POWIP Piece of Work In Progress

Norman Podhoretz: Why Are Jews Liberals? – WSJ

The WSJ published an outstanding summation of Podhoretz new book, Why Are Jews Liberals?, yesterday. I would encourage all of you to read it. While it is satisfying that this most fascinating and lamentable write-up was published at all - because I can't count how many times I have heard this oddity pondered over the past 15 years - the piece didn't get any traction outside of the WSJ (near as I can tell anyway). This is sad - to be expected in the MSM to be sure - but sad nonetheless. I have to credit Mark Belling once again for speaking to it on his afternoon radio show here in Milwaukee. Once again he "boldly goes where" - well you get the picture. I find the article and topic fascinating.

Podhoretz leads off with this:

"One of the most extraordinary features of Barack Obama's victory over John McCain was his capture of 78% of the Jewish vote. To be sure, there was nothing extraordinary about the number itself. Since 1928, the average Jewish vote for the Democrat in presidential elections has been an amazing 75%—far higher than that of any other ethno-religious group."

Then he shifts to this:

"Mr. McCain's long history of sympathy with Israel should have given him a distinct advantage over Mr. Obama, whose own history consisted of associating with outright enemies of the Jewish state like the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and the historian Rashid Khalidi."

And this:

"...the Jewish vote for him was 25 points higher than the 53% he scored with the electorate as a whole; 35 points higher than the 43% he scored with whites; 11 points higher than the 67% he scored with Hispanics; 33 points higher than the 45% he scored with Protestants; and 24 points higher than the 54% he scored with Catholics."

Then his analysis gets very interesting, to this mind, as he goes there - the place no non-Jew could even think to tread - to the place of religion - specifically the Jewish religion - and possibly more dangerous - he tries to discern the American Reformed Jewish mindset...

"Most American Jews sincerely believe that their liberalism, together with their commitment to the Democratic Party as its main political vehicle, stems from the teachings of Judaism and reflects the heritage of "Jewish values." But if this theory were valid, the Orthodox would be the most liberal sector of the Jewish community. After all, it is they who are most familiar with the Jewish religious tradition and who shape their lives around its commandments.

Yet the Orthodox enclaves are the only Jewish neighborhoods where Republican candidates get any votes to speak of. Even more telling is that on every single cultural issue, the Orthodox oppose the politically correct liberal positions taken by most other American Jews precisely because these positions conflict with Jewish law. To cite just a few examples: Jewish law permits abortion only to protect the life of the mother; it forbids sex between men; and it prohibits suicide (except when the only alternatives are forced conversion or incest)."

Incidentally, I occasionally see bumper-stickers and posts to the effect of "You Can't Be Catholic and Pro-Choice." I love those bumper-stickers, as there is not one that is more true. Like it or lump it, the catholics in name only need to hear it. And since they aren't listening to the Magisterium of the Church - and are voting for slaughter of innocents in defiance of it - they shouldn't expect not to hear about it from those who take the Faith seriously and are concerned with matters of the compromised soul.  It is nice to see that there are Jews who take what we call the "Old Testament" and its Wisdom seriously - and who refuse to compromise themselves with regard to this Wisdom. They must feel as I do - maybe worse - when they see their brothers in name hijack the "brand" and sully it like a $2 whore.

The rest of the article is amazing - and it is not proper for me to try to improve upon it - because I can't.

However, in keeping with the date - 9/11 - I began to wonder to myself, "Myself, perhaps the worst thing that can happen to a System is to have it co-opted/infiltrated/stolen/hijacked by bastards whose sole interest is to destroy it from within - like a malignancy springing forth from diseased entrails."

It is interesting to note that 9/11 was, in fact, worse because it was that which we value most - our freedom - which lent to the successful execution of some 3000 human beings.  It was worse because our own infrastructure was turned against us in such a shitty way. It was worse because we invited the thief in our house, showed him the gun cabinet, opened it for the strongman, provided the ammunition and then sat down to sup while he raised the barrel to the back of his host's head. We know what happened next.

Ah... enough - I trust you get the point. If you don't, just pretend you do - and nod occasionally.

Enoch_Root

Person with kids,a beautiful wife, a job. Catholic of the Latin Rite.

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