WASHINGTON, July 1, 2009
GOP Loses Jewish Representation in Senate
Coleman's Departure, Specter Switch Leaves Republicans without Jewish Senator for First Time in 50 Years
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After Arlen Specter defected to the Democratic party, Coleman was the last Republican Jewish senator. Now that Franken has won his seat, the GOP has no Jewish representation in the Senate (CBS)
Coleman's departure comes two months after the Republicans' other Jewish member, Arlen Specter, switched parties to become a Democrat. Coleman conceded his long-contested race with Democratic challenger Al Franken on Tuesday after the Minnesota Supreme Court rejected Coleman's legal challenge.
Republicans have had at least one Jewish senator since New York's Jacob Javits took office in 1957, reaching a peak of three during the mid-1980s.
In the House, Eric Cantor has risen quickly since he took office in 2001 to become the minority whip, the second-ranked House Republican. His other distinction is that, since 2003, he is the only Jewish Republican in the 435-member body. That is down from eight Jewish Republican members who served in the House during the 1990s.
There are currently 29 Democrats in the House who list their religion as Jewish. The Senate will have 13 Jewish members as of next week when Franken, Coleman's rival in Minnesota, is sworn in. That's 11 Democrats and two independents who normally vote with the Democrats.
Ira Forman, CEO of the National Jewish Democratic Council, said the sharp drop in the number of Jewish Republicans in Congress paralleled the party's shift to the right. "It's a reflection of where the Republican Party has gone," he said. "It's left the Jewish community pretty cold."
Matt Brooks, executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, said his group was not happy with the defeat of Coleman, who has worked with them as a consultant. But he disagreed with those who say the Republican Jewish movement is declining, saying "you will see and are seeing Jewish Republicans winning elections all across the country" at the state and local level.
© MMIX The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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- More than 40 national politicians with Jewish background,as the world almanac shows as many US Islamics as Jews,how many Islamic backgound congressmen are there ?
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- Why isn't CBS News reporting that a U.S. Congresswoman, Cynthia McKenny is being held hostage by the Israeli government?
Google: media blackout on Israeli government taking Cynthia McKenny hostage - Reply to this comment
- udontnoitall,
"I doubt sincere practicing jews are completely trusting of Obama."
Let's see, did practicing Jews vote for McCain (a guy who sought an endorsement from Hagee, who essentially said Hitler was chosen by God to kill Jews) and Sarah Palin (married to a guy in the Alaskan secessionist movement that is full of White supremacists ), or did they vote for Obama?
Are you saying you think Obama owned the insincere Jewish vote?
Do you have any studies that separate sincere from insincere Jewish voters and how both camps voted or are you using the Limbaugh method of pulling your knowledge straight from your butt? - Reply to this comment
- After what Israel has done America should be more concerned about having them in politics to begin with. 21 people including Americans have been arrested by Israel while trying to deliver aid to Gaza. No outcry from our government to release them, and not surprising nothing being reported on CBS.
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- What about Lieberman?
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- Hehehehe Don't laugh, right now in this part of the country ANYTHING would be an improvement for them. They are running far behind Independents and could hold a rally in a Phone Booth!
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- Says you... Yet another dishonest thing you say. To bad you have NO CLUE on what you are talking about. I guess you still have not woken up from that silly wet dream, but if you think that there numbers are that low, I'll make a bet with you. We will have all Republicans come to a place of your choice. Have one phone booth. When that is full, we will take a head count of those who are left OUTSIDE the booth. Then you will pay me $10 for every last republican who is NOT in the booth.
Deal? I bet you will decline, you know why. Because you and I both know your statement above is full of BS
- Says you... Yet another dishonest thing you say. To bad you have NO CLUE on what you are talking about. I guess you still have not woken up from that silly wet dream, but if you think that there numbers are that low, I'll make a bet with you. We will have all Republicans come to a place of your choice. Have one phone booth. When that is full, we will take a head count of those who are left OUTSIDE the booth. Then you will pay me $10 for every last republican who is NOT in the booth.
- Is it possible that one of the reasons that Obama got alot of the jewish vote is because most of them are secular jews? In other words, not really practicing of their own religion, but simply jewish because of the family they were born into? I doubt sincere practicing jews are completely trusting of Obama.
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- The Republican Party is not dead!!! They are going to be using the Party as a cooperative purchasing organization, somewhat like AARP. If you're a member, you'll get 10% discount on auto insurance as well as 25 cents off of every Blockbuster rental. There are many other developments coming so stay tuned!
- Reply to this comment
- The Republican Party is not dead!!! They are going to be using the Party as a cooperative purchasing organization, somewhat like AARP. If you're a member, you'll get 10% discount on auto insurance as well as 25 cents off of every Blockbuster rental. There are many other developments coming so stay tuned!
- Reply to this comment
- About a year ago, the conventional wisdom in D.C. was that Obama had a problem with Jewish voters. Now, we see what a joke that was. At least Cons should take solace in the knowledge that they have the White Supremacist vote locked up.
