Sarah Palin... and the Jews

When Sen. John McCain tapped Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate today, the Jewish political blogosphere -- as loud and fast and opinionated as (for lack of a better word) the Gentile Web -- came to a screeching halt.

After all, you can fight about John McCain, and Barack Obama, and Joe Biden... but Sarah Palin?

It took an Internet eternity for Jewish Republicans to come out swinging for Sarah, and just as long for Jewish Democrats to hit back.

"Homerun!" Larry Greenfield, the California director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, wrote me via e-mail five hours after McCain's announcement. "Governor Palin has a very close relationship with the Jewish community of Alaska, with Chabad (Rabbi Greenberg) and with AIPAC. She is close to the Frozen Chosen!"

Seconds later came a blast from Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) claiming Palin endorsed Pat Buchanan's presidential run in 2000: "John McCain's decision to select a vice presidential running mate that endorsed Pat Buchanan for President in 2000 is a direct affront to all Jewish Americans."

Oh, NOW it's getting good.

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When Sen. Barack Obama picked Sen. Joe Biden last week, the Democrats had nothing but praise for the long term senator with a 94 percent approval rating from AIPAC and decades of foreign policy experience. And Jewish e-mail boxes filled with Biden's now familiar quote: "You don't have to be Jewish to be a Zionist, and I'm a Zionist."

Then Republican Jews struck. An e-mail quickly circulated linking to an article on a right-leaning web site claiming Biden was in the pocket of the Iranian mullahs. As for Biden's 94 percent approval rating from AIPAC, said the Republicans, why not 100? Why not 100 percent? Why not 110 percent? As for that quote? Pretty words, just like his boss, Obama.

The Dems responded with a further defense of Biden's record. If you could call Biden's support for Israel into question, said the chair of the National Jewish Democratic Council Ira Forman, then you could call Golda Meyer's loyalty to Israel in question.

The Veep debate among Jews is important because there are many Jewish voters who are still a bit leery about Obama. Jews traditionally vote Democratic (upwards of 75 percent voted for John Kerry in 2004 -- and we didn't even really like him). A growing number of Jews have found a home in the Republican party, and are fairly candidate -- proof-they vote red no matter what.

A significant number of Jewish voters, however, will change their vote depending on which candidate they perceive as "better for Israel." These voters believe that Israel is facing immediate existential threats from Palestinian terror, from a near-nuclear Iran, and from over-eager politicians forcing it to make dangerous territorial concessions for the sake of elusive peace. These voters -- call them "Israel Firsters" -- see their one vote as crucial to preventing another Holocaust, and theirs are the votes that Jewish Dems and Jewish Republicans are fighting over.

Obama and Israel is the battleground issue for Jewish voters in the 2008 election -- these are the Jewish votes up for grabs in this race. If Republicans can paint Obama as a Muslim or Muslim sympathizer, as an appeaser to Iran, as inexperienced on foreign policy, as insufficiently caring about Israel in his kishkes -- the Yiddish word for guts -- then they can peel off Jewish votes.

This strategy won't matter in heavily pro-Democratic states like California and New York, but it can matter in swing states like Ohio and Florida. And it matters elsewhere in the race: Jews give money, Jews get involve, Jews shape opinion far out of proportion to their numbers. (Yes, there are only six of us in the entire country. Amazing what controlling the media will get you.)

Enter Sarah.

If McCain had picked Mitt Romney or Tom Ridge or -- cue the bar mitzvah band -- Joe Lieberman, he would have unquestionably swept up the Israel Firsters. These men have track records and gravitas when it comes to Israel and foreign policy. (This debate among Jews and Israel reflects the larger foreign policy concerns about Obama that Republicans are making the centerpiece of their opposition. Many conflicts in Jewish life mirror conflicts in the larger culture -- that's Anthropology 101.)

But he chose Sarah Palin: former mayor of a small Alaska town, governor of Alaska, devout Christian.

For Jews who are not necessarily Israel Firsters, she carries some positives and negatives.

Positives: she is a crusader for good government and a fiscal conservative. She is smart and successful and patriotic. Jews like all these things.

"As governor of Alaska, Palin has enjoyed a strong working relationship with Alaska's Jewish community. She has demonstrated sensitivity to the concerns of the community and has been accessible and responsive," said Republican Jewish Coalition Executive Director Matt Brooks.

Negatives: She is is anti-abortion. Jews are among the largest pro-choice constituency in the country. She has, according to one web site, supported the idea of teaching Creationism and evolution in public schools. "Teach both," she was quoted as saying on a local TV station. "You know, don't be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important, and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both.'"

Dependence on foreign oil is a major issue for American Jews, since a lot of that oil comes from regimes that hate Israel and support terror.

Republican Jews are emphasizing Palin's desire to drill Alaskan oil and develop domestic oil resources as away to decrease our dependence.

"Palin has been a leader on the critical issue of energy independence and lessening our need to buy oil from nations not sharing American and Israel's foreign policy," Brooks said in his statement.

But Jews are also pro-environment, and have jumped on the alternative energy (hybrid) bandwagon in a big way. Obama's convention speech calling for a 10 year campaign to switch to alternative sources of energy may carry deeper resonance.

For the Israel Firsters, Palin may be a problem. Palin has no foreign policy experience. No Israel experience. Her AIPAC rating? When you enter her name on the AIPAC home page , you get this:

Your search - palin - did not match any documents. No pages were found containing "palin".

