Even the liberal Jews don't support Obama on Israel
A group called Public Religion Research Institute has released something called a 'Jewish values survey.' The group is suspect (it's chairman is David Saperstein), its sample is suspect (its survey consists of about half the percentage of Orthodox Jews as reside in the United States), and yet... what the survey says cannot be pleasing to Orthodox Jews (which I won't discuss in the rest of this post) or to supporters of Israel. Here are some highlights:Q.1At Contentions, Seth Mandel connects the dots and argues that even this pro-Obama survey sample is not happy with his policies toward Israel.
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?
58 Approve
34 Disapprove
Q.9
Which of the following best describes how you feel about the Obama presidency so far?
35 Disappointed
33 Satisfied
14 Worried
9 Angry
3 Excited
Q36.
Thinking about the following Jewish political, business and cultural leaders, how well do the following figures represent Jewish values?
d. Benjamin Netanyahu [highest very/somewhat combination on the list at 61]
24 Very well
37 Somewhat well
14 Not too well
7 Not at all well
Q.40
If economic sanctions are unable to stop Iran's nuclear weapons program, do you think the United States should take military action to prevent Iran's development of a nuclear weapon or not?
59 Yes, Should
37 No, Should not
Q.42
Do you believe that relations between Israel and the U.S. are better than they have been in the past, worse or about the same?
7 Better
37 Worse
54 About the same
While the poll paints a picture of a markedly liberal American Jewish community, that fact should give Obama supporters pause on certain issues. Though only 4 percent say Israel is the most important issue for them in the upcoming presidential election, Obama gets mixed reviews for his Middle East policies: “Twenty percent report that they agree with the president’s policies and that they like the way he is executing these policies. Fifteen percent say that they agree with the president’s policies but don’t like the way he is executing these policies. About 3-in-10 (28 percent) say they disagree with the president’s policies.”Read the whole thing.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gets high marks, which may help explain why even many of those who agree with Obama’s Mideast policies don’t like the way he carries them out, which usually involved picking a fight with or expressing his contempt for Netanyahu. A majority (59 percent) also support the U.S. taking military action against Iran’s nuclear program if sanctions fail.
This polling institute is led by outspoken allies of, and current or former advisers to, President Obama (as Alana pointed out last month, David Saperstein is its chairman), that polled what turned out to be a mostly liberal population with very liberal answers (high support for abortion in all cases and a majority who think Israel’s “ultra-Orthodox” are too powerful and a “major problem”), and still the president can’t find broad support for his treatment of Israel.
Labels: American Jews, Barack Hussein Obama, US-Israel relationship
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:20 AM
3 Comments:
I think RJC sent out one this week saying that "only" 62% of U.S. Jews now want Obama to be re-elected. Down from 78%! Oh Joy! (OMG!). Well, being Left (or, Progressive, as they would say) comes before anything and don't forget, they are only holding out for stuff that Israel has already! (Consider that! And I would imagine continuing all the Euro left stuff will catch up domestically with Israel at some point.)
I live in a small Modern Orthodox community in California. When I moved here I was shocked at how liberal it was. A great majority supported the Disengagement. They also support Obama. I am the only one other than my husband who refuses to stand for the prayer for the government on Shabbos. We had a rabbi search and one of the rabbis they were very excited about was very fond of J Street and NIF. Making aliyah is out. I could go on but I think you get the picture.
Most young American Jews are extremely attached to a self identity as liberals and that identity wins whenever it conflicts with their identity as Jews. Scratch at the identity of a young liberal Jew and you will find that he will enthusiastically help you get his Jewish veneer off.
Post a Comment
<< Home