Jewish Americans Break Hard for President Obama, the Lunatic Fringe Scratch their Heads

This year one of the biggest pushes by the Republicans (contextually not literally) was with Jewish American voters. In a highly negative attack campaign, The Republican Jewish Committee and the Emergency Committee for Israel have literally spent YEARS and millions and millions of dollars all to warn all of us Jewish voters that President Obama was a Muslim Brotherhood loving, Jihadi Sympathizer who wanted nothing more than to bring destruction down upon our brothers and sisters in Israel as well as eventually submit the U.S. to Sharia Law.

They pulled out well known racist Pamela Geller to go around calling Muslims "savages", and talked about siding with Israel and "civilization". They even borrowed images of Israeli Prime Minister talking about Nukes in Iran to attack President Obama and on their websites talked about the President actually helping Iran get nukes.

They downplayed President Obama's true friendship with the nation of Israel and it's people. They downplayed the fact that America bankrolled Israel's Iron Dome Missile Defense system. They downplayed the fact that America and Israeli security cooperation are at an all time high. They did everything they could to minimize the words of Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Israeli President Shimon Peres who called President Obama an "exceptional friend".

But worse than that... They played their game on the racist assumption that American Jews were not really interested in America. They assumed all we cared about was Israel and stopping "Teh Islamic Menace". They simply NEVER figured out that despite what every poll showed, Jewish American voters are Liberal and Jewish American voters prioritize their own country over any other. These folks simply played the racist Dual Loyalty Canard WITHIN our own community.

All of this, the racism, the lies and the hatred were all to swing two or three states that were going to be close to the Republican column.

But in their delusions and derangement over President Obama (and his middle name as well as his upbringing), they simply never really understood American Jewish voters and honestly... Still don't. That is why they are sitting there today in a state of shock. They simply thought things like this:

Whatever good Obama may have done, none of it comes close to the damage that he is doing with his embrace and acceptance of political Islam.  This is not just damage to the state of Israel, nor the Jewish people, it is damage done to the United States and to the west, in general.

and

Most American Jews, thankfully, are not ultra-super sophisticated progressive-left genius Jews, but it is the genius Jews that most loudly sing the praises of an administration that is friendly toward political Islam.  Political Islam, needless to say, seeks to oppress women, commit genocide upon the Jewish people, slaughter Gay people outright, and impose Islamic Supremacy, via sharia, upon the west.

and the propagandists thought THIS drivel is what would bring Jewish Americans to support Mitt Romney. And that is where they failed, and failed completely. Why? Because Jewish American voters are concerned with the well being of their fellow Americans first and foremost. We saw Paul Ryan's Medicare killing budget that would have put American seniors into a voucher system. We saw Mitt Romney's lie after lie where he never defined a plan outside of various catch phrases and slogans. We saw the Republicans run TWO candidates for Senate that talked about things like "Legitimate Rape" and "Pregnancy from Rape as G-d's will". If that were not enough, we saw Republicans running on platforms to deny LGBT Americans their equal rights, and do all of the things they were so worried about happening in the Islamic world.

As American Jews and Liberals, it's not that we didn't/don't see what happens in Islamic nations, and it's not like we think the blending of religion with the state is not dangerous... BUT we were much more concerned with what was happening here in our own nation. We were concerned with American children that would have faced incredible hardships brought on by Republican Policies. We were concerned for Women's Health and Reproductive Rights. We were concerned with all of the civil rights that would have been at risk in a Republican / Teahaddist America.

Oh and as for Israel which is important to us but not on the level that the Republicans or their ODS (Obama Derangement Syndrome) suffering friends think... We see President Obama as a strong friend to Israel and to Jews worldwide. Because, you see, not all of us buy into the Right Wing narrative that is threatening to destroy Israel. Most of us understand that the Right's reliance and fear and hatred is just that. We can see that the President is a man who cares about our community and nation.

In the end all of that hate and $ 40 million dollars could do nothing to stop the 70% of Jewish Americans that stood up and were counted to support our friend and President, Barack Obama. Sure the Republicans siphoned off 8% of the Jewish vote from 2008, but the country as a whole was off from it's previous level of popular support.

