Why is it b/c of race anytime anyone doesn't vote for Obama. Maybe Jewish people aren't voting for him b/c he said Louis Farrakan was one of the greatest minds of the 20th century and he wants to get rid of Israel. Maybe it's because he his wife and his pastor are all racists who hate America, interesting how the racist is the one pointer fingers at others for racism. Maybe it's b/c he gives empty speeches about nothing but throwing terms about hope and change around without ever stating what we are hopeful for or what the change he wants is. Maybe the change he wants is a world without Israel. It's not about race, it's about his empty rhetoric and his hatred for other people. And don't forget hsi elitism.

So again the "racism" card is being played in the media . . . ?? Where is the discussion about racism when 9/10 of blacks in KY vote for Obama and against HRC? C'mon Trib staffers, you can do better political analysis than this.

The older voters are definitely more forthcoming with their opinions. The flip side is that it reinforces Obama's comment that he made about his grandmother.

These older voters were witnesses to a great shift in the nations population. The great migration of blacks to the north into urban areas changed a lot of neighborhoods and did bring racism to the forefront in cities where there wasn't a problem before because they didn't have to face blacks everyday like the south did.

Their memories and experiences are driving their voting and they project their racism to a candidate who had nothing to do with their life. Is it wrong? Yes, but they will disagree.

Oh, so only old Jewish people are racist? Give me a break! I think the racism has much, much more to do with the age of the people interviewed than their religious affiliation. My grandfather, a WWII vet and Chicago fireman moved to Florida and all of his racist tendencies came flying out to fit in with his neighbors. This is an inflammatory article and the writer knows it. Putting "Jew" as a descriptor is just baiting. Most Jewish people I know are die-hard democrats, and it is only the ultra-orthodox and really old ones who have racist tendencies. Man talk about playing to the fringes for a story.

And Clinton's "black problem" is at least in part due to her race. Blacks are championed for voting their race, while whites, Hispanics, Asians and others are scorned and labled racist if they vote for anyone but Obama. This strategy will never work. If race is held out as a valid reason to vote for someone, it must also be a valid reason to vote against someone. One need not focus on race anyway -- there are a hundred reasons why Obama is wholly unfit for presidency including weakness, dishonesty, inexperience, etc.

Since they represent only 1.5% of the U.S. population I would not worry about this vote.

I think Obama also have problem with Indian (Asian Indian) community. He made a comment in his internal memo about Hillary Clinton that she is D-Punjab. Because she was getting lot of political funding from Indo-American business community.

kudos to you, Frank James, for having the guts to write an article like this. It's about time someone brought up this issue without being afraid of the repercussions.

Obama's Jewish problem is called Hillary. Once she drops out he's numbers will improve. Same as the "hard working" white americans in WV, PA, and KY. Same thing with the hispanic vote. Mccain has a bigger problem. He doesn't have the GOP base. It doesn't matter how many independents Mccain gets without those GWB repubs (that still have a 30% approval rating of the POTUS) he won't win the prez.

Dear Fellow Americans,

Our Greatgrand Nation, the United States of America
is facing and will face very critical and substantial
"Challenges" in coming, months, years, and next
decade[s].

It is very critical and very important that we the people of the America get interested, involved, and engaged in choosing and voting for our next President.

The following criteria will guide and help us to a right candidate. The candidate we choose must have following characteristics.

1. A clear and candid " Vision
and Mission" for our Nations present and future.

2. A " Strong Character and significant
Integrity".

3. The sound and sustained "Presidential Temperament" and " Judgment".

4. A least "Washington exposure" and "real connectedness with the people and future
generation".

5. One who "Inspires us up" rather than
"Tears us Down or divides us".

6. One who is not based on sexism, racism,regionalism,ageism, or any other ism and as well as who attempts to " bring us together ".

7. A foreign policy of mainly "USA Centric".

In my professional, political and personal opinion,
the only candidate that meets all the above
characteristics and has shown constant and consistent
coolness, calmness, and connectedness { PRESIDENTIAL
TEMPERAMENT } is Senator Barrack Obama.

As an independent registered voter since 1980. I voted
for Carter, voted for Reagan, voted for First Bush,
and second Bush in 2000 and In the process last
interest in Washington politics and I stopped voting.
Getting disinterested and disgusted in our political
process and stopping voting. That was a very very bad
decision in any circumstance, particularly under
present circumstances.

This time we can not afford to stay on side lines and
let "Washington" stay the same.We can not afford our
Greatgreat Nation to become less than what we are,
what we were and what we can be?

We need to send clear, careful and candid message to
the world and some time 24 hour partisan divisive
media, that We the American people will set the agenda for our future and America and Americans will be back.

These partisan media outlets are trying and will try their best to deprive, decieve,dupe, and derail us. let us stay involved, engaged, and express our opinion freely and vote.Our Nation will get it right this time to protect, preserve, and promote our future.

Some of these partisan media and pundits are trying
their best to deny us better future and continue focus our weaknesses and generate bitter future for us and our Greatgrand Nation. Our nations people will see thru. Unfortunately { Our Greatgrand Nations people
are persistently and constantly subjected to this
Psychological Terrorism" without common people’s
knowledge.

The common and regular people do not have time to see
thru and sort thru this psychological terrorism
perpetuated by some of these partisan media outlets.

