PrintDecember 14, 2006
The Democratic Party and Jews
Gabriel Schoenfeld, senior editor of Commentary Magazine, pens an essay in the January issue (now online here) on the paradox of Jewish support for a party (the Democrats) that is becoming more and hostile to Jews and Israel, and friendly to anti-Semites. It is a very good thing that Commentary joins AT's Ed Lasky and the Republican Jewish Coalition in bringing to light the disturbing trends in the Democratic Party which portend dangers for our nation's alliance with Israel.
The article points out that Muslim demographics, their increasing political activism, and their radicalization are driving them into an alliance with the more liberal wing of the Democratic Party. Schonfeld points out that the historic allegiance and loyalty of America's Jews to he Democratic Party is neither appreciated or reciprocated. The paradox remains: while unswervingly loyal to the Democratic Party, that Party in turn has increasingly been infected with the virus of anti-Semitism and is increasingly turning against Israel. By refusing to look across the aisle and thus failing to become a swing vote that both parties must be cognizant of, Jews will become an increasingly weak voice in American political affairs.
One small criticism is his citation in the first paragraph of an exit poll from the last election, one showing only 12% of Jews voted for the GOP. Richard Baehr has rather convincingly demonstrated that the true figure GOP was probably well over 20%.