As Jay Michelson in the Forward put it so well:

Well, turns out a lot of people, including most Jews. The Jewish bubble, like other conservative bubbles, was burst yesterday. Not only did America vote for the Kenyan Socialist, but American Jews did as well. And they even elected “anti-Semites” who support moving slowly (but resolutely) on Iran and moving deliberately (but securely) toward a Palestinian state. 

This happened not because of ignorance, and not because of Jewish self-hatred, but because outside of the right-wing echo chamber, mainstream American Jews voted their values, and didn’t believe the incredibly heavily funded propaganda that tried to scare them on Israel and other issues. Most Jews simply do not live in the bubble of the professional-Jewish ‘consensus.’

And that is the truth

J Street ad from after Obama won.

So expect liberal
Shalom!

In a night of great speeches Robert Wexler reaches out to Jewish Americans on Israel

Last night the Democratic National Convention of 2012 got off to a rousing start. Reminiscent of the All-Star game in Baseball, speaker after speaker hit rhetorical home run after home run. Honestly, as a Democratic partisan, I have to say that some of the great speeches (not in order) from Duval Patrick to Julian Castro to Ted Strickland, to Michelle Obama all struck a strong cord with me and gave me hope for this election season.

But even more than the speeches, I was so impressed with the diversity of the crowd. I was impressed with how ALL Americans were represented at this convention, not just White Christian Americans. Looking at the crowd I felt heartened by the fact that there people of all races and creeds participating and supporting the candidates and the party. More than that... as Howard Fineman observed on MSNBC with Chris Matthews, Democrats didn't have to try to show they were with the Middle Class, it was obvious that they WERE from the Middle Class. They didn't have to try to be something they weren't.

All in all it was a great night.

As part of that night I got a chance to hear former House Member and President of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace Robert Wexler speak in an outreach to Jewish voters with regards to President Obama's friendship and America's strong alliance to one of our greatest friends in the world, Israel. As many here who read my diaries are aware that American Jewish politics and our friendship with Israel are two of my strong issues. SO... I thought that addressing this issue on the first night of the convention was telling particularly as the Republican LIE Machine is working overtime in key states like Florida and Pennsylvania to sway Jewish voters away from the President.

Anyway, here are some of Wexlers words:

Over the past four years, the president has proven this commitment time and again, in both word and deed. And the Democratic platform reflects the president's unflinching commitment to Israel's security and future as a Jewish state.

To strengthen Israel's qualitative military advantage, the president has increased security assistance to Israel to record levels-- more than any other president.

When he visited Sderot in 2008—an Israeli town along the Gaza border besieged by constant rocket attacks, President Obama saw for himself the toll terrorism takes on Israelis. And that's why he secured the funds to deploy the iron dome anti-rocket defense system which has already saved countless Israeli lives.

And under President Obama, the U.S. and Israel are firmly committed to stopping one of the gravest threats to international security: Iran's quest for nuclear weapons. The president has explicitly stated that an Iranian nuclear weapon is "unacceptable" And that He will mobilize all instruments of U.S. power-- economic, diplomatic, Intelligence, And military-- to prevent, not contain, a nuclear Iran.

While the Republicans dither about whether or not the Democratic Platform should call Jerusalem Israel's capital, the President shows his true friendship to the Jewish people through concrete actions.He doesn't need to rely on distortion or deception to make his point, he simply shows his friendship through his actions. 

Moreover (and Wexler left this out), the President shows his friendship everyday whether it is creating a Kosher Kitchen for staffers during Pesach or actually hosting a Seder at the White House, or affirming Jewish History month, or actually having strong Jewish advisers (including his Chief of Staff), or showing his friendship at the many Jewish Political functions around the U.S.  

And how are Jewish Americans responding to the President? Well, as of the last Gallup poll, Jewish American voters were committed 64%-29 % for the President (which when matched up to the same time in 2008 represents a stronger margin). That margin is only increasing and as of late July, a survey of Jewish voters showed the President leading 68%-25%.

The Republicans are serious about trying for the "Jewish vote" this time around. Mitt Romney is specifically focused on it:

Next week, the Republican Jewish Coalition will conduct a voter outreach drive in South Florida, Cleveland and Philadelphia. The blitz, part of an overall $6.5 million RJC effort to sway Jewish voters, will be based on prior polling that will “micro-target” Jewish undecideds. 