I find it tragic, unfortunate, and sad [ Probably they do not care about our Greatgrand Nation ]as they claim that they do it in the interest of our Greatgrand Nation.

We the Americans should not and would not to allow
Some these partisan media outlets psychologically
terrorized, traumatized and silence us this time nor
any other time in future.

I am sure that we will get it right this
time and elect Senator Obama our next President.

Let us remember that our Greatgrand is consists of
family, friends,fellowships, faith, funds,foundation,
fun, and future with fairness and freedom and without
fear, favor, or failure .

We can not afford to lose any of above. Let us stand
up, be counted, save, build our Greatgrand Nation for
centuries to come. I am sure our Greatgrand nation and its diverse people. will reclaim, regain and restore global economic, social, moral, and power status of USA.

God Bless our Great grand Nation and its diverse
people.

Our Greatgrand nation needs present and future
stability, security, safety,sustained progress and
restoration of our due status in this perilous Global
World at the all levels.

Yours sincerely,

COL.[retd] A.M.Khajawall M.D.
Forensic Psychiatrist.
Disables American Veteran.
Las Vegas Nevada.
Cell: 951-505-6975

This article is complete garbage. The reporter talks to some very old retirees in Florida and we're supposed to believe that these few small-minded folks speak for all American Jews? Nonsense! The larger Jewish community is far more diverse and much more intelligent than those portrayed in this story. I am Jewish, voted for Obama in the primary and will vote for him in the general election. Why? Because he is intelligent and sane. A vote for McCain is a vote for ignorance and insanity. American kids are being slaughtered in Iraq. Americans at home are living in a recession with no end in sight. A vote for McCain continues the slaughter and the recession. How can anyone vote for McCain unless they are ignorant or insane? Hey America, how are those fuel and food prices treating you? Have you lost your home. No? Do you have any equity in your home? Come on now, stop the madness!!

the US, given such embedded racism and ignorance, will get what it deserves , the good news is that the US star is slowly falling, and the old racists will die soon

The answer is the Constitution.

Obama needs to explain that
he is going to restore habeas corpus and what it means to the grandchildren of these 80 yr olds if their young can be taken in the night, without charges. Our anti-terrorism laws make the US into Hitler's Germany and if these old folks understood that only Obama stands between their young and the waterboard, they will choose Obama over McCain.
2. He needs to explain why his opponents are not even talking about habeas corpus and that presently the law does not include the right to be charged with a crime, the right to see the evidence and the right to cross examine witnesses.

Always important to know what matters to people but it is interesting - not mentioning Hillary...she does pretty well with Jewish voters. The folks you interviewed have their reasons but Is it possible there are real concerns not rooted in racism?

This is all a very lame excuse to be stupid. Why would Jews, all two percent of them, be any more unfamiliar with Obama than anyone else? Don't they read newspapers and magazines? Don't they have access to radio or television? This isn't about being Jew or Gentile, this is about being and educated voter.

And people get offended when certain Black leaders mention the presence of Jewish racism? Wake up America!

I understand the reservations of many of these older Jewish voters, especially where being the victims of violent crimes are concerned. I myself, though not old (approaching 40) or Jewish (but definitely white and pro-civil rights), was mugged and beaten 15 years ago by a black man in New Orleans. I have been taken advantage of by other blacks in certain situations, but I don't view all African-Americans in such a negative light because of the actions of a few. And what turned me around was being helped, 5 years ago, in London, by a West Indian (Jamaican) immigrant family who owned a pub in the southeastern neighbourhood of Nunhead and paid me to help with some work around the pub when I was running very short on funds, and a long way from home in the bargain. I would hope that folks like Mr. Stern in the article above would remember the kindness of the African-American soldiers and realise that hostile blacks are by no means a majority, and that Sen. Obama is a positive and good African-American. No matter that Jews are a minority in this country; we need them to help us get America back on the right track, and I don't see that happening if Sen. McCain is elected.

being from an underdevelopped country, i thought ppl in dvlped countries were smarter than us, i thought they could look beyond race and all that...but ...afterall...we all the same...bunch of racist...thats all we all are...but why cant we support a man who is better than us...who is trying to unite us...why? why do we stick to hatered rather than luv ? i guess that is how we like to define "humans"...k'mon...we can do better than that...hate sb for sth bad he is trying to do, luv him and support him/her for sth gd he/she is trying to accomplish...it takes all of us to cure this world folks.

Here's the thing, though - seniors are often far more racist than the younger generations. You are quoting individuals who grew up during the era of segregation, and whose views were indelibly impacted by that era.

Well, well, well......more racism within the ranks of liberals and the Democratic Party. And for so many years we have been told that only Republicans are racists!!! It's time for minority groups in America to join a political party that will treat them with equality and not act as if you are a victim of some social ill. Now is the time to leave the "racist" Democratic Party and join the Republicans!!!! Guaranteed you will be better off!!!

As a young Jewish American I strongly support the Canidacy of Mr. Obama. I believe that his willingness to at least speak with groups on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian debate is a very good thing. America is strong, We have no reason to fear diplomacy. If Israel and America never wants to so much as speak with the Palestinian "terrorist's" then unfortunately the violence will never end. Diplomacy is th only answer to bring peace to Israel. Obviously 40 years of militarism is not working as we can all see by the state of affairs in Israel today. It is time for us to talk with our enemies. That does not mean to make make concessions, only to speak with them. Without discussion there will be no resolution. Barack Obama is the only canidate I see in the current election who has the capability and willingness of bringing together the middle eastern world in any sort of relevant way. I think Barack Obama will be a strong and valuable ally to the Jewish community. I hope in my heart that the older generations of Jewish Americans will take the time and trust they will need to learn more about Mr. Obama. Jewish America needs a President like Barack Obama.

