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GOP Jewish Group Calling Jewish Voters with Questions Some Find Meshugah

September 16, 2008 9:36 PM

A Jewish Republican organization has polled 750 Jewish voters in five key battleground states -- Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania -- to test messages that would cause them not to vote for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

Matthew Brooks, executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, told ABC News Tuesday evening that despite complaints by some liberal Jewish organizations that the calls were part of a "push poll" -- that is, designed to spread salacious information as opposed to collect views of voters -- this was a "traditional poll of issues," with 82 questions using "standard polling methodology."

The point of the calls were to explore "why Obama continues to have significant problems with Jewish voters," Brooks said.

The calls have caused some outrage among members of the Jewish community and have been reported as far away as Israel.  The fact that the RJC is behind the calls was first reported this evening by Ben Smith of the Politico.

Ben Cohen, a 37-year-old lawyer in Ohio received one of the calls last night and he was clearly offended.

"It was evocative of a time and a kind of politics that I would never want to see rise in America," Cohen told ABC News. "You shouldn't scare people to get elected  -- Jewish people have experienced that before really horrifically."

Cohen received the call at his Cleveland Heights home Monday night. The third question, he recalled, was what religion he is. After telling the woman polling him he's Jewish, Cohen was asked how often he attends synagogue -- daily, frequently, or only on the High Holidays.

"That was a little odd," Cohen said. But then the poll turned into more standard questions such as which issue was most important to him.

After Cohen said he was leaning towards voting for Obama -- he was undecided until McCain picked Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential nominee, Cohen said -- the questions took what he called an "inflammatory" turn.

"Would you still vote for Barack Obama if you knew he'd been endorsed by Hamas?" Cohen said the questioner asked.

"Would you still vote for Barack Obama if you knew he had given money to the PLO?" Cohen said the question asked.

"Would you still vote for Barack Obama if you knew he supported a divided Jerusalem?" the questioner asked, Cohen recalled.

Recalled Cohen, "as the questions became a little more untoward," he reminded the pollster that she'd said the call would be brief.

"She said she was half done," Cohen said. "And I waited because I wanted to see if she would ask the same questions about McCain that they did with Obama."

She didn't.

"Then someone else gets on the phone," Cohen said. "And he said, 'I just wanted to check: Are you Jewish?'  That was one of first questions the poll asked but at that point I felt uncomfortable answering it. it was odd. I felt like I was being targeted in the poll."

Brooks would not share the list of 82 questions from the RJC poll, but he said the three questions as Cohen recalled them were not precisely the ones asked.

Instead, Brooks said, those being polled were asked how their support for Obama would be affected if they knew that a leader of Hamas, Ahmed Yousef, had expressed support for Obama. 

Yousef, a political adviser to Hamas in Gaza, said in April, "We like Mr. Obama, and we hope that he will win the election," but after Obama delivered a pro-Israel speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said the group had changed its mind: "Hamas does not differentiate between the two presidential candidates, Obama and McCain, because their policies regarding the Arab-Israel conflict are the same and are hostile to us, therefore we do have no preference and are not wishing for either of them to win."

Brooks said the poll "absolutely did not" say Obama gave money to the PLO, but he said a question may have addressed that when Obama was on the board of the Woods Fund, the philanthropic group gave a grant to an Arab-American community organization in Chicago that Brooks characterized as anti-Israel.

After initially declaring before the AIPAC audience that Israel's capital must remained an undivided Jerusalem, Obama backed off that pronouncement, saying it's a matter to be decided by the Israelis and Palestinians in the final stages of a peace process. Brooks insisted his poll stated merely that Obama had flip flopped on the issue.

Obama supporter Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Florida, in a statement, said that "the fact that the Republican Jewish Coalition is targeting Jewish Americans with these disgraceful and deceitful tactics fits in perfectly with the dishonorable campaign that John McCain has chosen to run. Peddling lies and hateful distortions to scare Jewish voters is reprehensible and deeply disrespectful to Jewish Americans."

Said Brooks, "What's really interesting is the reaction from Jews who are supporting Obama. The questions we asked are all legitimate. Why don’t they like us asking these questions? Because they don't like the answers."

