"Jews don’t feel comfortable in the Republican Party" -NJDC

[oberliner]

Few Jewish Republicans Are Running For Office
The "Chosen" Representatives.

Jonathan E. Kaplan

Republicans have boasted in recent years that Jewish Americans, who traditionally vote for and contribute money to Democrats, are supporting the GOP in greater numbers both financially and at the polls.

But the Republican Party has made little if any headway recruiting Jewish candidates to run for office under the party’s banner.

There are 20 Jewish Democratic challengers running for House and Senate seats this fall but only two Jewish Republican challengers, according to data compiled by the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC).

<snip>

“If Republicans have overcome their historic problems with the Jewish community, then it begs the question, ‘Where are their Jewish candidates?’” said David Goldenberg, spokesman for the NJDC. “The majority of Jews don’t feel comfortable in the Republican Party, which champions the causes of the extreme right wing.”

http://www.pjvoice.com/v17/17102few.html

[no_hypocrisy]

1. I think it's because it's hard to reconcile two contradictory messages:

1. * and the republicans have consistently been a staunch defenders of Israel (with and without AIPAC), but also

2. * is on record that he thinks that Jews will go to hell when they die (as he told a reporter en route to his visit to Israel as governor of Texas, in preparation for his run for the White House in 1998).

In order to reconcile, you would like need to invalidate the second message by either discrediting it or chosing to ignore it. And * has never explicitly denied that he said it nor explicitly has he publicly apologized and condemned his words.

[abluelady]

2. Lucky Me

I have the ONLY Jewish Republican in the House representing me!

It constantly amazes me to see Jews, Black, Women, etc. in the Repug party. How can you join a party that doesn't want you? I never understood those people who joined country clubs so they could be the token.

Perhaps these people thrive on the victim mentality?

[Jai4WKC08]

3. It's also because one of the basic messages of Judaism

Is, and has always been, social justice. Not saying we're always on track in what we do to bring about justice. And sometimes other issues, like Israel, especially when we feel she's particularly threatened, take precedence. But it's just a fact that most Jews, even those from the more conservative branches, share a core belief in a mission of tikun olam -- rebuilding the world. And that's a Democratic value, not a Republican one.

[rockymountaindem]

4. What you said n/t

[Bonobo]

6. Exactly!

[Totally Committed]

5. Maybe they should try and get that point across to

Joe Lieberman for us...

TC