Jewish Support for Obama Dropped, Just Not Far Enough
Latest update: November 8th, 2012
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Photo Credit: YY
In a series of exit polls conducted during Election Day, Tuesday, November 6, 2012, the Republican Jewish Coalition found that Jewish support for the President dropped from 78% in 2008 to 69%.
Matt Brooks, the executive director of the RJC said, “The results demonstrate that President Barack Obama and the Democrats saw a significant erosion of support from 2008, while Republicans continued their trend of the last several decades of making inroads in the Jewish community.”
According to the RJC, there was an increase by nearly 50% of the number of Jews choosing the Republican candidate to run this country. The percentage of Jews voting Republican jumped from 22% to 32% nationally. This ten-point gain is the largest leap from the Democratic party by Jews since 1972.
In a call today to members of the media, former White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer pointed out that while the percentage of young and of Blacks voting for Obama dropped by three or four percentage points, the 10 % drop amongst Jewish voters is conspicuously large.
The survey, a national sample of 1000 Jewish voters, as well as a 600-person sample of Jewish voters in Ohio and a 600-person sample of Florida Jewish voters.
“The RJC is encouraged by the gains we made in 2012 and by the continuing movement in the Jewish community toward the GOP. Despite the discouraging election results, we’re pleased by the gains we have made in the Jewish community,” said Matt Brooks.
tell a friendAbout the Author: Lori Lowenthal Marcus is the US correspondent for The Jewish Press. She is a recovered lawyer who previously practiced First Amendment law and taught in Philadelphia-area graduate and law schools.
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Obama was re-elected, as I have been predicting here for two months. He got 69% of the Jewish vote, 1% less than I have been predicting here for two months. American Jews are citizens of the USA, and vote on the myriad of issues facing our country. Our country is the USA. To ask that we vote based solely on Israeli issues is, frankly, offensive. Do we ask you in Israel to vote based on USA issues? Of course not. In short: Get Over It.
Jews and Vermonters tend to vote for the Kenyan in similar percentages. Is someone investigatung this??!!
Jews and Vermonters tend to vote for the Kenyan in similar percentages. Is someone investigatung this??!!
And Vermont has an Independent Jewish Socialist Senator from Brooklyn. I sense conspiracy.
And Vermont has an Independent Jewish Socialist Senator from Brooklyn. I sense conspiracy.
Michael — The U.S. has been manipulating elections around the world, with treasure and some blood, since the 19th century. In dozens if not hundreds of cases, in Asia, South America, Africa, Europe, the long hand of the CIA and DOS has reached out and dethroned one politician in favor of another. It is only fair that the rest of the world would try and defend themselves via political influence. So Israel tries to persuade U.S. Jews to vote with her in mind. Perfectly legitimate, considering what can happen to a country that lost favor in the eyes of the Caesar.
Michael — The U.S. has been manipulating elections around the world, with treasure and some blood, since the 19th century. In dozens if not hundreds of cases, in Asia, South America, Africa, Europe, the long hand of the CIA and DOS has reached out and dethroned one politician in favor of another. It is only fair that the rest of the world would try and defend themselves via political influence. So Israel tries to persuade U.S. Jews to vote with her in mind. Perfectly legitimate, considering what can happen to a country that lost favor in the eyes of the Caesar.
Yori, I always vote with Israel in mind — and I voted for Obama. Here in America, we had a lot to lose in hitching our wagon to the current Republican party. They have adopted an extremist position on many social justice issues that would have a profound and long-lasting effect America. I was not convinced that Obama was not sufficiently pro-Israel and that Romney wouldn’t be a foreign policy nightmare. I thought long and hard about my vote. Do not, for a moment, think that I didn’t fully consider all aspects of this election.
Yori, I always vote with Israel in mind — and I voted for Obama. Here in America, we had a lot to lose in hitching our wagon to the current Republican party. They have adopted an extremist position on many social justice issues that would have a profound and long-lasting effect America. I was not convinced that Obama was not sufficiently pro-Israel and that Romney wouldn’t be a foreign policy nightmare. I thought long and hard about my vote. Do not, for a moment, think that I didn’t fully consider all aspects of this election.
@[1592654400:2048:Avram Patt] – AND, Vermont also has a Jewish Governor, and a Jew from the Bronx who runs one of its electric coops. I believe a full investigation must be had.