Brooks acknowledged that much of the leadership of the RJC has ties to the McCain campaign, but he said his organization does not coordinate in any way with the McCain campaign and anyone who "has a title" in the McCain campaign who is also active with his organization "has taken a leave of absence from the RJC so there's no question whatsoever of any integration or any overlap."

But even though Brooks stands by his poll and says it's no different from any other poll of the Jewish community, it has rubbed many voters the wrong way.

"I lived in New Orleans for nine or ten years," Cohen said, "and I would often get polls with salacious or inflammatory information. This one made the hair on the back of my neck stand up."

- jpt

September 16, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (132)

User Comments

There must be a valid reason for Senator LIeberman not to vote for Obama.
He was the Vice President candidate not long ago, he is a bright, wonderful Jewish stateman, a Democrat at heart but he cannot find it possible to vote for OBAMA

Posted by: Grace | Oct 20, 2008 4:32:23 PM

I am surprised that the Jewish community which is composed of bright people can be so blind.
Have you not notice the way Obama says one thing and then changes his mind and is always saying what people wished to hear.
He stated that Jerusalem should be undivided only to change his position shortly afterward and he has been like this in many issues.
How often he goes I did not say that....what I said was...
My question is if Senator Lieberman which was the Democratic candidate for Vice President, only two elections ago, cannot find it possible to vote for Obama don't everybody think there must be a reason why?
Senator Lieberman is Democrat , he has been a Democrat all his life and he cannot do it, it must mean something.

Posted by: Grace | Oct 20, 2008 4:30:26 PM

i think its funny how all you obama supporters are supporting someone who is friends with unrepentant terrorist who did bomb this country. even if obama was 7 years old. when did BO find out about ayers and when he found out about him why did he stay friends with him. Remember McCain was fighting for this country when obama friends were bombing it. oh wait ayers is Rehabilitated so that makes it ok. if bin laden was to be Rehabilitated would BO be friends with him too. one more thing i posted this earlier and they cencored me. guess its not nice to talk bad about "the One".

Posted by: keith | Oct 20, 2008 4:29:06 PM

I am professional Jewish woman and a registered Democrat. That being said, any Jew who votes for Obama is misinformed and myopic. Jews seem to have this snobbish distain for evangelical Christians and their "backwards" social values which blinds us from looking at more important issues. Evangelical Christians, for whatever their reasons, love and support Israel. Obama will throw Israel to the dogs. Did any of you read what Jesse Jackson said today? The "Zionist control" of congress will be gone under Obama and the US will end "decades of putting Israel first." I don't agree with the Republicans on all issues, especially social issues, but all of that pales in comparison with I fear will happen with a weak and inexperienced commander in chief such as Senator Obama. McCain Palin all the way!

Posted by: Deborah | Oct 14, 2008 6:11:08 PM

Michelle is in hiding. With her mouth! Her disrespect for America they can't let her out too often. I only hope any of you voting for Obama can give a good reason for that vote! This man could be dangerous, he scares me. How after 9/11 could anyone consider a man with a muslim background be president??!! this is absurd. I would vote for Alred E. Newman before Obama. His nose in the air that elitist, snobby attitude. His camp hired a professional to teach him how to be accepted by White people. They send Michelle to some charm school. These people shouldn't represent our nation!! This just isn't right.

Posted by: nacny | Sep 26, 2008 1:37:24 AM

It amazes me, as a Jew, how the RJC continues to push for McCain-Palin just because she said she is against Iran. Palin stands for everything the Jewish people stand for, yet some Jews just drool over her. I guess the RJC are like the German Jews. They did not realize their mistake until they were in the concentration camps. Shame on any Jew who votes McCain-Palin. Remember, according to Palin Assemblies of God church anyone who does not believe in Jesus will be sent to hell! Wake up Jews of America before it's too late!

Posted by: Susan Gold | Sep 19, 2008 10:26:06 PM

All those wanting to know where Obama's wife is ...For ur information she has a job unlike someone i know and she has kids who are very young and she therefore cannot leave them seeing as school is reopened. She is a mother first and she knows it.

Posted by: angie | Sep 17, 2008 2:04:24 PM

We Jews are our own worst enemy. Yes, most Jews will vote for Obama, but as the ABC News article confirms, most can't tell you, in unemotional, specific terms, why. For those with even a passing knowledge of history, particularly of Weimar Germany, the idealization of Obama will be a familiar and frightening phenomenon. Yet, we seem incapable of realizing it.

