"Seinfeld" Actor Jason Alexander Rallies Jewish Voters in Crucial Swing-State Florida

MIAMI --- George, er, Jason isn't joking around -- Jason Alexander, that is, the funny man who will forever be mostly known as George Costanza. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Hell, how many other folks do you know who have become universally recognized characters? Still an actor's supposed to play more than one role, so being pegged as Seinfeld's sidekick, no matter how singular was the sensation, surely must get on a guy's nerves.

That might be why Alexander is so serious about his latest role -- as a celebrity spokesman for Obama. Indeed, this week he joined the growing list of celebrities campaigning here, taking his place alongside personalities on the left and right, including Matt Damon, Alicia Silverstone, Elizabeth Hasselback -- engaging in Florida's Election 2008 "Star Wars." Alexander, however, is a celebrity spokesman not so comfortable with the celebrity part. He is a man with a bold-faced name who's not afraid to admit that "celebrities aren't any smarter than anyone else. In fact, they're often dumber."

Not Alexander, though, who's as smart and as thoughtful as he is famous and funny. Just check the way he presided over what might best be described as a town hall meeting at Florida International University's Kovens Conference Center on Sunday, when he and a posse that included Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, State Rep. Dan Gelber and Ambassador Dennis Ross addressed how best the largely Jewish crowd could convince their largely Jewish counterparts to come around to Obama.

Race has been an issue, as have been the rumors of Obama being a Muslim, and Alexander was prepared for both.

"We all know that a Jew is determined by their mother," he half-cracked. "By that standard, Barack Obama is a white guy. So we should have no issues."

As for the bit about Obama being Muslim, well, Alexander noted that those rumors were spread on the Internet, and to adhere to that standard of truth would also mean you could say the Holocaust is a myth.

"Are you prepared to admit the Holocaust never happened?" he asked. "I didn't think so."

Alexander even addressed taxes, which, under Obama's proposals he'll undoubtedly be paying more of.

"Do you know what happens when the middle class gets squeezed out?" He asked. "The French Revolution. I don't know about you, but I like my lifestyle, and I don't want it burned down."

"And why shouldn't I pay more taxes if my country needs it?" he added. "I can afford it."

In other words, this is a serious matter, in every aspect -- "the most important election in [his] lifetime" in fact -- and Alexander would gladly do what's required of him. And that includes haranguing his mother, who resides down here in the town of Coconut Creek and who only came around to Obama two weeks ago.

Now the earnest comic figures that if he can convert her, then he might have a chance with other Jewish voters of a certain age.

To that end he hit a plethora of their exurban hangouts: Silver Lakes Park North in Pembroke Pines, the Holiday Springs Condominium in Margate, King's Point Condo Clubhouse in Tamarac, and the be-all-to-end-all mensch meeting places, Century Pines Jewish Center in Century Village, which resembles the Del Boca Vista community George's and Jerry's folks retired to on the series in more ways than coincidence can muster.

So you'll have to forgive me if I equate Alexander's blowing through South Florida to George sprinting to get to the phone before Kramer blew the cover on Van de Lay Industries. There were just too many parallels. The difference was, however, that this wasn't TV's all-time best sitcom, and Mr. Alexander wasn't wise-cracking -- he was just cracking wisely.

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Comments

[ricardow]

Don't forget Jason's greatest movie role in one of the most enduring movies of all time, Conehead (as their next door neighbor, with an awesome hairpiece).

But as one whose parents lived for decades down the road from where they filmed the exteriors for Del Boca Vista (right off Linton in south Delray Beach), I can say this is really great and noble work, Jason. I still can't get over how they stole my parents' votes in 2000.

[Sundalecat]

Oh by the way. IF YOU LIVE IN A STATE WITH EARLY VOTING VOTE! ASAP, VOTE! GET OFF THE INTERNET AND VOTE! OF COURSE IF YOU HAVE THANK YOU A MILLION. PLEASE! PLEASE! IT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE MILLION BUCKS...PL­EASE! REMEMBER VIRGINIA AND LOUISIANNA THE FINAL DAY TO VOTE IS NOVEMBER 4TH FOR ALL VOTERS. REMEMBER TO DROP OF YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOTS AT THE POLLS IF YOU CAN. WE NEED YOU ALL. WE MUST SQUASH JOE THE PLUMBER! I NEVER WANT HERE HIS NAME AGAIN. NOTHING AGAINST REAL LICENSED PLUMBERS BUT THIS GUY HAS GOT TO GO! GO OBAMA!!!! WATCH CHRIS, KEITH AND RACHEL ON MSNBC BEFORE YOU DO IF YOU CAN AND IF YOU MUST VOTE, VOTE! VOTE NOW!

[philosopherkingtomas]

GREAT love ya George!
"We all know that a Jew is determined by their mother," he half-cracked. "By that standard, Barack Obama is a white guy. So we should have no issues."

