Richard Baehr has written a fascinating article entitled "American Demography and Support for Israel" that is worth reading in its entirety.
His analysis of various statistical trends is particularly trenchant (and in some cases particularly worrisome), but he also has an important message for the liberal Jewish community:
There was especially intense anger by liberal Jews this year at other Jews who backed President Bush. I saw it in my emails, and heard it at talks I gave. Why such resentment at this mere 25% of the community who strayed off the liberal plantation?
I think it is because many liberal Jews viewed Bush voters as idiots — gun toting, Bible-thumping, homophobic, racist idiots to be more precise.
So non-Jews voting for Bush was understandable. But liberal Jews could not understand other Jews voting for Bush. Jews voting for Bush were inconsistent with the caustic views liberals held about Bush voters. Jews for Bush upset that smug liberal world view . . . How could smart Jews vote for Bush?
Jews need to come to terms with the Christian faith community. These are people who resent being viewed as bigots living in a flyover zone. The real political intolerance today is now from the secular elites who despise religion and people who believe in God. The evangelicals, the most despised group of Bush voters, have the same number of arms and legs as you do, and they would probably treat you very respectfully if they met you. And they deserve the same in return.
And I dare say, some appreciation for being Israel’s most stalwart supporters.
An important article.