Posted by: NMR | Sep 17, 2008 12:53:44 PM

I'm not Jewish but I live in a hugh Jewish community. They are all voting for Obama.

Posted by: star | Sep 17, 2008 11:25:04 AM

Why won't Hillary Clinton attend the anti-Iran event because of Sarah Palin's appearance there also? What's up with that? Our politics is now so partisan that we can't even unite as Americans against a dog like Ahmadinejad?

And why is Kathleen Sebelius playing the race card against the American voters who are choosing McCain over Obama?

What the h*ll has happened to the Democratic Party? The effects of The Uniter appear to be anything but that!

Posted by: marylou | Sep 17, 2008 9:32:03 AM

MM...who is your candidate and tell us about him or her....

Posted by: newvoter | Sep 17, 2008 8:52:59 AM

Doesn't it seem funny to anyone, with all this financial carp going down, that no one is mentioning the Keating Five, savings and loan disaster in which McCain was a MAIN player?

Posted by: formerhillary | Sep 17, 2008 8:51:41 AM

Marika,
You make it sound like democrats are innocent victims in the political process. The democrat party has a long tradition of scandals and class warfare rhetoric to rile up and scare the pulic. I assure you that the democrats are not saints. Do not kid yourself. That's why Americans should dump the two party system and support third party candidates.

Posted by: mm | Sep 17, 2008 8:50:09 AM

Jozy -
The persons targeting the Jewish voters in these battleground states were Jewish. In addition, Jew is not a race, it is an ethnic religion. Finally, I just read an article about Obama in New Mexico "targeting" hispanics for votes. Is that racist?

Posted by: mm | Sep 17, 2008 8:46:35 AM

Even if Obama wins, he's already lost. For a democrat candidate to be tied or even behind the republican candidate during an election cycle like this one, given the national enviornment, is truly a testament to how poor Obama and the democrat philosophy are. The democrat party has to change. We all keep saying this about the republicans, but democrats should be asking themselves serious questions.

Posted by: mm | Sep 17, 2008 8:44:39 AM

We seem to forget that Michele has 2 kids that are in school that she need to look after. Cindy reminds me of the mother in the Manchurian candidate..

Posted by: Lion | Sep 17, 2008 8:36:21 AM

nullan...I know, I wondered that myself.She creeps me out!!

If you watch any day times shows yo will see Michelle is hitting the daytime circuit. I have seen her in Ellen,Paula's Home Cooking and more

Posted by: cindyct | Sep 17, 2008 8:27:26 AM

Polderboy you have to be one of the few people in America who doesn't know that the Obama camp took a quote from Carly and seriously shortened it. If you took the time and had the knowledge, you should consider looking up the real quote.

Posted by: samhiguchi | Sep 17, 2008 8:16:38 AM

Emily Posted,

You worry about Mitchelle while you go to sleep on your Veepee pick who you don't know where she stands on issues and who the Campaign has not made available for scrutiny bearing in mind that at McCain age and his mortality, she may find herself running the Country in the next four years.

If you have not read about her leadership style as a Mayor and a Governor, I will like to summarize them in these few words:

Secretive, Vindictive, Oppressive.

If she is all these adjectives rolled into one as a Mayor and a Governor, you can then imagine what She will do in the W.H.

Because of her restricted World view, limited knowledge of the Economy which will lead to inferiority complex on her part, you can be sure that She will be at daggers drawn with the US Senate and Congress for the next four years if by good hands of fortune, she becomes POTUS.

The Same way she is said to be having a less than kosher relationship with the Alaskan's State Senate.

You can imagine how many books that will be banned from our Library Shelves, you can imagine how many good Justices of SCOTUS that would forced to retire because of their believe in the Judgement in Roe vs Wade.

You can imagine what will become of FOI Act since most states businessess will be done via yahoo! and hence, no trail left for scoops.

Posted by: Dare Nigeria | Sep 17, 2008 8:03:23 AM

I guess after having told us twenty two times since January that the "fundamentals of the economy are strong," Brook Dem

The economic fundamentals are strong, easy money, Government interference and crooks like Franklin Raines (98 million in 6 years as fannie Mae chief, now an Obama adviser) are perfect storms for any business.

