the jewish vote is a lock for blago. he will give his i am in your corner, no matter what you hear or what i may do(sometimes if have to do things like appoint a black who works for a guy who spouts antisemitic language for votes), and you are definitely better off than with REPUBLICAN topinka.
The Jewish vote is about 70 Dem / 30 GOP — there is no doubt that Blago lost some (and I’m not saying a crazy, large number, but some) of the Jewish vote over the way he handled the Hate Crimes Commission. Judy is moderate enough where she will be easy for progressive Jews to vote for. It also seems as if the Jewish Political Allianc of Illinois may go with Judy in the fall, especially since Blago made a calcualated decision to choose the Nation of Islam over the Jews.
I’m sorry to see this. Why the Jewish community in Chicago feels the need to cozy up to Blago after his tacit endorsement of antisemetism is beyond me.
do the math. couple of hundred thousand jewish voters. blago loses 10%,MAYBE. couple of million black voters. blago gains 2%. net gain blago 20,000 votes. blago must have done well in math in school. looks like the jewish voters and jewish population gets the shaft.
Contrary to popular opinion, the Jewish vote is anything but a lock for the Governor. There are some who would vote for any Democrat in a general election, no matter how abusive that candidate was to the public and to the Jewish community (I can think of one example very quickly; however, that individual has finally stepped down from political office, and will not be as much of a factor for Blagojevich as he would of in the past). But the Jewish community has also had a history of ticket-splitting when the need arises, when the Democratic candidate is totally unacceptable (a more accurate and descriptive term would not be acceptable on this site). For example, the Jewish community in Cook County went overwhelmingly for Republican Bernard Carey for States’ Attorney in 1972 over Ed Hanrahan.
Blagojevich will lose the Jewish vote in November, and he will lose the election.
RANDALL SHERMAN
Secretary/Treasurer, Illinois Committee for Honest Government
Randall, I hope you’re right. Though I must say you’re evidencing a single election, aged some 34 years, in support of your belief the community is willing to ticket split, is not exactly encouraging.
Nobody has asked the obvious question: Why is Ed Burke getting any kind of award, let alone a humanitarian award? Is he still alive? Is there still a City Council in Chicago? At least in the days of “Council Wars” (when Burke’s claim to fame was that he was not as bad as Vrdolyak) there was the semblance of democratic government in Chicago.Now the Council is a huge vacuum that does not even have the token opposition of “Lakefron Liberals” and a Republican or two that faced Richard I. Perhaps Burke set up this award himself to let people know he was still breathing…
Blago will loose at least 50% of the Jewish Democratic vote. In addition, 60% of gay men and 40% of lesbians will vote Republican if the candidate has been supportive of non-discrimination and human rights. Remember George Ryan’s performance in the General Election when he won 4 progressive to liberal North lakefront wards. That was the Jewish, gay and lesbian and progressive women’s vote. JBT will do the same. The GBLT advisors to Blago don’t have a clue. Just the same talking heads talking to the same talking heads. Watch for openly gay State Representative Larry McKeon to resign from the commission over the next few months.
The Governor is in a difficult situation but I think his keen wit and razor sharp sense of humor can win him over just like it did in his appearance on Comedy Central TV show. I say he breaks the ice by starting his speech saying “A Priest, a Rabbi and a Muslim are in a plane…..â€
Perhaps Louis Farrakhan will actually campaign for Governor Blagojevich. Then we can all sit back and watch the media downplay the exciting things the good Minister says. What fun!!
As a Jewish-Republican, I certainly hope that Secretary/Treasurer Sherman is correct about Topinka winning a majority or plurality of the Jewish vote, but realistically, I think that she will win between two-third to 45 percent which might have a significant impact on the election.
Word on the street is this dinner was planned well before the whole commission blunders. Also, it should be noted that one organization does not speak on behalf of the entire Jewish community, just like any community.
As far as the Jewish vote, it is far from a lock for Rod. A few factors: 1. Judy has been somewhat active in Jewish associated causes during her terms as Treasurer; 2. Rod has not been active in the Jewish community until the last year or so (election year?), though I hear he is going to a Chicago synagogue’s Passover Seder next week; in fact, every other consitutional officer has been far more active, like White, Quinn, Madigan; 3. Outrage over the whole Hate Crimes Commission thing remains strong, and will remain as long as Sister Claudette remains on the commssion; several Jewish community periodicals have featured the story as recently as this week even though its not on the tv news anymore; 4. JBT is moderate enough on most issues to be as appealing to moderate & moderate-liberal votes.
- ron - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 2:15 pm:
the jewish vote is a lock for blago. he will give his i am in your corner, no matter what you hear or what i may do(sometimes if have to do things like appoint a black who works for a guy who spouts antisemitic language for votes), and you are definitely better off than with REPUBLICAN topinka.
- Bubs - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 2:19 pm:
This is easy to predict.
“When in doubt, play to your strength.” For Blago, that is self-promotion.
Topic: “Why I Deserve This Award More Than Ed Burke.”
- A Jew - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 2:53 pm:
The Jewish vote is about 70 Dem / 30 GOP — there is no doubt that Blago lost some (and I’m not saying a crazy, large number, but some) of the Jewish vote over the way he handled the Hate Crimes Commission. Judy is moderate enough where she will be easy for progressive Jews to vote for. It also seems as if the Jewish Political Allianc of Illinois may go with Judy in the fall, especially since Blago made a calcualated decision to choose the Nation of Islam over the Jews.
