By GottaLaff
After kvetching and schlepping, Obama got 78 per cent of the Jewish vote: The Obama campaign had a whole division dedicated to turning out the Jewish vote and highlighting Obama's support for Israel and Jewish causes, fighting back at the rumor mill that portrayed Obama as wobbly. A report out Thursday by the National Jewish Democratic Council pegs the Jewish vote for Obama at 78 per cent.A sheynem dank.
By GottaLaff
Remember when it was reported that President-elect Barack Obama had a problem with the Jewish vote?
In one of President-elect Barack Obama’s first Presidential decisions since Election Day he selected Representative Rahm Emanuel to be his Chief of Staff. We all know that Emanuel has “has a proven commitment to Israel’s security and served as civilian volunteer on an Israeli military base during the Persian Gulf War of 1991.” We also know that Emanuel’s “aggressive, pragmatic style of politics” makes him the perfect selection to be Obama’s Chief of Staff.
But could have Emanuel’s selection had something to do with his first name - Rahm?
In Hebrew, Rahm (רעם)* means “thunder” and Barack (ברק) means “lightning.”
“If you are near...lightning you’ll hear thunder as one sharp crack”
Thunder & Lightning = Change that can get it done
*Point of clarification: Ra’am- spelled reish, ayin, mem - means thunder, but it depends on how he spells his name. If he spells his name reish, mem, then it may mean something different (like “high, lofty, or loud") - and it looks like he may. (Thanks for the heads up Nava!)
Wait... now Rahm means "high"? Oh no, Obama hired a druggy! A Jewish druggy! A loud, lofty, high guy!
So what does loud Rahm get high on, Manischewitz?
I heard someone on MJ say that that this was the end of the "politics of fear" . Snort.
For all the ink and money spilled on McCain's hopes of making inroads into the Jewish vote, exit polls suggest Obama won the demographic by a margin even higher than John Kerry's, and like Al Gore's and Bill Clinton's.Yep, that Joe Lieberman sure was indispensable.
The exits currently have it at 78 percent to 21 percent.
By GottaLaff
A new e-mail making the rounds among Jewish voters in Pennsylvania this week falsely alleged that Mr. Obama “taught members of Acorn to commit voter fraud,’’ and equated a vote for Senator Barack Obama with the “tragic mistake” of their Jewish ancestors, who “ignored the warning signs in the 1930’s and 1940’s.” [...]Where to begin? A former state supreme court justice was involved with this? I'd start reviewing her past court decisions, for starters. And the others on the list? Ptooey! And the warning to Jewish voters? About the '30s and '40s... Don't go there.But where most of the attack e-mails against Mr. Obama have been anonymous, this one had an unusually official provenance: It was sponsored by the Pennsylvania Republican Party’s “Victory 2008” committee.
And it was signed by several prominent McCain supporters in the state: Mitchell L. Morgan, a top fund-raiser; Hon. Sandra Schwartz Newman, a member of Mr. McCain’s local and national task-forces monitoring Election Day voting, and I. Michael Coslov, a steel industry executive.
After several calls for comment about the e-mail, leaders of the state party repudiated it on Friday. They said it had been released without their authorization and that they had fired the strategist who helped draft it – but whose name is not on the letter – Brian Rudnick. [...]In a brief interview earlier Friday, Judge Newman — a former state supreme court justice now in private practice –- said she had helped write the letter. Then she quickly passed the phone to Mr. Brudnick. He said the e-mail was sent to 75,000 voters in Pennsylvania and asked that other questions be e-mailed to him.
But he did not respond to that e-mail.
Der. This whole thing is just a meme that the traditional media didn't want to let go.
Jews are twice as likely to vote for Barack Obama than John McCain, according to a new poll from New York University.
The poll basically confirms that a familiar, recurring election-year story that casts doubt on the Democrat's appeal to Jewish voters is no more true this year than it was in the past. The Jewish vote has tilted heavily Democratic in every presidential election in recent memory, and it looks that it will happen again.
The 3,116-person survey was conducted by N.Y.U.’s Berman Jewish Policy Archive, and includes responses from 1,596 Jews and 1,520 non-Jews.
The pollsters write, “While only 37% of white respondents declared a preference for Obama, 67% of Jews did so- a gap of 30 percentage points. In short, with undecided voters eliminated from consideration, non-Jewish whites tilted heavily towards McCain, while Jews tilted even more heavily towards Obama.”
Oy, not my favorite surrogate, but Floridians like him. Also more than Bill's been doing for Obama.
Tamarac - Former New York Mayor Ed Koch took to the campaign trail Sunday stumping for Barack Obama in the Jewish community, considered one of the most important voting blocs in South Florida.
(snip)
Chief among Jewish concerns is Obama's support of the Jewish state. Fliers in the lobby promised that Obama would "strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship." And State Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Parkland, who introduced Koch to the crowd, called Koch one of the "greatest experts out there" and said his presence "should convince all of us that Senator Obama will be a very strong advocate for Israel."