Jews don't want Obama because he is liberal and he is wishy-washy on Israel and the Mideast as well as wanting to raise taxes. Jews are not monothlicly liberal- that's a media canard. And Ira Silverstein got himself in hot water for shilling for Obama because his sugardaddy Mayor Daley put the squeeze on him in return for winning the ward committeeman job in his area in Chicago. So now, good old Ira is a double-dipper at the taxpayer's expense.

Only an idiot would be willing to sit down and talk without pre-conditions to your enemies as he appears to be willing to do.

Obama has made it a race issue and not Jews by running away from his white heritage, and making himself out to all of a sudden a Black man.

If he represents the future of America, we are all in very big trouble. My hope is all these
young liberals with student loans who are going ga-ga over him will get smarter in 10 years when they have to make a real living will wake up but by then it may be too late.

Maybe they prefer Hillary "Obliterate" Clinton

Oh to be a racist, two-faced democrat. The official party of "do as I say, not as I do."

This is a ridiculous post and a hyped-up issue (same comment to the NYT article). What it boils down to in regards to race is this: 80-year-old Jews are reluctant, just like all other 80-year-olds. 20-year-old Jews love Obama, just like 20-year-olds everywhere. That's all there is to it. You want to talk race, look at West Virginia, look at Kentucky. Jews can be skeptical/afraid about Obama because his stance on Israel may not be clear to them (not yet anyway -- I personally found his comments, often lengthy comments, to be acute, pro-Israel, and surprisingly thoughtful, but they take time to get around). But that's it. That's all there is to this. Let me put it another way: I'm Jewish, 28, I'm voting for Obama. My quasi-Likudnik conservative dad is, surprisingly, voting for Obama (he liked Obama's books a lot and thinks Obama talks sense on Israel, if you can believe it). My mom *will* vote for Obama, but she doesn't like him because she likes Hillary much better.

The sad truth is, for every one who admits racism, there are ten others who won't. I wish I could say I am surprised, but alas I can only say I'm disgusted.

Disgusting. To blatantly portray the Jewish people as racist is anti-semitic and race baiting in and of itself. No group of people is perfect or immune from racism. However, of all people, we know the true understanding of racism. Disgusting.

Mr. Obama agrees with a lot of the world that the US foreign policy has wrongly favored Israel.

Mr. Obama is also strongly against the policies of Mr. Bush who favored Israel in making American policy.

Thus, the agenda of Mr. Obama is to steer the US away from a foreign policy dominated by concern for Israel.

Given these facts, Mr. Obama is doing well among Jewish voters.

He could get more votes by selecting Mr. Lieberman to be his Vice-President, but Mr. Obama is at odds with Mr. Lieberman on most foreign policy issues.

It might help Obama with Jewish voters if he changed his first name to Baruch. It's a fine Hebrew name, and less threatening than the Islamic "Barack". Both names mean "blessed"

Did it ever occur to this writer and Jodi Kantor (although what does one expect from the NYT) that Jewish voters are not behind him because he is unqualified, supported by a known crook Rezko, supports a highly racist church and has never effected change when given the opportunity? Why, please explain, does the media immediately call one or a whole group of people racist if they don't support this candidate? Isn't this just a teeny bit manipulative? The media's job is to report the stories, not choose our candidates.

Martin Luther King was correct - judge him by the content of his character and vote Clinton or McCain.

When will citizens of this "tolerant" nation understand that being critical of Israel does not equal anti-semitism?

Johnny, you can keep repeating your lies but they won't ever come true.

Barack just needs some face to face time with these people and they'll come around.

Of course Lieberman is a GOP now ... will he be McCain's VP?

Sad. But real. Obama's candidacy will be a moment to review the way we teach one thing but do another. My parents, as veterans of the greatest generation, taught me that all men are equal, but hated the way they were treated by poor blacks as they ran their retail business in the ghetto of Philadelphia. This will be a chance for all Americans (especially liberal Jews) to remember where we came from and what stereotypes do to people. It is time to overcome emotions and practice what you taught your kids.
“You who are on the road
Must have a code that you can live by
And so become yourself
Because the past is just a good bye.

Teach your children well,
Their father's hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked, the one you'll know by”

So this is the greatest generation?

A bunch of racists?

A bunch of people who'll make their votes based on the color of Barack Obama's skin?

Jack Stern was put in a concentration camp by racists, now he's voting based on incidents that happened in New York when Obama was in diapers.

Shame.

Your title to this article is highly misleading and first impressions are what stick. You make it appear as it Obama has a problem with Jewish voters when in fact your story make it clear that certain jewish voters have a problem with Obama's race. Sensationalist headlines!!! Shame on you.

As a son of a union-organizing Jew who served in submarines in WWII and had a lifelong love-affair with cultural diversity, Civil Rights, jazz, I am deeply ashamed of these so-called Jews who totally abrogate their heritage, talking about black people like anti-semite Europeans used to talk about Jews, by inference, innuendo, false attributes, associations with criminals and violence. Shame on these old people who forget the meaning of the New Deal, of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, of their heritage and responsibility towards the world.

