Republicans Unveiling Jewish Democrats’ Buyer’s Remorse Ads
Latest update: July 29th, 2012
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Michael Goldstein voted for Obama in 2008
Photo Credit: Screen shot
The election season is heating up early, and the video warfare is already sizzling. The Republican Jewish Coalition has initiated a new campaign in ‘battleground states’ aimed at persuading lifelong Jewish Democrats dissatisfied with President Barack Obama to vote instead for Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
The multimillion-dollar advertising campaign, titled “My Buyer’s Remorse,” will be aired in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, and is slated to begin in the coming weeks.
“For the past three years we’ve been hearing from people who were deeply disappointed and who wish they could have their vote back,” RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks told The Jewish Press. “It became self-evident to us that we should take those testimonials and share them with everyone.”
Brooks said the people featured in what he said will be a “significant number” of ads were found through the RJC local offices. The ad campaign uses testimonials from Jews who voted for Obama in the 2008 presidential campaign and now express regret over that decision, citing what they see as his poor treatment of Israel, and his ineffective economic policies.
The first ad can be previewed on the RJC website. It features Michael Goldstein, a 40-something community college administrator and lifelong democrat from New Jersey who voted for Obama in 2008 because he “believed in what Obama stood for.” Goldstein became disillusioned when he started hearing and seeing things he did not like from Obama once the election was over. What kind of things?
“That speech about the ’67 borders,” Goldstein explained, “that really changed my mind.” Also very troublesome for Goldstein was the way the president treated the Israeli Prime Minister when Netanyahu visited the White House. “He’s not just the Prime Minister of Israel, he represents all of us, Jews, Israelis, people throughout the world who believe in the State of Israel.” Goldstein was turned off by what he says was Obama’s incredible disrespect towards Netanyahu.
In a motif the RJC clearly wants to emphasize throughout the remainder of the campaign, the ad hones in on the concern that Jewish American voter has about what will be different if President Obama is elected for a second term.
“I think in the second term we’ll see the real Barack Obama,” Goldstein says, as the video pans over Jerusalem, “when he has no voters to deal with, I think he will change the game when it comes to Israel. He’s going to put Israel in a position where they’re in danger.”
The RJC appears convinced that, despite the long and largely monogamous relationship between Jews and the Democratic party, there are certain strategic moves it can make that will be sufficient to have Jewish voters be the decisive factor in electing Mitt Romney.
Recent polls suggest that Jewish support for Obama has diminished, with him receiving 67 percent to Romney’s 25 percent – which would be the highest level of support for a republican candidate since George Bush received 35 percent of the vote in the 1988 contest against Democrat Michael Dukakis.
By following RJC polling calculations and concentrating on Jews in certain areas of three key states – Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida, the RJC is banking on Jewish votes determining the outcome in those swing states.
Featured prominently in a New York Times story about the “My Buyer’s Remorse” campaign was the role allegedly played by casino magnate and staunchly pro-Israel Sheldon Adelson’s involvement. When asked about Adelson’s role in this effort, Brooks told The Jewish Press that while Adelson has been an active supporter and member of the RJC board for a number of years, the organization is the form of non-profit that does not have to – and does not – disclose confidential information about donors, so “any stories about Mr. Adelson’s involvement is purely conjecture.” What Brooks was willing to say is that “there is a large number of people involved in this effort.”
Whether or not Adelson was directly involved in this RJC campaign effort, he has been a strong presence in this year’s presidential campaign on behalf of the Republican party. In the Republican primaries earlier this year, he and his family donated $16.5 million to Newt Gingrich’s campaign, and when Romney came out the victor in the primaries, Adelson gave a $10 million donation to a Super PAC that supports Romney.
That fiscal heft, although not approaching the hundreds of millions of dollars billionaire George Soros has given to various anti-Israel campaigns, is not only firing up Jewish American potential Romney voters, it has incensed many in the Obama camp. The National Jewish Democratic Coalition recently took down a petition it had posted, calling on candidates to return any donations from what they suggested were “dirty money” donations from Adelson. Although NJDC chair David Harris said he stood by the facts in the petition, for purposes of “shalom bayit” he said they decided to take it down.
This May the left-wing organization J Street kicked off their election effort with an email attack on the campaign contributions of Adelson. Ironically, J Street originally claimed not to have received any funding from Soros, but it was later disclosed that a significant portion of the budgets for their first few years was covered by Soros and his family members.
There will be a “significant number” of ads that will be aired, leading up to the November elections. A second stage in the campaign will be the opportunity for ad viewers to visit a website called mybuyersremorse.com and upload their own stories about why they, as voters who had supported Barack Obama in 2008, will now be supporting the Republican candidate. Like Michael Goldstein in the first ad, the RJC anticipates there may be many Jewish voters who have never before voted for a Republican for US president.
