Tue Feb 16, 2016, 04:00 PM

Byko: Is America ready for a Jewish president?

Last edited Tue Feb 16, 2016, 04:56 PM - Edit history (1)

Byko: Is America ready for a Jewish president?
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20160216_Is_America_ready_for_a_Jewish_president_.html#bmlALwSxqeDCHcgQ.99

WHEN BERNIE Sanders won the New Hampshire primary, he became the first Jew to win a major party presidential primary - the first to even win delegates.

But how Jewish is he? Who even knows he's Jewish? Will it matter that he's Jewish?

In the recent Milwaukee debate, when asked how he felt about possibly "thwarting history" by blocking the path of the first woman president, Sanders replied enigmatically that, "from a historical point of view, somebody with my background, somebody with my views" would also be a first. Not exactly playing the Hebrew National card.

Hillary Clinton makes frequent mention of gender in her candidacy. Sanders never volunteers anything about his religion, and reluctantly replies to those questions. Is it personal, tactical, or practical?

Two of the three previous Jewish candidates for president - Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter in 1995 and Pennsylvania Gov. Milton Shapp in 1976 - were early flameouts, probably more because of policy and personality than religion. The same for Joe Lieberman, an Orthodox Jew who ran briefly in 2004. (Shapp, however, told friends he doubted he would have been elected governor under his obviously Jewish birth name, Shapiro, which he changed while in business to avoid prejudice.)

One person of Jewish ancestry was nominated: In 1964, Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater got the Republican nod. Goldwater's father was Jewish, but the conservative senator was raised Christian. At the time, Jewish journalist Harry Golden quipped, "I always knew the first Jewish president would be an Episcopalian."....

Often wrongly described as cranky, which is ageist and inaccurate, Sanders wants to be an "issues" guy and can be gruff when someone tries to inject what he regards as frivolities.

Undoubtedly it is. The author goes on to say he thinks it's not a big issue. I think Bernie is correct to keep this part of his identity out of the conversation about his candidacy, but that doesn't mean others won't interject it or aren't considering it as a flaw. There are still people who feel that this is a Christian country and the president, therefore, should come from one of the Christian denominations. The finger-gate article which recently appeared in WaPo, I believe, is a thinly-disguised Jewish dog whistle. While Bernie does not belong to the Israel-can-do-no-wrong faction, his very Jewishness places him in a minority. Nobody would dare openly state their anti-Semitism but that doesn't mean it isn't part of the virulent opposition that plagues Sanders.

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15 replies	Author	Time	Post
Byko: Is America ready for a Jewish president? (Original post)	farleftlib	Feb 2016	OP
Yes, the US is ready	enigmatic	Feb 2016	#1
I'm not willing to consider it. The idea that we wouldn't be is beneath contempt	Ed Suspicious	Feb 2016	#2
I"m ready for THIS one	Ferd Berfel	Feb 2016	#3
Nah, I like the one we've got	farleftlib	Feb 2016	#4
I'll bet these guys will make it a big issue.	valerief	Feb 2016	#5
So?	Ferd Berfel	Feb 2016	#6
They're at least open about their hate	farleftlib	Feb 2016	#8
THey will always be there. We will always win	Ferd Berfel	Feb 2016	#11
Indeed. They're so last century anyway. nt	valerief	Feb 2016	#9
And out of this bunch, some in Congress will too.	SummerSnow	Feb 2016	#13
Look at them all lined up for the next gop debate	SwampG8r	Feb 2016	#15
'I think Bernie is correct to keep this part of his identity out of the conversation	elleng	Feb 2016	#7
No I couldn't because it's a legit concern	farleftlib	Feb 2016	#10
Message auto-removed	Name removed	Feb 2016	#12
Sometimes I wonder.	Behind the Aegis	Feb 2016	#14

Response to farleftlib (Original post)

Tue Feb 16, 2016, 04:04 PM

enigmatic (15,021 posts)

1. Yes, the US is ready

There will be ramped-up antisemitism from all sides but like Barack Obama in 2008, he'll handle it w/ grace.

