I feel guilty whenever I point out that most of the money in the Democratic Party political process comes from Jews, per the Washington Post. Well John Podhoretz in Commentary is joining me in conveying that "wildly disproportionate" truth, I mean canard. But he’s telling the money boys to walk out of the Democratic Party because of Obama’s stance on Israel. This is a reminder that if the neocons are of any party, it’s a Zionist one; they left the Democrats in the ’70s over Israel.
The word we keep hearing from Washington is that in the upcoming congressional elections there is an "enthusiasm gap" developing between resurgent Republicans and somewhat dispirited Democrats in the run-up to the 2010 midterms. That ‘enthusiasm gap’ is not just anecdotal; it’s also about organization, which means it’s about money. It’s no secret that a wildly disproportionate part of the Democratic donor base is Jewish. While Jews are almost certain to continue to vote lopsidedly for Democrats, that doesn’t mean Jewish donors are going to open their checkbooks as widely as they have in the past three election cycles. A diminution in Jewish enthusiasm for Obama and the Democrats is a problem for them. This is not a good moment to be picking fights on an issue of major emotional concern to a key Democratic constituency, even if you know that many of its members are not disposed to support the building program.
Notice the subtitles here: Jews may not like the settlements, but they’re emotionally tied to Israel, and Obama’s threatening that emotion. Rational thought.
There used to be a quip about whether the French Communist Party was “right” or “left”–or instead, simply “east” in its orientation. Something like that seems apt for the neocons.
I actually hope they do. That should break the spell, if nothing else does.
The question is which way will the Democrats jump? Will they chase after the AIPAC money and throw Obama under the bus?
We need to remember that the Republicans were singing this tune back in 2008, and the Jewish voters didn’t join in the chorus.
So far, the Dems aren’t jumping, but this can’t go on with the pressure building.
link to jpost.com
So far.
The problem is that Obama is a weak president, essentially a lame duck already, with no leadership among Congress. A strong president could deploy his personal influence in a situation like this. Obama – has none to deploy.
Yet the Dems are stuck with him until at least 2012. It’s unthinkable that they would deploy an alternative candidate, which would be an act of admitting their own failure.
Pelosi is saying nothing in public, but behind the scenes there must be a lot of tsuris going on.
Obama is getting healthcare passed. A phenomenal accomplishment. He is also bringing Israel to heel.
That’s not weak. He will reelected.
Obama isn’t getting healthcare reform passed. The institution of a purchase mandate without any sort of baseline public option will simply result in the current problems with healthcare costs getting worse.
As far as Israel is concerned, I’ll buy that the day Israel stops the home demolitions and illegal construction on occupied land. Because that’s been going non-stop since 1967, at least.
On top of all of that, Democrats are virtually guaranteed to lose their majority in Congress — which with a sheeplike electorate, equates to a zero sum gain for the Republican Party.
And the Republicans are guaranteed to impeach Obama, given half a chance. They did it to Clinton for far less motivation.
Obama will be lucky if he even sees another election, let alone wins it.
Ah, you’re a member of the unconsolable public option outrage crew, I see. I won’t argue with you then.
Ah, you’re a member of the unconsolable public option outrage crew, I see. I won’t argue with you then.
Yeah, sorry that my desire to have the one option on the table that will actually cut expenses, actually be on the table at all, is apparently an impasse for you. Far be it for any of us to expect Obama to actually keep even one campaign promise.
“Already Monday morning, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee put out an action alert urging senators and representatives to make statements supportive of a strong US-Israel relationship and “the need for the US to work closely and privately” with the Jewish state. ”
Interesting, wouldn’t it be more in the interests of both the US and Israel and other nations as well to have the international relations based on the idea of “Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at?” I guess this idea died with Woodrow Wilson.
This is somewhat off topic, but still touches on a related matter:
Israel today adjusted its protocol for visiting dignitaries to include a visit to Mt. Hertzel. Every visiting head of state will now be dragged there to make the obligatory pilgrimage, as it were.
Incidentally, Brazil’s president visited in Israel today and refused to visit Mt. Hertzel to lay a wreath. Instead, he went and visited Arafat’s grave site, thus enraging Netanyahu who immediately rebuked such a gesture as an insult, all the while forgetting about his treatment of Biden.
That’s… impressive. Any chance you have a link to any articles online? In English, preferably. :)
I read this, but it seemed to be only another fit of pique on the part of Avigdor Lieberman, determined to embarrass his government in any way he can, not Netanyahu.
link to haaretz.com
What?! Jews are outnumbered by Arabs in Brazil and a second holocaust hasn’t taken place? Wow. Boggles the mind, huh.
Where does that leave the African Americans, also other ethnicity groups that voted for Obama? They figure hugely in this equation.
If the jews pull their support and money out of the democrats’ coffers, a vacuum will occur that some other special-interest group would want to acquire. Aipac aren’t the only guys with money around DC.
The internet, folks, has made such sudden little earthquakes on the Hill possible. The longer the internet is around, the harder it is becoming to fool the people.
