed by Zogby's brother John. It had an error margin of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.***

[Nateman]

"Peace Process". What a joke that phrase is. "Peace Process" from a people that worship an evil god. An evil god that loves killing enemies more than it loves the children of it's most loyal followers!

[rrrod]

For the life of me i cannot understand how anyone of the Jewish faith can vote for a democRAT. Wasn't there a poll of NYC Jewish voters going solid to Kerry?...What gives?

[zarf]

Bush comes through for Israel-again.

Me thinks the President has had it with much of the Arab world. He sees Arafat, bin Laden, Saddam and their ilk as one in the same.

Kudos to the brilliant Sharon as well. He is a clever fox.

[tkathy]

How about Zogby speaking out against the slaughter that his fellow Arabs are doing?

[DoughtyOne]

I'm not Jewish, but it's a step in the right direction for folks like me too. Now Mr. President, go all the way and say it. Go ahead. You can do it. "Yasser Arafat is the world's longest standing terrorist leader." Now, what did we say we were going to do with terrorists? Every terrorist!

Israel, "Green light!"

[Texasforever]

Israel, "Green light!"

That would be something wouldn't it?

[DoughtyOne]

I didn't see Bush's statement. Perhaps he made some pretty dramatic mention of terrorist practices and that the west had it's fill with such activity.

We need to make it clear that we'll work with those who are willing to work with us, and we will vaporize those who aren't.

Afafat has blown more chances at peace than any person alive. To have credibility, we need to call this guy on his activity, diverted funds and aiding and abetting of terrorists.

In answer to your question, yes it sure would be something.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ideas_opinions/story/183695p-159369c.html

And here was the genius of Sharon. In the words of the late Jewish criminal Israel Shawarzberg, "He pulled their teeth, so now they can only gum him."

On May 2, Sharon's Likud Party will vote yes or no on his pullout from Gaza.

Izzy Shawarzberg, wherever he is, lays 20 to 1 and out that Sharon wins. They can only gum him.

[DoughtyOne]

What's the status of Jews in the Gaza Strip? How many settlements and or people are we talking about? I'm not that knowledgeable about actual numbers.

[Barlowmaker]

It's annoying, but unsuprising, that Milbank and the Post would project cynical, political motives to the President's bold and righteous reaffirmation of support and loyalty to Israel's security.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I have no way of knowing how accurate these are.


http://www.fmep.org/database/gaza.html

Settlements in the Gaza Strip


http://www.shalomjerusalem.com/jerusalem/jerusalem6.htm

JERUSALEM SETTLEMENTS: FACTS AND MYTHS




http://www.palestinemonitor.org/settlements/jewish_population_increase.htm

Population in Jewish Settlements up 5.7 Pct

[dawn53]

It's the Washington Post for heaven's sake.

If he had disagreed with Sharon's plan, they would have said he was pandering to the Arab vote.

I find this quote especially funny.

"There is a possibility that the action by Bush could further aggravate the situation in Iraq,"

Excuse me, but seems like things were pretty "aggravated" even before his recent agreement with Sharon.

[rabidralph]

Israel, "Green light!"

That's exactly what it sounds like, and since Rafsanjani or whoever that guy was who threatened America and then retracted the threat (after the hit on the rolling terrorist) the president doesn't need to be told twice that palestinians are now a gathering danger for America.

[no dems]

I hope this assessment is right. We need the Jewish vote and campaign contributions moreso than other religios/ethnic/social groups because they usually do vote for and support the Democrats. Take one vote away from Kerry and give it to GW, that's a two-vote gain. Do the math. However, do you think this is really a big enough event to bring Jewish voters into our camp? Also, how big of a voting bloc is the Arab constituency in this nation? I assume there are more Jewish citizens registered to vote than Arabs. Besides, they're too money hungry to leave the convenience store for an hour to go vote anyhow. What say ye?

[af_vet_1981]

Independent Arab pollster John Zogby, who has surveyed extensively in the Arab world ...

[Cincinatus' Wife]

It's hard for me to assess. I don't understand why the Dems get any votes. A lot of it is demographics and ingrained LIBERALISM - just as with blacks voting for Dems.