- DOWNATATE - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 3:04 pm:
His speech will consisit of 4 words.ME ME ME PLEASE.
- Veritas - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 3:39 pm:
I’m sorry to see this. Why the Jewish community in Chicago feels the need to cozy up to Blago after his tacit endorsement of antisemetism is beyond me.
- ron - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 3:43 pm:
do the math. couple of hundred thousand jewish voters. blago loses 10%,MAYBE. couple of million black voters. blago gains 2%. net gain blago 20,000 votes. blago must have done well in math in school. looks like the jewish voters and jewish population gets the shaft.
- Randall Sherman - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 3:49 pm:
Contrary to popular opinion, the Jewish vote is anything but a lock for the Governor. There are some who would vote for any Democrat in a general election, no matter how abusive that candidate was to the public and to the Jewish community (I can think of one example very quickly; however, that individual has finally stepped down from political office, and will not be as much of a factor for Blagojevich as he would of in the past). But the Jewish community has also had a history of ticket-splitting when the need arises, when the Democratic candidate is totally unacceptable (a more accurate and descriptive term would not be acceptable on this site). For example, the Jewish community in Cook County went overwhelmingly for Republican Bernard Carey for States’ Attorney in 1972 over Ed Hanrahan.
Blagojevich will lose the Jewish vote in November, and he will lose the election.
RANDALL SHERMAN
Secretary/Treasurer, Illinois Committee for Honest Government
- Veritas - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 4:08 pm:
Randall, I hope you’re right. Though I must say you’re evidencing a single election, aged some 34 years, in support of your belief the community is willing to ticket split, is not exactly encouraging.
- Max Maxwell - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 5:06 pm:
Nobody has asked the obvious question: Why is Ed Burke getting any kind of award, let alone a humanitarian award? Is he still alive? Is there still a City Council in Chicago? At least in the days of “Council Wars” (when Burke’s claim to fame was that he was not as bad as Vrdolyak) there was the semblance of democratic government in Chicago.Now the Council is a huge vacuum that does not even have the token opposition of “Lakefron Liberals” and a Republican or two that faced Richard I. Perhaps Burke set up this award himself to let people know he was still breathing…
- B Hicks - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 5:46 pm:
Randall’s wrong.
- Joe Citizen - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 7:15 pm:
Blago will loose at least 50% of the Jewish Democratic vote. In addition, 60% of gay men and 40% of lesbians will vote Republican if the candidate has been supportive of non-discrimination and human rights. Remember George Ryan’s performance in the General Election when he won 4 progressive to liberal North lakefront wards. That was the Jewish, gay and lesbian and progressive women’s vote. JBT will do the same. The GBLT advisors to Blago don’t have a clue. Just the same talking heads talking to the same talking heads. Watch for openly gay State Representative Larry McKeon to resign from the commission over the next few months.
- James T Kirk - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 8:49 pm:
The Governor is in a difficult situation but I think his keen wit and razor sharp sense of humor can win him over just like it did in his appearance on Comedy Central TV show. I say he breaks the ice by starting his speech saying “A Priest, a Rabbi and a Muslim are in a plane…..â€
- Quizzical - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 9:34 pm:
How does one say ‘testicular virility’ in Hebrew?
- DuPage progressive - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 10:16 pm:
HUTSPAH (SP?)
- A Jew - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 10:23 pm:
Chutzpah… but coming from DuPage (not exactly a haven for Jews (but growing)) thats not a bad guess.
- Anonymous - Monday, Apr 3, 06 @ 11:52 pm:
Why is Burke getting a humanitarian award from a Jewish group in the first place? That’s weird. Is Burke a Jew? His wife is Catholic.
Semi-related, but has anyone notice Burke’s glasses are way too big?
- North of I-80 - Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 7:57 am:
Perhaps Louis Farrakhan will actually campaign for Governor Blagojevich. Then we can all sit back and watch the media downplay the exciting things the good Minister says. What fun!!
- Establishment Republican - Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 11:43 am:
As a Jewish-Republican, I certainly hope that Secretary/Treasurer Sherman is correct about Topinka winning a majority or plurality of the Jewish vote, but realistically, I think that she will win between two-third to 45 percent which might have a significant impact on the election.
- Niles Township - Tuesday, Apr 4, 06 @ 1:25 pm:
Word on the street is this dinner was planned well before the whole commission blunders. Also, it should be noted that one organization does not speak on behalf of the entire Jewish community, just like any community.
As far as the Jewish vote, it is far from a lock for Rod. A few factors: 1. Judy has been somewhat active in Jewish associated causes during her terms as Treasurer; 2. Rod has not been active in the Jewish community until the last year or so (election year?), though I hear he is going to a Chicago synagogue’s Passover Seder next week; in fact, every other consitutional officer has been far more active, like White, Quinn, Madigan; 3. Outrage over the whole Hate Crimes Commission thing remains strong, and will remain as long as Sister Claudette remains on the commssion; several Jewish community periodicals have featured the story as recently as this week even though its not on the tv news anymore; 4. JBT is moderate enough on most issues to be as appealing to moderate & moderate-liberal votes.