By WESLEY PRUDEN—
The Democrats have a Jewish problem, and his name is Barack Obama. Reluctantly, many Jews, loyal Democrats by birth and tradition, have concluded that he’s not The One they thought he was.
With even greater reluctance, the White House has concluded that their Jewish problem is real, growing, and they better do something about it. Mitt Romney’s dramatic declaration Sunday in Jerusalem that preventing Iran from building a nuclear weapon is America’s “highest national security priority” and military force should not be excluded, and that he regards Jerusalem as the true capital of Israel, puts in stark relief the difference between what the two candidates think about America’s only real ally in the Middle East.
Mr. Romney is willing, even eager, to give heartfelt, emphatic, unadulterated, full-throated support for the Jewish state in its hour of greatest peril since the founding. Mr. Obama can’t do that because he doesn’t “feel the love.” He sprang from a culture of radicalism where Israel was regarded as illegitimate, if not evil. He gives the clear impression that he doesn’t like Jews very much.
Mr. Obama repeats only empty, bland assurances that everything is OK, that the friends of Israel shouldn’t worry because the messiah from Chicago is on the watch. U.S.-Israeli ties, he told a rally the other day in Palm Beach, are stronger than ever. That’s bunk, as Sen. John McCain bluntly told a television interviewer: “Everybody knows that relations with Israel have never been worse.”
Bland assurances are no longer enough to satisfy betrayed true believers; the monolithic Jewish support for Democrats, any Democrat, is fraying around the edges. Merely telling skeptical and suspicious Jewish voters not to believe their own eyes and ears is no longer effective. No one expects Mitt Romney to win a majority of Jewish voters on Nov. 6, or anything close to it. He doesn’t have to. If he can peel away three or four percentage points in certain swing states, particularly Florida and Ohio, that would change the game.
John McCain spent a lot of time, attention and money to attempt this four years ago. George W. Bush made such an attempt in 2004. Neither worked. But 2012 is a different ball game.
Jewish voters, like others of various passions and persuasions, have had four years to confront buyer’s remorse. Four years of Barack Obama have taught even slow learners to pay attention.
The proof is that a group of the slow learners, Jewish liberals still in love with Mr. Obama even if he isn’t in love with them, are putting together a campaign to answer the Republican Jewish Coalition’s successful work to get the friends of Israel to wake up and sniff the odor of harsh reality. This is not, a Democratic operative told Politico, the Capitol Hill daily, a case of Obama being “swift boated.” Nobody is telling stories about the president. His Jewish critics are merely laying out what everybody who has been half-awake during the past four years already knows.
Aaron David Miller, who has worked for several Democratic presidents over a quarter of a century, warns Democrats of “turbulence ahead” in a commentary in Foreign Policy magazine that has shaken up Jewish assumptions. “I’ve watched a few presidents come and go on this issue,” he writes, “and Obama really is different. Unlike Clinton and George W. Bush, Obama isn’t in love with the idea of Israel. He has a harder time making allowances for Israeli behavior he doesn’t like. . . the president doesn’t emote on many policy issues, with the possible exception of health care. But on Israel, he just doesn’t buy the ‘tiny state living on the knife’s edge with the dark past’ argument.”
Alas, the knife’s edge is exactly where Israel lives, like it or not, and Israel must act accordingly. Mitt Romney, like his constituents – some Jewish, most not, and many of them evangelical Christians – understands that. Mr. Romney, like that constituency, is not embarrassed to “emote” about it. Barack Obama can’t “emote” because to him Israel is not a natural friend and ally, bound to America by considerations of blood, faith and circumstance, but a nuisance. Why can’t Israel just go away?
This is hard for Jews, who have been voting Democratic since their grandfathers rallied to FDR and the New Deal, to accept as the new reality. It has been easier to pretend there’s no problem. But now there is a problem, and it’s too big to hide with convenient pretense.
Wesley Pruden is editor emeritus of The Washington Times.
It is said,’The Lord moves in mysterious ways’ but this time He is showing us and Israel up front that those ‘with ears to hear’ have to start listening and follow through with actions like at the ballot box. Israel needs and deserves better than they have gotten with this President and I sincerely hope they are listening and remembering the treatment they have gotten at his hands. May God help them if he gets re-elected especially with his penchant for getting back at those whom he perceives to have crossed him, his arrogance knows no bounds. We need to keep praying for Israel and for us also now more than ever.