McCain will not jits continue the horrors of the past 8 years, but will accentuate them, highlight them, only bring the worst of time for Jewish people, evcen those complacent, money-bloated retirees of Florida. Inner citty violence killed their own as well, to blame all for a few is wrong, g-d will be angry at all these racists and fools. He will be angry with you.

You aren't a liberal if you vote for McCain and his Hagee haters, you will be a quisling, a collaborator, the Ralph Nader element of 2008. The road to ruin lies in your stupidity.

“It’s all going to boil down to a few old Jews in Century Village,” Rabbi Ruvi New of East Boca Raton said of the presidential election. I believe if not for a few old Jews in Century Village the Rabbi would not have a temple nor would he be able to support his family,I further believe Rabbi New owes an apology to every Jew in Century Village and maybe he should contact G-d and tell him he has no desire to live to be an old Jew.I I myself will not vote for Obama for in my opinion he is an enemy of Isreal and will vote for anyone but Obama,

Why should this voting block blame the democratic candidate for their insecurities. They should know better what it feels like to be shut out of an industry based on your ethnic background. They are more concerned with Israel's security than their party affiliation.
They will vote for McCain instead? That would speak volumes about Jewish politics; Israeli interests over party affiliation.

Obama's message is classic Jewish, but many Jews, especially the older ones, don't realize it. Remember, most of the older Jews living in Florida these days are from New York and the Northeast of another era...where racism was profoundly deeply rooted. Additionally, Republicans and their fellow travellers will say whatever they have to say...and we alll know by now they are not honest people...to create wedges between Obama and the Jews. If he is to win them over, he has to walk among them in their places...not at rallies. If he waits too long to do that, it will be too late.

Anyone think that the headline could've been restated. The phrase "Jewish problem" has been used before...perhaps this author is engaging in a bit of subconscious prodding.

Such a disheartening article; a sad reminder of the deep roots of racism in our nation. Doubly tragic when harbored in the mind and heart of a community which has paid dearly because of anti-Semitism.

Racism is the elephant in the living room, the demon in our soul, and though I'm grateful that it's rearing its head again so that we can see it for what it is and perhaps root out some of it, though it's likely to hang around for a long time.

Racism is an easy sin - we can harbor it with little obvious price, other than the slow deterioration of our soul. It takes courage, it takes prayer, it takes enormous moral resolve and emotional honesty to face it in our lives (and it's in everyone's life) and overcome it.

I guess we can be thankful for the honesty of those interviewed … that’s a beginning, I suppose, and I would hope that having expressed their sentiments forthrightly, they may have second thoughts and free themselves from the very demon that has so long been their enemy.

Rev. Tom Eggebeen
Los Angeles

Does Sen. Obama propose to sit down and reason with Ahmadinajad, the fanatic Islamist holocaust denier ?
Obama's comments so far are reminiscent
of the appeasement and lack of realism
of Neville Chamberlin.

It's funny that Obama is considered a black man. He is half white and half black. Raised by his white grandparents. Yet to many people who are racist he's "just
like the black guy robbed them". Thats very sad.

And black people are voting for Barack 9/10 because of the comments Bill Clinton and Hillary made before and after South Carolina. There was thinly veiled racism in those comments, and the black community didnt appreciate it.

Barack will have many problems with senior citizens, be they jewish, christian, or whatever. They come from a generation where his skin color was considered inferior. But he has shown that he can energize the young and idealistic, and if they turn out in record numbers, as they have, then he may well get the presidency.

Interestingly, the elders in this article who expressed their racist fears directly were crime victims, or close to crime victims. One way that Obama can strengthen his appeal to older voters of all backgrounds is to portray his work as an organizer in Chicago as an on the ground effort to lower crime. He can fight the stereotype of African Americans as criminals by talking directly about their status as the chief victims of violent crime in American and put forth a solid law-and-order platform. I agree with posters who say that this has nothing to do with religion.

I can't believe they paid you to write this "article" when they just could have taken 4 seconds and linked to the NY Times story

A disgenous article. If you do a sample test on voters over age of 70, I bet at least half will use race as an excuse not to vote for someone, be they Jewish voters or not.

Again the media is sucking up to Obama and his camp with the race card, and again he gets a free ride in the press.

Race is the last thing that would matter to Jewish voters like myself, the first thing that's on the list of problems with Obama is much too easy embrace of people like Farrakan and his cronies, his willingness to legitimize the ugly and brutal regime in Teheran with 'talking' and his complete lack of any experience and lack of any accomplishments.

This crummy article simplifies everything into color and race, and ignores the real issues with the candidate. Utter rubbish.

Jews went down south in the 60's and fought for African-Americans' civil rights, sometimes getting themselves killed in the process. They have always been African-Americans' greatest allies. This article is a dismaying bit of antisemitism which I hope won't be echoed in the MSM -- the writer should be ashamed of himself.

A bunch of old jews "kvetching" in florida might have some affect on the election... BUT they do not speak for 99% of the american jews who will be voting this november. I found the article insulting and misinformed.

You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink. What is....is.

"Some of the resistance to Mr. Obama's candidacy seems just as rooted in anxiety about race as in anxiety about Israel. At brunch in Boynton Beach, Bob Welstein, who said he was in his 80s, said so bluntly. "Am I semi-racist? Yes," he said.