@[1592654400:2048:Avram Patt] – AND, Vermont also has a Jewish Governor, and a Jew from the Bronx who runs one of its electric coops. I believe a full investigation must be had.
to Michael Blum, I agree with you. I voted for Obama because 1) I believe his economic policies, grounded in modern economics which includes the Keynesian as well as the Monetarist fundamentals, aims to provide an economic stimulus to increase aggregate demand and improve the environment for business investment. He also supports building up our infrastructure. The conservative Republican policies have degenerated to the level of Herbert Hoover style economics and if implemented will produce the same results that Hoover got. 2) I support broadly his social agenda which, I believe, is aligned with the millenia-old Jewish concern for social justice. Neither of these directly benefit Israel but it’s hard to see how we could help Israel anyway if we descend into a depression. Obama appears to have supported Israel on every major issue that came up in the UN. It’s hard to see where he could have done better. Like you, I support the candidate who is best for America. But I also doubt that Romney would do anything for Israel that would be more beneficial that what Obama will do.
to Michael Blum, I agree with you. I voted for Obama because 1) I believe his economic policies, grounded in modern economics which includes the Keynesian as well as the Monetarist fundamentals, aims to provide an economic stimulus to increase aggregate demand and improve the environment for business investment. He also supports building up our infrastructure. The conservative Republican policies have degenerated to the level of Herbert Hoover style economics and if implemented will produce the same results that Hoover got. 2) I support broadly his social agenda which, I believe, is aligned with the millenia-old Jewish concern for social justice. Neither of these directly benefit Israel but it’s hard to see how we could help Israel anyway if we descend into a depression. Obama appears to have supported Israel on every major issue that came up in the UN. It’s hard to see where he could have done better. Like you, I support the candidate who is best for America. But I also doubt that Romney would do anything for Israel that would be more beneficial that what Obama will do.
yes but Obama was elected under the guise of beng a christian, He is no christian as Christians do not believe in abortions or same sex marriages, so he is definitely not a christian yet he makes himself out to be one. Why so that when he doesn’t come to the aid of Israel, he can point the fingers at the christians once again, He speaks much like Hitler did once. But then mayby Israel has to stand alone as only then the Lord can show His Glory by fighting Himself for Israel, when all nations come up against her. we put our trust and hope in the Living God and as Joshua said. “be strong and courageous Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged for the Lord your G-d will be with you wherever you go.” shalom.
Here in America, a woman has the right to choose whether or not to carry a pregnancy to term. Obama’s Christianity has nothing to do with anything. Our country is predicated on the idea that there is a separation of church (as a religious body) and state. The reasoning being that people should have the right to religious freedom and not whether any given religious ideology dictate a given individual’s behavior.
There is NO provision in the US constitution a so-called ‘separation of church and state’. What is established that the government CANNOT prevent the free expression of a religion nor can it establish one itself as was the condition at the time in England.
KAren- You are delusional. ’nuff said.
” Christians do not believe in abortions or same sex marriages”
Actually there are some Christian groups that don’t have a problem with same sex marriages, and lots of Christian groups that don’t have a problem with abortion. And these are not marginal groups but the Churches that are among the oldest in America.
” he doesn’t come to the aid of Israel”
Actually US-Israel military cooperation is at the highest level in history.
Diane L. Logan “the government CANNOT prevent the free expression of a religion nor can it establish one itself ”
Uh, that is precisely the definition of separation of church and state.
Diane, I tend to think Jefferson -as one of those who signed the US Constitution- knew a little more what it meant to say than you do
yes but Obama was elected under the guise of beng a christian, He is no christian as Christians do not believe in abortions or same sex marriages, so he is definitely not a christian yet he makes himself out to be one. Why so that when he doesn’t come to the aid of Israel, he can point the fingers at the christians once again, He speaks much like Hitler did once. But then mayby Israel has to stand alone as only then the Lord can show His Glory by fighting Himself for Israel, when all nations come up against her. we put our trust and hope in the Living God and as Joshua said. “be strong and courageous Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged for the Lord your G-d will be with you wherever you go.” shalom.
Here in America, a woman has the right to choose whether or not to carry a pregnancy to term. Obama’s Christianity has nothing to do with anything. Our country is predicated on the idea that there is a separation of church (as a religious body) and state. The reasoning being that people should have the right to religious freedom and not whether any given religious ideology dictate a given individual’s behavior.
