Palin is No Winner with the Jewish Community

Over the last week there has been a lot of talk about Senator John McCain's newly picked running mate Governor Sarah Palin and the Jewish community. Wednesday, I published an op-ed for The Jerusalem Post titled, "Sarah Palin and the Jewish community." The choice of Palin as McCain's Vice President and her defense by the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) shows a profound misunderstanding of the American Jewish community.

In The Jerusalem Post, I wrote that Palin was an "odd" choice for the Republicans who have been trying to increase their share of the Jewish vote.

She is an exceedingly odd choice for a party which has spent the better part of the past year loudly exclaiming that it was reaching out to Jewish voters and made much to do about considering two Jewish legislators - Joe Lieberman and Eric Cantor - as vice presidential possibilities.

First, Palin has absolutely no foreign policy experience - it is ironic that McCain has spend his spring and summer telling Americans that the most important characteristic he is looking for in a vice president is an individual who is ready on day one to assume the presidency. Moreover, Palin has never visited Israel and besides signing a pro-Israel resolution passed by the state legislature, she has apparently never spoken out or focused on the Jewish state.

However, it is not only foreign policy where Palin is strongly out of step with the political values of the vast majority of the American Jewish community.

On domestic issues she is totally out of step with public opinion in the Jewish community. Palin is against reproductive freedom - even in the cases of rape and incest - and as a result one of the first organizations to support her nomination was the Christian Coalition.

[Palin] speaks about the effects of climate change in the Arctic, but she also is clear that she does not believe that climate change is man-made. Another position which American Jews will find strange is one she shares with McCain - she believes that creationism should be taught in public schools.

The reform narrative that GOP operatives like to site when speaking of Palin could be appealing to Jewish voters. However, Palin has a few problems here, as well. She eventually came out against the "Bridge to Nowhere" but only after the issue became a public embarrassment to the Republican Party and it was apparent that federal funds would not cover the whole cost of the project. When she ran for governor in October of 2006, she was all for spending taxpayer dollars on this very dubious "pork." It took her another 11 months to see the light. Moreover when she was first elected mayor of Wasilla (population 6,000) she was severely criticized by the local paper for firing city employees because they had supported her opponent.

There is still much to learn about Palin. In fact, just yesterday The Los Angeles Times reported that McCain has criticized Palin for her request for "pork" and "financial favors" in an article titled, "McCain had criticized earmarks from Palin." I also encourage you to take a look at a Media Matters report that outlines the "Myths and Falsehoods in Media Coverage of Gov. Sarah Palin." However, despite what Jewish Republican operatives may tell you, it is clear that when it comes to the American Jewish community, Palin is no winner.

Follow Marc R. Stanley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/NJDC

Comments

[uheardme]

She was a campaign supporter of Pat "Heil Hitler" Buchanan. She's a big friend of the Jews for Jesus freak who said a "terrorist attack on Israel is God's judgement".

She is part of the extreme right wing of the Republican Party.

[mnash]

She has alot of baggage. She is scary

[jhNY]

As most of the evangelical Christian millenialists like Palin believe that Jews who do not convert to Christianity will be annhilated by an angry God in the Last Days, which are upon us, any embrace Jews receive from these types may actually be an attempt to restrict movement and deter escape until the hellfire arrives. And it's coming, just ask them.

[Chicago1968]

She offers nothing for Agnostics either.
still no worries, she will never win.

[joycehelene]

As a Jewish woman I would never throw away my vote on Sarah Palin or John McCain, they are no good for this country or for supporting Israel. A person with absolutely no knowledge of foreign affairs or very little at the most should not be in the position to be a heart beat away from becoming the President. with McCain's age and health issues that is a good possibility.

[T Pol]

HuffPost's Pick

I'd like to add something, now that I've read your links. I'm less worried about Obama's "guilt by association" than I am by Palin's. Why? Because Palin has shown more evidence that she will put those associated views into Policy than Obama has with his. Interestingly, Obama's opposition to the war in Iraq in the beginning and desired for a responsible withdrawal is reflective of what an insider to Ariel Sharon had to say, that the Israelis didn't want to see it because it would inflame the Arab extremists, but now that the U.S. is in, get out responsibly.

As for Lieberman, he is a gross disappointment to me, having capped it with his absolute lies about Obama not reaching across the aisle or sponsoring any important legislation. As a Jew, I feel absolutely disgraced by Lieberman's lies. Obama's legislation on getting the Federal Budget accountable to the people is a milestone by itself.

I'm not sure what a "conservative" Democrat means any more. Hawkish? Fiscal Conservative but Liberal Socially? Or a Rebublican registered Democrat?

John McCain and George Bush have done nothing for Israel or for American Jews. Obama is no terrorist sympathizer for believing there must be a better way than bellicose, deadly, inflammatory invasions.