Posted by: david | Sep 17, 2008 7:41:29 AM

Honestly, I do not blame the Party and the Campaign that are more ardent at using Fear and misinformation to drive home their points.

I heap the whole blame on the American Public who are more receptive to the lies and falsehood.

I blame American Public that allows the Politicians cashes in on their subseptibility to fear and emotion to cow them to vote for them while they go back to their Chambers to gloat at the gullibility of a whole Nation.

They gloated in time past and if we let them, they will keep gloating in time to come.

And as I always say, a Nation will always get the Leader it deserves.

Posted by: Dare Nigeria | Sep 17, 2008 7:28:23 AM

yeah, I don't know John these people are very strange- the obama's i mean. And you have to admit that the media has been giving them a pass on a lot of things. Obama's wife has completely gone into hiding. Which is not becoming of a future first lady. her absense was markedly noticed from the 9/11 memorial. Where is this woman?

Posted by: Emily Posted | Sep 17, 2008 7:08:53 AM

Warren Buffet said Obama could run a business and the country, but he's only the world's richest man, so what does he know?

Posted by: johnTX | Sep 17, 2008 6:58:48 AM

Michelle Obama MIA Watch Day 17

Posted by: Emily Posted | Sep 17, 2008 6:54:18 AM

More Karl Rove tactics! Anything to win. It is disgusting and despicable to do this type of thing to win an election. Hopefully the people contacted will have enough intelligence to make a decision on who to vote for by paying attention to the issues and the candidates positions on the issues. There are still people who do that.....aren’t there?

Posted by: Brian | Sep 17, 2008 6:52:55 AM

McCain has found the cause for the financial meltdown and the Wall Street Mess: Greed.

It took McCain 72 years to learn that.

He's a quick student, that McCain. I'm impressed.

Posted by: Willem van Oranje | Sep 17, 2008 6:49:43 AM

The Palindrones stil worry about candidates using teleprompters?

While their own VP-candidate has not given one - repeat that: NOT ONE - *unscripted* interview or press conference or accepted a question from a journalist or even a town hall attendee?

And while she has been reading the same stump speech - not even written by her - from a teleprompter the entire time?

Posted by: Polderboy | Sep 17, 2008 6:43:36 AM

@Cassandra Washington.

Yeah. I'm sure McCain pulled Fiorina from the campaign because she said she would not trust the Dem candidates running a big company.

When even Carla does not trust McCain running a company like HP, why should we trust him running the USA?

Posted by: Polderboy | Sep 17, 2008 6:34:14 AM

Debra

See you're repeating today's McCain talking points about the Barbra Streisand's fundraiser for Obama. Only problem is that it's just another example of McCain's "good for me but not for thee" hypocrisy since he held his own "Hollywood" fundraiser last month.

I guess after having told us twenty two times since January that the "fundamentals of the economy are strong," getting snarky about Barbra Streisand is about all he's got left.

Posted by: Brooklyn Democrat | Sep 17, 2008 6:33:16 AM

"Push polling" is the same crap that the Bushes used in the 2000 South Carolina Primary against John McCain. Among other things, they questioned his emotional stability.

If nothing else, you have to admire McCain's flexibility. He's willing to employ the same vile tactics that were used against him. This is "honor" and "integrity"?

Posted by: Brooklyn Democrat | Sep 17, 2008 6:22:31 AM

Now I know why Obama won't do town halls with McCain...he has to take that teleprompter on the road with him to rallys and town halls....probably due to the fuzzy thinking from jet setting to Streisand 9 million fundraiser
------------------------------------

Debra,

I keep asking myself why some People still find it difficult to stay on issues. With the Economy close to the 1929 Depression, with so many blue-chip Companies going belly-up, I can't imagine that someone that has the interest of this Country would still be talking of Teleprompter.

A Tool that is widely used by the two Campaigns.

Why not either discuss issues or criticize the Candidates constructively or do us a whole of good by keeping your peace instead of displaying your -----

Posted by: Dare Nigeria | Sep 17, 2008 6:16:28 AM

McCain's entire campaign is Meshugah.

Posted by: Gus | Sep 17, 2008 5:42:39 AM

Krist,

Obama has said he will come down hard on Senator McCain but he will not get in Mud.

