Ed Rogers | Why don’t Republicans get more Jewish votes?

Ed Rogers, Washington Post:

But I don’t know why American Jewish support is so lopsided in favor of the Democrats. Republicans are nowhere near splitting the Jewish vote with the Democrats.  In 2008, 78 percent of those who identified as Jewish voted for Obama.  In 2012, despite Obama’s and the Democrats’ obvious contempt for the popular, powerful incumbent in Israel, 69 percent of Jewish voters cast their vote to reelect the president. Even in the 2014 midterm election, 66 percent of Jewish voters voted for the Democratic candidate. I hoped that percentage would be something closer to fifty.

Anyway, why hasn’t the Republican message of commitment to Israel and a pro-growth economic agenda resonated better with Jewish voters?  I ask the question not to make a point, but because I want to know the answer. When will it begin to matter in American elections that Democrats are so hostile to Israel?

The White House, which never fails to make a bad situation worse, is continuing to insult the prime minister and his voters. Obama waited until Thursday to congratulate Netanyahu on his reelection, and the Democratic leadership in Congress has been relatively muted in their congratulatory statements, particularly when compared with the reactions of their Republican counterparts.  Doesn’t that suggest something powerful to Jewish voters? Maybe Obama’s arrogance and mismanagement will combine to achieve a breakthrough for Republicans in 2016.

There has never been a more vivid line drawn on U.S.-Israel relations. Foreign policy doesn’t usually drive votes, but it could have an impact in 2016 if the situation in the Middle East continues to worsen and Obama tries to sugarcoat a dangerous agreement with Iran. Hopefully in 2016, Jewish voters will begin to reconcile their support for Israel with the party they choose to support.


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