Much Ado About Nothing

It's talked about so much, you might actually call it the "fifth question": will Barack Obama win the Jewish vote? You'll read articles and op-eds that discuss the likelihood of McCain gains among the Jewish community in November, including pieces that appeared recently in this very paper.

But let's not confuse wishful thinking for insightful analysis or informed prognostication. Barack Obama and Joe Biden will win substantial support from the Jewish community, in line with historical levels of support for the last two Democratic nominees, Sen. Kerry and Vice President Gore.

A comprehensive study on American Jews and the 2008 Presidential Election released last week by respected scholars from NYU projected "a 75-25% margin in favor of Barack Obama among Jewish voters today." The latest Gallup poll reached the same conclusion, finding that the Jewish community now favors "Obama over John McCain by more than 3 to 1, 74% to 22%."

It's not just evident in the polls, but in the Jewish communities that I've visited with while campaigning for the Obama-Biden ticket all around Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio. The wide support that Barack Obama and Joe Biden have in the Jewish community is based on their deep and profound commitment to Israel's security, their tough and pragmatic approach to the threat posed by Iran, and their support for domestic policies that reflect the Jewish community's values. This support is also based on the belief that they offer this country the change that we all so desperately seek.

In places like Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia, the Jewish communities have been an important part of an alliance that has positioned the Obama campaign for victory. It is similar to the coalition that Barack Obama built with the Chicago Jewish community when he ran successfully for Senate in 2004, and in his State Senate races.

The real fight over the Jewish vote is not about liberals and conservatives, Republicans and Democrats, or even Obama and McCain. It's a fight between truth and lies.

The Obama-Biden ticket has succeeded in matching historic levels of Jewish support for the Democratic ticket because they have worked tirelessly to combat the vilest of rumors while clearly communicating their policies and convictions. This week's articles about "Obama and the Arabs" and "Obama's Radical Arabist Pal" are only the latest examples of the misinformation and falsehoods that have had to be overcome by the campaign.

Barack Obama could not be clearer in his determination to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He seeks a policy of tough, direct diplomacy backed by bigger sticks and bigger carrots. While Obama's policy is mischaracterized as suggesting social visits with the President of Iran, the McCain campaign fails to offer any meaningful departure from an ineffective Bush policy that has allowed Iran to move dangerously close to a nuclear weapon.

Detractors like to argue that Barack Obama opposed the Kyl-Lieberman amendment to declare the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRG) a terrorist organization--a decision he reached because he believed the amendment would have resulted in mission creep and provided George Bush with another reason to keep our troops in Iraq. Rarely mentioned is the fact that Obama co-sponsored a bill in 2007 that would have designated the IRG a terrorist organization and his consistent support for similar targeted efforts since then.

When McCain and his Republican allies had a chance to go beyond a non-binding resolution in confronting Iran, they obstructed instead of acted. Barack Obama was the primary sponsor of a bill, the "Iran Sanctions Enabling Act" (S.1430), which would have authorized tougher sanctions against Iran's banking and energy sectors, and facilitated divestment by naming companies that deal with Iran. McCain's Republican allies in the Senate blocked the legislation twice in the past month, while Iran produces more centrifuges and enriched uranium by the day.

Persistent rumors abound about Obama's advisors on Middle East policy. Emails and articles falsely assert Zbrigniew Bzezinski is a "leading advisor," when he has no advisory role with the campaign. The latest manufactured controversy is over Professor Rashid Khalidi, a former neighbor and colleague from the University of Chicago who has never had any role with the campaign. Strangely absent from the discussion of Obama's advisory team is actual mention of those on the Middle East advisory team, including former Middle East special envoy Dennis Ross, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer, former National Security Advisor Anthony Lake, Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Rep. Rahm Emmanuel, and myself.

Even after the record is corrected, critics speak about the "unknown" Barack Obama. They ignore his record of support for Israel from his State Senate days, his strong and unwavering record of support for the U.S.-Israel relationship in the U.S. Senate, and his longstanding relationship with the Chicago Jewish community. Barack Obama's record is consistent--he spoke eloquently about his commitment to the Jewish state of Israel at the annual AIPAC conference in June, and delivered the same message in Ramallah in January 2006 when speaking to a group of Palestinian students.

The coalescing of support in the Jewish community behind Obama and Biden is not only an affirmation of their policies with respect to issues of importance to the community, but also a rejection of the known. We know that Senator McCain offers more of the same when it comes to George W. Bush's foreign policy. It is a policy that we know has dramatically eroded Israel's strategic position--with Hamas running Gaza, a rearmed Hezbollah with a formal role in the Lebanese government, and an emboldened Iran that appears intent on acquiring nuclear weapons. It is also a policy that we know has failed most Americans on the home front--stagnant wages and mounting job losses, declining retirement accounts, increasing costs of health care and numbers of uninsured, and an erosion of civil liberties and the boundaries between church and state.

