Legalities
Life, Politics and the Law From ABC News Correspondent Jan Crawford Greenburg
Jan Crawford Greenburg is a correspondent for ABC News' bureau in Washington DC. She covers politics, the Supreme Court and provides legal analysis for ABC News. She is a graduate of the University of Chicago's law school and is a member of the New York bar.
RECENT POSTS
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
Obama's "Jewish Problem"
May 22, 2008 4:47 PM
The New York Times has a problematic article on Page One today that suggests some Jewish voters won’t back Obama in part because they’re a bunch of racists. Here’s the problem: The article focuses largely on people in their eighties living in retirement villages in Florida, a state where Jews make up a whopping 5 percent of all voters.
In the article, some of these older Jews freely share their concerns about Obama, saying they worry about his support for Israel and position on Iran. But then the article turns to their “anxieties” about race and why some of them simply won’t vote for an African-American.
This, of course, is now gathering steam in the blogosphere as evidence Obama has a race-based “Jewish Problem” because of a few anecdotes from some old folks in the NYT.
In fact, the real problem is those anecdotes don’t reflect reality.
In all primaries to date, including Florida, Obama has done better among Jewish voters—and among Jewish seniors--than non-Jewish whites.
While the racial views of people over 80 are interesting, they’re also not particularly surprising—or unique to Jews. Talk to any group of people over 80, and you’ll probably find less enlightened views on race. The polling reflects it. Go talk to some Italian-Americans who’ve moved down to Florida for retirement. Or Irish-Americans. Go ask a group of retirees in Ohio or Pennsylvania.
Gary Langer, ABC’s polling director extraordinaire, says polling makes clear seniors across the board are less likely to vote for an African-American as president. When asked whether they would be comfortable or uncomfortable voting for an African-American as president, 12 percent of all voters polled said they’d be uncomfortable. Among seniors, 20 percent said they’d be uncomfortable.
It seems to me that Jews--more than any identifiable demographic group other than African-Americans--would turn out to support Barack Obama in November. Look at the data from the Democratic primaries. Overall, 43 percent of Jewish voters cast ballots for Obama, compared with 39 percent of non-Jewish whites. And focusing older voters, the margin is even greater: 35 percent of Jewish seniors voted for Obama, compared with 29 percent of non-Jewish whites.
That makes it particularly hard to understand casting Jews as atypically racist, based on anecdotal information from the Octogenarian demographic.
Indeed, Obama’s bigger problem in Florida has to do with the large number of seniors who live there of all ethnicities. As Langer points out, polls show seniors (and working-class voters) are much less receptive to themes of change, which of course has been a cornerstone of Obama’s campaign.
May 22, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (50)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
"Barrack would NEVER condone such talk. I really disliked the fact that HRC stooped to such levels to ensure her nomination" Pittbul61, your statement is laughable. Obama supporters have been spewing some of the most racist, sexist attacks against Clinton supporters yet Obama or other Obama supporters have remained silent! And now they're unfairly attacking Jews as racist in this Kantor's NYT article. Fighting for equality and against bigotry means fighting for everyone's rights, not only when suitable for you Obama supporters! Many of us are voting against Obama because of the harassment from bigoted Obama supporters. We're voting no to the media bias against Hillary since the start. We're voting no to the DNC bias against Hillary. We're voting no to sexist, racist treatment of Hillary supporters! We're voting no to scare tactics by Obama supporters! We're voting no to threats and insults from Obama supporters! We're voting no to bullying by Obama supporters! We're voting no to Obama supporter silence when racist, bigoted remarks fly from other Obama supporters. We're voting no to this cycle of abuse from Obama supporters!! We've had enough of abusive Obama supporters and we're saying NO! We're rising up, standing up and saying NO!! NO MEANS NO!!!
Posted by: former dem in chicago | May 23, 2008 5:00:01 AM
libre
You know, it's getting old when people constantly keep saying AA's are voting for him because of race. Yes, there's some truth to it, but so what. It's been done for centuries. He has an agenda, and he has character but because people like you who simply refuse to listen or see it have the probelm. And of course we all have NEVER been associated with anyone that could possible put a dent in our characters. What do people think really, if elected, he's going to overthrow the government or something??? Release the fears that have you in a grip
Posted by: PittBull61 | May 23, 2008 5:29:20 AM
Hillary is the only one that can get America back on her feet ....We don't need someone like Obama leading this country ...Obama doesn't even respect America why would he want to be President no one going to vote for him that really respects America....All these un-American people that are voting for him have really shown whats wrong with America .....America's own people have and are turning on their country for someone like Obama..Sad...Really sad...
Posted by: PCC | May 23, 2008 7:39:26 AM
former dem in chicago....While I agree with most of your post, the reason I won't vote for Obama really isn't because of his supporters.
Fundamentally, I don't think he is experienced enough. With just one year in the senate, how can he possibly think he is going to change 240 years of Washington politics? He has also shown that he is just another politician and do we really know who he is?
Clinton has been in political life for many years and many, if not all her skeletons have been revealed. The Obama supporters are not willing to concede she has won close to half of the votes from the party, so Obama cannot say he has a mandate from the voters. Yes, he may have won the nomination but, what about the other half?