Peddling false allegations is not being Strong.

Twisting facts to suit a parochial purpose is not being Strong.

Making your Veepee Candidate unaccessible to the Press for fear of her making misguided utterances is not being strong.

Asserting Strong Economic Fundamentals in the face of home foreclosures, massive unemployment, stock market crashes, Companies unsolvencies and bankruptcies, deficit balance of Trade and balance of payment problems, increased and increasing National Debt is not being strong.

We had a strong and Tough talking President in President G.W Bush. See where his strength got us!

What we need at this time is a Listen President, a President with Wisdom to decipher between good and bad advices, a President with foresight and a President that will realize more than ever before that it is better to build an America that will be well respected around the World than a America that is feared around the World.

That is the President will desire and that is the President we will Vote for.

Posted by: Dare Nigeria | Sep 17, 2008 5:40:40 AM

It's amazing how the McCain supporters are so quick to believe all the lies about Obama but will not acknowledge the truth about their own candidate. The intelligence level of this country is astounding. Every 4 years the Repulican party uses tricks and deception to get people to vote against their own best interests. These same people complain about the shape the country is in. And then they vote the same people back into office. Makes no sense to me.

Posted by: Marika | Sep 17, 2008 5:07:30 AM

Now I know why Obama won't do town halls with McCain...he has to take that teleprompter on the road with him to rallys and town halls....probably due to the fuzzy thinking from jet setting to Streisand 9 million fundraiser.

Posted by: Debra | Sep 17, 2008 3:39:06 AM

Obama is not strong taking John Mccain.Indded Obama is weak like Hillary said.It does nto take just a good man to win election it takes a strong man. Obama got to speak about these issues publicly to clear the air

Posted by: krist | Sep 17, 2008 3:33:15 AM

Why journalists not probing the Obama-Rezko associaton for 18 months, but Gov. Palin and the state trooper who was drinking/driving while on duty and tazored a 10 year old boy, and NOT FIRED an issue? This is the year objective journalism offically died.

Posted by: Debra | Sep 17, 2008 2:58:13 AM

Integrity Transparency? I think not.

I like McCain. He was funny on SNL. But I don't like his politics. Don't let ANYONE scare you. Vote on the issues. Vote on integrity. Look at the way the McCain camp is stalling the Troopergate investgation. Integrity? Transparency? I think not.

Look at the way McCain portrayed Obama as teaching Sex-Ed to kindergardeners. Integrity Transparency? I think not.

How about McCain voting for the war? If we didn't go into Iraq, a sovereign nation who didn't threaten us, Al-Qaeda wouldn't even be there. Mission accomplished my butt. Obama was against it from the start. Simply good judgement, and he went against the trend. A Maverick maybe?

How about a womans right to choose? You could be raped by your father and Palin thinks you should be legally forced to go through with the pregnancy. Is that freedom? I think not.

And finally, I don't want someone like me in the White House. I want someone way smarter than me. There is a 30% chance McCain won't make it through his first term. Then we'll be stuck with someone who has a BA in Journalism, thinks dinosaurs are 4000 years old, doesn't consider scientific evidence for mans roll in global warming, thinks Creationism (religion basically) should be taught next to Evolution, and sex-ed should consist of trying to convince kids not to have sex. I don't want that person at the reins of the most powerful country in the world. I haven't heard anything out of Palins mouth that would make me want to see her President. On the contrary, the prospect of her as my president scares the hell out of me and I'm frankly surprised that after a bit of examination it doesn't scare most of my Fellow Americans.

Please, if you're thinking of voting for McCain, re-examine the issues, go to Obama's website and poke around. See how the candidates are running their campaigns. I think you'll see that Obama/Biden are the right direction for our country.

Posted by: maax | Sep 17, 2008 2:31:18 AM

Emily Posted 12:52...I feel it too. I live in Burbank Ca area, and met Meghan McCain before she went on Larry King yesterday, and they gave me a McCain/Palin lapel sticker. I wore it to a busy grocery store and got stares like I never got before. It made me uncomfortable, like someone would follow me to my car to harm me. I will be putting up my McCain/Palin yard signs next week (they are out) and I'm hoping no one eggs my house.
McCAIN/PALIN ALL THE WAY!
P.S.- the more Obama attacks McCain the weaker he looks. This from a guy who was a new kind of politics. McCain is steady Eddy and if he performs like he did at the Faith forum...(at the debates) and prompter boy gets stuck on stammer...I'll be a happy voter.