Don't let scurrilous emails, ugly insinuations and wishful thinking distract you from the larger reality: the Jewish community is behind Barack Obama like it has been behind the Democratic nominees before him, and they'll be an important part of the coalition that delivers him to the White House on November 4th.

Comments

[OtayPanky]

Kerry received 76% of the Jewish vote in '04, so Obama's numbers are right in line.

What is showing here - unfortunately - is how polarizing a figure Obama is for reasons that have nothing to do with reality. If he was a white man, and his name was John Michael Smith, there wouldn't be opportunity for the scurrilious to whip up people's xenophobia and distrust of "the other".

He's said it all along: when your name is Barack Hussein Obama, you're the underdog no matter what.

For an underdog, he's doing tolerably well, I'd say, even if Bubba and Zadie are going to vote their paranioa.

Congressman Wexler, keep up the good work - and for love of all that's holy, stay far away from Stephen Colbert.

[Balzac]

Mr. Wexler, thanks for campaigning for impeachment. I really hope Bush will not be allowed to evade justice even though it appears he may escape impeachment.

Can you imagine the indignity of Obama having Bush present during his inauguration?

[larry278]

In the event that you choose to think that Obama is anti-Jewish, count the Jewish advisors Obama will recruit after he becomes POTUS. You may be surprised.
I'll be surprised if Obama doesn't try to lure Mike Bloomberg to Washington. We're in the early stages of the mother of all depressions. Bloomberg will be needed to aid in crafting the recovery in the USA & the world; he can't do it as NYC's Mayor.

[Thabor]

Nicely said.. I'm not a constitution, but I've been a fan since your first apperance on Colbert's Better Know a District segment. Its nice to see a polictician with enough grace to have a sense of humor..

[BayAreaResident]

Clearly there can be no peace in the middle east with either continuation of Israeli hegemony or continuation of acts of terrorism. And so it begs the question in which order would one begin dismantling the system of mutual injustice, a hegemony first or terrorism? Each conflicting side obviously demands the opposite more favorable to them approach, and in order to break out of this gridlock, it would definitely involve doing "something palpable and fundamental" first, I guess it is sort of a chicken and the egg question - who do you begin with, but nevertheless, i believe terrorism has proven to be a largely sporadic (somewhat unpredictable) phenomena, while the political hegemony derives primarily from a strict set of policies, making it a much likelier candidate to begin the cycle of necessary/­inevitable adjustments.

I may not know all the answers for all the questions, but one thing is for sure, there is only one real choice we have, either begin making some bold and meaningful moves, or stick to the status quo of perpetual war which effectively is and surely will continue to be holding our foreign policy hostage, with the wider negative implications to surely follow.

We just can't be playing politics anymore, the life it just too unforgiving to continue to mess it up!

Please vote for peace, vote for Change!

[TLV]

I'm one of your biggest fans, Congressman Wexler. Your passion for truth, nation, and unity is admirable.

[Dr. Sam]

Thanks Rep. Waxler--thanks for your hard work for Sen. Obama!

[HedgeApple]

BS'D (With Heaven's Help)

Thank you, Congressman Wexler. Shout this from the rooftops. This is a mitzvot to vote for Senator Obama...for the good of all nations.

[NicoleW]

Congressman Wexler, Thank you for your post. I live in South Florida and I am worried about the older folks whether Jewish or Christian, and as we both know there is a lot of them. I have been worried that they harbor secret racism. I am not saying all of them do, however, I am not too sure. I feel that many are going for McCain because many of them feel comfortable with him because he is older and his POW record as many of them are vets. They appear not to get through the negative rhetoric. I have done my own little poll, and here are some of the responses I get. He is an Arab, McCain is a POW, They don't know much about Obama. The only older person I know that is for Obama is my mother in law, she actually called McCain a bulls__ter. (Sorry) She lives in Leisureville, and I asked some of her friends and they are all for McCain. I am worried, very worried. I called the Obama campaign and they told me many of them are just stuck in their ways... Additionally, as you know the mail, and DVD that was distributed with the papers are deplorable. To make matters worse, I know several people who are police officers and they are telling me that there are very few police that they know who are for Obama. Again, it's the POW war record.

[renatam]

I am a BIG fan of Cong. Wexler. However, your portrayal is a more accurate reflection of REALITY -- though I understand why there have been several posts this week trying to make it appear otherwise.

As a New Yorker and an AA, we know the reality is the opposite of what Cong. Wexler is saying. Thankfully, it may be irrevelant. The slurs and false assertions regarding Senator Obama are a reminder of the old time Hollywood stereotypes. Senator Obama is no stereotype and has defied portrayals that dehumanize him and/or demonize him.

No amount of PR will deflect from the REALITY you state here. Sadly.

Well -- onward and upward! Yes we can!!!

