From Hussein to Herschel: How Obama Can Court the One-Issue Jews

The Jewish old ladies in Boca Raton are just one niche community in an uproar over thirty seconds of Jeremiah Wright. The shock-and-awe political chatter at Mahjong tables across South Florida does not augur well for Obama in a re-vote or in the general election: "that Obama is no good for Israel and his schwartzer guru is no good for the Jews." Hold on to your teeth; if Obama wins, history is going to repeat itself.

Reason (I know, how un-American) would dictate that Jeremiah-mania would finally put the calumny of Osamabama-mania (a.k.a. Islam-a-Obama-mania) to rest. But when the golden girls of gated-communities gaze in horror at the ignominious Reverend Jeremiah, logical distinctions collapse into one giant muddle of turned-off tribalism and culturally entrenched trepidation. Crucial differences are shunted to the margins if not entirely ignored: between a candidate and his supporters; between church membership and personal belief; between Muslim malfeasance and evangelist idiocy; between Louis Farrakhan and Al Sharpton; Black Muslims and Christian Blacks; madrassas and ministries; Black nationalism and Arab nationalism; Jesus and Muhammad; this Diaspora and that one; this antisemite and that one.

When the hyper-paranoia and the hypnotic-hysteria of existential survival kick into geriatric overdrive, we can forget factual accuracy, let alone nuance or critical discussion.

How can Obama cut through all the bubbe meise and reclaim these otherwise loyal Democrats? How can he develop trust, and thus remain competitive, with pro-Israel hardliners?

Obama's sincere apologies and unqualified renunciations of Jeremiah Wright (who resigned from the Obama campaign religious advisory committee) were important steps.

Here are three other things he can do:

First, Obama's greatest defense is a good offense (and what could be more pro-Israel or pro-American than using offense as a defense?). One pro-active measure Obama should take is to call for a US boycott of the forthcoming Durban II conference, which Canada has already done. Leadership has not been forthcoming on this issue and Obama could pre-empt his opposition, displaying his active commitment to fighting antisemitism and anti-Zionism. This gesture would resonate widely.

Second, Obama should create a special Israel and Jewish-relations advisory committee as a subset or addendum to his foreign policy advisory group. The committee should be led by strong supporters of an Israeli-Palestinian peace who are also committed to a two-state solution and to fighting global antisemitism.

Third, Obama needs a famous Joe Lieberman-caliber Jewish political figure (either American or Israeli) to start campaigning with in swing states like Florida. Obama should follow McCain's lead here. Some Barack-on-Barack or Barack-on-Tzipi or even Barack-on-Bibi action would help.

Of course voters who prioritize Israel over everything else represent a very small fraction of Jewish voters (who are few in number to begin with), but they may play a deciding role in a close re-vote or general election in swing-state Florida. Given that Israel has such few friends in the international community, is it any wonder that Israel-over-all-else-voters would pay extra-close attention to Obama's friends?

Stir Obama's so-called guilt by association in a pot brimming with biographical defamatory lies and long-standing black-Jewish animosity and Obama's Floridian fate will fast come to a boil. With McLame's footstool/sidekick Joe Lieberman canvassing the Sunshine state, Obama is in trouble and, judging by the intensity of Obama's responses these past few days, he knows it.

Ironically, Obama's trust issues with one-issue Jewish voters are encapsulated in his very name; in Hebrew, Barack O-bama translates as the question: "lightening or stage?" Or to put it more pithily: Barack Obama: fierce or farce? Strong or specious? Is Obama Israel's determined ally or of dubious loyalty? (We all know how Hussein translates). Barack Obama: nomen est omen?

Other excellent recommendations for Obama on this matter are made by Aaron Hamburger here.

Comments

[DennyCrane]

Single-issue voters are irresponsible voters. Anyone who votes based on one issue is abusing their privilege to vote. I would love to see an elected official say that we spend too much time worrying about the best interests of Israel. Of course, if you do that, you'll be labeled anti-Semitic. The Israel Lobby has sucha stranglehold on our government. They even have their own Senator. Joe Lieberman. It's time to stop sucking up to certain groups and tell them what they need to hear, which is "You're not that important."

