Dem Hopefuls Appoint Liaisons To Shore Up Communal Support

[Herschel]

As the Democratic presidential contenders gear up for a final push before the primaries, a number of campaigns are designating personnel as liaisons to the Jewish community.

The campaigns' fundraisers have been operating feverishly among Jews from the get-go — Jewish donors supply more than half the funds for any Democratic presidential campaign, political operatives estimate. But at least three campaigns have tapped operatives to work solely or primarily promoting their candidates to the Jewish community, touting their stances on issues such as the Middle East, education and social welfare policies. Two of those appointments have come in recent weeks. Others have staffers who work on Jewish concerns part-time.

That may seem like a lot of attention to devote to one tiny voting bloc — Jews are less than 3% of the population — but they don't call American Jewry a "pillar" of the Democratic Party for nothing. In recent years Jews have delivered almost 80% of their vote to Democratic candidates in national elections. Moreover, Democratic politics as practiced today would be impossible without the contributions of Jewish donors, activists and operatives.

Sometimes, hiring a liaison to tend to the Jewish community is a sign that a candidate's relations with the community need to be repaired. The campaign of former Vermont governor Howard Dean, for example, recently hired Washington public relations consultant Matt Dorf to serve as its senior adviser on Jewish affairs. The appointment comes after Dean antagonized many Jews with a September remark that America "ought not to take sides" in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

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http://www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.11.14/news4.dems.html

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A fine article to illustrate the importance of Jewish support for the Democratic party. These liasons are encouraging. It is also gratifying to see Dean attempt to right himself after the unfortunate
"ought not to take sides" remark.

[bluesoul]

1. What about the millions

of Muslim voters in the USA?

[Herschel]

2. I do not believe

there are millions of Muslim voters in America. Also, their political clout is dubious.

[bluesoul]

3. What?

There are at least 5 million Muslims living in USA (and that's a 1990 estimate if I am not wrong) probably a few more. And their political clout is "dubious"? LOL, maybe it wouldn't be if the Democrats actually did something to approach them...

[Herschel]

6. Perhaps I am mistaken

but I believe approximately 0.5% of Americans are Muslim.

[dai]

9. More than that

There are about 6 million Muslims in the U.S., so it's about 2%. 0.5% may refer to immigrant Muslims only, but remember there are many African-American Muslims - as well as non-immigrant converts.

[drewb]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Darranar]

5. Look at their actions, not their words...

You'll see that the majority of them are just as right-wing as the Republicans on the issues.

[Herschel]

7. Explain yourself

The majority of what group is right wing?

[Darranar]

10. Well...

I phrased that post wrongly - it should be "You'll find that the majority are just as right-wing as the Republicans on the issues relating to I/P." The majority of Democrats in congress, that is.

There's nothing particularly wrong with being right-wing on one issue or another; no such insinuation is intended. My point is simply that if one examines the votes on I/P, most Democrats vote with the Republicans.

Which, in turn, shows that the Democratic Party are far from being pro-Palestinian.

Sorry for the confusion.

[GabysPoppy]

11. Actually

I see it as the republicans voting with the Democrats.

[Darranar]

12. Oh, you think that the resolution...

stating that the Iraq war made Israel safer was Republicans voting with Democrats?

[GabysPoppy]

13. I didn't say anything about Iraq.

We were talking about votes on I/P. I thought the "I" stood for Israel.

I personally think the Iraq fiasco hurt Israel more than helped Israel.

But feel free to put words in my mouth whenever you want. However try not to be surprised if I correct you.

[Darranar]

14. Uh, the resolution was about ISRAEL...

and the Iraq war.

[GabysPoppy]

15. Until post number 12

I see no mention of Iraq.

You can do better than that.

[Darranar]

16. What?

You said that the resolutions on Israel were, in your opinion, Republicans voting with Democrats.

This bill concerned Israel. It was also a bill that was a political attempt by republicans to show support for Bush's foreign policy. Therefore, because this bill was adopted unanimously by the Senate, it was Democrats supporting Republican policy and not the other way around.

[GabysPoppy]

17. You said this

"I phrased that post wrongly - it should be "You'll find that the majority are just as right-wing as the Republicans on the issues relating to I/P." The majority of Democrats in congress, that is."

Do you see any mention of Iraq? In fact you restated your original post to emphasize issues relating to I/P.

See anything there written down referring to Iraq or was that in your mind?

I/P = Israel/Palestine - see Iraq mentioned?

Want to suggest because you said "relating" you can include anything you want later to justify your meaning?

Then I guess an Agriculture bill is also relating because it may affect cream cheese which is spread on a bagel and served at a Jewish deli.

[Darranar]

18. ?

Do you or do you not deny that the resolution concerned Israel and not simply Iraq?

[dai]

8. Traditionally conservative...

Traditionally Muslims have voted republican, due heavily to like-minded stances on social issues such as abortion or homosexual unions. I understand that post-9/11, civil rights has become the most important issue for the Muslim community, even more significant than America's stance on I/P:

By focusing on civil rights in 2004, Muslim leaders acknowledge they could end up endorsing a candidate who would disagree with them on foreign policy, particularly on backing the Israeli government over the Palestinians.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/09/01/politics/main570969.shtml

Pragmatically speaking, it should not be difficult for democrats to win support of both Muslims and Jews - thanks in large part to Ashcroft's complete disregard for civil liberties.

However, I would prefer both candidates and voters to act on what they believe is right instead of what is more politically viable. I am still young enough to be so idealistic.

[Suzette]

19. That's interesting, especially

because Jews have traditionally voted democratic, however, what with the tremendous out-reach Dean has done into the Arab community (the standing ovations he recently received, for example); perhaps, Dean might just receive the entire Semitic vote in 2004!