So to have a guy like Wexler taking "a swing" at this issue on the first night of the convention shows just how important the President thinks this is. 

I too think it is important and it is important that as supporters of the President we are out there countering the Republican lies and distortions about the Presidents statements and actions. Moreover, we should demand from them (the Republicans) what they would do differently and how that would make a positive difference, because for all their bullshit... they can't (or won't) articulate their own plan.

Most important however is working within the community and spreading the word that President Obama really is a one of the best friends Israel and the Jewish people have had in the White House. We don't have to lie, distort, or deceive to do it. We simply have to tell the truth and as Wexler so aptly did, show the record. 

Santorum OUT! Who do the Republicans have left.... A Zionist Perspective

Well, let's see. Senator "Man on Dog", better known as Rick Santorum, seeing as how he was in a close race in his own state and citing family issues, has dropped out of the race.

SO what does that leave us with for the Republican field. You know, the guys we are supposed to support because President Obama hates Jews and Israel - heh.......

We have the following:

1.Mitt Romney - The Human Etch-a-sketch. The man has never met an idea that doesn't like (on BOTH sides). As far as anyone can tell he stands for nothing except for converting Holocaust victims to the Church of Latter Day Saints, making more money for himself and his buddies, and saying absolutely anything to get elected. OH yeah... and Romney fully endorses the Ryan budget plan, a plan which would thoroughly decimate the U.S. economy AND the social safety net created by the New Deal.

2. Newt Gingrich - a compulsive Adulterer and serial Liar who thinks of himself as the next great intellectual thinker of our times AND is famous for loving America so much that he had to cheat on his wife. Oh... and he also has famously said "Do what I say, not as I do" (paraphrased) ... Great words coming from one who want to be elected to head the most powerful nation on the planet.

3. Ron Paul - a cranky batshit insane racist that wants to eliminate NINE major federal departments such as the Departments of Interior, Energy, Commerce, Education, Housing and Urban Development and so forth. Paul stands against Federal Civil Rights legislation, and for States Rights (REMEMBER THE SOUTH!!!!) on everything else. Oh yeah, and he hangs out with known racists and Neo-Nazi's (like the folks who run Stormfront), but other than that....

Given the lunacy that these three represent exactly WHY... would anyone in the Jewish community (or any other group) even consider voting for one of this dysfunctional (at best) group?

I mean look at the front runner Romney... On the issue of Israel he promises the moon. He regularly criticizes and lies regarding President Obama (a true friend to Jews and Israel) blaming him for a host of things that he is not guilty off, nor has he done. Romney is full of promises to support Israel no matter what BUT, what does that mean coming from Romney. Not a whole lot. The man has reversed himself on almost every position he has ever taken.  Why in the world would anyone trust him at this point? Is he somehow going to become the magical candidate that actually stands for something?

Then we have Gingrich, who is so volatile that no one knows just what he will do next. Friend to Israel? Well certainly he has shown that he is a friend to the Israeli Right. For Israel itself? Who knows. But Gingrich, is someone who gladly traded in racist "dog whistles" throughout his campaign in the South, was found guilty of massive ethics violations as Speaker of the House (costing his party an election), and has lied, and cheated his entire way up the political ladder. He stands for the most regressive tax rate in the nation and has even come out against Child Labor Laws. Is this someone that we as Jews can trust? If one answers yes... REALLY????

Finally, we have our last Republican offering Ron Paul - better known as "The Mad Elf". Paul is simply a nut... there are no two ways about it. How in the world can anyone to left of unrepentant crazed "Sons of the Confederacy" even sort of think about supporting this lunatic. Here is a man that has hung out with and is overwhelmingly supported by the crowd over at White Power sites like Stormfront and anti-Semitic hate sites like Mondofront (Mondoweiss). His economic and governing powers are straight out of the old Articles of Confederation from the 1780's.. you know, the thing that we turned away from to create the Constitution to make for a more coherent government.

Further, Paul simply wants a complete isolationist foreign policy with only individual corporations dealing with foreign nations. He wants the U.S. to have no presence anywhere else in the world except through predatory business practices. Does that sound like someone we can get behind? Well yes, frankly it is better than having our backs to any of them.... but I digress. The real answer is... "OF COURSE NOT".