[lbrillante]

I suggest you email your ideas to his campaign. Thanks for the suggestion.
I am still completely in support of Senator Obama. I don't expect him to be perfect. I believe he has the potential to be one of the greatest leaders of our time especially since he will become leader during one of the worst times in our history. I trust him even in his imperfections... I trust his values and his committment to try to live up to some very idealistic standards. We all fail if we set the bar too high and are too idealistic when we have this historic opportunity for real change.
I have lost all respect for Senator Clinton. Her campaign has sickened me and I know that the republicans will unite to keep the Clintons out of the white house. Even though Senator Obama has been weakened for the moment by revealing some of his mistakes...he is still an extraordinary man and I believe the kind of man that improves by the lessons learned from his mistakes.
Senator Clinton on the other hand I feel deserves to be asked to bow out of this race with grace and to help unite the party and help us all win in the fall.
OBAMA/EDWARDS '08

[Kordo]

I dated a nice Jewish girl in high school, and her father and I had some educational (for me) conversations about Middle-Eastern/Zionist politics, and about political philosophy in general. (We also talked about friends of his who worked for Mossad, and what I could expect in terms of medical bills should I take liberties with his daughter's virtue, but I digress...). He didn't put it quite this way, but he was the first person to hip me to the deep vein of self-examination inherent to the Jewish faith.("Ask any two Jews a single question, any question. You'll get three different answers". A direct quote, no shit) He was, and is, an ardent supporter of Israel, to say the least. He was also acutely aware of the deep resentment aroused in the region by the manner of that nation's birth. He had, to my mind, the best explanation of the geopolitical and emotional affinity between the US and Israel: Both cultures have, at their roots, a profound respect for the dignity of the Individual, and a belief that the State exists in order to allow that individual to realize his or her fullest potential. A sentiment not shared by many of Israel's neighbors, I might add....

A bit of perspective here, so's you'll apprecitate my point of veiw...
I come from a military family. If dinner-table tales are to be beleived, an Air Force uncle of mine was riding in a Hawkeye radar plane in 1973, feeding (unofficial) intel to the Israeli troops doing their level best to keep Egyptian armor on the Egyptian side of the Suez Canal.
I come from an Internationalist family. My father served two Army tours as an infantryman in Vietnam, and later joined an international freight-delivery company that sent him all over the world, with duties not much different from those faced by American diplomats today.
My mother grew up in Beirut, Lebanon; daughter of an American automobile executive with deep, and often shady, ties to the Oil-Industrial complex, and all of the political skullduggery that entails.
And I was born and raised in Florida (Official motto: Silliest Goddamd State in the Whole Frakkin' Union), which entitles me to speak out on this issue with, if not authority, then at least a vested familial interest with how this whole clusterfuck shakes out. Please pardon the language.

One- The Likud/Neocon cabal does not represent the will of the majority of voters in Israel, or the USA.
Two- Pandering to those two groups, for geopolitical or financial purposes, does not enhance the security of Israel, or the USA. In fact, taking the talking points of these groups, independent of critical analysis, as a basis for diplomatic discussion with other nations is a recipe for conflict.
Three- There are totally psychotic religious zealots abroad in the world who want to blow all of us to bits, and they don't give a rat's ass whom they take out in the process.
Fourth to Infintiy- Sen. Obama is talking about a just and honorable resolution to this conflict; He's the only candidate I've seen to even broach this subject, however obliquely, with an eye towards a solution that both parties can live with. The "One-Issue Jews", and monomaniacal evangelicals are of course free to flatter themselves that they hold some sort of idealogical axe over the rest of the electorate in this regard, but I must tell them that from my perspective, their narrow, violent, and wholly self-interested hold on this discussion is slipping rapidly. Ultimately, there are only two ways to end a fight: Exterminate your opponent, or agree to a peace you can both live with.

Fierce, or Farce? I could not have framed the debate better myself.

[MizJ]

His judgment, or lack thereof, has been called into question. His "we are who we have been waiting for" is about to be trampled in the dust due to that deficiency and his waffling around answers. Rezko is another factor. Are we to believe he knew nothing about Rev. Wright's inflammatory sermons or that Rezko was under indictment when they purchased property together? On the heels of that revelation we now discover that it was $250,000 raised for his campaigns not the $60,000 originally claimed. Once again a candidate has been elevated to such heights that shows that the public was all too ready to "fall in love" without a clue as to who he really is. He may be a nice guy but he sure is not ready to be a president. Especially now when so much is at stake and he has been pretty well impaired. The GOP will slam him in November and those flag waving southern white boys will surely take a walk. Sen Obama needs to withdraw now for the sake of the party.

