There's no burning Bush in Israel

Jerusalem Post ^ | 10/31/4 | HILARY LEILA KRIEGER

[SmithL]

Despite polls showing American Jewish support locked in for US Sen. John Kerry, Republican boosters are confident that Jews in Israel will vote overwhelmingly to reelect President George W. Bush.

The prediction is shared by Israeli pundits but scorned by Democratic stalwarts.

"Which [US] Jews are voting Republican? It's Jews that are more traditional, and those who are more identified with Israel," said Kory Bardash, chairman of Republicans Abroad in Israel. "That's exactly the demographic we have here."

He estimated that up to 70 percent of American citizens in Israel will back Bush, pointing to party-crossing evident at Republican registration events, heavy registration pushes among the haredim, and an Israeli-American Orthodox constituency of 35% (compared to 10% in the US).

Bardash was unfazed by recent polls showing Bush's support among Jewish voters slipping from more than 30% down to 25% – still higher than the 19% Bush garnered in 2000. He added that the gauge of financial support shows a 50-50 split between the two candidates, significantly higher than what Bush enjoyed in 2000.

Hebrew University political scientist Abraham Diskin backed Bardash's prediction that Bush will do significantly better in Israel than in the United States. Noting he had no hard data, he suggested that the sitting president might receive a majority.

Diskin also cited demographics, particularly of the Orthodox, as key. "Those Jews that immigrate to Israel tend to be more to the Right and more conservative."

He added that international polls of the general Jewish Israeli population showed the country tops the list in support of Bush, with a clear majority backing him.

"Bush would have liked to have the kind of election that he would have among Jewish voters in Israel," he said.

Fellow political science professor Eytan Gilboa, of Bar-Ilan University, also indicated the general Israeli support Bush enjoys affects his popularity with American immigrants since "the two live in the same place and have similar concerns."

He said Israelis, including those who are American citizens, back Bush in record numbers because "policy toward Israel is the major factor, and Bush has proven his support for Israel. He has created an excellent relationship with Sharon." He estimated that roughly half the Israeli electorate will go for Bush, as opposed to the 20-odd percent he received in 2000.

Gilboa added that "most Israeli Americans look suspiciously at Kerry," while Bush is "known."

Mark Alan Zober, chairman of the Democrats Abroad in Israel, disagreed, saying that as Kerry has become more familiar to the electorate, particularly after the debates, the senator's popularity has soared. While in the spring he would have agreed with estimates of up to 70% support for Bush among voters in Israel, he predicted that the numbers will be nearly reversed come November 2.

Polls of American Jews have showed that "the perception changed dramatically," he said.

While Republicans Abroad in Israel said it has helped 10,000 people register here, the Democrats, by Zober's count, have answered 20,000 requests. Though Zober noted that the registration drives were nonpartisan events, he said the difference in the number of people who turned to the different organizations gives a sense of the overwhelming support enjoyed by Democrats.

Joanne Yaron, vice-chair of the Democrats Abroad in Israel, said she's been inundated by calls and e-mails from people who haven't received their ballots or didn't request them but want to vote.

She said registered voters can still go on-line to download forms to fill out and mail in, though each county will decide whether to accept them.

[Radix]

Jews, and Israeli-American Jews in particular vote for Kerry at their peril.

Kerry is not going to be good for Israel if he gets in office.

[ken5050]

A great many of American Jews living in Israel and now eligible to vote, are registered in...tada..Florida..

[aphrodite74]

I am Jewish and a big Bush/Cheney supporter. It continues to confound me that the majority of American Jews are staunch Kerry supporters. They just don't see reality for what it really is...Below is a short paragraph I wrote describing how I see the differences between the 2 candidates in terms of their behaviors towards Israel:

Bush is the best friend Israel has ever had in the White House. Since George Bush has come into office, the strength of the intifada has dwindled and Israel’s defense against terrorism has strengthened. President Bush has been steadfast in his support of Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism, his support of the security fence, and his diplomatic isolation of Arafat, who is a known terrorist and thug. Unlike Kerry, who once referred to Arafat in his book as a “statesman” and who at one time discussed his personal opposition to the security fence, Bush has been more consistent in his support of Israel against terrorism over the last four years, despite unrelenting global pressure. Kerry on the other hand is more concerned with appeasing the UN, which has proven itself to be a largely anti-semitic and anti-Israeli institution.

[ken5050]

well stated, and BTW, welcome, newbie..

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

The whole Kerry/Heinz clan is trouble for Israel

October 31, 2004 -- THIS campaign is ending just in time before someone gets hurt. John Kerry's stepson, Chris Heinz, 31, displayed his mother Teresa's famous lack of rhetorical restraint at a recent campaign event with a group of Wharton students. Philadelphia magazine reports: "Heinz accused Kerry's opponents - 'our enemies' - of making the race dirty. 'We didn't start out with negative ads calling George Bush a cokehead,' he said, before adding, 'I'll do it now.' Asked later about it, Heinz said, 'I have no evidence. He never sold me anything.'" Heinz also reminded writer Sasha Issenberg of Pat Buchanan by saying, "One of the things I've noticed is the Israel lobby - the treatment of Israel as the 51st state, sort of a swing state." Buchanan was blasted as an anti-Semite years ago when he cited Israel's "amen corner" in Congress.