With this crew of jokers it is a wonder that ANY Jewish person would vote for such obvious examples of poor political thought. Right now the polls show that approx. 70-72% of the traditionally liberal Jewish polity would vote for President Obama (down from 78% in 2008). As the election season wears on and Mitt Romney and the Republicans continue with their nutty ways I would be surprised if that 70-72% does not rise to 80%. I just cannot imagine how 30% of the Jewish people would so vote completely against their own self interests to support a party that effectively advocates for only 1% of the American Public.

Seriously, how anyone can advocate voting for Romney (or any other clown in the GOP) or advocate against voting for President Obama (which is the same thing) boggles the freakin' mind.

Elie Wiesel to Mitt Romney - Stand up for what is right! Who are really our friends?

This year the Republicans and fellow their fellow ODS (Obama Derangement Syndrome) sufferers are trying to make a huge push for Jewish voters to turn from their traditional role as strong supporters of the Democratic Party to becoming Republican voters (particularly in "swing" states like Florida and Pennsylvania) and donors. In addition to continually ignoring or worse yet, lying about the Presidents record regarding Israel and Jewish people, these hapless Republicans continue to make tactical mistake after tactical mistake regarding our constituency.

The latest is in GOP Front Runner (and party establishment favorite) Mitt Romney. For all of his "lip service" to the Israeli Right, Mr. Romney is proving himself to be far from a friend to the Jewish people. How is this? Well, Mr. Romney is a member of the Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - LDS) Church. Part of the practices of this church are to conduct posthumous conversions of people to Mormonism in an effort to gain them access to heaven.

So, what is the issue here? Well it seems that the family of the late (and great Nazi Hunter) Simon Wiesenthal is upset that a Mormon official performed a baptism on the parents of Mr. Wiesenthal after they died. To be fair to the Mormon Church in this instance they immediately apologized - HOWEVER, they did not say that they would cease this practice.

In today's Haaretz the great Elie Wiesel calls out Mitt Romney for not addressing this issue:

Republican presidential hopeful and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney should have spoken up against Mormon posthumous baptism of Jews, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Eli Wiesel said in an interview on Wednesday....

.......Speaking to MSNBC's The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell's on Wednesday, Wiesel mentioned the name of Republican presidential hopeful and Mormon Mitt Romney in relation to the affair, saying the former governor should have communicated his position on the matter.

"Mitt Romney is a Mormon, and I respect all religions, including the Mormon religion," Wiesel said, asking: "How come he hasn't spoken up after all?"

"It's not, I'm sure he's not involved in that. But nevertheless, the moment he heard about this, he should have spoken up, because he is running for the presidency of the United States, which means it's too serious of an issue for him not to speak up," he added.

The Wiesenthal Center also expressed it's condemnation:

Following news of the posthumous baptism of Wiesenthal's parents, the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center denounced the baptismal rites.

"We are outraged that such insensitive actions continue in the Mormon temples," said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean at the center.

Indeed, how would we feel if our parents were posthumously converted to another religion. Would we consider the church that carried out these practices to be friends of the Jewish people? While I appreciate that the LDS church did apologize - rather than apologizing they should simply cease this odious practice. moreover, Mitt Romney as a Presidential candidate and self described devout Mormon needs to address this issue.

But this is not the only case of Republican insensitivity towards the Jewish people and religion. We all know about Ron Paul (who polls between 15-20% of Republican base) and his Neo-Nazi connections. How Republicans and the ODS sufferers think we can ignore that is simply beyond me. But, they do. They keep saying "Don't vote for the Democrats, we will support you" but they simply refuse to address the problem that one in five or six Republican voters supports this bigot. It is like they want us to simply look the other way while a sizable part of their voting base flirts with people that want to actually end the State of Israel and hangs out with people found at hate sites like StormFront or Mondoweiss.