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Response to farleftlib (Original post)

Tue Feb 16, 2016, 04:05 PM

Ed Suspicious (8,879 posts)

2. I'm not willing to consider it. The idea that we wouldn't be is beneath contempt

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Response to farleftlib (Original post)

Tue Feb 16, 2016, 04:05 PM

Ferd Berfel (3,687 posts)

3. I"m ready for THIS one

WHy, you have another one in mind?

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Response to Ferd Berfel (Reply #3)

Tue Feb 16, 2016, 04:06 PM

farleftlib (2,125 posts)

4. Nah, I like the one we've got

He's a rawk stah....

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Response to farleftlib (Original post)

Tue Feb 16, 2016, 04:06 PM

valerief (53,235 posts)

5. I'll bet these guys will make it a big issue.

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Response to valerief (Reply #5)

Tue Feb 16, 2016, 04:07 PM

Ferd Berfel (3,687 posts)

6. So?

Fuck 'em

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Response to Ferd Berfel (Reply #6)

Tue Feb 16, 2016, 04:09 PM

farleftlib (2,125 posts)

8. They're at least open about their hate

It's the secret haters I'm a bit worried about. The ones who'll try to make it about socialism or some other ridiculous meme.

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Response to farleftlib (Reply #8)

Tue Feb 16, 2016, 04:14 PM

Ferd Berfel (3,687 posts)

11. THey will always be there. We will always win

if we stick together

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Response to Ferd Berfel (Reply #6)

Tue Feb 16, 2016, 04:10 PM

valerief (53,235 posts)

9. Indeed. They're so last century anyway. nt

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Response to valerief (Reply #5)

Tue Feb 16, 2016, 04:44 PM

SummerSnow (12,608 posts)

13. And out of this bunch, some in Congress will too.

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Response to valerief (Reply #5)

Wed Feb 17, 2016, 09:27 AM

SwampG8r (10,287 posts)

15. Look at them all lined up for the next gop debate

And in their sunday best

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Response to farleftlib (Original post)

Tue Feb 16, 2016, 04:09 PM

elleng (125,977 posts)

7. 'I think Bernie is correct to keep this part of his identity out of the conversation

about his candidacy, but that doesn't mean others won't interject it or aren't considering it as a flaw.'

Thanks SO MUCH for interjecting it and considering it as a flaw, NOT.

We could really do better without this, but I guess you couldn't manage to keep it that way.

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Response to elleng (Reply #7)

Tue Feb 16, 2016, 04:10 PM

farleftlib (2,125 posts)

10. No I couldn't because it's a legit concern

Thanks so much for your ahem, opinion.

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Response to farleftlib (Original post)

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Response to farleftlib (Original post)

Wed Feb 17, 2016, 01:46 AM

Behind the Aegis (52,697 posts)

14. Sometimes I wonder.

Certainly I don't think he's being Jewish makes him less qualified, and, yes, Obama was elected, but part of the equation of "are we ready?" is the aftermath. Look at the racism and jump in hate groups after Obama was elected! Clearly, many were not ready, including some who voted for him. It simply brought out some deeply ingrained racism. I don't think we can nor should "wait" for America to "be ready", those of good conscious are already ready and can help those who are not. If Sanders is selected as the candidate and wins the election, he will face much of the same, including from our side, that Obama has faced. So, the question, while making it sound like it about the electability of the candidate, IMO, is really about the psyche of the nation and our nation, while I love it, is deeply bigoted. If it were not, then silly questions like this wouldn't even need to be asked about any candidate based on his or her basic being (sex/gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion/lack thereof, dis/ability, etc.).

As for " thinly-disguised Jewish dog whistles", no offense, but there is one in your very remarks. I also saw, the other day, on this very site, where Sanders was accused of "playing the Jewish card" when he actually said he was Jewish...in response to a question about diversity!

Anti-Semitism won't just be a problem from the right; it never has been. It is a bipartisan bigotry.

Quite honestly, I think what is really throwing people is the fact he rarely discusses his religion and isn't that a quality we should want in a leader of our country? I certainly think so!

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