Koch told the crowd of nearly 100 that in 2004 he stumped for George Bush because while he didn't agree with him on any domestic issues, he believed Bush was the strongest man to defend American interests against Islamic terrorism.
But this time, the issue is not about Israel. The presidential and vice presidential candidates "are all in support of the security of Israel; that is no longer on the table," he said. "Take it from me, I know. I know Israel would be protected by an Obama-Biden administration."
Gotta covered this back a few days here, but I think Sarah did an admirable job also. WARNING- NOT PC.
Good. I support the NJDC and they were working mightily to get her out.
The organizers of an anti-Iran rally Monday rescinded their invitation to Alaska Governor Sarah Palin after Democrats protested that her presence would turn the event into a political rally, McCain campaign and Jewish community sources said.
The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations created a political tempest by inviting Palin to speak without clearing her invitation with another speaker, Senator Hillary Clinton. Clinton promptly dropped out of the event, saying it would be seen as unduly political. The McCain campaign then pressed Senator Barack Obama to join Palin on the stage in a show of unity against Iran.
(snip)
But the appearance that the non-partisan group was aligning with the Republican ticket put the group and its president, Malcolm Hoenlein, under heavy pressure from Jewish Democrats, including members of the conference, members of Congress, and the liberal group J Street, not to give Palin a platform, sources said. Hoenlein told the McCain campaign that he would have to rescind Palin's invitation or cancel the rally.
The organizers, I'm told, have formally disinvited all elected and political officials, but the move was about Palin.
Okay,do me a favor and just kick back a bit and reread that headline. Is there any, and I mean ANY sense or even miasma of rational thought in it? From the jokers who were doing the push-polling on Jews no less.
WASHINGTON— A Republican group launched a new effort Wednesday to turn Jewish voters away from Barack Obama, an ad campaign that compares the Democratic presidential candidate to Pat Buchanan but offers scant evidence of their similarities.
The Republican Jewish Coalition is running an ad in dozens of Jewish newspapers that says Obama and Buchanan have views on Israel that are "dangerous, reckless and wrong." It quotes Buchanan as saying his views on Israel are a lot closer to Obama's than they are to those of GOP presidential nominee John McCain.
"Concerned about Barack Obama?" the ad says over a photo of Buchanan giving a thumbs up toward a photo of Obama. "You should be. His dangerous views on Israel have just been endorsed by Pat Buchanan."
Asked for examples of how they are the same, RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks suggested a call to Buchanan to ask the conservative commentator what he thinks. "All we're doing is printing Buchanan's words," he said. Brooks declined to reveal the cost of the ad campaign.
By GottaLaff
First, there is a difference between a push poll and a survey. Per TPM, a push poll is short and plants the smear seed, while a survey lasts much longer, as in many 15-plus-minute calls that many have received:
Someone is testing the effect of fear-mongering about Obama on Jewish voters. But it just doesn't have the markings of a push poll, as that term is usually understood.That said:
A Republican group is taking responsibility for a poll that has roiled the Jewish community by asking sharply negative questions about Senator Barack Obama.Oh, and there's that rabbi in Obama's family. I bet they didn't mention that.
The Republican Jewish Coalition, which is launching a campaign against Obama on behalf of Senator John McCain, sponsored the poll to "understand why Barack Obama continues to have a problem among Jewish voters," the group's executive director, Matt Brooks, told Politico.
The poll asked voters their response to negative statements about Obama, including reported praise for him from a leader of the Palestinian terror group Hamas and a friendship early in his career with a pro-Palestinian university professor. Some Jewish Democrats who received the poll – including a New Republic writer who lives in Michigan – were outraged by the poll, describing it in interviews as "ugly" and disturbing. A group that supports Obama, the Jewish Council for Education and Research http://www.jewsvote.org even staged a protest outside the Manhattan call center from which the calls originated Tuesday.
"If the RJC is responsible for these calls, which are designed to frighten Jews and sow mistrust, they have forfeited their place at the Jewish table," said the co-executive director of the group, Mik Moore. [...]
Brooks, however, denied that the poll was meant to influence Jewish voters, and said it was a traditional poll meant to gauge the opinions of Jewish voters. [...] "The notion that this is a 'push poll' is offensive to us." [...]
Certainly, they have drawn attention: After first reporting on two voters who were polled, Politico was contacted by a half-dozen more, and many Jewish Obama backers are livid at the survey. [...]
The selection of Sarah Palin, whose record on Israel is thin and who recently sat through a sermon suggesting that terrorism in Jerusalem is God's judgment on Jews for not believing in Jesus, has re-energized Jewish Democrats and may push some voters back to Obama's camp. [...]
