I’m late to this J Street poll of American Jewish opinion from two weeks back. It shows what I always say, American Jews are conservative on the Israel/Palestine issue, and they’re the wrench in the works. American Jews disapprove of Obama’s handling of the Israel/Palestine conflict, by 56-44, and don’t want a Palestinian statehood declaration.
But here’s my headline: In the J Street poll a year ago, Obama got a warm-and-fuzzy rating of 56.5, narrowly edging Netanyahu, who scored 55.8. This year Netanyahu beats out Obama, 61 to 54. So it seems that Netanyahu’s throw-down in Congress moved American Jews.
Some of the other 2011 results:
If Obama were running against Romney in 2012, you’d vote for: Obama 63%, Romney 24%.
Should the US vote for or against a Palestinian state at the U.N. in the fall? 34% for, 47% against. I am told that the Pro figure jumped to 41% for those under 40. Still, this underscores what I always say, Palestinian statelessness is an American Jewish achievement. (Obama’s voters generally are far more positive than Jews as a group toward Palestinians.)
Should Israel prevent flotilla from reaching Gaza? 78 percent say Yes.
And this is a blow against the claim that American Jews remain liberal: Do you consider yourself Conservative, Moderate, Liberal, or Progressive? Add up the #s and you get: 55 percent conservative or moderate, 45 percent liberal or progressive.
Now let me return to the warm and fuzzy ratings, to clarify them. The polled were asked to quantify their feelings for a public figure on 0-100, cold to hot. Now Obama actually got more positive/warm grades– grades over 50– than Netanyahu, by 56 percent for Obama, 44 percent for Bibi. But Obama also got way more negative/cold grades — under 50– than Netanyahu, by 34 percent to 20 percent. And this is where the change is from 2010 to 2011: Obama’s warm ratings dropped from 59% to 56% while Bibi’s negatives dropped from 22% to 20%.