The RJC's Greenfield says her AIPAC relationships are good, but confined to Alaska. Could be, but Republicans will now have to marshall a great comeback to the charge that Palin supported Pat Buchanan in 2000.

Buchanan is anathema to the Jews: someone who has blamed Israel and American Jews for directing American foreign policy against American interests. He has spoken kindly of Adolph Hitler -- who is not popular with Jews -- and... well, this is going to be interesting.

Sarah Palin might cause the Israel Firsters, who seemed to be pretty much done with Obama, to take a second look.

Read more reaction from HuffPost bloggers to John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate

Comments

[betz55]

Proof that AIPAC has too much influence over our legislators? Watch the parade of Congress and Presidential candidates promising to maintain our "special relationship" with Israel. It's disgusting our national representatives act in such a obsequious manner to an organization that represents only 3-4% of the U.S. population.

Is Mr Obama really interested in "change" we can believe in? Then he needs to "change" the same old rhetoric, dogmatic, unquestioned, unconditional support of Israel. Level the playing field and be an honest broker of the "change" he is espousing.

I will be proud of the day when Obama 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.

Tell Israel they need to end the occupation of the West Bank, stop repressing the legitimate national aspirations of the Palestinians, and stop warmongering. If not, cut their funding. The US must stop pandering to Israel and it's destructive, belligerent, failed policies.

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?

[kesiac]

Alrighty Huff, looks like you have the vetting under control. I can take a break.

[altohone]

The problem is that the 75% of Jews that regularly vote Democratic are too unwilling to criticise their right wing GOP brethren... at least in the terms used in this post.

Allowing a vocal minority to steamroll the majority for the last seven years has been a disaster for America and Israel.

Relying on AIPAC as the sole judge of what is good or not good for Israel has meant the ideological exclusion and even the refusal to consider many options. Personally, I see this as a failure of leadership at AIPAC, or the undue influence of big donors or both.

If answer D isn't ALWAYS "None of the above", be very wary of choices A, B, and C.

The prominent role of Jewish neocons in the selling of the Iraq war lies has tarnished both AIPAC and Israel, and none have been held accountable (just like the Bushies).

Sarah Palin may yet win over the 25%, but Jewish Republicans have joined the "moderate", gay, black, and true conservatives in the category of Lip Service on Policy as far as the GOP goes.

[BARRISTER]

"Israel Firsters"???? One would have thought that American Citizens would be " America Firsters", and then "Anything Seconders"!!!.

That really worries me.

[Tobiasism]

Creationism: not good.
Abortion: not good but better than unwanted children.
Life does not end at birth, BTW.

Palin: not good.
Zionism: Great.

[LillianB]

Quote: "Dependence on foreign oil is a major issue for American Jews, since a lot of that oil comes from regimes that hate Israel and support terror."

Excuse me! Regimes may "hate" Israel. But how many regimes "SUPPORT" terror? This quote wasn't even debated, in the post above, it was presented as fact.

One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. Nelson Mandela was jailed for terrorism. We should all agree that was an unfortunate label. And though some of the palestinian activists choose violent measures, the Israeli occupants aren't exactly non-violent either. What's happening in Israel is apartheid. And though we can agree jews deserve a state of their own, Israel has no right suppressing the native Palestinian people.

[boomerbabe]

When I was growing up in the 60's my father who followed news.. always said to me.. "Is it good for the Jews"?
Wake up Bubbies and Zadies in Florida! The Republicans are not good for the Jews..
Israel exists as a buffer in the war to control oil.
We exist at the pleasure of the United States as long as we are useful to their cause.
Do you think they are concerned with our right to exist.
I'm not cynical.. realistic..
This ticket is simply frightening.. What would a Putin do with Palin.. Oh we don't have to worry because if that should happen, Rove will be running things again..
Don't you think he has his fingerprints all over this thing.. and in fact the last few weeks of the election as the polls have gotten closer and closer..
Be afraid, be very afraid. I am

[Altalena]

You have got to be kidding me. The question is really what Putin would do with Obama. I'm a very pro-Israel guy and I think that this is a great pick.

[SpaceCadet]

This ticket is simply frightening.. What would a Putin do with Palin.. Oh we don't have to worry because if that should happen, Rove will be running things again..
Don't you think he has his fingerprints all over this thing.. and in fact the last few weeks of the election as the polls have gotten closer and closer..
------------------------------------------------------------

I think you're exactly right: Rove panicked when he saw how well the Democratic Convention went and how the Clintons showed a united front with Obama. So he chose someone he thought would be a good pander to the angry PUMA voters, and more importantly, steal a news cycle from Obama. McCain didn't know Palin from Britney Spears before Rove chose his VP for him.

[LanosIceland]

Buchanan is a right wing demagogue who can still be reasoned with, but it seems
as if no one can reason with zionism, which, if it's to be implemented in its entirety,
requires land that is presently occupied or owned by others.
The facts on the ground (results of zionist ideology) would suggest that the existential
threat is against the palestinians and not the other way around.
No US President or VP should be a zionist but a pragmatist, a realist, a mediator
who does not create facts but work with those truths already in existence.
Israel is a state like any other and must be subject to international law, instead of
always hiding behind the McCain tactic of 'I was a POW'.
I hope Obama/biden win but regardless of who wins, there needs to be a respect
for the law, by the US and Israel.