Decades earlier, on the west side of Chicago, his mother was mugged and beaten by a black assailant, he said. It was "a beautiful Jewish neighborhood" -- until black residents moved in, he said" i know of another situation, which is similar; --it was a beautiful palestinian neighborhood -- until the jewish residents moved in. (not west side of chicago but still west,west bank and golan heights. i am going to spend the next few months preparing for eight more years of bush.

Sen Obama - Still An Unknown Candidate!

That's the reason for all the anxiety.

Obama is trying to be all things to all people and is failing because he has yet to reveal his true feelings,ideas,
and beliefs on issues or answer questions that affect his judgment, character and credibility.

Hillary is winning primaries
because other than Obama's obvious desire to win he is an enigma and voters sense that
he is an enigma.

He is courting Jewish voters in Florida
with reassurances but no concrete details.

He courted blue-collar workers
in Pa. by swilling beer and trying to bowl but his lack of
touch with everyday people
lost him their votes.

He courted wealthy Calif voters and donors in a closed San Francisco fundraiser by alluding to the
typical white person as clinging to religion and guns
and that backfired terribly.

Whatever he achieved from that fundraiser was offset by his failures in Ohio, Pa., W.Va,
Texas, and Kentucky so far.

Small wonder that some Jewish voters harken back to their racial prejudices as a reason not to vote for him

Lack of familiarity? How about the years he spend cozying up to Chicago's Arab communities for campaign cash! Don't think for a minute that the millions Obama has accepted from Iraqi-born billionaire Nadmi Auchi has come without strings attached. Anti-Israel strings.

I agree 100% with Helena. It would be nice if the ADL held these reporters feet to the fire for their massive anti-semitic assumption that everyone that doesn't support Obama is racist.

I wonder if you would get the same comments from 80 year old gentiles.

Interviewing several people of that generation and then painting the whole population of Jews in Florida with the same brush is very disturbing to me.

I'm Jewish and I've supported Obama since I first heard him speak when he ran for the Senate. I'm 50. My mother, who is in her 70's will also be supporting him.

I'm a Jew who supports Obama, but I wasn't polled for this survey. Since we only represent about 1.5% of the vote, doesn't my support skew this poll? Just goes to show how freak'n stupid these irrelevant polls are in a 24/7 news cycle. I expect more from the national media, but we all know what a joke the manstream media has become!

What about McCain's problem with race? Apparently, if you are a part of the ruling elite, as McCain has always enjoyed that privilege, and he is able to associate himself with racist, anti-Catholic, and anti-Semitic leaders of the fundamentalist church and that's totally okay? That's not a problem with race?

What has George Bush and the Republicans done for Israel lately? They've put the nation in a much more perilous and violent situation and emboldened and strategically strengthened Iran as a power broker in the region.

With friends like George Bush and John McCain, Israel must have increasing difficulty distinguishing its friends from its enemies.

The Republicans did this knowing the stakes when rattling their sabers in a tinderbox of centuries long hostilities not only between Israel and its neighborhoods but also along all kinds of fault lines of ethnic, racial, and religious fissures. They sought war when it was in Israel's better interests to seek peace.

Taking this Presidential campaign into the diversion of racial animosity will be so destructive to Americas interest and Israel's as well.

We cannot afford mindlessly emotional political racism when the problems that truly need to be addressed are so critical and important to our future as a nation.

Racism is a debilitating decease that robs our nation of it greatest potential - to be free democratic and productive citizens of the world.

Jews know the negative and deadly implications of racial division as profoundly as African-Americans or bi-racial citizens like Obama.

IF (and I stress if) Jewish voters will not vote for Obama because he is black, just how ironic is it that Jews are racist?

This article is biased heavily in favor of Obama. Many people, myself included, will not vote for Obama because he has given so specifics for his platform or agenda. I don't trust someone who won't answer questions.

Vince: many voters aren't educated (see the past 8 years in US history). There's an abundance of information but most people will choose information that supports what they already think and very few are open to listening to opposing ideas. And many people take what candidates say out of context in order to support their own opposition against these candidates.

Although Jews are a small percentage of the population, they are very influential. The US wouldn't have been supporting Israel all this time if this weren't the case. Jewish or not, older people have a set way of thinking that will not change.

I don't understand why some comments imply that the author is picking on Jews; there're articles about Jews, about African-Americans, about Hispanics and each one will deal with the segment the story is dealing with! Every article cannot include every segment of the population every time.

Regarding the ideal candidate, whether you like it or not, Obama is the only candidate that can restore the faith of the world in United States because if he wins it will be the first sign that the US is finally starting (again, starting) to get past racism and this means that the country is indeed looking to be better (to the world and its people) than it's been for the past 8 years and finally being open to cleaning up the giant bucket of feces the current president has poured on the world, including on Americans themselves.

It seems odd, considering what the Jewish people suffered at the hands of Hitler (arguably one of the most notorious racists in world history), that American Jews would vote against someone solely on the basis of race.

"Kantor talked with Jewish voters in South Florida, many of them liberal Democrats, and found real skepticism about Obama, some of it based on a lack of familiarity with him, some of it on misinformation and some of it on plain old-fashioned racism."