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- by gulliberal July 1, 2009 3:21 PM PDT
Exactly! But to libtards it makes sense to count everyone according to race because the fastest way to break down the race barrier - makes sense if you're a libtard - otherwise it's a JOKE!
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Is a "libtard" like a "retardican"? - Reply to this comment
- Is there ANYTHING the republicans are not losing these days? ROFL Serves them right. They screwed America big time.
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- Any outsider looking at the house and senate in Washington and the state assemblies would think that this country is at least 25% Jewish. Yet the actual figure is less than 5 percent and maybe as low as 2 percent. Why is this ethnic minority so overwhelmingly over represented in positions of power in this country?
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- Would the last Republican in DC please turn off Lush limpballs microphone?
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- LOL tide always turns back it is coming back HARD ..Whats a jew to do well they wont be missed !!
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- So what? Having one or two token Jewish Congressmen has never influenced Republicans in Congress to represent much more than our wealthiest 2% of citizens. What is truly amazing is that we have ever had any BLACK Republican Congressmen.
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- Ira Forman, CEO of the National Jewish Democratic Council, said the sharp drop in the number of Jewish Republicans in Congress paralleled the party's shift to the right. "It's a reflection of where the Republican Party has gone," he said. "It's left the Jewish community pretty cold."
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Jewish support for a 2008 candidate whose middle name was Hussein and whose father had been born a Muslim, was very impressive.
Polls showed that Obama was far more popular in the Jewish community, than Joe Lieberman was.
Obama got 78% of the Jewish vote, despite all the fearmongering propaganda about him. - Reply to this comment
- Why does Jewish, black, white, Muslim, make a difference? We label everyone and then the racial divides increase. Why can't they just be a Senator and not a black Senator or Jewish Senator?
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- Because Jewish politicians tend to favor Israel over the best interests of our nation. You can start with the Iraq invasion.
- Try "White Senators" and you will have Al Shampton, Jessie Jackson and the ACLU knocking down your door at 2 in the f*&@#$n morning.
- I could agree with that but then you'd CERTAINLY have to completely terminate the Confederate Party wouldn't you? After all for 3 decades they have used divisions along Religious Lines to win election after election.
- by nikosk11 July 1, 2009 3:27 PM PDT
Try "White Senators" and you will have Al Shampton, Jessie Jackson and the ACLU knocking down your door at 2 in the f*&@#$n morning.
When has the ACLU ever knocked anyone's door down you poor small minded bigot? You losers have listened to the Talking heads in the Fringe Right so long and have gone so long without actually thinking for yourself, I guess you just post this insanity! MAYBE, if you start NOW, you can get some education and IF you stay away from the merchants of hate long enough who knows, MAYBE you will have an Original thought! Who knows it COULD happen! ROFLMAO
- by skyk-2009 July 1, 2009 4:37 PM PDT
I could agree with that but then you'd CERTAINLY have to completely terminate the Confederate Party wouldn't you? After all for 3 decades they have used divisions along Religious Lines to win election after election.
Well look here. The leader of that party speaks again. Here is the leader of the confederate party. The one and only SKYK-2009!!
- When has the ACLU ever knocked anyone's door down you poor small minded bigot? You losers have listened to the Talking heads in the Fringe Right so long and have gone so long without actually thinking for yourself, I guess you just post this insanity! MAYBE, if you start NOW, you can get some education and IF you stay away from the merchants of hate long enough who knows, MAYBE you will have an Original thought! Who knows it COULD happen! ROFLMAO
Hey Skyk-2009
I have no idea why you call everyone a bigot, you are on of the biggest ones on this site. You keep saying the republicans hate, well you have to be a republican because 90% of your posts are full of hate.
- There is enough of this mess with AIPAC and PNAC full of Neocons and duel passport holding people in politics!
America is tired of fighting wars for the special interest of the Middle East!
It is time all the duel passport holding hyphenated Americans are out of decision making in American politics!
They never ever do what is in American National interest! - Reply to this comment
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- Absolutely! NO elected or appointed official or employee in federal OR state government should be allowed to hold DUO CITIZENSHIP STATUS!
This just begs the obvious question: Where does your loyalty reside? What happens if a dispute occurs between the nations of your citizenships? At best, you have divided loyalties! WHO do you support, then?! I don't think you can be "equally" loyal to both!
I believe this has been worked into the system by the politicians, for the politicians, in the event they get caught breaking a law and want to flee the country! Then, they already have a country standing by to flee to! Which, is the best reason to eradicate this law!
- Absolutely! NO elected or appointed official or employee in federal OR state government should be allowed to hold DUO CITIZENSHIP STATUS!
- "It's a reflection of where the Republican Party has gone," he said. "It's left the Jewish community pretty cold."
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The Repub rebuild will never happen as long as it pushes itself closer and closer to the point that it becomes the White Male Cracker Party.
Alienate Women
Alienate Independents
Alienate Minorities
Alienate Gays
Alienate Moderates
Hardly a recipe for success..... - Reply to this comment