Romney is scheduled to arrive in Israel on July 28 as part of a trip that will also take him to England and Poland. He is slated to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while in Israel for what his aides say will be a “learn and listen” session.
Rafi Harkham contributed to this article.
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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The democrats that are intellectually honest and are Israel involved have abandoned him. These are mainstream democrats that pay attention to what is going on. The 67 boarders speech started it and if it had ended there I think many would have stuck it out. But it didn't end there. The treatment of Netanyahu , the leaking of classified Israel intelligence , Hillary s comments , Gutmans comments , Panetta's comments. Israel not being able to participate in anti terror conferences in Spain and Turkey , without a peep from the administration. Very public displays of criticism is more than they could take. They have had it.
After three and half years, Obama's actions suggest that he's definitely not pro-Israel and I will not be voting for him in 2012. Obama may let Iran obtain nuclear weapons which may be used against Israel in the future. I could not live with myself knowing that by voting for Obama, I aided and abetted in the destruction of the Jewish People. My hands will not be dripping with Jewish blood! Also, can anyone imagine the pressure placed on Israel in an Obama second term without Obama having to answer to the electorate given his actions and behavior in his first term towards Israel? Just close your eyes and think this thought: after Obama's victory in November/2012, Obama's policy of 'nuclear prevention' towards Iran becomes a 'containment policy' towards Iran. Is the fate of Israel and the Jewish People worth this possible risk? In fact, a lot of my liberal, Democratic relatives/friends are not supporting Obama this year and voting Republican. Obama's actions have turned a lot of Democratic Jews into supporters for Romney and voters for Romney in the 2012 election.
They'd better be careful with "buyer's remorse" wording. The libs will cry about it being a racial/slavery slur.
That's FUNNY! I was trying to peddle the joke back in 2008 that Obama was the U.S. 43 3/5 President. Too soon?
This is the Marxist agenda–accuse those who oppose you of doing what you are doing.
Rc Fowler – No, it's not the Marxist agenda. It's a well-known, defining characteristic of propaganda. And propaganda is not the invention or exclusive tool of Marxists.
As for Yori Yanover's joke, Morgan Freeman made it two days ago.
No propaganda was not the invention or exclusive tool of the Marxists–but it is a basic part of their agenda and their method of operation, i.e., accuse the opposition of doing exactly what you are doing!
I'm a registered Democrat and voted for Obama in 2008. There's no doubt that I'm one of those with regrets about my choice, but to be frank, I don't see how a McCain-Palin White House would have done better — because Obama actually did, on the economy, essentially what McCain would have done, which was awful.
Also, I fear that a ciouple of years in the White House would have done McCain in, and then we'd be stuck with you know who as president.
Still, I won't vote for Obama in 2012, but I cannot bring myself to vote for Romney. I can't, please don't ask me to. There is no Mitt Romney, there's just this storefront mannequin who will lie about everything all the time, just to get elected.
So, for me it's either Daffy Duck again this year, or former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson, the 2012 Libertarian Presidential Candidate. He is a better man than either candidate, which means his chances are the same as Daffy's.
Can i like this at least 12 times? You've expressed my kiskes to a "T"
Yori: We vote for who will be best for Am Yisrael — You'll notice that Mr, Romney has made it a priority to come here to Israel, and he isn't even president yet! A vote for Daffy is a vote for Obama.
It doesn't surprise me at all that you voted for an anti-semite.
If you don't vote for Romney–then you are casting a vote for Barack H. Obama–Romney is the only one who can win in this election–if you don't vote for Romney then your so called regrets about Obama are disingenuous!
Yes I know Romney is not the best–but he is what we have to work with.
You are largely correct on McCain–who is a Marxist muck like Obama–but you are profoundly wrong about Sarah Palin as she is a very strong advocate and supporter of Israel.
Its Jews like yourself Mr. Yanover who have caused so much hurt to America and to Israel–Jews who favor Marxism in all its forms rather than the Torah!
Rc Fowler While I am not a Marxist, I beg to differ with you about your definition of Obama and your loose use of the M word, which many people equate with Socialist. Obama is not a Marxist or socialist. Obama is a fascist. There have been many well-meaning socialists. There are no well-meaning fascists.
I knew who and what Barack H. Obama was in the summer of 2007–I knew he hated America, Israel and Jews–I knew he was a full blown Marxist and his policies would bring ruination upon America and Israel and it was easy for me to see these truths.
I remember when Barack H. Obama spoke at AIPAC 2008–and the pathetic Jews there stood and cheered him–I thought are you meshuggah? this man hates Jews and Israel–he hates you!