Or how about Rick Santorum (the new, not Mitt). Mr Santorum is a true religious Christian who makes all kinds of noise about supporting the Israeli Right and their quest to annex the West Bank. Nevermind that this act would end the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish AND Democratic State (something Republicans and ODS'ers care very little about particularly the Democracy part), in a typical act of arrogance Mr. Santorum sent a Chanukah card to his Jewish friends with the following quote on it:

"I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

Ummmm, someone needs to tell Mr. Santorum that having quotes from the NEW TESTAMENT on a holiday card does not express respect for those of us who are Jewish. YET, we are are told to ignore all of this and vote against a man who has gone out of his way to provide friendship for the Jewish people (and Israel) and:

1. Held the first ever Seder in the White House

2. Named a month of the Year - Jewish History Month (May 2011)

3. Has had, not one but TWO Jewish Chiefs of Staff

4. Has been termed an "exceptional" friend of Israel by Israeli leaders across the Political Spectrum from President Shimon Peres (Kadima), to Defense Minister Ehud Barak (Atz'maout) to Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon (Yisrael Betainu).

I would ask individual Jewish voters given this... Which party is it or which candidate is it that seems to have our best interests in mind? I think the choice is pretty obvious.

More Unbelievable Republican Lies. Can these guys ever tell the truth?

In 2012 Republicans continue to ratchet up the false attacks and false meme's regarding Jews leaving the Democratic Party. Yes, there has been some fall off but lately the Republicans have been simply telling some "whoppers" regarding the amount of fall-off of Jewish voters.

Recently on a Right Wing site, I came across some of this silliness in the form of Geraldo shilling the Republican message on FOX news. It took all of two seconds to find out just how easy it is to dispel this ridiculousness. Where does this come from? Well on May 3, 2010 the McLauglin group (A Right Wing affiliate, according to Media Matters,  had this gem:

The US Jews polled were asked whether they would: (a) vote to re-elect Obama, or (b) consider voting for someone else. 42% said they would vote for Obama and 46%, a plurality, preferred the second answer. 12% said they did not know or refused to answer. The McLaughlin poll held nearly 18 months later, in April 2010, appears to show that support down to around 4 out of 10.

And according to the Rightists this poll just shows that Jewish American voters are "Running for the Hills".

BUT... Not so fast.

Of course, however Media Matters (thank goodness for them) destroys this immediately:

Oh brother. "Would consider"? Could the McLaughlin poll have made it any easier for respondents to not pick option a), "vote to re-elect Obama." The wording practically begs people to pick b).

The problem, of course, is that on the one hand the poll asks people to pick a hard, definitive response. (i.e. would vote for Obama). And then offers up a mushy alternative (i.e. would "consider" voting for somebody.) Yeah, but don't most voters consider voting for somebody else?  Isn't that what elections are for, to consider the possibilities? 

Sure enough, one right-wing blogger claimed the McLaughlin poll proved that, "In little over one year in office Barack Obama has lost nearly half of his support among American Jews."  Conservatives assumed that every American Jew who said they would consider voting for somebody else meant they no longer supported Obama. And yes, it seems the poll was structured to create exactly that kind of confusion.

Whoops... So basically the question: "Would you consider voting for someone else" means you would not vote for President Obama? Really. Personally, I would consider voting for Russ Feingold, Alan Grayson, or Bernie Sanders over President Obama. Does that mean I would not vote for President Obama? OF COURSE NOT. What a ridiculous question to base anything on.

Of course, I was able to find this information easily enough. So that, of course leads us to our first question.
Why wasn't the question as it was presented discussed? Of course, because that would have messed with the meme that is being pushed and presented - the one that promotes: "Jewish Americans are fleeing the Democratic Party".

Secondly, why is this being parroted when it is obviously a gross distortion of fact? What does this say about the people that are pushing this meme? Does it speak to a certain desperation that the G.O.P. feels when it comes to Jewish voters? Perhaps. Jewish voters and African American voters truly support the President in far higher numbers than the National Average. However, by constantly trying to continue this meme the Republicans and their supporters hope to create an illusion that President Obama is somehow against Jewish People.

For me, as someone who deeply cares about America and about Jewish issues, I find this strategy both insulting as well as quite pathetic. Is this really what Republicans have to resort to, to sell their brand? (Rhetorical question as we all know that this is sadly typical of Republican tactics and that if for once one of them, or their supporters actually told the truth their heads might explode).

Now real support for the President in the Jewish Community is hard to gauge but between the Pew Polls and the AJC Polls one can get a picture of what is really happening:

Lets take a look at some real polls from 2006 - 2011 (and 2012 is coming most likely before the election).

