Still something to explain: Obama assures Jewish leaders on religion, Israel stance

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

WASHINGTON -- The Sunday meeting with Cleveland area Jewish leaders was not on the schedule Sen. Barack Obama's campaign gave reporters, but the stop in Mayfield Heights, hosted by Ron Ratner, a major fund-raiser for Obama, was one of the most important of the day. More than a year into his run for president, Obama is still explaining his record, relationships and religion to Jewish voters.

Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) have been competing for Jewish support and stressing their pro-Israel credentials.

A Clinton campaign Jewish community organizing guide includes the plea, "Make sure you are registered to vote -- and bring your bubbe," using the Yiddish word for grandmother.

Obama is taking criticism from the left and the right as he is facing crucial votes in Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania, states with significant Jewish populations.

Read more: http://www.suntimes.com/news/sweet/811251,CST-NWS-sweet25.article

[karynnj]

1. The Jewish community itself is fighting these smears

My local (NJ) Jewish newspaper has had 2 editorials prominently placed in the paper dealing with this - one speaking of the religion lies and the letter from all the Democratic Jewish Senators, except Leiberman and Schumer; the other about the American Thinker smear.

I was sent a link to this web site by a relative - because it has some very good counters to these lies. Given the name - this is an excellent site that Obama supporters (and I hope all Democrats), might find useful in rebutting these smear attacks - Spreading this link is helpful.

http://njdc.typepad.com/stopthesmears/

This is posted to give a good link and to show that the Jewish community is attempting itself to stop these lies. Remember that in 2004, even though there was a huge amount of talk that Jews would follow prominent Jews who were neo cons and vote for Bush, Kerry actually got only a few points less than Gore who had Leiberman on the ticket.

[asthmaticeog]

2. Texas has a significant Jewish population?

Other than Kinky Freidman, who knew? :shrug:

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. Small, but concentrated in a few areas

And all but about 4,000 of Texas Jews live in 10 Texas cities. Dallas has the most (45,000), followed by Houston (42,000), San Antonio (10,000), Austin (10,000), Fort Worth (5,000) and El Paso (4,900).

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2007/mar/11/jewish-population-small-in-number-large-in-in/

[still_one]

4. and there are those here on DU trying to associate Obama as agreeing with farrakahn also

The implication is ugly, and as obvious as possible, they are trying to say that Barrack is anti-Jewish which is a LIE!!!

Here is a conversation I was having on DU with someone which went like this:

"It seems to me that if Obama has not responded to the endorsement, it could be a safe assumption that Obama agrees with Farrakhan and the messianic implications Farrakhan made, no? "

If they believe they are helping their candidate with these slurs they couldn't be more wrong.

I am Jewish, and what those Clinton supporters are doing by this misrepresentation, is driving me further away from her canidancy

Right now I will support WHOEVER the Democratic nominee is, but if they continue to push this, THEY WILL SELF-DESTRUCT

[Ian David]

5. Only 14% of Jews vote Republican. What Hillary is doing could reverse that for a generation. n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. If Obama has a glass jaw, we need to find out now, not in November

[Behind the Aegis]

8. OT...heehee...boy, did I read your post wrong!

(hint: I didn't see "jaw" when I first read the post.)

[Behind the Aegis]

7. I have seen no definitive proof Clinton's crowd is behind any of this.

As a matter of fact, what I have seen is nothing more than speculation. The closest I have seen is the emails are believed to have been started by Christian "Zionists." So, who is the real target here? Obama? Clinton? Personally, I think the real target is us, Jews. Search "Jew" here at DU and read some of the recent posts revolving around the email "scandal" and you tell me what you think.

[Ian David]

9. You make some very good points. For all we know, it could be Ralph Nader behind it. n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

10. We only have Matt Drudge's word on it

Unless he comes forward with some proof that it was a Clinton staffer who did this, I am skeptical.

[Doctor_J]

11. Except for the neocons, Jews are a very liberal group

I would bet that many of them would love the chance to vote for a black man. Using a broad brush, of course.

[yurbud]

12. neocon Israel hardliners are a small percentage of Jewish community, but have an outsized voice

and influence.

The best thing for Israel and America is a fair settlement that both most Palestinians and most Israelis can live with, which is possible if you don't let fundamentalists and profiteers on all sides control the debate.

[coffeenap]

13. Michael Lerner of Tikkun has written in support of Obama, fwiw.nt