Cohn wrote that he was asked how six different statements would affect his vote:
• Obama has had a decade long relationship with pro-Palestinian leaders in Chicago
• the leader of Hamas, Ahmed Yousef, expressed support for Obama and his hope for Obama's victory
• the church Barack Obama has attended is known for its anti-Israel and anti-American remarks
• Jimmy Carter's anti-Israel national security advisor is one of Barack Obama's foreign policy advisors
• Barack Obama was the member of a board (sic) that funded a pro-Palestinian charitable organization
• Barack Obama called for holding a summit of Muslim nations, excluding Israel, if elected president [...]
But the poll – and the Republican Jewish Coalition's material more generally – leaves out virtually all of Obama's recent record, which includes a stance on Israel that has won him praise from the main pro-Israel lobby, AIPAC, and attacks from Palestinian leaders.
By GottaLaff
Here's something about Barack Obama you probably didn't know: He's related to a rabbi.Oy, what a sheyn ponom. I want to pinch his cheeks!
His wife's cousin, Rabbi Capers C. Funnye Jr., leads a mostly black Jewish congregation on Chicago's Southwest Side. He is Michelle Obama's first cousin once removed: Her paternal grandfather is the brother of Funnye's mother. [...]
Funnye (pronounced fuh-NAY) says he hasn't been involved in the campaign, except to donate money. But he speaks glowingly about the Obamas.
"I'm very moved and very proud of all they've become so far," the 56-year-old rabbi told The Associated Press.
In childhood, Funnye and Michelle Obama's families visited each other almost monthly. Funnye's mother and Michelle Obama's father, who were closer in age, had a good relationship, Funnye said.Such a mensch.
Funnye and Michelle Obama, 44, lost touch in later years, though he attended her wedding in 1992. They reconnected about a decade ago when Funnye started working at a social work organization based near the University of Chicago, where Michelle Obama worked.
Funnye said he met Barack Obama shortly before the future candidate married Michelle.
"He was very caring, a little skinny and very sincere," Funnye said.
The Obamas have not publicized the connection to Funnye out of respect for the privacy of their large extended family, said Katie McCormick Lelyveld, a spokeswoman for Michelle Obama.
"It was a total surprise to me," said Ira Forman, the executive director of the National Democratic Jewish Council. "Despite coming under attack unfairly in the Jewish community, Obama didn't even mention this. I think it's a piece of the puzzle that validates him." [...]A gezunt ahf dein kop!
In his nearly two decades at Beth Shalom, Funnye has garnered a reputation as a spiritual leader who promotes interfaith dialogues and has worked to unify black and white Jews.
"I believe that all humanity and all faith communities are trying to reach a summit," he said. "The summit is of brotherhood and sisterhood, a summit of equality."
Funnye attended the African Methodist Episcopal Church growing up, then explored a number of other religions before converting. [...]
Since Funnye took over Beth Shalom in 1991, the congregation has more than doubled from 150 members to 350.
By GottaLaff
TheGreatSchlep.com website will target, engage and activate Jews 18-24 years old - the Facebook generation. A viral internet campaign will allow the Jewish young people, a.k.a. Schleppers, to communicate with and meet other Schleppers. Then, on Columbus Day weekend (October 10-13), Jewish kids from all over the United States will schlep to Florida to spend the weekend with their grandparents, a.k.a. Bubbie and Zadie. Organized dinners at Chinese restaurants, pool parties, rec room discussion groups, etc. will faciliate intergenerational pro-Obama discussions. The kids will arrive in Florida with the facts about Obama-- facts that will counteract the false rumors many of their grandparents have heard. [...]
Where do I SEND MY CHECK?
Click on the attached pdf that says Donor Card. Fill that in, and send your (whopping) check -- campaign laws allow you to give up to $5,000 -- directly to JCER. Remember, JCER is a PAC, which means it is INDEPENDENT of the Obama Campaign. This means that the money you give to the organization will NOT apply towards the maximum contribution you can make to the Obama campaign.
And if I SEND a Check, What Will it be Used for?
The money will pay for the websites, travel scholarships for Schleppers, Florida events (the Early Birds are cheap!), travel for organizers, Schlepper persuasion materials, advertising, marketing, and general Schlepper Support. Donations to JCER are NOT tax-deductable.
I Still Have a Few Questions. Do you Have Answers?
Of course. I have attached to this email a couple of documents that go into more detail about JCER and its founders. And of course, feel free to call me with any questions or concerns.
Can I do ANYTHING in ADDITION to DONATING MONEY?
Yes. Forward this email to as many people as possible. The more money JCER brings in for The Great Schlep, the more schleppers and their grandparents we'll reach. And remember:
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE JEWISH TO SUPPORT A SCHLEPPER.
JCER contact info:
Ari Wallach , Co-Executive Director
Jewish Council for Education and Research
ari@jcer.info
p: 646.202.2846
Marla contact info:
E. Marla Felcher, Ph.D.
325 Harvard Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 441-9714 (phone)
(270) 517-6038 (fax)
mfelcher@comcast.net
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