Even if only a few here on this blog follow through with not voting or voting McCain, Obama's chances of winning swing states is doomed.
So the question becomes, who will be to blame for losing this election?
The election will be lost by the leaders of the DNC and the media who through their bias have tried to circumvent the free opinion of the voters. Add to this the fiasco of the DNC rules during this primary and you have alienated a whole lot of voters.
If you are one of those disenfranchised, alienated voters don't blame Obama's supporters, it will fall on deaf ears.......REGISTER INDEPENDENT!
Posted by: Average Joe | May 23, 2008 7:44:20 AM
I don't want her on this ticket it will be the same ole crap from washington she owes now and no way to repay but this.She has so much dirty baggage it will all come out and she will hurt this ticket more then help it.Pick someone who is a good person no dirty laundry one with all aroung knowledge. and choice the cabinet will knowledge for each one,like a farmen for arig,a military for foreign affairs ,etc...etc...
NO CLINTON on this ticket or you have lost this voter.......
Posted by: honest | May 23, 2008 8:32:27 AM
Akinyele,
I am 100% with you. However, we are and have been invisible by the people in Washington - forever. Our hope were taken away again, Gov. Bill Richardson, a blood brother, had no chance, he eventually came over to Obama's Camp - with Bill Clinton on his heel, like he belonged to the Clintons. For some reason we are not treated as equals, even though we were locked out of the process for centuries, our leaders and youngsters are as qualified as any others, to take on the responsibilities as President of the U.S.A. - but will they give us the opportunity. I hope Sen. Obama will give Gov. Bill Richardson (my blood brother) a senior and responsible portfolio. Sincerely, Lake Hart.
Posted by: Lake Hart - A Native American Writer | May 23, 2008 9:15:04 AM
Read the bloggs it's the same old racist banter. Only problem, Obama keeps getting not just black votes but a majority of white's. If you are honest, Reason many white's hate Obama, is just skin color. As far as the Jews I did not know there was a problem. If there is a Jewish person on line, I would welcome infomation on the issue of conflict between Jew's & Black"s
Posted by: Henry | May 23, 2008 9:20:09 AM
"United We Stand; Devided We Fall" Obama is Uniting people and Hillary and using every trick in the book to Devide us! Its not a hard choice to vote for the right person here, Obama For President!
Posted by: Demo Rules | May 23, 2008 9:21:35 AM
Wow! What a divider Barack has become.
Posted by: CHAOS | May 23, 2008 10:17:44 AM
henry: It's not skin color it's a liberal/moderate/conservative thing. But you seem to want to make a skin color thing.
Posted by: CHAOS | May 23, 2008 10:20:08 AM
Obama’s ‘change’ is dangerous and risky. What makes Obama’s ‘change’ more dangerous and risky is his background. Follow his upbringing in a broken family, his addict, his conflicting religious orientation in Islam and Christianity. These episodes could not make him a stable and reliable person-as a person-let alone as a president of America, the most delicate job on this planet. Watch out America!
God save America! God bless America!
Posted by: Alem | May 23, 2008 11:19:38 AM
Hillary is a Dictator, if she was Pres. we would all have to watch out for people comming to take us away in the middle of the night!
Posted by: Demo Rules | May 23, 2008 12:10:00 PM
Obama's going down,and it has nothing to do with race, but everything to do with the fact that he is the biggest Fraud since "40 Acres and a Mule"!
Posted by: cy brown | May 23, 2008 12:11:27 PM
I will give this to You white race baiter-when you finish sucking the jews in do not forget the mexicans and indians. That will force us to sit and have open communications, we will no doubt find and agree on the root of the problem.
Posted by: henry | May 23, 2008 12:39:12 PM
I think I would definately be worried more about McCains views. His paster anbd mentor recently said that the Holiccost was a punishment for the Jews. I think there is a lot more about J McCain that we don't know and will find out. We alreay he changes his voews moe than once...
Posted by: cindyct | May 23, 2008 12:45:09 PM
cindyct...Has McCain sat in that church for 20 years and called that minister his mentor??? Has he written about his minister in books??? Admired him??? Gone top a church that only supports a white race??? In Obama's case only supports a black race??? There is no comparison.
Posted by: carolyn | May 23, 2008 1:23:46 PM
A President has to represent all races!!! That makes Obama unelectable. Black theology is disgusting.
Posted by: carolyn | May 23, 2008 1:25:30 PM
For all Obama supporters...Are all of you in favor of this value of Obama's church?
http://www.tucc.org/black_value_system.html
Posted by: carolyn | May 23, 2008 1:30:03 PM
Obama has been associated with pastor
Wright and Fakrakhan for years! These Black extremists have radical views on United States!
The last thing you would do is put this country into the hands of a weak candidate like Obama. He was too weak to denounce these racists from the beginning!
Vote for Hillary or John McCain instead!
Posted by: AAM | May 23, 2008 1:55:32 PM
carolyn;
Thanks, I just read this article from Fox News. Will spread for everyone I know!
Posted by: AAM | May 23, 2008 2:00:34 PM
Post a comment