[swbks]

He can pay more taxes because he can afford it?? Good for him...pay away if he wants. I don't want more taxes. I can't afford it. I don't want to afford it. The government needs to stop spending and taxing. Yes, that goes out to George Bush and whoever comes in after him. I like my money going into my pocket because I have to feed my family and pay my bills. I don't want the government telling me how and where to spend my money. They do that enough already. If you are rich like Alexander (which he has every right to be) and want to pay more, that is OK by me. But that will not create wealth in this country. Jobs, jobs and more jobs create wealth. The government cannot create wealth (except for the thieves who steal from the system..ie Wall Street) Don't be so foolish to think that our country will thrive on a bottom up welfare system.

[pkafin]

"a bottom up welfare system" -- Your talking points overlord must be proud.

Exxon Mobil just made $15 billion PROFIT in the last 3 months and John McCain wants to give them a tax cut.

Under Obama, if you make less than $60K in the same time period, you get a tax cut. Do you, swbks,make over $250K a year. If you make exactly $250K per year, your taxes would stay the same. If you make more than that, then on that first $250K your taxes would still stay the same, your rate on what is above and beyond that would rise to 3% more than it currently is.

What does this mean? It means if you make $280K per year, your taxes would rise about $1K (3% of the $30K that exceeds the $250K). Are you really whining about that?

[Sundalecat]

Oh really, my father was a millionaire and realized that for this country to progress he needed to pay taxes, and back then taxes were much higher. The wining by the rich makes me laugh. They have never suffered and most of them are rich because they were born into it ,or took a chance and got lucky, or worked hard for it like my father. If you make over 250K than you should be happy with your success and vote for Obama because most likely you will have tax write-offs, if not you are probably stupid. If you make less than 250K you should be voting for Obama because you will either not get taxed or get money back. We cannot give all the money back to wealthy because we now have a 7 billion dollar loan from China to pay off as well as war in Iraq to pay for remember the deficit we have to pay off.

[Venise Alstergren]

Why does it matter what religion a person believes in, as long as he is a good man and a fine candidate?

[clarkbp]

This truly is serious business, as a good deal of Americans have no idea what religion Barack Obama belongs to. How is that possible, after the debacle with Jeremiah Wright? You don't have to agree with the reverend, but you would think that it would put Obama in a church somewhere, now, wouldn't you? Anyway, kudos, Jason, for championing a cause that needs to be addressed and for rallying Jewish voters with truth and wit.

Oh, and Obama is a Christian, for those of you who are confused. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/10/29/the-blurry-view-of-barack-obamas-religion/

[Hare]

I have never seen this show but correct me if I'm wrong. I was under the impression that this show or its characters were racist, that they never show a black face and that one of them got in hot water for making offensive remarks not to long ago. Is this the show this man works in?

[Tolleson]

There were actually several black characters on "Seinfeld.­" Just because they were not part of the main cast does not make the show racist (lest we consider "Friends" guilty of racism, and that show featured far less diversity). "Seinfeld" actually had at least one significant character representing just about every race and nationality.

Michael Richards (Cosmo Kramer) is the individual you are thinking of who made the racial slurs directed at some very persistent hecklers. Heckling doesn't excuse Richards' statements, however, he felt provoked enough to let slip the diarrhea of the mouth. He immediately apologized, for what it was worth, and his career has likely suffered irreparably from the incident. Ironically, Kramer's lawyer on the show was Jackie Chiles (played by Phil Morris) who made several appearances on the show, including the series finale as the whole group's legal representation.

[Caraleisa]

Hi Hare,

I never got the impression that Seinfeld's show was racist. It was a comedy and is no longer being filmed. All you see these days are reruns. There was an incident a while back where one of the cast (played Kramer) made racist remarks in his standup act in a comedy club, but it was not Jason Alexander. I am sure you don't want to say Alexander is racist because he happens to know someone who is. From everything I've seen, Alexander is certainly not a racist person.

[flyteeskee]

Thanks Jason!

[piggybackmom]

Thank you for talking to the Jewish community in Florida. I can't understand why anyone would be voting for McCain when he has such a large support of white Americans who are against non Christians and other ethnic backgrounds. Has the world forgotten what WWII was all about. I hope not.
Please vote for Mr. Obama.

[4wehttam]

George... uh Jason is a cutie patootie. I loved him in everything except Richard Gere's lawyer in Pretty Woman. I'm so glad celebrities are using their status to enlighten people with the TRUTH.....­..unfortun­ately the truth is on our side.

[SimonNZ]

George is my all-time favorite sitcom character (apart from Larry David in Curb.) Well done Jason Alexander - I salute you.

[blastit]

George was always my favorite to remeber that line is it a lie if you believe it or the epi where he ate from the garbage can and got caught!!, lol

its always great when a fav celebrity is fighting for the same things we are!!

[Kuroneko]

He's always been the master of my domain.

[GabrielVH]

i always liked George more than Jerry...

go Jason go! get the people to vote, i have gotten nightmares about a Palin presidency already...

[Drummaboy]

We are all in this together!! Black, White, Christian, Jewish, Old, Young, Rich and Poor... Much respect to Jason Alexander aka George Costanza.

[Lakshmi0000]

Shalom, Jason

Obama/Biden 2008