In 2008 when Barack Obama was elected president 71% of Jewish Americans identified themselves as Democrats that number has slipped to 61% according to a Gallup poll released Tuesday evening. During the same period the percentage of Jews who identify as Republicans has grown from 22% to 29%.
On first glance the numbers may seem insignificant because the GOP share of the Jewish vote remains small especially when one considers according to Gallup. But the same report indicates Jews are moving toward the GOP much faster than the general population.
Per Gallup, in January 2008 39% of all Americans identified as Republican, their July 2014 report (the last time they published numbers for the general population) 40% of all Americans identified as Republicans; a growth of 1% vs the 7% for American Jews.
Gallup did not ask policy questions, but another part of Tuesday's study may provide some insight into the policy driving Jews to the GOP. According to the study the more "religious" the Jew, the more likely they are to be Republican. This is most probably driven by President Obama's Anti-Israel policies.
The more "religious" the Jew the more likely they are to support Israel. An October 2013 poll conducted by Pew Research reported that 91% of Orthodox Jews feel strongly or somewhat attached to Israel, with Conservative Jews that number is 88%, Reform Judaism which is the biggest of the three main segments has the lowest attachment at 70%, and unaffiliated Jews which is almost the same size as Reform the number drops to 49%.
Therefore if the more religious Jews tend to be most Republican and also tend to have the strongest attachment to Israel, it is reasonable to assume that President Obama's Anti-Israel policies are creating more Jewish Republicans.
And the Jewish trend to the GOP is likely to continue
According to Pew, Israel supporters have more of a home in the GOP, or to look at it another way, perhaps the President's policy is indicative of the entire Democratic Party especially when you realize that at least in 2014 Pew Reports that the more liberal one is the less likely they are to support Israel.
When you put on top of the Israel issue the failure of liberal policies in America, the number of Jews identifying as Republicans will accelerate especially amongst the same observant Jews who have already begun to switch. They are more likely to believe in personal responsibility and not as closely tied to progressiveness than their less observant brethren.
10 comments:
I am heartened to see that American Jews are finally coming around to question their lockstep voting for Democrats. Historically it hasn't worked for blacks and it certainly isn't working all that well for Jews today The question is why did it take American Jews so long to realize that constantly voting for Democrats was not necessarily in their own best interest or that of Israel?
If the recent turn of events of how Obama has treated Israel is not the ultimate turning point for American Jews, then there is no hope. I'm still shocked that some Jews in Hollywood still support Obama and his socialist views with the fund raisers they still throw for him and raise millions!
If I was Jewish, I'd start to identify those Jews that vehemently support this guy and out them as NOT BEING A REAL JEW! What is happening regarding our relations with Israel is shameful, disgusting, and fundamentally wrong in the security of America & Israel. It's something only a lifelong hater of the Jewish people, Israel, and those in favor of democracy would do...you know, like a lifelong Muslim.
There are still have two more years of Obama and his Socialist agenda....I just hope the Israeli people can hold on that long while Obama's America is fueling their destruction.
Look at the numbers. They still don't get it.
Non-jewish observers never seem to appreciate the huge gap between the Orthodox and the Reformed branches of Judaism. I'm Christian myself, but have several close Jewish friends and acquaintances who have educated me as to the huge breach between those two groups.
You are right that there has been no demonstrable epiphany among American Jews in regard to their political beliefs. It may well take a generation or more before we begin to see any change beyond nominal.
My main concern is that America remains a strong supporter and ally of Israel, our only real and dependable ally in the Middle East. There is no telling how much more damage Obama can do to that historically strong relationship.
American Jews by and large are VIRULENTLY anti-semitic. For some strange reason, they believe this will endear them to the American socialist class (i.e. the Democratic Party)
_I_ switched parties last year! I'm part of a trend!
"Reform"
I wish the headline were true but seriously, 61% is still an enormous bias towards Democrats.
Maybe if Obama personally nukes Tel Aviv, Jewish support for Democrats will drop by another 5%.
It calls into doubt the stereotype that Jews are smart.
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