Posted on 10/28/2008 12:06:49 PM PDT by lizol
US Election – the Polish-American Vote
Created: 28.10.2008 15:24
Which way will Polish-Americans swing in the general and presidential elections in the United States on November 4?
By Magdalena Jensen
Ten million Polish-Americans live in the United States, representing a large voting body with some sway in next Tuesday’s Presidential Election. Despite these large numbers and the city of Chicago – where Barack Obama makes his home – containing the largest pocket of Poles after Warsaw, is this community decidedly left of right, decidedly pro-Obama or pro-McCain?
Around the early to middle of the twentieth century, when FDR was saving the US economy with his New Deal, Polish immigrants could be counted upon to deliver a Democratic vote. That was the general trend of all immigrant and minority communities. Poles, a religiously conservative contingent, began to break with this trend in the late 1960s and early 1970s as the Democratic party became associated with more radical ‘hippies’ and ‘progressive’ politics. The presidency of Republican Ronald Reagan, and later George Bush, Sr., served to really push Polish-Americans towards a Republican vote, considering that the two are considered instrumental in Poland gaining independence from the Soviets.
Now, in 2008, Poles are far more integrated into American society. Some say that the group once thought of as immigrants have now successfully transitioned into middle-class America. As with most of middle-class America in this election cycle, votes are divided.
Polish News, a leading Polonia newspaper, published a list of election issues that are particular to Polish-Americans. The issues, published in April 2008, has been widely circulated on various Polonia forums, message boards and blogs.
Besides the issues most obvious for any immigrant group, concerning citizenship and visas, the Polonia community has been asked to consider other issues as well. This includes more Federal Government appointments, including cabinet posts, for Polish Americans, increased military aid for Poland in exchange for the hosting of the US anti-missile defense shield, and increased business opportunities for Polish companies in the US.
The article points out, as well, that the US is the only country in NATO to discriminate against Poles in regards to visa acquisition.
Visas cost votes?
Nowy Dziennik/Polish Daily News ran an interview with Presidential hopeful Barack Obama in January 2008. Regarding the visa issue, he said, “We should aim at eliminating visas for countries like Poland, which are members of both the EU and NATO. Current visa regulations are outdated and do not reflect a strategic relationship between our countries nor historically close ties between our nations.” Obama was the only presidential candidate to give an interview to a Polonia newspaper.
The candidate also expressed his concern at the logic of placing untested missiles on Polish terrain. McCain, on the other hand, is a strong supported of the anti-missile defense shield. According to Professor John Micgiel, director of Columbia University’s East Central European Center, the Republican candidate has not really spoken about any other issues that are of special significance to Polish Americans.
Zbigniew Brzezinski, political scientist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and former National Security Adviser to Jimmy Carter – making him the highest-ranked Polish American in a US administrative position – has expressed clear support for Barack Obama. The Washington Post issued Brzezinski’s endorsement of Obama in August 2007: “Obama is clearly more effective and has the upper hand. He has a sense of what is historically relevant and what is needed from the United States in its relationship to the world.”
Despite this endorsement from a highly-respected Polish American, Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita reports that Polonia is still split both ways on who to vote for.
The Polish daily reports that Obama is considered to be “better in a crisis” but that John McCain “knows war.” Andrzej Dobrowolski, Polonia journalist, claims that: “For Poles that live for a while in America, the economy is an important issue. Just a few months ago, one could say that McCain could count on votes from our side. But now, more people think that Obama can make better changes. I even know Republicans of Polish heritage who will vote for Obama.”
Other Polish Americans do not see the issue so clearly. Magdalena Pienkawa from Nyack, outside of New York City, who became an American citizen several years ago, claims that a vote for Obama is a vote for the lesser of two evils. “Neither candidate represents the interests of the middle class. There is Obama who wants to increase taxes for those earning more that $250,000 per year – that’s not fair. But McCain only sticks up for the very-rich. And besides that, if something were to happen to him, Sarah Palin would become president – I completely cannot accept that,” she said. “Additionally, my husband, who previously voted for Bush, is now going to vote Democrat.”
Experience versus change?
Other Polish Americans express interest in McCain. “McCain has experience. He was imprisoned in Vietnam and knows what war means. In this situation, when America is engaged in war with Afghanistan and Iraq, my entire family thinks you can only trust him,” says Barbara Krasinska, employed in a jewelry store in Warwick, a suburb of New York.
