• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Democracy Chronicles

Towards better democracy everywhere.

  • AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
  • WORLD DEMOCRACY
  • POLITICAL ART
  • more
    • election technology
    • money politics
    • political dissidents
    • THIRD PARTY
      • third party central
      • green party
      • justice party
      • libertarian party
    • voting methods
  • DC INFO
    • author central
    • about
    • advertise with DC
    • contact
    • privacy policy
You are here: Home / Democracy Culture / Orthodox Jews Supported Obama by Large Margin

Orthodox Jews Supported Obama by Large Margin

November 12, 2012 by DC Editors Leave a Comment

FacebookLinkedInPinTweet
Hasidic Orthodox Jews supported Obama with vote
Hasidic Jews on 5th Ave in New York City

Democrats got strong backing as Orthodox Jews supported Obama with votes cast across the country

Democracy, elections and voting at Democracy Chronicles

Dramatic Leap in Orthodox Jewish Vote for Obama, Accompanied by Radio Campaign, Makes Strong Statement in Election

During the election season, the religious Jewish group known as True Torah Jews sponsored a series of radio ads expressing their disapproval of pro-Israel groups attempting to “influence the outcome of the election.” The reference was to an ad that aired in swing states featuring clips of a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, intended to persuade Jews to vote for Romney. Another more explicitly anti-Obama ad featured a “debate” between the President and Netanyahu, using actual clips of their speeches taken out of context.

“We view these ads as an insult to our status as Americans Jews,” said Yirmiyahu Cohen, a spokesman for True Torah Jews. “The Torah obligates Jews to be loyal citizens of their country, and to pray for its success and safety. Now a leader of another country comes and interferes in the election of our country. We felt we had no choice but to speak up and correct the impression this made.

The True Torah Jews radio ad stated the following:

“As the United States presidential campaign reaches its climax, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has voiced historically-unprecedented statements in an effort to influence the outcome of the United States elections. Moreover, these statements are being propagandized to American citizens as political ads, especially in critical swing states.

“American Jews are disturbed by these ads. This time, the Israeli prime minister has clearly crossed the red line. By recklessly interfering in United States elections, he may very well have damaged the image of American Jews. Therefore American Jews wish to repudiate this interference in the elections and clarify that, as always, the statements of Israeli politicians do not reflect the opinion of American Jews.”

The ad ran many times over the final three weeks before Election Day on WABC and its affiliate stations throughout the United States.

In Kiryas Joel, a village in upstate New York whose residents are all members of the Satmar hasidic sect, many voters took this campaign a step further and voted for Obama – despite the fact that they hold socially conservative views and would normally vote Republican. In 2008, for example, Obama got only 7% of the votes in Kiryas Joel – 199 people voted for him, while John McCain picked up 2757 votes. In the 2012 election, however, 42% of the village voted Obama – 1442 votes, while Romney got 1904. The reason for this tremendous leap for Obama, was the voice of protest from the Satmar sect against the Israeli leaders for their attacks on the President.

“I usually vote for the Republicans,” said village resident Joel Klein, “but this time I voted for Obama to show my protest against the Israeli politicians, and to show that they don’t represent Jewish interests.”

Klein added, “I have relatives in Israel and I help them out with money very often. I also donate to many charities in the holy land. But when their government mixes into American elections, that is a crime and it harms the image of Jews – not only in America but in the whole world as well.”

SOURCE True Torah Jews

FacebookLinkedInPinTweet

Filed Under: Democracy Culture Tagged With: Democrats, Jewish People, Minority Voting Rights, New York City and State Elections

Some highlighted Democracy Chronicles topics

Africa American Corruption American Local Elections American State Elections Asia Capitalism and Big Business Celebrity Politics China Democracy Charity Democracy Protests Democrats Dictatorships Education Election History Election Methods Election Security Election Transparency Europe Internet and Democracy Journalism and Free Speech Middle East Minority Voting Rights Money Politics New York City and State Elections Political Artwork Political Dissidents Political Lobbying Redistricting Republicans Russia Socialism and Labor Social Media and Democracy South America Spying and Privacy Supreme Court Third Party Voter Access Voter ID Voter Registration Voter Suppression Voter Turnout Voting Technology Women Voting Rights Worldwide Worldwide Corruption

About DC Editors

We are your source for news on the all important effort to establish and strengthen democracy across the globe. Our international team with dozens of independent authors are your gateway into the raging struggle for free and fair elections on every continent with a focus on election reform in the United States. See our Facebook Page and also follow us on Twitter @demchron.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

democracy chronicles newsletter

democracy around the web

  • Press freedom groups condemn hearing, demand...
    Source: Committee to Protect Journalists Published on: 23 minutes ago
  • Free 2025 Supplement To Laycock & Hasen,...
    Source: Election Law Blog Published on: 2 hours ago
  • “Jan. 6 Rioters Are the New Hot Event in Town...
    Source: Election Law Blog Published on: 5 hours ago
  • “Clarence Thomas has long tried to undercut t...
    Source: Election Law Blog Published on: 5 hours ago
  • “Leader of pro-Eric Adams super PAC banking o...
    Source: Election Law Blog Published on: 6 hours ago