Posted by: Debra | Sep 17, 2008 2:11:53 AM

What a disgusting way to scare people into voting one way or the other. I'm sure if it were Democrat Jews for Obama doing the same thing, the conservatives on the board would say the same thing and defend the tactics of the left...right guys?

Hypocrites. Is this how you want your administration to act?

Obama/Biden=integrity

Posted by: maax | Sep 17, 2008 1:59:43 AM

In 1999, McCain supported comprehensive legislation deregulating the financial-services industry, including the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act, which separated commercial and investment banking and was one of the hallmarks of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal economic program. While that allowed banks and securities firms to compete more directly, critics say it led to excesses because it wasn't replaced by a new law reflecting changes in financial markets.

McCain also supported a law that deregulated derivatives trading and exempted energy trading from oversight. And he backed a federal law that preempts state laws, some of which are stringent, against anti-predatory lending.

Even Bloomberg things McCain's screwed here.

Posted by: johnTX | Sep 17, 2008 1:33:58 AM

The Christian Colation needs to Learn you cannot Legistiate MORALS!!! Morals are a personal decision. abortions will happen legally or underground. Greedy acts happen by the ultra rich and the poor. Jesus said go and sin no more. But the people still had the choice to go and sin some more anyway. Course there will be a day or reckoning, some call it Karma, some say what goes around, comes around.

Posted by: NoObama | Sep 17, 2008 1:29:31 AM

Obama is the pied piper Dem puppet. No actions, no experience, words, just words! Lies and spies.

Posted by: NoObama | Sep 17, 2008 1:24:50 AM

I've come to the conclusion that the Evangelicals vote for Republicans because they believe it is the quickest path to the End of Times - something they all seem to want for some reason.

Posted by: johnTX | Sep 17, 2008 1:23:22 AM

Actions speak louder than words! McCain Wins!!!!

Posted by: NoObama | Sep 17, 2008 1:22:27 AM

"Do people really have faith in Obama's ability to administer the nation during this perilous times."

No one has faith in him. Just read what Hillary and Biden had to say about him.

Posted by: Mack | Sep 17, 2008 1:15:16 AM

Well John I don't believe that Obama has good judgment or experience. I look at ones past actions. His past in Illinois shows me nothing. He reminds me of Bush, untested, popular and arrogant. All he ever does is attack the other guy and tell us what we need is a leader. I find him really insincere.

Posted by: Emily Posted | Sep 17, 2008 1:12:55 AM

Yes Roger Miller, because Obama not only studied economics, he also has good judgment when picking economists.

McCain on the other hand picks economics who think McCain invented the Blackberry and who think America is a nation of whiners.

So I pick the guy with better judgment over the guy with more experience because in my head, all the experience in the world won't help you if your judgment gets the US into a war that costs us $1.5 trillion dollars.

Posted by: johnTX | Sep 17, 2008 1:03:15 AM

Emily,Roger - Hot Heads don't think, just react with emotion.

Times are tough, everything in the gov't deserves scruitny and reactions from actions need to be thought out.

I'm sure everyone Loved their stimus check, till it comes time to claim it on their income taxes and pay more taxes on it!!!

We need to be careful that we don't tax ourselves and our employers out of exsistence!

Posted by: PUMA | Sep 17, 2008 1:02:53 AM

Roger it really is a shame. I have never seen people so crazed over someone that I find utterly uncapable. The media just plays into Obama's hands and the bias is so obvious that even they are acknowledging it. You hardly find one anti-Obama topic on this blog.

Posted by: Emily Posted | Sep 17, 2008 1:00:10 AM

Do people really have faith in Obama's ability to administer the nation during this perilous times.

The economy is sick, the nation is at war and Obama has no experience other than the ability to give speeches. Obama will have to simply lean on the Fed Chief and let that person run the economy. He doesn't have the maturity that comes with being "OLD" or experienced.

Posted by: Roger Miller | Sep 17, 2008 12:57:35 AM

I think McCain Will Get Ohio. People around here don't want their "Little Business" jobs taxed out of existence. That's just for starters.