Umm, how about they might just think he wouldn't be a good president?? No mention of THAT by Kantor. And historically, Jewish people have been color blind and the biggest advocates of civil rights!

why does anyone have to be a friend of Israel in order to get american jewish votes? Does a "friend" mean you have to agree with all Israel stands for and does, without even questioning how many laws the country brakes and its treatment of others. If so, that's a expensive friendship in terms of ones morality and sense of fairness and justice.

Don't blame the Times or The Swamp for telling the truth -- the Jewish weekly press has been all over this. See an excellent column, "Candidates and the Kishkes Problem," that appeared in the New Jersey Jewish News:

http://www.njjewishnews.com/njjn.com/022808/edcolCandidatesAndTheKishkes.html

So we have some retired folks, who happen to be Jewish, opining on the election outcome. Clearly affluent and secure in their "gated neighborhood of airy retirement homes," this crowd has the luxury of diving past the public policy boulders like universal health care, economic inequality, the US economy or our military adventures against the wrong country. No surprise, then, that they have either the economic freedom or cultural tunnel vision to develop their political position on monolithic policy issues. Even uninformed as they may be. However, for the rest of us, including Jews like me, these positions don't resonate. Let's not get distracted, again.

Black, Blue, Orange or Red, he's not the right person for the job in the climate we live in. Anyone who would sit down with Iran's dictator without preconditions, and full support of the quartet knowing his horrific attitude towards Israel, does not deserve any votes, let alone the Jewish vote.

Pick your poison folks - But, do it carefully.

Everyone agrees it's difficult to to gauge how Obama and McCain will address the real issues that face this country. Let's hope we all make the collective best choice. Take a moment and step away from your preconceived notions and look closely and carefully at each candidate for who they are and what they represent. Most importantly, leave your divisive baggage at the door.

The future health and security of our great nation may depend on it.

The only racist are the Obama's and their backers. It's time people started paying attention and getting offended when they have been insulted.

JEWS ARE NOT STUPID. THEY GOT HIT ONCE. THEY HAVE GOOD MEMORY. TALKING TO A MONSTER LIKE AHMADINEJAD, THE MAN WHO DENIES THE HOLOCAUST AND WHO WANTS TO ERASE ISRAEL, IS JUST OVER THE TOP. ENOUGH! IT IS INSULTING. I KNOW DAVID AXELROD CAN TAKE IT. JUDGEMENT IS PART OF WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT FROM ANIMALS. Max

It's important to remember that this is an article about another article. From the summary provided here, and the commentary, it would seem the original article is about race, it isn't. It's about Obama's issues with Jewish voters. Or rather the reverse.

As someone said earlier, ask any septuagenarians and octogenarians about their attitudes on race, and you'll hear the same issues of distrust, be it white, black, asian, jewish, christian, muslim, etc. Obama's bigger problem is that he has not been particularly vocal on either his feelings or a plan of action on the middle east, a key concern, and when you add to it the problems presented by his association with Reverend Wright and Jesse Jackson (who has done untold damage to black democrat/Jewish relations) and his comments regarding meetings with Iran and Syria, you have a fairly good foundation on which to build rumors and spread disinformation.

I for one, a thirtysomething white jew have yet to hear any clarifying information with regard to his positions in the middle east. It's disturbing, but not a deal breaker as McCain's Bush redux is simply too scary. Yes he's got serious defense chops, but many of his views are incredibly conservative, and his association with Bush II a deal-breaker. At the same time I can see where older folks would rather deal with a known quantity who's professed unwaivering support of Israel, vs. someone ambiguous.

Hopefully, Obama hasn't figured this out too late....

It will be hard for Obama to sway the Jewish vote because he isn' t Kosher and his association with his pastor who preached that the land of Israel is land stolen from the Palestinian with the help of the British Israel and Balfour doctrine. Wright also believe that modern day Israel has no kinship with Abraham nor are they Shemitic.
http://joeland7.wordpress.com/2008/04/14/is-modern-israel-in-bible-prophecy/

It seems that the Jewish community is so extremely pro-Israel that sometimes their expressed views can make you call into question their loyalty to the nation that protects them and and in which they enjoy a good living.
I can't help feeling a measure of disgust when I recall how Lieberman was willing to turn on his Democratic Party in support of pursuing a war against Iraq.
I feel quite certain that his motivation for doing this was based more on supporting Israel's security, and less on what might be best for the U.S.
If Mr.Obama is in favor of a Middle East policy that favors our national interests, and not just a small select group, then more power to him.
He'll definitely have my vote.

This entire story is another distracting joke aimed at stupid Americans who argue which elitist (Obama, Clinton, McCain) is or isn't playing the race card. What other card do they have? It certainly is NOT about the real issues facing most Americans. Do yourselves a favor, abandon these elitists, endorsed by the media, and support Ron Paul. At least find out who he is and why the wealthy elite want you to vote for these other clowns that are selling out our country right befoore our eyes. Why do those who work for a living continue to support elitists whose only goal is to create wealth for the already wealthy? If Barak is such a person for the people, why did he vote to extend the Patriot Act, eliminating basic rights as guaranteed by the constitution? Please do yourselves a favor, stop supporting those who would let you starve, and find out about Ron Paul.