There is NO provision in the US constitution a so-called ‘separation of church and state’. What is established that the government CANNOT prevent the free expression of a religion nor can it establish one itself as was the condition at the time in England.
KAren- You are delusional. ’nuff said.
” Christians do not believe in abortions or same sex marriages”
Actually there are some Christian groups that don’t have a problem with same sex marriages, and lots of Christian groups that don’t have a problem with abortion. And these are not marginal groups but the Churches that are among the oldest in America.
” he doesn’t come to the aid of Israel”
Actually US-Israel military cooperation is at the highest level in history.
Diane L. Logan “the government CANNOT prevent the free expression of a religion nor can it establish one itself ”
Uh, that is precisely the definition of separation of church and state.
Diane, I tend to think Jefferson -as one of those who signed the US Constitution- knew a little more what it meant to say than you do
Jews in the US didn’t so much vote for Obama as they voted against Romney (especially after he chose Ryan the bigot as his partner). Let’s face it, Jewish women weren’t willing to sacrifice their right to survive a dangerous pregnancy and be relegated to the role of walking incubators, and Jewish husbands/fathers weren’t ready to sacrifice their wives/daughters. Check the Jewish law: sacrificing the woman to the fetus is against our law.
Myriam shows us how dangerous it is to have a little bit of information. While halakha certainly does not dictate saving of the fetus at the expense of the mother, abortion is highly against Torah law except in very special cases.
Ira shows us how dangerous a narrow view of the world is. Perhaps if he risked becoming pregnant every time he had sex his view would be less narrow.
I’m not speaking of Halakha tolerating a few rare abortions. I am speaking of the Tanakh and the Talmud. In case of risk to the mother’s life -or even to the welfare of the children she’s already raising, an abortion is recommended by our rabbis, our sages, and the ones who spent their lives commenting and explaining our laws (Maimonides included), but the choice is entirely up to the woman, from the day she learns she is pregnant until the moment before the head crowns. That, Ira, is even much more “liberal” than the US or the Israeli law.
Ira L. Jacobson “abortion is highly against Torah law except in very special cases”
There are a lot of those “very special cases”.
yep, they include the one in which a breast feeding mother is to abort if she gets pregnant, so as not to deprive the older child of her milk. That one is in the torah and has been extended in the Talmud commentaries as meaning that -if a new child would interfere in anyway with the care a woman gives her family- abortion is recommended. Remark: it says recommended not tolerated.
Jews in the US didn’t so much vote for Obama as they voted against Romney (especially after he chose Ryan the bigot as his partner). Let’s face it, Jewish women weren’t willing to sacrifice their right to survive a dangerous pregnancy and be relegated to the role of walking incubators, and Jewish husbands/fathers weren’t ready to sacrifice their wives/daughters. Check the Jewish law: sacrificing the woman to the fetus is against our law.
Myriam shows us how dangerous it is to have a little bit of information. While halakha certainly does not dictate saving of the fetus at the expense of the mother, abortion is highly against Torah law except in very special cases.
Ira shows us how dangerous a narrow view of the world is. Perhaps if he risked becoming pregnant every time he had sex his view would be less narrow.
I’m not speaking of Halakha tolerating a few rare abortions. I am speaking of the Tanakh and the Talmud. In case of risk to the mother’s life -or even to the welfare of the children she’s already raising, an abortion is recommended by our rabbis, our sages, and the ones who spent their lives commenting and explaining our laws (Maimonides included), but the choice is entirely up to the woman, from the day she learns she is pregnant until the moment before the head crowns. That, Ira, is even much more “liberal” than the US or the Israeli law.
Ira L. Jacobson “abortion is highly against Torah law except in very special cases”
There are a lot of those “very special cases”.
yep, they include the one in which a breast feeding mother is to abort if she gets pregnant, so as not to deprive the older child of her milk. That one is in the torah and has been extended in the Talmud commentaries as meaning that -if a new child would interfere in anyway with the care a woman gives her family- abortion is recommended. Remark: it says recommended not tolerated.
I'd be careful fighting for the Palestinians. They were celebrating in the streets and passing out candy over the Marathon bombings. The Jews are God's chosen people. Jesus was a Jew. It's us part of our Christian beliefs to support the Jews. Israel is the Holy Land.
I wonder why they were out in the Streets? Maybe they think the USA isnt unbiased or sincere when it comes with dealing with the people of palestine and the illegal Israeli occupiers who it continues to support