Posted by: PUMA | Sep 17, 2008 12:56:06 AM

I want one of those "hottest vp coolest state" buttons the Republicans were giving out at the Republican National Convention.

Posted by: johnTX | Sep 17, 2008 12:53:05 AM

Thanks Puma that gives me encouragement. I live in a place with Obama signs all over. I do not say i am for McCain for fear of being lynched. His supporters are very disturbing. My mother has changed her mind to McCain too.

Posted by: Emily Posted | Sep 17, 2008 12:52:03 AM

John both parties are dirty. let's cut the act okay. we are all grown ups. Politicians lie that is what they do but some are worse than others.

In my opinion Obama is a snake oil salesman and I dont want any part of the guy or his slimy associates.

Posted by: Emily Posted | Sep 17, 2008 12:49:14 AM

Here in Ohio Everyone, Friends, Family, and co - workers, people accrossed Ohio in several counties all voted for Hillary, now Voting For McCain/Palin, Lots are voting absentee, they say they want that trail, so to be counted without a doubt. I haven't heard of any Obama supporters, or no undecideds in my contacts. Every feels Hillary was qualified, Obama Not.

Posted by: PUMA | Sep 17, 2008 12:48:33 AM

historyforgotten: Looks to me like you already know this. Chicago Tribune, Sun Times, Springfield newspapers, TheCityEdition.com which has links to these stories. Rezko raised money for alot of people-Democrats and Republicans, but you already know that. I'm sure there was a collected sigh of relief when he didn't talk.

Posted by: RL in Illinois | Sep 17, 2008 12:47:16 AM

People should know Obama's background. This guy is associated with all kind of shady characters in Chicago.

Why is it so wrong to ask these questions?

Why doesn't he debate in town hall settings with John McCain?

Lot of Obama supporters are living in a fool's land. Obama never, never got more votes than the polls showed.

It means Obama will end up with a 46% vote if he is lucky. McCain will win this thing with 52%.

The way things are going, the economy will be in good shape, the Iraq war will come to an end, Afghanistan will stabilize and McCain will defeat Hillary in 2012.

There is a reason the republicans won 7 of the last 10 presidential elections.

Posted by: Roger Miller | Sep 17, 2008 12:45:21 AM

Puma, I have a question as a former Hillary supporter for McCain, about what is the percentage of women for Hillary now going for Mccain/Palin?

Posted by: Emily Posted | Sep 17, 2008 12:41:57 AM

Just Wondering - could the poll have been done by Dems in GOP clothing? And not by the GOP at all? The Dems are desperate to get their Fake Change Obama Puppet in office - desperate people do desperate things....

Posted by: PUMA | Sep 17, 2008 12:39:10 AM

What is Obama doing to attract Jewish voters?

Posted by: Emily Posted | Sep 17, 2008 12:36:28 AM

Do not forget, Bin Laden was for Bush Senior, and look how that turned out.

Posted by: historyforgotten | Sep 17, 2008 12:34:55 AM

Obama's record in Illinois is abysmal yet it is never really looked into

Posted by: Emily Posted | Sep 17, 2008 12:34:14 AM

I'm not of Jewish decent. I'm American and I won't vote for Obama for many of his Anti-American connections and displays. And Hamas is for him, any flip flop is most likely political and cannot be trusted.

Posted by: NoTrustObama | Sep 17, 2008 12:25:49 AM

It's embarrassing that people in this forum invent salacious things to smear Obama. This push-polling is disgusting. Democracy depends on the truth, and you have people pushing lies and propaganda. These people should be ashamed of themselves. They are not true Patriots.

Posted by: kris | Sep 17, 2008 12:20:44 AM

Didn't Tony Rezko also raise a million dollar fund raiser for President Bush back in early 2003?

Posted by: historyforgotten | Sep 17, 2008 12:17:28 AM

I did hear that Obama left Tony Rezko because of some possible dirty dealings along time ago. Didn't Rezko also back some Republicans as well? More info please.

Posted by: historyforgotten | Sep 17, 2008 12:09:58 AM

RL in Illinois, where did you get your information? I am interested in knowing more. I have never heard about this at all, and I thought I was following all canidates pretty fairly. I will gladly read what it has to say.

