Posts with the tag jewish vote

God Laughed

Michael from Denver, CO — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:36:51 EDT

There is an old Yiddish saying: A mench trachts, und Got Lachts – which roughly translates as: A man thinks/has ideas and God laughs. Perhaps He was laughing when Focus on the Family commanded their flock to pray for rain during the DNC, and drown out Obama’s speech at Mile High Stadium. So he sent Hurricane Gustov, glooming the RNC instead.Perhaps He was laughing when John McCain answered the prayers of the religious base of his party and chose a little known politico from Alaska as his running mate; Sarah Palin. Sarah who? S-A-R-A-H P-A-L-I-N! Hallelujah! Perhaps God laughed at Sarah Palin, firm in her stance against sexual education with an abstinence only credo, and now she is a soon-to-be grandmother at 44. The RNC and McCain himself remind us of his public service. We are very well aware of John McCain’s sacrifice to our country and what he endured as a POW in Viet Nam at the so-called Hanoi Hilton. They won't let us forget it to the point it has become trivial. OK, we get it! He’s war a hero. Thank you John McCain! God Bless You, John McCain! Mazel Tov, to John McCain! That being said, the office of President of the United States is not a prize to be rewarded like an Academy Award or gold watch for public duty. It is also about his voting record, his vision and his agenda for the next four years. And it is also about sound judgment. McCain’s premature poorly vetted decision for VP is as premature as the upcoming impulsive nuptials of Palin’s daughter Bristol. And we all know how that happened. Someone did not get all the info, did not listen to the message, and poor choices were made, and they ended up getting screwed. The deserving candidate has to be a person with the best plan of improving our country from the current morass that has been created by eight years of Republican control from the Bush/Cheney/Rove era. A poor foreign policy, a failed energy plan, economic decline and a greater social chasm of Americans. Remember when, on September 12, 2001 we stood shoulder to shoulder and declared “I AM AN AMERICAN”. Look how far we have fallen. John McCain’s voting record supported George W Bush’s policies by 90%. That is more of the same than any change he expects us to believe. All that John McCain seemed to say in his acceptance speech aside from his ad-nauseous military service record was that he was going to clean up DC by kicking butt and taking names! Nothing substantial about healthcare, better jobs, and the bread and butter issues of the middle class. And he has been part of the beltway for decades.And what of Palin’s religious affiliations? On August 17, 2008, at her church, Palin sat in the pews and listened to David Brickner, of the Jews for Jesus group sermonize that God is punishing Israel with suicide bombers because the Jews refuse to accept Jesus as their lord and savior. That is just as despicable as Jeremiah Wright’s screed at Obama’s church to which he was made to account, and he wasn’t even there when Wright said it. Obama answered to his critics and we have yet to hear from Sarah Palin. I have heard that she supports Israel as does Obama, Biden and McCain. But it concerns me if she is of the same heart as Jews for Jesus, that Israelis deserve to be killed because of their particular beliefs in the almighty. Perhaps God is not laughing now.

Wanted - Conservative/Republican endorsements of Obama

Barbara — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:37:05 EDT

MakeFloridaCount.com archives articles, videos and other organizing resources to use with undecided voters.

I am developing section on Conservative and Republican endorsements of Obama. Please send me your suggestions (by e-mail or by commenting on the blog).

See extended blog for more detail of what is available on the site.

New organizing resources are added daily.

In unity.

Barbara Myers

barbmyrs@gmail.com

Resources to convince the undecided

Barbara — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:22:15 EDT

Need an article or video to convince an undecided voter to vote for Obama/Biden?

MakeFloridaCount.com archives articles, videos and other organizing resources so that people making calls and going door to door can have easy access to the latest material.

Organizers should look carefully at the left hand column of the site for useful resources.   Here's a breakdown of some of what's there.

Character Counts - What to expect from Barack Obama
    * The New Yorker endorsement
    * Press Conference on State of the Economy
    * Chicago Jews on their experience with Obama
    * Obama's speech on race and reaction to Rev. Wright Uproar
    * SFGate - Obama profile
    * NYTimes Obama archive

Character Counts - What to expect from John McCain
    * John McCain's Rage
    * NYTimes - Politics of Attack
    * Keating Economics
    * The Straight Talk Express (exposed)
    * NYTimes - McCain lifelong gambler
    * George Will - Can a dismaying temperment be fixed?
    * Nicholas Kristof - Impulsive, Impetuous, Impatient

New organizing resources are added daily - MakeFloridaCount.com.

In unity.

Barbara Myers

please see extended post for more resources.