[Oregon Ivy]

I hate to say this, but depending on where you live a lot of cops are r. a c i s t also.

And I'm white. But I've seen it in my city, for sure.

[SaintAlphonso]

I'm Jewish and I support Israel. I'm voting for President Obama. I have never voted for a repub, and the large majority of my Jewish friends have a similar political viewpoint.

[SharonAustinTX]

Thank you Congressman Wexler for your honest representation of the facts. Each person has to decide for themselves as to whom they will vote. However, it is refreshing to have someone such as yourself support Barack Obama and Joe Biden. They are decent, honest men who will govern all of America and I am grateful for the opportunity to cast my vote without hesitation.

Obama/Biden '08/16

[betz55]

If Mr Obama is really interested in "change" we can believe in then he needs to "change" the same old rhetoric, and dogmatic, unquestioned, unconditional support of Israel. Level the playing field and be an honest broker of the "change" he is espousing. Obama is no fool but it sounds like AIPAC is doing their best to bias Obama to be an Israel firster.

I will be proud of the day when the President can put the interest of America before the interest of Israel and not be crucified for it. It's a shame that American politicians are selected, not on their commitment to the best interests of America, but by vowing to put the interests of a foreign nation, Israel, first. The oath of allegiance that I said everyday in school was not to Israel, or any country but America.

A true "friend" of Israel would tell them they need to end the occupation of the West Bank, stop repressing the legitimate national aspirations of the Palestinians, and stop warmongering. The time has come for the US to stop pandering to Israel and it's destructive, belligerent, failed policies.

Israel 'preconditions' for "peace" are outdated, irrelevant, and biased towards Israel. Why is Israel allowed to lay waste to every international law and convention without criticism and their "enemies" -read Iran,Syria, any one against Israel's failed policies are not entitled to raise a hand in their own defense without raising Washingtons hackles? I hope Obama smartens up.

[sonshine]

Look, your positions are appreciated. The question is would McCain do better in the Middle East than Obama. The answer is: No! Not only because the Israeli's and the Palestinians think so but because we have a chance with Obama to start anew. President Clinton came the closest of anyone to creating a peaceful settlement of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and would most certainly work with an Obama administration to continue where he left off. Who does McCain have with such cache? No one. Let's elect BO/JB and take a chance on a better future.

[shivadas]

Agreed!

[eraphael]

Enough of us Jewish baby boomers are out there who were raised by WWII vets or people raised to think Franklin Roosevelt was the apotheosis--we're still socially liberal as a group and nervous about "real America" language. I think a lot of less religious Jews (and that's still most of us) find Sarah Palin, in particular, deeply offensive: the moose hunting, the evangelical roots, the big howdy at her church to the person who tries to convert Jews. What I've also read is that she plays particularly badly with Jewish women voters--as a group we tend to be well-educated and feminist, and someone with a beauty pageant figuring prominently on her resume doesn't play well to second-wave feminists. I'm in a heavily Jewish area and while I've heard some mild discomfort re Obama based on all the emails that have gone around in the last two years, I don't know a single Jewish person who's voting for McCain. I did have a lengthy conversation the other day with a Hillary Clinton fan who was disappointed that Obama was nominated but now spends a lot of time on www.womenagainstsarahpalin.com.

[starboymikey]

First of all, as a Jew I find the idea that we are all single-issue (Israel) voters highly insulting. The American Jewish community has always been overwhelmingly progressive on issues like choice, marriage equality, the environment, taxes and a host of other issues that Democrats generally campion. This has been especially true since the Republican party became the political arm of the religious right.

While it is true that some Jews are highly visible in the neo-con movement, the number is large only in how vocal they are. Their number is tiny when taken as a percentage of American Jews as a whole.

American Jews were highly active in the union and civil rights movements, and Israel is just one of many issues on which we vote. The latest polling also indicates that Obama will be getting 70%-75% of the Jewish vote, which is roughly in line with what Gore received in 2000 and Kerry got in 2004. That percentage is probably higher than among any ethic group other than African Americans and possibly Arab Americans.

I also disagree with the poster who claims that it is mostly younger Jews who are voting for McCain. Other than my parents, who have always been politically conservative, I know only a couple of Jews who are not solidly behind Obama. Most of us are savvy enough to see through the right-wing propaganda.

[dsbsh]

starboymikey-- Kudos on what is hands-down the best comment in this discussion. For all the efforts of the GOP to gain ground among Jewish voters, they've failed miserably despite being better at "support Israel" rhetoric. Sure American Jews care about Israel, but we've consistently voted Democratic due to progressive positions on domestic social issues. Anyone can point to a friend, relative or even a small community that differs, but the 70%+ support for Obama among Jews nationally is well-documented.

[Yola]

The sad thing about this is Obama was constantly attacked in Chicago for being too close to Jews! I just find it sad that they label this man the way they have been ... just sad for us as a country! Barack Obama is a friend to Israel!