Polonia’s Nasz Dziennik has yet to issue an official endorsement of either candidate. “We feel that neither candidate is one that we would like to see lead America’s administration. We aren’t entirely convinced that either would be able to handle the economic problems that are facing America. They are too weak in these issues,” claims Czeslaw Karkowski, editor of the New York paper.
The second major Polonia paper, out of Chicago, Dziennik Zwiazkowy, has strongly supported the Republican candidate. However, the situation is complicated by the fact that Obama is a Senator for Illinois. “We issued a reader-referendum and received many telephone calls and emails. We will issue our official endorsement soon. We must take into account the opinions of our readers,” claims Wojciech Bialasiewicz, editor of the paper.
There is, of course, another issue to take into account – that of religion. Poland is an overwhelmingly Catholic country, so it is natural that it’s ex-patriates would have Catholic tendencies as well. Bishop Zygmunt Zimkowski, concerned with emigrant’s affairs on the Polish Council of Bishops, visited Chicago over the weekend to discuss the election with the local Polish community.
“Voters must pay attention to the values of one’s representative – especially concerning dignity of life and a natural death,” the bishop told Polish Radio.
American Catholic bishops are divided in the election. They have expressed desire to vote for Barack Obama, but his pro-choice views regarding abortion make the public expression of their preferences difficult. John McCain is firmly anti-abortion. “And despite that, many bishops want to vote for Obama,” shrugged Zimowski.
So it seems that Poles in America are as divided as Americans are in general over what many see as one of the most important elections in a generation.
“There is Obama who wants to increase taxes for those earning more that $250,000 per year – that’s not fair. But McCain only sticks up for the very-rich.”
Evidence?
I’m an American of Polish descent voting for McCain-Palin.
OK, but you must also remember, that Poland joined NATO, when Clinton was the US President.
Wow. Who knew?
I can’t imagine anyone voting twice for Hitler or Stalin, or Hugo Chavez or Castro...
Socialism is socialism. It can be disguised and softened to invite the ignorant, but it’s still socialism. Which to me, means loss of freedom.
I’ll will continue to pray for the wisdom of the voters.
Wow. Who knew?
I can’t imagine anyone voting twice for Hitler or Stalin, or Hugo Chavez or Castro...
Socialism is socialism. It can be disguised and softened to invite the ignorant, but it’s still socialism. Which to me, means loss of freedom.
I’ll will continue to pray for the wisdom of the voters.
“American Catholic bishops are divided in the election”
This is what upsets me the most, it is as though the Holy Father and Church Doctrine mean nothing to them. Aside from that Poland will find no friend in Obama.
I am also proud to be an American of Polish descent (through my maternal grandparents), and I am happily voting for John McCain.
McCain is not just sticking up for the very rich.
That’s just silly.
Election bump.
Actually, this is something, that really astonishes me in relation to American politics - how a true Catholic may vote for Obama, or democrat at all (having in mind their stance regarding abortion, traditional values etc., etc.).
And that a Catholic bishop may be “divided”?
Bizarre, really bizarre.
The reporter got that part wrong. It should've read, "Some American Bishops are apostates and heretics".
The irony is that Brzezinski owed his job to former President Ford who screwed up in the 76 debates when he said that the Soviets didn't dominate Poland. That gaffe gave Carter the election.
Visa regulations are determined by congress. The citizens of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia will enter the visa-free program for entry into the US in November because they met one of the major requirements that there be no more than a 10% rejection rate over a specified period. Poland failed to meet that requirement (14%) so they will have to work on fixing that situation.
- The second major Polonia paper, out of Chicago, Dziennik Zwiazkowy, has strongly supported the Republican candidate. However, the situation is complicated by the fact that Obama is a Senator for Illinois. “We issued a reader-referendum and received many telephone calls and emails. We will issue our official endorsement soon. We must take into account the opinions of our readers,” claims Wojciech Bialasiewicz, editor of the paper. -
Sounds just like the Chicago Tribune which ran what they called an unprecedented “e-poll” of their online readers for their preference the weekend before the Trib came out for the home-grown Obama. So much for principle and courage on the part of journalists and media-owners in choosing to stand up to the home-town mob.
I’m Polish from my father’s side, and my vote goes to McCain.
Also of Polish ancestry here - last name means Walnut in Polish. There is in my family some of what I might call “latent racism” that comes from the old country. Not meant to be derisive at all. It just is. Poland has very few black people. It’s hard to describe, but there will no doubt be a Bradley Effect among many Polish-Americans living in Cleveland. The old Polish neighborhoods are now poor black neighborhoods and somewhat dangerous. There is therefore some resentment on what has happened to that historic community.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.