"The Great Shlep"

Jonah from Oakland, CA — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:21:22 EDT

This is a welcome video from Sarah Silverman (cover your ears if you don't like swearing), for an amazing idea. Let's do a special swing state visit over October to sway those who we love that may be on the fence.

This is directed toward Jews, but its a pretty universal idea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgHHX9R4Qtk

Florida, Florida, Florida

Ethan — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:52:47 EDT

FL may be the key to all this. I have a theory. The Southern Strategy.

Attack McCain hard in FL and it will have an effect on the rest of the swing states. Why? B/c FL is the biggest swing state. One with a mix of the perfect McCain voter, the southern cultural conservative and the senior voters. Rudy Giuliani turf. But they despite that, it is still a chasable huge swing state. With a LOT of young people and elderly. Start changing the race in FL and watch the effect on other swing states, esp southern ones like NC, VA, maybe even OH as they watch the battle unfold.

And, somewhat related, here's a chart of the electoral map:

That basically confirms what Chuck Todd has been saying. That the Rick Warren fiasco only helped McCain shore up with GOP base and Obama didn't lose any Dems. And in fact, he has room to go up as he consolidates the Dem base. Then the final stretch will be Indies and swing states, which, if Obama plays his cards right he is leaning on those now.

Make McCain sweat in FL -- elderly, jewish vote, latinos, offshore drilling, hell, Jeb Bush! -- and it will drive down his #s in other swing states.

UPDATE:

This just in...

FL-Pres (Aug 21 ARG)

McCain (R) 47%, Obama (D) 46%

1 point ballgame in FL.

If we seriously threaten to flip it, that is a huge huge distraction for McCain... Or an outright win for Obama in the EC.

UPDATE:

FL-Pres
Aug 27 Mason-Dixon
Obama (D) 45%, McCain (R) 44%

Reposting Susan in the OC's post.

Sheldon from Doylestown — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:17:15 EDT

Reposting Susan in the OC's post. (links are failing on her account.)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25281747/

Bloomberg defends Obama before Jewish group Says deceptive efforts threaten to undo strides Jews, Muslims have made

The Associated Press

updated 11:21 a.m. ET, Fri., June. 20, 2008

Richard Drew / AP New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, left, told a Jewish audience lies about Barack Obama are "cloaked in concern for Israel, but the real concern is about partisan politics."

NEW YORK - Mayor Michael Bloomberg urged Jewish voters to denounce the whisper campaign that for months has pushed the false rumor that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is secretly a Muslim. Bloomberg warned a Jewish group in Boca Raton, Fla., on Friday that the attempt to portray Obama as a shadowy Muslim with a hidden agenda often targets Jewish voters online and with e-mails. The deceptive campaign against Obama, who is Christian, "threatens to undo the enormous strides that Jews and Muslims have made together in this country," the New York mayor said.

The lies are "cloaked in concern for Israel, but the real concern is about partisan politics," said Bloomberg, who is Jewish. "This is wedge politics at its worst, and we've got to reject it - loudly, clearly and unequivocally."

Bloomberg, a billionaire independent, had considered making his own run for the White House this year, but decided against it. He has said his endorsement and potential financial backing could still be up for grabs, and there has been occasional chatter about how he might make a good running mate for either Obama or Republican John McCain.

Either way, Bloomberg's passionate defense of Obama in front of a Jewish audience in Florida could help the Illinois senator in the state, which is home to many Jewish voters.

Some have questioned Obama's commitment to Israel; this stems partly from his stated willingness to talk with leaders of rogue nations, which McCain and others have criticized as a sign he underestimates the threat posed to Israel by Iran and others in the Middle East.

There is also uneasiness about Obama among some Jewish people because his former church pastor has praised black Muslim leader Louis Farrakhan, who has made anti-Semitic remarks. Obama has disavowed his pastor and left the church.

Earlier this month in a speech to Jewish activists in Washington, Obama referred to the e-mail campaign against him as one "filled with tall tales and dire warnings."

Bloomberg noted how racial and religious tensions have cooled, and remained calm, in New York City — an achievement for which he is often praised.

One thing he has learned, Bloomberg said, is that one must speak out against those who spread "fear and stereotypes."

"That's why I'm speaking out today," he said, "and I hope all of you will join me throughout this campaign in strongly speaking out against this fear mongering, no matter who you'll be voting for."

My Neighbor Barack...

John From Cape Cod. Ma — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:24:27 EDT

This is an article from one of Baracks neighbors, a Rabbi

Heres the Link to the Story

http://thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c55_a5420/Editorial__Opinion/Opinion.html