Analysis: Sarah Palin and the Jews

A significant number of Jewish voters, however, will change their votedepending on which candidate they perceive as “better for Israel.”

When Sen. John McCain tapped Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be hisrunning mate today, the Jewish political blogosphere — as loud andfast and opinionated as (for lack of a better word) the Gentile Web –came to a screeching halt.

After all, you can fight about John McCain, and Barack Obama, and Joe Biden . . .but Sarah Palin?

It took an Internet eternity for Jewish Republicans to come outswinging for Sarah, and just as long for Jewish Democrats to hit back.”Homerun!” Larry Greenfield, the California director of the RepublicanJewish Coalition, wrote me via e-mail five hours after McCain’sannouncement. “Governor Palin has a very close relationship with theJewish community of Alaska, with Chabad (Rabbi Greenberg) and withAIPAC. She is close to the Frozen Chosen!”

Seconds later came a blast from Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL)claiming Palin endorsed Pat Buchanan’s presidential run in 2000: “JohnMcCain’s decision to select a vice presidential running mate thatendorsed Pat Buchanan for President in 2000 is a direct affront to allJewish Americans.”

Oh, now it’s getting good.

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2008-08-30