Israel as a wedge issue: 57% of Americans, but only 41% of Democrats, support Gaza operation
There's no election in the US right now, and Israel is still a 'wedge issue' that divides Democrats and Republicans. The Washington Post reports on a poll that shows that while 57% of Americans support Israel's actions in Gaza, only 41% of Democrats (compared with 74% of Republicans and 50% of Independents) do so (Hat Tip: Lance K).
Seventy-four percent of Republicans said the action is justified, compared with 59 percent of independents and 41 percent of Democrats. Overall, nearly one-in-five (19 percent) Americans said they had no opinion.
Nearly six-in-10 Americans polled (59 percent) said their sympathies were more with the Israelis in the situation in the Middle East, while 13 percent said they were more sympathetic to the Palestinians. Eleven percent said they were not more sympathetic to either side, while 13 percent said they had no opinion. The poll was conducted Friday through Sunday.
The reality is that support for Israel is already a wedge issue in the US, and it is only getting worse. I doubt that there is anything Israel can do - short of committing suicide God forbid - to change that reality. The Left isn't going to become Israel supporting in the foreseeable future. The bigger issue is how we keep Jews who are drifting Left from writing Israel off. The answer to that question is in establishing a connection between these people and Israel, and that can only come about by establishing a connection between these (mostly young) people and Judaism.
Labels: 2016, Democrats, Republicans, US-Israel relationship
Is it too soon to call him the frontrunner?
Not to be too critical of Paul Ryan, but Marco Rubio would have helped Mitt Romney much more had he been chosen as the Vice Presidential nominee. One of the demographics where Romney got creamed was Hispanics, and Rubio just happens to be Hispanic.
The word on Rubio was that it was 'too soon.' After all, the Republicans had justifiably criticized the Democrats four years ago for nominating a Senator from Illinois who had served less than one full term. The word was wrong when it came to Rubio. He had previously served as Speaker of the Florida House; Obama had only served as an ordinary State Senator.
Is Rubio the front runner for 2016? He's certainly one of them.
Here's what he had to say after the election.
”It has been a privilege campaigning
for Mitt Romney, getting to know him and traveling throughout the
country on his behalf. When future generations look back on this
election, I am proud they will count me among those who chose a path of
limited government and free enterprise at a critical crossroads in our
history. I am proud to have cast my vote for Mitt Romney.
“Now comes the hard part. America faces
monumental challenges in putting people back to work, reducing our
crushing debt and advancing our interests around the world.
“In the next Congress, I am committed
to working on upward mobility policies that will ensure people who work
hard and play by the rules can rise above the circumstances of their
birth and leave their children better off. The conservative movement
should have particular appeal to people in minority and immigrant
communities who are trying to make it, and Republicans need to work
harder than ever to communicate our beliefs to them. I look forward to
working on these goals with my new and returning colleagues in Congress
and hope the President will get behind our efforts.”
The pitch to Romney was what particularly impressed me. It's what we Jews call
mentchlicht, and it's a rarity in politics in any country today. (Sorry but the term doesn't translate well, but if you know what it means to be a
mentch, being
mentchlict means acting like a
mentch).
On Wednesday, Rubio
turned down an offer from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) to chair the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
The sources, who are familiar with Rubio’s decision, said the junior
senator had mulled the leadership role for some time. As he often points
out, however, being the father of four young children sometimes keeps
him away from the campaign trail.
Whereas some politicians would use an NRSC leadership role to create a
broader national profile, Rubio already has one; in fact, he will be
traveling to Iowa as a guest of Republican Gov. Terry Branstad in two
weeks.
Rubio, a rapidly rising star in the party after his huge but unlikely
victory in the 2010 election, is a favorite of McConnell’s. And as a
41-year-old Cuban-American capable of delivering some of the party’s
best speeches, he’s someone the GOP brass likes to put in front of the
cameras. Not only is he inspirational, but he helps the
diversity-challenged party bridge several divides with voters.
What’s more, Rubio is a star fundraiser who was able to pull in
hundreds of thousands of dollars for Mitt Romney’s failed presidential
bid, a skill that would be a boon to the Senate campaign committee. Of
course, he can still be used by the NRSC to raise money, but he wouldn’t
have to deal with the party’s divisive primaries as one of its leading
strategists.
Much to McConnell’s chagrin -- and for the second time in several
months -- Rubio’s career will not go in the direction that the Kentucky
senator had been hoping for: When Romney was poring over running-mate
prospects, McConnell was pining for Rubio, and he made his preference
well known.
Rubio never made it onto the shortlist, however, as Romney zeroed in
on Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, and
Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, the ultimate nominee.
I can only hope it's because Rubio wants to concentrate on the Republican nomination in 2016. The kids will be older by then.
But that's a campaign I'd get involved in now.
Labels: 2016, Marco Rubio, Republican party
Four more years of 'I told you so'
Hat Tip:
Will.
Labels: 2016, Barack Hussein Obama