Those like Michael Goldstein could have chosen to know as well–but they deliberately chose to remain ignorant, to be foolish and part of the problem!
<yawn> uh…o…k…<yawn> And which propaganda sheet are you reading from?
You are an ignorant fool!
Rofl…such salient argumentation…so convincing…nice to see you can still gibber and spit, while patting yourself on the back…arm broken yet?
The democrats that are intellectually honest and are Israel involved have abandoned him. These are mainstream democrats that pay attention to what is going on. The 67 boarders speech started it and if it had ended there I think many would have stuck it out. But it didn’t end there. The treatment of Netanyahu , the leaking of classified Israel intelligence , Hillary s comments , Gutmans comments , Panetta’s comments. Israel not being able to participate in anti terror conferences in Spain and Turkey , without a peep from the administration. Very public displays of criticism is more than they could take. They have had it.
After three and half years, Obama’s actions suggest that he’s definitely not pro-Israel and I will not be voting for him in 2012. Obama may let Iran obtain nuclear weapons which may be used against Israel in the future. I could not live with myself knowing that by voting for Obama, I aided and abetted in the destruction of the Jewish People. My hands will not be dripping with Jewish blood! Also, can anyone imagine the pressure placed on Israel in an Obama second term without Obama having to answer to the electorate given his actions and behavior in his first term towards Israel? Just close your eyes and think this thought: after Obama’s victory in November/2012, Obama’s policy of ‘nuclear prevention’ towards Iran becomes a ‘containment policy’ towards Iran. Is the fate of Israel and the Jewish People worth this possible risk? In fact, a lot of my liberal, Democratic relatives/friends are not supporting Obama this year and voting Republican. Obama’s actions have turned a lot of Democratic Jews into supporters for Romney and voters for Romney in the 2012 election.
They’d better be careful with “buyer’s remorse” wording. The libs will cry about it being a racial/slavery slur.
They’d better be careful with “buyer’s remorse” wording. The libs will cry about it being a racial/slavery slur.
I’m a registered Democrat and voted for Obama in 2008. There’s no doubt that I’m one of those with regrets about my choice, but to be frank, I don’t see how a McCain-Palin White House would have done better — because Obama actually did, on the economy, essentially what McCain would have done, which was awful.
Also, I fear that a ciouple of years in the White House would have done McCain in, and then we’d be stuck with you know who as president.
Still, I won’t vote for Obama in 2012, but I cannot bring myself to vote for Romney. I can’t, please don’t ask me to. There is no Mitt Romney, there’s just this storefront mannequin who will lie about everything all the time, just to get elected.
So, for me it’s either Daffy Duck again this year, or former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson, the 2012 Libertarian Presidential Candidate. He is a better man than either candidate, which means his chances are the same as Daffy’s.
I’m a registered Democrat and voted for Obama in 2008. There’s no doubt that I’m one of those with regrets about my choice, but to be frank, I don’t see how a McCain-Palin White House would have done better — because Obama actually did, on the economy, essentially what McCain would have done, which was awful.
Also, I fear that a ciouple of years in the White House would have done McCain in, and then we’d be stuck with you know who as president.
Still, I won’t vote for Obama in 2012, but I cannot bring myself to vote for Romney. I can’t, please don’t ask me to. There is no Mitt Romney, there’s just this storefront mannequin who will lie about everything all the time, just to get elected.
So, for me it’s either Daffy Duck again this year, or former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson, the 2012 Libertarian Presidential Candidate. He is a better man than either candidate, which means his chances are the same as Daffy’s.
I knew who and what Barack H. Obama was in the summer of 2007–I knew he hated America, Israel and Jews–I knew he was a full blown Marxist and his policies would bring ruination upon America and Israel and it was easy for me to see these truths.
I remember when Barack H. Obama spoke at AIPAC 2008–and the pathetic Jews there stood and cheered him–I thought are you meshuggah? this man hates Jews and Israel–he hates you!
Those like Michael Goldstein could have chosen to know as well–but they deliberately chose to remain ignorant, to be foolish and part of the problem!
I knew who and what Barack H. Obama was in the summer of 2007–I knew he hated America, Israel and Jews–I knew he was a full blown Marxist and his policies would bring ruination upon America and Israel and it was easy for me to see these truths.
I remember when Barack H. Obama spoke at AIPAC 2008–and the pathetic Jews there stood and cheered him–I thought are you meshuggah? this man hates Jews and Israel–he hates you!
Those like Michael Goldstein could have chosen to know as well–but they deliberately chose to remain ignorant, to be foolish and part of the problem!