Obama’s problem is not exclusively with the "Old Jews". It is with anyone who takes the time to actually think about him and what he really stands for. In doing so, you soon realize he has accomplished nothing for the American people as a US Senator. He has done nothing for the people of his home state. He has no plan for gas (until 2030). He essentially copied HRC's health plan.... In the political world he simply has no international, military, or policy experience. In the world of citizenry, Obama has been exposed time and time again for his relations with individuals who are completely contrary to the American way of life. Underworld figures and communist proponents are not what people think of when they envision the mentors and alliances of their next President. Nonetheless, those are the people that Obama has chosen to associate with. To me however, the deciding factor goes further than mere politics and what type of judgment has he shown it the past. Worse than any policy or plan issues are the clearly irrefutable facts that he allowed his own children, throughout their entire formative years, to be exposed to a powerful if not the most powerful role model in their lives who was clearly a devote racists and took the opportunity to fill their minds with anti-American rhetoric. What type of person directs his own children to participate in that type of on-going activity if they themselves do not whole-heartedly agree with the most basic premises of what is being said? Obama’s real problem is the fact that he thought he would never be President and went about living his life as he chose – In overtly racist’s surroundings and in settings with individuals that continually espoused the open hatred for this country and everything it has stood; the same "evil" country, the same "racists" people that he has clearly benefited from.

Obama Beats McCain Among Jewish Voters......according to the latest Gallop poll.

I think this young guy is going to win by a land slide if people don't stop throwing silly at him and attack with facts. The public is in no mood for silly talk. The economy is hurting us and we need straight talk.
We all keep saying he has a problem with Latinos, poor whites, women, Catholics, Jews and white men. The public is feeling that something is off. If Obama has so many problems and weaknesses why is he up 8 points on McCain nationally and 16 points on Hillary? He is down 10 points to McCain in Florida. What is a 10 point lead to a candidate with endless money and with the ability to gather 75,000 hard working white people out to hear him speak? It might be better to attack Obama just like we attack McCain ....on the facts.

I do sincerely hope and pray Citizens of America will choose a president who is accepted by all that is onlu \hilary Clinton. Obama already showing his nature to meet terrorists. I am very much fearful if people vote for him.

As a Jew I don't buy this article and I think it fits in wit much of the media's anti-Israel/Anti-Semetic bent recently. I am sure there are some prejudice jews but I believe Obama's only problem with Jews is we are not sure where he stands on Israel. There are indications in the past that he may not be as friendly to Israel as his current words indicate. Trinity UCC often uses anti-semetic language in their church and bulletins and Obama was very chummy with many Palestinians early in his career. However, the majority of Jews I know are quite liberal on race relations. It was Jews who were the major workers on the freedom marchs, many synagoges were the only places where Martin Luther King could stay in the north, and Jewish charities have done much outreach in the African American community. Just look at Obama's advisors and money people; Geffen, Axelrod, Pritzker, etc.. Mostly Jewish names. In addition, if Jews are so racist why is it that the only integrated communities tend to be ones that are high-percentage Jewish; i.e. Hyde Park, Oak Park, Evanston

There is some truth to some of these opinions here and much distortion forming those opinions. Obama will have to work hard in clearing all these missleading negative conseptions of him. It is sad to see how distortion has taken hold and the histeria of fear mongering groups pushing voters to panic! I remember when Reagan ran and all the negative campaigns on him, how silly we are. I see both sides at work and see no difference on how half truths and distortion effects the outcome. We must decern the muck and look for truth and base it to our vote. A wise vote is hard to come by.

What about McCain's Jewish problem. His preacher advisor said that Hitler was doing God's work by exterminating Jews in WW2. Something tells me that won't play well in south Florida.

b/c he said Louis Farrakan was one of the greatest minds of the 20th century
Posted by: Johnny | May 22, 2008 9:51 AM

This is what the lowlife republicans have brought us...lies. Outright lies.

TO: COL.[retd] A.M.Khajawall M.D.
Forensic Psychiatrist.
Disables American Veteran.
Las Vegas Nevada.
Cell: 951-505-6975
Posted by: COL. [retd] A.M.Khajawall MD | May 22, 2008 10:05 AM

I respect your opinion. Please let me desagree with you. I have no intention of being racist or disagreable.

According to CNN, Obama is looking for a VP: he has the choice. Bill Ayers, Jeremiah Wright, Tony Rezko, Nadhmi Auchi, Aiham Alsammarae. HERE WE ARE! When REALITY OVERPASSES FICTION. Hollywood brought THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE. Americans are completely into it. There is something strange and weird in this Obamawonderland: A GHOST. A symbolic middle name nobody wants to talk about. WHY? WHY IS EVERYBODY AFRAID TO CALL THIS GUY BY HIS FULL NAME? Because SYMBOLS DO MATTER, for example TO TEAR DOWN A STATUE IN BAGDAD, TO NEUTRALIZE A DICTATOR'S SONS( Affiliation and perpetuation of the name). Did I say Bagdad? An unnecessary war, more than 4000 young men dead, don't know how many wounded! December 2006, Execution of Saddam Hussein. Two years later his GHOST IS HAUNTING WEAK AMERICANS. WELCOME TO THE OBAMAWONDERLAND. SEXISM, SADISM, IGNORANCE OR FOOLISH DELUSIONS? ELECTION 2008, the YEAR OF A GHOST NAMED HUSSEIN. GETTING THE NAME HUSSEIN TO THE HIGHEST POSITION OF POWER OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE EXECUTIVE, IS SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS LIKE A JOKE BUT WILL MAKE HISTORY MOSTLY IN THE ARAB WORLD. THE SYMBOLISTIC ASPECT OF THIS IS FAR BEYOND THE NICE GUY NAMED BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA. WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND. IS THIS A POSTMORTEM VICTORY? FOR WHO? TIME WILL TELL. IS THIS A LEGITIMATE PERSPECTIVE OUT OF THE BELTWAY? I THINK THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO SAY OR WHAT THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE? LET'S FACE IT; CLINTON WILL LOSE EVENTHOUGH SHE IS FAR BETTER THAN OBAMA, BUT WHY?????? WHAT IS GOING ON? FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND EXPRESSION, A REALITY OR A FICTION? Max

Blacks vote for Obama inspite of him being half white.