AJC 2006 (Considered party affiliation)    
Democrat 54%
Republican 15%
Independent 29%
Not Sure 3%

AJC 2007

Democrat 58%
Republican 15%
Independent 26%
Not Sure 2%

AJC 2008

Democrat 56%
Republican 17%
Independent 25%
Not Sure 2%

AJC 2009   

Democrat 53%
Republican 16%
Independent 30%
Not Sure 1%

AJC 2010

Democrat 50%
Republican 15%
Independent 32%
Not Sure 2%

AJC 2011

Democrat 45%
Republican 16%
Independent 38%
Not Sure 2%

Now this data indeed shows that Jewish voters are slightly turning away from the President. In 2008, Jews voted for the President at 78%. This means that over 80% of the Independents broke for the President. IF we are generous and say that only 70% of the independents break for the President that means that 71% of Jewish American voters will vote for President Obama. So we would have a net loss of 7% of Jews voting Republican or Not voting for the President. HARDLY the doom and gloom predictions that the Republicans gleefully distort.

FURTHER, the Pew Polls of 2010 and 2011 show an interesting trend. In 2010 the Pew Poll showed that Jewish voters went 60% for the Democrats and 33% leaned Republican. HOWEVER, 2011 that number IMPROVED for the Democrats to 65% with 29% for the Republicans AND 6% undecided.

Reality has also interfered with the Republican narrative as well. In Florida, Jewish voters in 2008 were 4% of the total GOP Primary vote. In 2012.... they were 1%. In Nevada, Jewish voters were 2% of the vote in 2008 in the GOP Primary. In 2012.... they were 2% of the vote in the GOP Primary. So much for the G.O.P. Surge.

Of course this doesn't even count the fact that while Jewish voters don't self identify as closely with the Democratic Party (as of now - I think we need to see who the Republican nominee will be), they sure as hell don't identify with the Republican Party whose influence seems to have "skyrocketed" a whole 1% (and is actually down 1% from 2008).

Of course who can blame Jewish voters for NOT signing up with the Republicans or with Conservatives. After all, you have a party that:

1. Has White Supremacists speaking at the CPAC conference
2. Has their front running candidate as someone who supports Post Mortem conversions to Mormonism on Jewish Holocaust victims
3. Has another Candidate (who just won three primaries) that on his Hanukkah cards - sends Christian messages from the New Testament
4. Has another Candidate who thinks Israel shouldn't exist, wants to completely cut aid to it, and hangs out with Stormfronters
4. And their last mainstream candidate wants to send weaponry to Islamist Rebels in Syria.

It is amazing that any Jews vote this way, but hey, there is no accounting for Obama Derangement Sufferers.

American Voters and term "Israel Firsters"

During my morning reading I had a chance to read what might be one of the most ridiculous exercises in political sophistry that I have ever read. Simply put, even I as a very Pro-Israel Jew read this and was struck by the simplicity and foolishness of this piece. How this got picked up and carried and by any news outlet is staggering in that this might be one of the most poorly reasoned opinion pieces I have ever read. What piece is this? Take a look for yourselves: U.S. Jews who put Israel First are merely expressing their democratic rights.

Well, from the title... Yes Joel, you are right. They are merely expressing their democratic rights. They get to do that. Is voting for Israeli interests over the U.S.' interests their right? Sure, we are a democracy. So yes that simple statement is absolutely true. You know what else is true Joel, the Sun is yellow, the sky is blue and guess what Joel... you have a keen grasp of the obvious.

So where does Joel Braunold go wrong in this piece? Well right away by having as a byline: There is nothing neither wrong or un-American with being a single issue voter. Actually Mr. Braunold, I would say in this case there is something both "wrong" (which I admit is a subjective judgement) and "un-American" (which is also a subjective judgement).

Braunold starts off his failed article by saying that voting for Israel is just as much a single issue for the American voter as is say a vote based on the environment (using Keystone XL as an example). This immediately fails on the grounds that voting based on opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline is a domestic American concern. The pipeline which would run from the Canadian border to the Gulf of Mexico represents a potential environmental hazard for the United States (our own country). The pipeline would run directly over an important aquifer that supplies much of the central U.S. states water supply. The environmental impact of a disaster involving said aquifer would be monumental to the U.S. It is thus an American issue and thus makes far more sense for a single issue voter in an American domestic election than say voting based on the fact that President Obama doesn't call Prime Minister Netanyahu each night and tell him what a great guy he is.