The New York Post

Chris Heinz, a person of diversity and tolerance, in his Mussolini pose

[Holden Magroin]

I'm not sure I like this business about dual citizenship or citizens of other countries voting in our elections.

[Salman]

"Which [US] Jews are voting Republican? It's Jews that are more traditional, and those who are more identified with Israel," ...

Also Jews who may still be libs, but are survival oriented. Ed Koch will not be alone on election day. Plenty crossing over but not talking about it, at least in New York City.

[sarasmom]

Few Christians hate Jews.
Most Jews hate Christians.
That is fact, and not subject to debate.
Christians and others, will support Israel even as some Israelis/ Jews forget/neglect to support themselves.
I expect God to explain it to me someday.

[Cicero]

I have a number of secular Jewish colleagues and friends in academia. Although I'm Catholic, I constantly find myself defending Israel against these people. It's bizarre.

Most recently I got into a food fight over Edward Said, who was being given memorial services all over the place. Numerous Jews were defending him, saying he was a nice guy, saying that they studied with him and he was always polite, saying it was a canard that he threw rocks at the IDF. Sure.

Wake up.

[The_Reader_David]

Now, let me get this straight: Bush/Gore was a dead heat. Bush is running better among women against Kerry than he did against Gore, is getting 25% Jewish support as opposed to 19$ in 2000, is gettin 19$ black support as opposed to 9$ in 2000, and it's still a dead heat?

Have white, non-Jewish men turned into wimps and decided to vote for Kerry? I don't think so. I suspect the polls specific to constituency groups are less subject to spin, and am thinking maybe my 'Bush will win the popular vote by 4%' prediction is too cautious.

[Ptarmigan]

Welcome aboard. Well said.

[Antoninus]

Bush got a sizable portion of the US muslim vote in 2000. He's getting practically none in 2004...

Democrats for Bush Flyer -- Print it, copy it, distribute it

[Jorge]

He said Israelis, including those who are American citizens, back Bush in record numbers because "policy toward Israel is the major factor, and Bush has proven his support for Israel.

And probably because they know something about terrorism and recognize Bush as the #1 world leader in the war on terrorism.

The idea that Americans could even be considering replacing Bush with a man like Kerry who has such a weak record on national security is just astounding.
God help this country, and the world if Kerry wins.

[white trash redneck]

Most Jews hate Christians.

That is fact, and not subject to debate.

Well, I'm glad that fact is beyond debate, since it sounds pretty bogus to me.

[boop]

I'm not sure about most Jews hating Christians. But there is no question that a large percentage do, and are quite vocal about it. This is a big reason Jews oppose Bush for the most part. Also, abortion trumps everything. Kerry could promise to eliminate the state of Israel and would still get support, just because of his abortion position.

[chuckles]

....."I'm not sure about most Jews hating Christians"....

Well, my most memorable encounter with a Jew was in college when he said Mary was obviously a whore and Jesus was a bastard baby. He was obviously wanting to have an uplifting discussion, or commit suicide because there were about 10 Christians there to hear him ranting. When I told him I was an adopted Jew and grafted into his race, he went ballistic. He was actually spiting while yelling. It was downhill from there. The Bible doesn't give me a choice, however, about the way I feel about Israel. I figger if God has to put up with em, so do I.

[white trash redneck]

I'm not sure about most Jews hating Christians. But there is no question that a large percentage do

And you know this ...how?

Consider that over half of Jews in the US marry gentiles. Is this consistent with hatred? Hatred is a pretty strong word.

and are quite vocal about it

Yes, I agree that a lot of leftie liberal Jews are very vocal in their contempt for Christianity. As are a lot of leftie liberal gentiles. What you are seeing here are shared uppper middle class urban/suburban attitudes.

This is a big reason Jews oppose Bush for the most part

No, this is a big reason for nothing. If Christian-hatred motivated Jewish presidential choices, this election would be a wash for the Jews, since both candidates are Christian.

Also, abortion trumps everything. Kerry could promise to eliminate the state of Israel and would still get support, just because of his abortion position.

At last we agree on something - again, shared leftie upper middle class values.

[white trash redneck]

Well, my most memorable encounter with a Jew was in college when he said Mary was obviously a whore and Jesus was a bastard baby.

So you met a Jewish asshole. And on the basis of this you concur that most Jews hate Christians?

I figger if God has to put up with em, so do I.

Mighty white of you...

[okie01]

Kerry on the other hand is more concerned with appeasing the UN, which has proven itself to be a largely anti-semitic and anti-Israeli institution.

I presume you read the Charles Krauthammer column which identified the only way that Kerry could magically produce his promised "grand alliance": He would trade Israel for EU and UN support.

Krauthammer has it right. American support for Israel is the only chip that Kerry would have to play. And I've no doubt that he would...