Why would any Jew vote for a Democrat?

[natstew]

 Could someone please explain that to me?

 And how can a true Jew be a Democrat? Joe Lieberman? (I understand Chuck Shumer and Joe Biden, they're crooks first, then Jews to get the Jewish vote))

[C_Clayton_Jones]

Once upon a time in America Jews were discriminated against – by Christian Republicans.

As with African Americans, Catholics, and other minorities, Jews gravitated toward the Democratic Party during the New Deal and Civil Rights Era.

Confined mostly to urban venues in the United States, Jews were attracted to labor unions, collective bargaining, and other employees’ rights organizations at odd with – you guessed it – Christian Republican business owners. 

By the 60s and 70s the Democratic Party was well established as the party of civil rights (Civil Rights Act, 1964) and equality (Voting Rights Act, 1965).

Of course there have been Republican Jews – Roy Cohn, McCarthy’s hatchet man during the 50s, and Eric Cantor today. But the Democratic Party is the Jewish natural political default setting.

[natstew]

 It was the FDR administration that turned back the ship full of Jews fleeing Nazi Germany. Most of them died in Hitlers death camps.

 It was mostly Republicans who voted for the Civil Rights bills. The Democrats were mostly against them, without large majority of Republicans voting for them, no Civil Right bill would have passed.

 My family were Democrats since forever, and were also stronly anti Jew.

 I think it's always been more political spin than anything else that gives Republicans a bad name with Jews. Jews are by nature Republicans.

[JohnBrowdie]

inertia.  sheer philosophical inertia.

[RayGuy]

Most liberals I know think that if ISRAEL would JUST cease to exist, then ALL of our problems would go away, and at long last peace would prevail.

Israel, a tiny little sliver of land surrounded by millions of square miles of arab-muslim nations.  Go figure.  Why would any Jew vote for a democrat?  I can't say.  I'm still confused over the first amendment!  It's okay to burn the flag.  It's even better to bury Christ in urine, because you can call it "Art" and get a federal grant, to boot.  BUT HANDLE THAT KORAN WITH CARE!!!!!!!!!

[Mike220]

Jew does not equal Zionist. So using the Dems hate Israel line is not a guarantee.

Further, the largest single sect of Judaism in the US today is the Reform movement. This was started as a reaction to the Orthodox sect in the late 1800s when socialism and liberalism were in the ascendency. One of the ways they differentiated themselves was to declare the Law of the Torah as no longer binding. Couple this with the desire to liberalize the faith, and many of the strictures and prohibitions of the Torah ended. So the big proscriptions we all think of such as homosexuality being outlawed no longer applied. 100 plus years of a liberal interpretation of Judaism lends itself to liberal political thought.

Also, one of the commandments in the Torah is the mitzvah of tzedakah. This is the Jewish form of tithing, but being Jews, we make it very difficult beyond just giving 10%. Basically, all Jews, regardless of position and wealth are required to give time, money, food and help to the less fortunate. It's not just a request, but a religious commandment.  While taxes and welfare do not fulfill the commandment, its not exactly a leap to go from "I help the less fortunate" to "we help the less fortunate." Ever looked at the big political parties in Israel? Even those on the right tend to be very liberal socially, and are generally differentiated from the left in their economic policies.

[JohnBrowdie]

I will certainly take your word for it, but it's hard to believe that american jews can't find enough good works done by a political party that is NOT overtly hostile to the interests of the jewish state.

[RayGuy]

Guess that's what I was saying, I'm just saying.  Dems are overtly hostile to Israeli interests, yet most Jews look for the Dash-D in the voting booth.  I'm just saying.

Are there conservative Jews?  OF COURSE...but by and large, it's a group that any dem politician can pretty much count on to keep him in power.

[Doc]

Jew does not equal Zionist. So using the Dems hate Israel line is not a guarantee.

Further, the largest single sect of Judaism in the US today is the Reform movement. This was started as a reaction to the Orthodox sect in the late 1800s when socialism and liberalism were in the ascendency. One of the ways they differentiated themselves was to declare the Law of the Torah as no longer binding. Couple this with the desire to liberalize the faith, and many of the strictures and prohibitions of the Torah ended. So the big proscriptions we all think of such as homosexuality being outlawed no longer applied. 100 plus years of a liberal interpretation of Judaism lends itself to liberal political thought.

Also, one of the commandments in the Torah is the mitzvah of tzedakah. This is the Jewish form of tithing, but being Jews, we make it very difficult beyond just giving 10%. Basically, all Jews, regardless of position and wealth are required to give time, money, food and help to the less fortunate. It's not just a request, but a religious commandment.  While taxes and welfare do not fulfill the commandment, its not exactly a leap to go from "I help the less fortunate" to "we help the less fortunate." Ever looked at the big political parties in Israel? Even those on the right tend to be very liberal socially, and are generally differentiated from the left in their economic policies.

Thanks Mike......I asked a friend of mine who is a Rabbi the same question a number of years ago, and he answered it almost identically.......however, he ended his explanation with a one-word summary......

.....Guilt.......

doc