[midtown]

Too bad the Chicago Sun-Times and the Trib don't agree with you after Obama's Friday marathon with them. Neither do the voters so far. Obama wins in delegates, popular and states won.

[erykah]

The first post is well simple and doesn't deserve the dignity of a response. Anyway, I posted something on this before and just wanted to add, if the one issue folks are interested in where Obama stands on Jewish issues, why don't they go research his voting record as he has consistently voted pro-Israel.

[midtown]

Why dont these "one-issue Jews" become two-issue Americans? American foreign policy is much more important now to 98% of the American population, considering the staggering loss of US prestige abroad. We need to get out of Iraq, calm the waters with Iran, and get Israel to stop its horrendous action against the Palestinians, a source of the continuing ill-will in the Middle East. "One-issue Jewish voters" do not have my sympathy any more than single-issue religious right evangelists.

[talexis]

Shaun -this is great advice for Obama,
He can't possibly win without the support of the 'hardline Pro-Israel' voters - and with your advice I am sure he can keep the 'anti-war Pro-Israel' voters happy too!


But instead of a "Joe Lieberman caliber" political figure to campaign for him I am sure his 'mentor' can repay Obama for his support against that anti-war candidate Lammont during the Democratic Primary race for Senate.
I am sure McCain won't mind and Lieberman is just that type of politician with the rare moral principles that can be both a Democrat and a Republican, or even Independent if it helps the 'hardline' Pro-Israel cause.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2006/03/31/obama_rallies_state_democrats_throws_support_behind_lieberman/

Don't everyone jump in with comments at once

[Kordo]

As to the "Lieberman" caliber figure Obama needs, I think his, and our, interests might be best served with a "Stewart" caliber figure on his ticket. I think it was Frank Herbert who noted that anyone who expeiriences greatness needs a strong sense of the sardonic in order to move within himself. Without a good sense of the absurdity of his fellow humans, even temporary greatness will destroy a man....

[erykah]

I find this post problematic as thewriter sees to be asking Obama to resort to the same "I wil do anything or say anything" tactic that Clinton is doing to win the nomination Obama's name was on the ballot during the first vote If the one issue Jewish folks didn't vote for him then, I do not think they are going to vote for him now.

[JavaCityGal]

Actually I agree with Mr Halper. Obama has already consistently voted pro-Israel, but this fact will probably be lost in the world of media soundbites, especially in the "worst of' Wright compilations being aired. I think it makes sense to reach out to the Jewish community in the ways outlined by this article.

[AjicNYC]

See all your point calls for Obama to be a Clear minded leader that will take sides on an issue and stand by them, but that is not one of Obama's strong points. He is better at stating something vague in public and say what each organization wants to hear behind close doors. what thats not gonna work any more. sigh well i guess he can just keep on lying and HOPE people dont realize he is BAMBOOZLING them which will make people use poor "JUDGEMENT" and vote for him.

[shrake]

Here's an excellent recommendation for Obama: Drop out. Please. You are like a chicken whose head has been cut off but it keeps running around.

I for one am aghast watching your whole organization whistling past the graveyard as though nothing is wrong.

EVERYTHING IS WRONG. Rev. Wright sunk you. It's over.

[midtown]

Oh baloney. As Frank Schaeffer wrote on this site, "When Senator Obama's preacher thundered about racism and injustice Obama suffered smear-by-association. But when my late father -- Religious Right leader Francis Schaeffer -- denounced America and even called for the violent overthrow of the US government, he was invited to lunch with presidents Ford, Reagan and Bush, Sr."

[cheforacle]

No he's not sunk at all. You probably did not favor Obama before the Wright video went public so, instead of citing any empirical data to suggest his campaign is sunk, you issue a statement of wishful thinking, hoping that by writing it the sentiment will prevail. Just like Bill Kristo;'s piece in today's NYT.

[NC4Obama]

Well i hope Obama doesn't change his stances to appeal to a very small minority, and i for one am quite tired of single issue voters and Florida in general, lucky for Obama he really doesn't need to win Florida. He will campaign there of course since he is running a 50 state contest but speaking for myself i am just tired of Florida.