Certainly most members of minorities would take great pride in having one of their own nominated for high office. So, no great surprise that it is expected that perhaps 95% or more of African Americans will be voting for Barack Obama. Maybe TNB shouldn't be as surprised as he is (actually dismayed) that in 2008 there is still so much prejudice existing in the electorate that no apparent lead in the polls seems adequate. There's the so called Bradley effect named after former LA Mayor Tom Bradley whose 1980 lead in the polls for California governor totally disappeared on Election Day as numerous people who had given the pollsters the "politically correct" response went and voted their prejudices in the voting booth. This was not an isolated case (see Douglas Wilder in Virginia, Harold Ford in Tennessee, etc.).
What is really appalling to TNB is how much of this prejudice is coming from some members of the Jewish community. Jews have long taken a sometimes unjustifiable pride in accomplishments of fellow Jews whether they be in entertainment, science, sports or whatever (while also being overly embarrassed about misdeeds committed by Jews). Even moderate criticisms of Jewish accomplishments are often countered with charges of anti-semitic prejudice, even where none exists. If (OMG) Joe Lieberman was running for President and received the usual political negative comments, imagine how wounded Jewish pride would be--oh, how could such prejudice exist??
How then to rationally explain the overt antipathy that some Jews apparently have to voting for a "schvartze" (a black man)? There are, of course, the bogus claims that Obama's a Muslim, is anti-Israel, etc. But honestly (like the Bradley effect) a lot of this is simply the color of the man's skin. TNB personally knows or knows of Jews (primarily but not solely of TNB's older generation) who admit that this is the sole reason for their anti-Obama feeling. Few of these people extol the virtues of John McCain or Sarah Palin and would be the first to recoil if the same thinking were applied to Jews running for office.
The so called "Great Schlep" campaign being pushed by Sarah Silverman and others (visit your Jewish grandparents in Florida to persuade them to vote for Obama) has been good for a few laughs and as a cultural commentary but when some of the real life interviews are played, it doesn't take long to sense that this is the only issue for far too many Jews.
OY
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4 comments:
I couldn't agree more. How can we, as Jews, who have suffered millenia of hardship due to prejudice and racism -- exhibit racism ourselves? It is dismaying and despicable and disappointing. I only hope that it is rare.
Sorry, I've seen this disengenous claim that the apparent increase, and it's not that great, in Jewish support for the Republican candidate this time is rooted in "racism." The older generation still remembers what an existential threat is. Israel faces one in Iran's nukes and that's where the extra support is coming from. America sometimes sends out the cavalry to peoples in distress, such as the Kuwaitis and Kosovans, and sometimes not, the Cambodians and Tutsis. In Israel support for McCain runs at 2:1 and among English-speakers, many of whom vote, at 75 per cent. When we take out those nukes McCain will not block air space, hold back intelligence, delay resupply, or jerk us around at the UN. What will Obama do? If he would supply a complete biography and explain his past associations, we might know. He hasn't and we don't.
http://www.root-1.co.il/critical.htm
From the mom of mad matty....
Actually, I think many Jews could overlook the racial bias if they felt that their taxes would not be higher, or perhaps even lowered, by the black candidate. The question is, would many of the die hard Republican Jews vote for a black Republican candidate(!) if he or she followed the staunch pro Israel/lower tax policies they desire?
Many people around here of all generations consider existential threats, past and present. So many people who remember 9/11 and suffered personally do not feel better, or safer, having had a Republican administration in charge. Many believe that Obama's selection of Biden for VP is an additional strong signal that he will support and protect Israel, although he may not "bomb, bomb, bomb," Iran as fast as McCain would.
Finally, I'm not sure you can expect Jews to have a lower level of hypocrisy or prejudice than any other group. However, a large percentage still are voting for Obama, despite their past or perhaps current racial biases.
What part of Obama's biography isn't complete? Are there years unaccounted for? The not so subtle character assassination continues e.g "past associations". If Jews support McCain because they sincerely believe he's better for Israel, that's fine. When long standing friends admit they can't vote for a black man, that's something else.
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