Spring Break
A Jewish issue
Most Jewish voters at Brandeis place their confidence in Obama
by Denisse Dubrovsky and Shana D. Lebowitz
Features | 11/4/08
Posted online at 1:47 AM EST on 11/4/08
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But when Schlussel, president of Brandeis Orthodox Organization, cast her vote for Barack Obama (D.-Ill.), Israel wasn't the only thing on her mind.
"I agree with [Obama's] policies on [most of] the big-ticket issues," she says, "and I think he's the [candidate] that we need right now."
Since Obama won the Democratic nomination for president in February, rumors have abounded that Jews would be more likely to cast their vote for John McCain (R.-Ariz.) than for Obama because of their insecurities regarding the Democratic candidate's policies toward Israel.
But according to a Gallup poll conducted on Oct. 23, Obama supporters outnumber McCain fans by more than three to one among American Jews. Seventy-four percent of Jewish voters say they're voting for Obama, the same percentage of Jews that voted for John Kerry in 2004.
Unsurprisingly at a school with a steadfast liberal tradition, Obama has won overwhelming support on the predominantly Jewish Brandeis campus.
Although Brandeis McCain supporters tend to be religious Jews, McCain has failed to garner unanimous support even within our Orthodox community.
Schlussel explained that she feels confident in Obama's goals for the Middle East, even if McCain does seem to be the better man for the task considering his significant foreign policy experience and political track record of support for Israel.
"Israel is a huge priority for me and, if I weren't comfortable, I wouldn't be voting for him," she says.
Schlussel doesn't necessarily believe that Obama's policies toward Israel will be so different from McCain's. Furthermore, Schlussel isn't certain that McCain's support for Israel assures his competency in other areas of the presidency.
"Just because McCain is pro-Israel," she says, "doesn't mean he'll be the best [for Israel.]"
Similarly, although she values a candidate's support for Israel, Rebecca Ratner '10 believes it's important not to be a "one-issue voter."
Ratner, Hillel communications coordinator and member of Brandeis Reform Chavurah, explained the significance of evaluating a candidate based on all his platforms.
"I couldn't vote for a candidate based on one issue," she says definitively. "What about everything else?"
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 5
Paul Trusten, R.Ph., '73
posted 11/05/08 @ 11:33 AM EST
The above article looks as if it was written under the influence of some soporific drug, and the subjects of the article seem to have been speaking under the same influence. (Continued…)
Ian
posted 11/05/08 @ 11:43 AM EST
American Jews have lost any sense of allegiance to their people and have put Israel into a very dangerous position, electing someone openly described as the "stealth candidate" by hiding his beliefs, philosophy or positions. (Continued…)
George Patsourakos
posted 11/05/08 @ 2:14 PM EST
George Patsourakos
About 75 percent of American Jews typically vote for a Democrat for President of the United States -- rather than a Republican -- because American Jews tend to be liberal. (Continued…)
Class of 08
posted 11/10/08 @ 9:57 PM EST
Paul - a small point, but "what kind of society tolerates the disposal of children at hospital emergency rooms?"
One that prefers dropping children off at emergency rooms or fire stations as opposed to garbage cans or dumpsters. (Continued…)
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