O'Reilly: Liberal Jews Are All Big-City Newspapers Have Left

The Radio Factor - Bill O'Reilly/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[jdm]

"Bill O'Reilly got his show off to a surprising start this afternoon, with a novel theory as to why the big-city newspapers have tread lightly in criticizing Israel for its role in the current conflict. O'Reilly theorized, during his opening monologue, that the papers are fearful of turning off Jewish liberal readers."

Excellent column/coverage, as always, Mark. I appreciate how you skillfully spot and dissect important commentaries from "unusual" sources ("Today Show," for example).

As for the current discussion, I'm curious if Bill will air this theory on "The O'Reilly Factor" later this evening? Might require more courage to discuss on TV vs. radio, which tends to fly a bit below the radar.

[strategofr]

"The figures are beginning to be noticeable."

24% of Jews voted for Bush the last election. If memory serves correctly, Jews voting for Republican presidents has steadily increased over time, starting at 12% four elections ago.

[Names Ash Housewares]

What I dont understand in this day and age, why there are any liberal jews?

[Alexander Rubin]

Something like that. A percentage in the high 30s (I'm thinking 38%) voted for Reagan in one of his elections.

There hasn't been a Republican majority from the Jewish vote since prior to FDR, but the gap is closing. And it will continue to close, since the major gains for Republicans are amongst Orthodox (lots of children, often don't vote, and generally live in Blue States) and younger Jews (often blue staters as well, and have a longer life span than that 65 year old committed Democrat). ;)

[rjmeagle]

...but liberal Jews don't see things that way.

So how do they see things??? Enlighten me please.

[rjmeagle]

I do not care at all about the damn NYT any more. It is one of the worst papers in America.

AMEN!!!

[Alexander Rubin]

Several reasons.

1) Jews generally live long. A lot of the original FDR voters are still around, and unsurprisingly, still vote democrat, thinking its still 1933.

2) We're damn stubborn. In fact, the only description of Jews in the Book is that we are "stiffnecked".

3) Commitment to social justice, combined with a confusion of social justice and socialism. Hence the saying that Jewish Americans earn like Japanese and vote like Puerto Ricans.

4) Emphasis on education. And we all know universities are liberal indoctrination grounds. Although the impact seems to be weakening. Particularly for Jews, who have come under attack for supporting Israel and faith.

5) Respect for elders. Seriously, this is a big one. Older members of the family can sway people considerably.

6) Faith has weakened for Reform and many Conservative Jews. Meaning many now see themselves as liberal before Jewish.

7) Blue staters. A majority of Jews (maybe not a HUGE majority, but a sizable majority nonetheless) are urban blue staters, and I guess its partially a cultural thing there.

8) Traditionally, the Democratic party has been (or at least been seen as) generally pro-Israel. This is changing.

9) A strange and shameful love affair with Clinton. *sigh*

10) Denial. "This is just a fad. It will pass."

11) Traditional fear of Christians and conservatives. Traditional sources of persecution. Long cultural memory means there is a very serious cultural aversion to these things, even if things are genuinely different now.

[MikefromOhio]

Funny how my very liberal CATHOLIC uncles in Detroit have subscriptions both to the Old Gray Skank and the WAPO then.

[jwalburg]

Exactly.

[Alexander Rubin]

Many of them have confused socialism with social justice.

Anyways, they think they are building a better world, and they see Israel as an integral part of that better world.

Imagine big, rose-coloured glasses. Imagine rejecting everything that might point to regression (progress is inevitable! hurrah!). Imagine fear of, and disdain for, people seen as still living in the past. Be these conservatives, religious people in general (even other Jews, although these are tolerated to some extent), nationalists, pragmatic realists, etc.

[Beagle8U]

"Yes, I know it is a contradiction for a Jew to be a part of the anti-sematic, Israel hating left, but liberal Jews don't see things that way."

How can they be that stupid? Thats like the NAACP voting for the KKK !

[Admin Moderator]

Don't change the headline from that posted at the source. If you have to make an editorial comment in the thread title, put it in parentheses. Thanks.

[Nonstatist]

His theory was offered for purposes of explaining the papers' timidity, not criticizing it.

More idiot analysis from that shallow nitwit pseudo-conservative. Secular liberal Jews from the upper west side of Manhattan would probably rank Israel's survival as 14th out of 19th on their list of priorities.

Does OReilly ever read the NYT ? Theyre alway taking the Palestinians side over Israel's.

[polymuser]

What I dont understand in this day and age, why there are any liberal jews?

Ask Mitch Albom.

[Jimnorwellwarren]

"O'Reilly continued: "liberal Jewish readers are all [those newspapers] have left" as a significant market segment."

That may be true, but he'd better have some serious Tom-Sowell type demographic data or the racist charges will be flying his way!

[gcruse]

"The last Republican candidate for President to carry it was Warren G. Harding in 1920.  George Bush, running for re-election against Bill Clinton, received only 11% of the Jewish vote compared to almost 35% four years earlier."

Excerpted from Whither the Jewish Vote?

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

High volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. also

2006israelwar or WOT

..................

Unlikely given circulation sizes, though impossible to know. Personally, I often wonder about the ranting about the circulation declines for the NYT as well.

Ranking	Daily Newspapers	Total Daily Circulation
1.	USA Today	2,222,745
2.	Wall Street Journal	2,083,660
3.	New York Times	1,126,190
4.	Los Angeles Times	843,432
5.	New York Daily News	688,584
6.	Washington Post	678,779
7.	New York Post	672,731
8.	Chicago Tribune	586,122
9.	Detroit News/Free Press	557,959
10.	Denver Post/Rocky Mountain News	527,726

 

 

The New York Times
Circulation Volume (Audit Bureau of Circulations Six-month Average)*
Download PDF
DAILY
MARCH	Home Delivery	Single Copy	Other	Total
1998	660,931	390,015	59,197	1,110,143
1999	679,390	396,450	59,134	1,134,974
2000	708,974	364,055	76,547	1,149,576
2001	724,200	338,015	88,832	1,151,047
2002	726,105	362,089	106,297	1,194,491
2003	709,881	323,166	97,693	1,130,740
2004	688,645	310,155	134,963	1,133,763
2005	687,366	286,820	162,247	1,136,433

[Thunder90]

Many liberal Jews are critical of Israel. What harm would be done by the big newspapers to criticize it? I really don't think there would be harm done.

[SJackson]

24% of Jews voted for Bush the last election. If memory serves correctly, Jews voting for Republican presidents has steadily increased over time, starting at 12% four elections ago.

Kind of. Recently, 1980-39%, 1984-31%, 1988-35%, 1992-11%. Bush I had an impact.