Posted by: historyforgotten | Sep 17, 2008 12:04:35 AM

These are legitimate questions. The media has known about Iraqi born billionaire Saddam Hussein's money man Nadhmi Auchi but it has never been reported on network news. He was connected by money to Obama and Tony Rezko at the time of the start of the war in Iraq. Why has this NEVER been told? It is a highly possible reason for Obama to have been "against" the war at that time and yet noone that I know of outside of Chicago knows this. When are his terrorist ties in Chicago going to be brought out for everyone to know other than on the internet? What are THEY afraid of? Rev. Wright is only the tip of the iceberg.

Posted by: RL in Illinois | Sep 16, 2008 11:58:37 PM

Katie Couric scored the second interview with Palin today. Couric's interview material will be aired Sept. 29 and 30 on the "CBS Evening News" and "The Early Show."

At the rate these interviews are coming, I imagine we'll see two more before the election. Least vetted VP EVER.

Posted by: johnTX | Sep 16, 2008 11:44:54 PM

The irony here is that push-polls just like this one are what killed John McCain's 2000 primary campaign. The McCain of 2000 would have publicly condemned this, but I'm betting that the McCain of 2008 will avoid the topic.

Posted by: Justin in Chicago | Sep 16, 2008 11:34:00 PM

Cassandra Washington - well, she actually stated that Palin wasn't capable of running a large company on a radio show and then later in the day stated that none of the candidates were capable of it in an attempt to backpedal.

McCain's friends aren't doing him any favors.

Posted by: johnTX | Sep 16, 2008 11:33:02 PM

Any time, Dee Dee.

Posted by: Ryan C | Sep 16, 2008 11:30:52 PM

Polderboy wrote: "He's pulled Carly Fiorina as a spox after she bluntly stated that neither John McCain nor Sarah Palin were capable of running a major corporation."
.... you might want to read the articles rather than listening to just the Obama-blah-blah-blah .... she said that NONE OF THE CANDIDATES COULD RUN A LARGE CORPORATION!
.......... why do people promote their candidates with lies .. is that the kind of President you want?? .. grow up!

Posted by: Cassandra Washington | Sep 16, 2008 11:30:12 PM


The fundamentals of the economy ARE sound...

What was that sound? Oh yeah - CRASH!

Posted by: Mike | Sep 16, 2008 11:24:07 PM

Uh. This is no rumor. This was reported on Politico - hardly known for being a rumor mill.

Posted by: johnTX | Sep 16, 2008 11:24:01 PM

For a group of people to claim that Obama is an angry black man on one hand and then claim that he is an appeaser on the other is disingenuous.

There is no doubt in my mind that Obama would lay waste to Iran if they launched an attack against Israel. None.

However, I believe Obama could actually prevent it from happening in the first place with... get this... diplomacy. I know diplomacy is a 4 letter word to Republicans who want to bomb first and ask questions later, but diplomacy has been proven strategy for the last few thousand years.

I do not trust McCain or Palin on this matter. I doubt they could negotiate their way out of a Manhattan let alone with a hostile country.

Posted by: johnTX | Sep 16, 2008 11:22:02 PM

JohnTX,

Agreed that yiddish has many spellings.

However, something is rotten in the state of Denmark when it comes to that guy.

Posted by: Ryan C | Sep 16, 2008 11:18:13 PM

WestCoastMessenger, Jake Tapper may not have all the information in yet. I am just saying, that many rumors are started with a simple phone call, that should be fully considered, as a 'Rumor', untill all facts are in. This goes for both camps. These rumors are what distracts from the real campaign. I just hope we could all sit down to a friendly meal together when this is all over, no matter WHO wins.

Posted by: historyforgotten | Sep 16, 2008 11:16:55 PM

"Would you agree that Obama's reaction to conflict would most likely be appeasement"

I wouldn't.

Obama will not hesitate to defend either the United States or her allies from attack or avenge an attack carried out.

Just like any other President.

The difference between McCain and Obama is that McCain wants to bomb first ask questions later.

Bomb Bomb Bomb...Bomb Bomb Iran.

Posted by: Ryan C | Sep 16, 2008 11:16:08 PM

Ryan, thanks.

Posted by: Dee Dee Lynn | Sep 16, 2008 11:16:05 PM