So Braunold sensing the following criticism presents TWO explanations the first of which is completely ridiculous that even Braunold himself does not subscribe to it (he claims it is a Right wing meme and for the most part he is right). The second one though bears looking at. The article claims that Jewish voters might consider the existence of Israel so important and so key to their very being that they would vote based on that premise. To back that up he cites Jewish American voters in the '30's and '40's. Well, in that case I understand this. I, for instance, would never vote for a candidate that talked about not being friendly or supporting the existence of Israel as I see that as both fundamentally against American interests AS WELL AS being fundamentally against Jewish interests. In his example he uses British MP Ken Livingstone.

Were Mr. Livingstone running for President of the U.S. I wouldn't disagree with Mr. Braunold in that vote since from what I know about MP Livingstone I don't think he is a reasonable choice for that position and YES, my vote would be affected by his anti-Israeli, anti-Jewish advocacy. BUT... Mr. Livingstone is not running for President of the United States (well, foreign policy wise his clone -  Ron Paul is, but, that is not someone I would consider voting for).

The person running and being cited by the ODS'ers (Obama Derangement Sufferers) is President Barak Obama and unless one is a Republican and sympathetic to Republican arguments regarding the U.S. Political system then voting for a Republican rather than President Obama purely on the grounds of Israel rather than domestic priorities (those being American priorities both foreign and domestic) is by Bruanold's definition both "wrong" AND "un-American".

This then runs us to a term that has lately come up:  "Israel Firsters". Now this is a term personally I don't like. I think that while it may be sometimes accurate, it is too broadly used by anti-Semites to make claims of dual loyalty. So where do I see this issue as "Wrong" or "Un-American" in our election. Well first of all, I think the Republican agenda of:

1. Overturning Roe v. Wade
2. Stripping the EPA of regulatory power Or dismantling it completely
3. Putting the tax burden on the Middle Class and Poor while exempting the Rich from paying their fair share
4. Underfunding Education
5. Supporting the destruction of the Social Safety Net
6. Supporting the repeal of credible Health Care Reform

and so much more stands against America. But, voting for those things (while professing to be against ALL of them) because one thinks that President Obama, a President who has:

1. Increased Aid to Israel up and above previous administrations
2. Been termed an "Exceptional Friend of Israel" by both the Defense Minister of Israel, it's Deputy Foreign Minister, and it's President
3. Supported Israel in the U.N. countless times
4. Personally intervened to save Israeli Diplomats in Egypt
5. Continually worked to find a peaceful solution to the Israel/Palestine conflict
6. Constantly stated that Israel must remain the National Homeland and State of the Jewish People
7. The First President to hold a Seder in the White House
8. The First President to designate a Month of the Year, Jewish History Month
9. Has had not one BUT TWO Jewish Chefs of Staff

But even if President Obama wore an Israeli Flag while singing "Hatikva", all while hugging a Binyamin Netanyahu Plush toy it would STILL not be enough for the ODS crowd. Why? Who knows...... .

In the Meantime they would support a party which supports:

1. One State solution to the conflict in the Middle East (without thinking about the ramifications of that)
2. A front-running candidate who supported the Post Death conversions to Mormonism of Jewish Victims of the Holocaust
3. has a candidate that thinks Israel shouldn't exist and would de-fund it entirely.

Ok but I digress....

Now here is where I get controversial. I would say that if this is one's point of view, that the voter who feels this way is living in the wrong country. While one would certainly have the right to vote any way they want, why would this voter bother living here instead of in Israel? I would challenge anyone who feels this way to answer that question. If a narrow P.O.V. as determined by Im Tirtzu or the Israeli Right is what you vote for in American elections then you live in the wrong place.

Now, if one is a Republican to begin with... Dynamite vote for your party. But make your vote based on American priorities. After all, you are an American. If you want to vote for Israeli determined priorities, Kol HaKavod, move to Israel. They need more Olim.