Joe Biden has been a constant and consistent friend to both Israel and American Jews.

Enough with Palin and her hate mongering wrapped in a perky package.

[dfortruth]

That funny, because I heard on msnbc, Rachel said that Sarah Palin, had something like the war in Iraq was started by Jesus, and something about punishing the Jews because the do not accept Jesus as their savior. And that there was a tape showing her sitting in a church where this is being preached..

As for me I would as her how can Palin, and MCSame claim to be pro-life and say every life should count, than agree that it was okay to go to Iraq and kill their leader base on a lie. also how can these people claim to believers of Christ, when McCain was asked if he believe evil exists, he answered yes and said he would follow Osama to the gates of hell. The Bible teaches that Christ has the keys to the gates of hell. Can McCain take them from Christ? Why are these people sitting in church clapping their hands to this?

Are they pushing the Iraq war, because they teach that Christ will come back over there and they will fly away to heaven, leaving Jews and all other to be destroyed. (After all you only see mostly whites in their party)

[Scarllatti]

By this single reckless behavior by McCain in choosing a complete neophyte in foreign policy and and international affairs, McCain is in effect jeopardizing both the security of America and the State of Israel just for political gains.
Unless McCain can assure us that he is IMMORTAL, his chose of this beauty queen Palin, will go down in American history as the most bizarre VP pick ever made. Now that the hoopla and party is over, McCain should PRODUCE PALIN so that American people will ask her questions and find out WHO SHE IS.
It is sheer ARROGANCE for McCain to shield Palin behind a political stonewall while hoping to become the POTUS.
Sarah Palin believes that Jews are SINNERS who MURDERED JESUS CHRIST ( like Pastor Hagge) and needs to be CONVERTED to Christianity before the 2nd coming of Christ.
She is a CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALIST (TALIBAN) that will roll back a lot of faith-relations that has been built up between the different faiths in America if elected. Sarah Palin, together with John McCain are a DANGEROUS COMBINATION for America.

[T Pol]

You miss the most important point about Palin in relation to Jews: She is a "We're going to heaven and the rest of you are going to hell" fundamentalist Christian. Her pastor has said Kerry voters are going to hell. Her church has hosted the Jews for Jesus leader whose rantings against Israel's Jews for not accepting Jesus says much. Not something that would make a Jew feel, well, safe.

Then there's her party's push to privatize Social Security and deep-six healthcare initiatives. Palin's dictate about when life begins does not fit with Jewish belief. The "leave my family alone I mess with yours" mantra. Much like, "I'll buck your pork and corruption, but no questions about mine." These are all issues for Jews.

The woman is divisive to the country not only politically, but also religiously. It is good to remember the lessons of Germany that one should be a Jew first and loyal to any country second. Contrary to anti-Semitic views, American Jews do not consider themselves Israelis first and Americans second. They are loyal Americans. But in any country, including ours, when it is time to turn on someone, those powers that be will think of one as a Jew first and an American second.

Similarly, be Jews first and party-loyalists second. Especially when the possible heartbeat away from the president is a fundamentalist who sees no problem with advancing her personal religious beliefs as the rule of law.

[susquehannastudio]

"Another position which American Jews will find strange is one she shares with McCain - she believes that creationism should be taught in public schools."

And a Bible in one hand and a gun in the other, God said it was his wish.

[altohone]

The radical right agenda of McSame and Palin is desperation exemplified.

The GOP torture party is scared to death of accountability, and will insist that a majority in this country supports their actions in order to attempt to avoid prosecution.

By presenting an even more radical agenda, they hope to prevent discussion of all that has already occured.
It's not a coincidence that a 527 is running propaganda ads about Iran.

While I agree with the gist of this post... in relation to the majority of Jewish Americans... the post glosses over the blatant fact that right wing Jewish fundraisers are raising millions for McSame and the largest Jewish lobby helped sell the Iraq war.

The GOP's oil and Israel foreign policy has blinded many to the principles of the faith being violated.
The 25% of Jewish Americans who voted for Bush couldn't care less about reproductive rights, our Constitution, nor seemingly what their children are taught in school.

Money and nationalism before faith and morality doesn't seem very Jewish to me... but I hang with the 75%.

[booksnmore4you]

I can't see Florida going Rethuglican on this ticket. NO WAY!!!

[kimnjerry]

MSNBC reports that Palin believes that Israel suffers from terrorism because "Jews have not accepted Christ." Palin's kind kill doctors who perform abortions, bomb clinics, and employ the tactics of those who seek to destroy Israel - not defend it.

Sarah Palin: American Taliban.

[Doofus]

So, you were expecting maybe Joe Lieberman?

Sarah Plain is approved by Tim LaHaye & the 'End of Days'
Rapture-planning crowd. That's as good as your gonna get.