Yes….I worry about Israel if this President is re-elected; and not only Israel….I worry about us: the Christians, here in the U.S.! The proverbial snowball has begun rolling, and I fear there’s no stopping with the coming-persecution, which has begun, and which the Bible has warned us about. It’s just even harder to swallow, though, when you grasp the knowledge that God’s people are about to be persecuted by its own government and laws.
I love Israel and the Jewish people, and America has never had a better friend and ally to “watch her back.” I would pray that we would always remain that faithful and loyal to Israel, as in our past history, but I have watched the subtle (and not-so-subtle) changes regarding Israel happening over these past four years. If this President is re-elected, what I fear most is even more out-right-blatant and shocking proclamations and actions, once he knows he’s “in” and has nothing to lose. All stops will be pulled out, and the snowball will careen at break-neck-speed. The biggest mystery is *how* could someone like that be handed four more years, but then…when I think about the “why” it’s really no mystery at all. Come soon, Lord Jesus….Israel’s only Hope…..our only Hope.
Amen to that Anita.
I think the Jewish population has awakened just like the rest of Americans have awakened that this president is nothing more than a mouth piece for the far left of this country and is all talk and nothing more, we have noticed that he says one thing and does exactly the opposite, you see, one can fool some of the people some times, but can’t fool all the people all the time, the truth has a way of bubbling up, and this president doesn’t know what truth is if it will hit him in rear. He’s been lying to us from day one, it’s time for a real change, it’s time to try someone new, and that someone is Mitt Romney.
The more money a politician spends, to prove to the Jew, how wrong he has chosen, and need change to the one, spending so much money to prove that, the more likely you will fail, miserably (IMHO).
I do see something that might get this rejected, but must say it regardless: What I see, in the present attitudes, of the Jewish mindset, is much akin to that which the Jewish communities had in the mid 1930’s, “We are just fine, since he/they would never take us away, nor harm us …”
What I must ask is, ‘What happened to “NEVER AGAIN??” Even the Jew without Faith, remaining in their heart, vowed to never walk into that trap again, yet, seem to be doing so, unless they pray, ponder, and change course. (May the scales fall from their Spiritual eyes, soon).
A Jew, was instrumental in obtaining freedom and formation of the U. S. A.
Perhaps, the Jew, need be instrumental in now helping change the course of it, and saving the U. S. A. (rant reduced, to save space, by me //as//).
Sharia Law, no Jew, nor Christian, wants to be subject to … ponder, please …
I drive by the arab towns now all the time as I teach in Yehudah-Shomron. I call it home and I fear more for you in that country of yours with the Satan himself at the helm. I know what G-d wants of me and I know that He wants your help. I actually would like to see him get re-elected just to show you all his true intentions. I think Israel needs the whole world against her for this final conflict and I am not at all afraid for myself. I do ask for G-d to show favor for those who favor His people Israel.
The signs of the Times are really upon us, and I shudder to think what is going to happen in the near future. I am not American, I am Canadian, but that is 6 to 1/2 dozen, because what happens in the U.S.A. usually has an impact on Canada one way or another. Whatever happens, I know that until Jesus Christ comes back, we will continue to have problems. My prayer is that Americans and Canadians will rise up and shine in this troubled world.
Just what is truly the dilemma for a person like he has proven himself to be. He is an antisemite, an antiChrist and an anti-American! NUFF SAID.
I am in amazement how many people do not know the end must come, this too is directed from on High, The Almighty Elohim! As one reads and studies The Word YHWH teaches all who are willing. I pray that all will live in honor by searching The Scriptures and see if they be of Elohim. Peace for Jerusalem. My heart is with you and I stand in praying a repentant heart for American’s. All that was prophesied [in parts] have been filled and some still will be for YHWH makes His [pleasure come upon every word spoken, written.
Shalom and may YHWH’s countenance shine upon all who are living His will!
The ignorance and pride of this nation we call america will and is being dealt with. As a First Nations People, and belive of Yeshua(Jesus), I stand with Israel and will always. I bless you Israel and I love you. The 6ft. by 8ft. flag of the Nation of Israel shows my love for You almighty God! Blessing to all.