I’ve been saying for some time that the time is ripe for the Black Caucus to strike back.
I would agree, as well.
the Congressional Black Caucus and the wider black political class is in no hurry to take on the israeli lobby … they are harvesting and nurturing their power presently to make it as durable as possible – this is only because so many senior black leaders have been in place so long that their wisdom is steering the process to this end … do not look for them to take the lead or even a big role on the I/P conflict (activists at grassroots level, yes, establishment leaders, no) … a great many blacks have rented apartments or houses owned by jewish landlords for generations and there is a subtext to the dynamic between the groups based upon this transactional relationship and all its aspects … I liken it to the Armenian disconnect from engaging in activism on the I/P situation … every single Armenian I know believes that israel’s behavior and zionism generally is abhorrent, further that jews of the region allied with the Young Turks 100 years or so ago to commit the Armenian genocide (to take over Armenian commerce) yet they don’t speak out about it because it’s a lose-lose: Armenia is in a weakened state and they have more immediate concerns
I know that they aren’t, but I’m convinced they’re missing the bus. Old corrupt black pols like Jefferson and Rangel are on the way out, and younger figures emerging, who are willing to challenge the Israeli stranglehold. But they’ll fail to survive unless the caucus mobilizes to support them.
As the facts of Israeli racism become more and more impossible to ignore, the Black Caucus’s support of the racist state becomes increasingly unsupportable.
And they should not ignore the growing number of their constituents who are Muslim.
radii,
I beg to disagree. African Americans have paid with blood and slavery to get a shot at the White House. They’re not gonna give it up or let it go without some howling and some gun-fire breaking out.
The message to ‘help protect Obama’ can so easily spread through both street and church. Many white faces will join them, many Asians, South Americans and of course, native Indians who love Obama.
My, my, this could get seriously fucking ugly for everyone.
I don’t know what’s gonna happen but I don’t like it one bit.
I’m fastening my seat-belt.
Taxi,
Blacks are way ahead of the game on this one. And Obama, with his Wayne Gretszky approach to playing the game, is telegraphing exactly how to play it.
Did you miss this thread here on Mondoweiss that explains the history? Jews didn’t teach blacks how to organize; it was probably the other way around. I bought the book this thread was taken from; I haven’t finished reading it, but Ella Baker was organizing in 1920.
link to mondoweiss.net
Sorry, here is the correct link:
link to mondoweiss.net
Ella Baker maintained: “Strong people dont need strong leaders.”
Are African Americans going to consider Obama to even be African American, after the current set of fiascos? Just his treatment of ACORN alone, for one thing.
Ninety-two percent (92%) of the campaign dollars Barack Obama earned during the primary and general came from small, individual, donors and the web, according to that govt group that tracks these things.
Small, individual donors now alienated.
I’m not even sure what this means. Is Podhoretz saying that a disproportionate number of donors to Democrats is Jewish or a disproportionate percentage of donors is Jewish. Those are two different claims. Or is Podhoretz saying that a disproportionately large percentage of the dollars donated are donated by Jews. That’s still another claim.
The largest donors in lump dollar amounts were institutions like Goldman Sachs, Harvard, etc. But as MRW points out, a huge percentage of donors and donor dollars to Obama were little folks, like us, here. And Obama has done squat to appease us. No public option, kowtowing to health insurers and big pharma, a huge bailout to billionaires at our expense, huge sums to the military at our expense, a thorough “fuck you” to labor, . . .
So if the Big O is concerned about donors bailing on him, he’d be trying some new tactics to appeal to US. But he ain’t. He’s waving his hands behind the curtain, get the Great and Powerful O to try to convince us he’s comin’ down hard on Big Health, Big Pharma, Big Banks. But we don’t even need little Toto to pull that curtain aside. We are Wise to the Ruse, Oh Mighty O. Worry about us and US.
If hardcore pro-Israel wingnuts want to bail for the Republicans, let ‘em go. The GOP will drive us and Israel into the ground so deep, even the best IDF bulldozer won’t be able to dig us out.
If Jewish political-wealth is (largely) transferred from DEMs to REPs, the DEMs may have a chance to rescue themselves by becoming truly POPULIST and seeking to raise money from “the people” on the web, as Obama seems to have done.
They will say to the people: “The REPs represent big money and massive bribery of government by wealthy special interests. We DEMs used to do that, too. Now, because President Obama has started to get serious about HEALTHCARE and Israel/Palestine, massive amounts of pro-Israel and pro-PHARMA and pro-INSURANCE money are being transferred from DEMs to REPs and we DEMs must turn to the people for campaign funding.
Well, actually, that’s a VERY GOOD THING because it permits us DEMs to turn our backs on the big-money donors (BIG BANKs, BIG PHARMA, BIG AGRICULTURE, BIG INSURANCE, BIG TELECOM, etc.) and once again return to representing the actual interests of our constituents, small businesses and the people. So, people, give $25 for my campaign and tell me what you want government to achieve for you.”
(Dreaming.)