Whites vote against Obama because he is half black.

It's american legacy.

I'm with Bob...when blacks support Obama you never hear how "racist" it is.

But on another note, we keep hearing of this "falsehood" that he is Muslim -- then what religion is he? Baptist? Christian? I can't tell -- Wright's church is his "former" church, so what does Obama practice now?

Would not trust Obama with his Muslim background and his Chicago church conection-

No one seems to remember Bush sitting down with Putin and Bush saying he looked into Putin's eyes and saw his soul. With Putin setting up another fascist state in Russia Bush hasn't sat down again with anyone. His good ole boy intuition really served him well didn't it.

We need to engage in diplomacy. I don't think Obama should sit down with anyone before the appropriate background work and preliminary talks have taken place, but we definitely need to talk to the rest of the world. Everyone is assuming that engaging in diplomacy automatically means you give away someting. Appeasement is the wrong word. Diplomacy is infinitely more nuanced than that and you can learn so much more from what you don't hear than what you do.

To quote Sun-Tzu "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer"

The media has went after Mr. Obama. I guess, because he is Black and a Blackman, and this is the first a Blackman has come this far to be president of this country. Because of this fact, the media, both the liberal and Right wing conservative press has said the following: He's Muslim; a Al Queda spy; a secret black revolutionary; best friends with Minister Louis Farrakhan; he love's Rev. Wright more than he love's Jesus( the white Jesus), his wife hates America; his father was anti-American; he hate jews and was anti-Israel in the state Senate;, he hate jewish food, he is an elitist and hate poor white folks; he was sworn in on a Koran; he smoked marijuana and cocaine and took herion; he beat his wife, his dog; he took money from Resko; he is friends with a weathermen of the 60's who wanted to overthrow America; he will send all white people back to Europe if he wins the election; he will free all black convicts; he will force all white women to take Black husbands are be deported.

What lies have not been said about this man. I'm surprised if anyone would want to vote for him.

There are evil people of every race. Jews and Blacks have more in common than they do in difference. We serve the same God, and we have both had PURE EVIL done to us. America once turned its backs on the Jews, but Jews have FORGIVEN her, and rightfully so. Surely a few blacks can be forgiven for their sins. Barack is a Loving Christian who would do nothing but recite the Shema with Jews.

It appears from writer that the only racists are jews??? I don't think so, as not every jewish person is racist. The country is full of them. But, Osama has not helped his cause by affiliation with a Racist Pastor and a wife who has no pride in America, EVER. The polls do not reflect the real sentiment of the real proud Americans, who salute the flag when the National Anthem is played and our flag is unfurled. No experience Jr Senator spouting Change. We will vote for an experienced American who loves this country.

He preaches to the choir. He praises Jews when speaking to Jews. Sticks up for them and Israel when in their company. Does not do this in a "mixed" crowd.

Find myself wondering why this is so.

Jews are a minority but their cause should not be. It shouldn't be because they do not hide their support of the black community and didn't in the past. He and those AA's who preach like this, may make it so.

Once again Mr. Obama and his campaign mogals throw out the race card and attempt to guilt people into voting for him! How low can he go?! Now its the Jews. I'm sorry Mr. Obama et al, I have no guilt over your perceived issues. I was not involved with slavery! My ancestors, like the majority in this country now, came to this land long after slavery was abolished. I will not be prodded into your camp! I will not be blinded by your self serving rhetoric! I can see that you are as empty and worthless as George II. Who pulls your puppet strings? The longer you run, the more I learn how much you care not for the country, but your own self importance! This is not movement forward; it is leaps backwards!

Jews deserve to have the right to support Israel as most are first or second generation American's who are products of those who escaped the holocaust or pogroms in Europe, if not survivors (less of those). They assimilated, learned the language and hold our flag dear. They are Americans first and foremost and a minority, which is why most supported Martin Luther King, Jr.

I'm with Bob...when blacks support Obama you never hear how "racist" it is.

But on another note, we keep hearing of this "falsehood" that he is Muslim -- then what religion is he? Baptist? Christian? I can't tell -- Wright's church is his "former" church, so what does Obama practice now?

Posted by: marie s. | May 22, 2008 11:35 AM

A MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE IS A MANIPULATED CANDIDATE. REALITY IS OVERPASSING FICTION. Max

The author of this column is using race as a wedge issue to favor Obama.

How do you LEAP to the conclusion that MANY Jews are racist, because you encounter one jewish woman, "fingering her coffee cup", who says it is????!!!!

RIDICULOUS!

How does the author of this column equate Obama getting 92% of the black vote??

THOUGHT SO!