Jewish Voters Report Calls Disparaging Obama

Kelli Kennedy

MIAMI — Jewish voters in Florida and at least one other state are being targeted by a telephone survey tying Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama to Palestinian causes, an advocacy group alleged Monday.

The Jewish Council for Education in Research says at least two women in separate states were push polled, or asked questions intended to influence voters while pretending to take a poll, on Sunday afternoon from a caller who said he was from Research Strategies.

Joelna Marcus says she became uncomfortable when the caller asked if she was Jewish, whether she was Orthodox and how often she attends synagogue.

The caller then asked if Marcus would be influenced if she learned that Obama had donated money to the Palestine Liberation Organization. The caller also asked how she would vote if she learned that someone on the Illinois senator's staff had close ties to Palestine.

Marcus, a 71-year-old former college professor, said she was furious.

"I said you're not polling me. This is un-American. This is unacceptable," said Marcus, a snowbird who lives in New Jersey and has a house in Key West. "And then this is the scary part. He said if you had not said that you were Jewish, you would have been disqualified."

Deborah Minden, who lives in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Pittsburgh received a similar call Sunday afternoon. After asking basic demographic information, Minden, 56, said the caller said, "I'm going to ask you some things about Sen. Obama and you tell me if it would make you more or less likely to vote for him."

The poller then ticked off a list of accusations including that Obama's church had made anti-Semitic statements and that Obama had met with Hamas leaders.

A spokesman for Sen. John McCain, who is on a two-day swing in Florida, did not immediately comment Monday night.

"We see this as a disturbing but not unexpected ratcheting up of the kind of misinformation and outright lies about Obama's record that we've literally seen since he declared his candidacy," said Mik Moore, co-executive director of the Jewish Council for Education & Research. The organization has endorsed Obama for president.

During the Republican presidential primaries, McCain alleged push polling had taken place and asked for an investigation into thousands of calls to New Hampshire voters that disparaged him and supported rival Mike Huckabee.

If true, this is scary.

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/9/13/1538/09770

YouTube Pulls Video

You got it right this time.

The last post you put out you said I side with Republicans because social issues are important to me. That's not what I said. I vote for Republicans because they generally stand for smaller government.

Now I'm curious. You have stated that you're socially liberal, so how do you rationalize the Republican's conservative stance on social issues?

But you know, I had heard she had pulled for Obama before she was on the ticket.

Interesting.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/...e-electrifying/

Powell still undecided, says Obama win would be 'electrifying'

I just read that article. Wales was right - he's known McCain for decades and is still looking for a reason to vote for him??? That's just crazy.

Even though he's a Republican, I have always admired Colin Powell and felt that the Bush Administration railroaded him with the Iraq war. He was used to make the case at the UN and when sentiment turned against the President, they threw him under the bus.

I would not be adverse to having him in Obama's cabinet when he wins.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/09/15/r...s-obama-to-plo/

Rovian Push Polling In Florida Links Obama To PLO

So, they are at it again. The same tactics used in 2000 and 2004 resurface. I'm sure they figure if they can sway at least one voter with these underhanded machinations it's worth it. There's always someone gullible enough to believe this crap.

I saw this article online this morning in TIME. Interesting read.

For Obama, Race Remains Elephant in the Room

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,...00.html?cnn=yes

My goodness. After SC in 2000, I thought McCain would be the last person on earth to allow those type push poll phone campaigns. I would very much like to see him rebuke that tactic.

I think Colin Powell is an honorable man, and like Wales, I laughed a little at the end of the article. Was Powell in the Clinton administration?

My goodness. After SC in 2000, I thought McCain would be the last person on earth to allow those type push poll phone campaigns. I would very much like to see him rebuke that tactic.

I think Colin Powell is an honorable man, and like Wales, I laughed a little at the end of the article. Was Powell in the Clinton administration?

Hi Jess. No, Colin Powell wasn't in the Clinton Administration. If memory serves, he may have been Chairman of the JCS when Clinton was elected, but he didn't stay there the entire term of his presidency.

The only administration he was in was GWB's.

This is an interesting article I found on MSNBC. With relevancy to this campaign, how the South ended up as a Republican stronghold. And it's NOT due to the Abe Lincoln Repubs. It's because of the Strom Thurmond Dixiecrats and their disdain for the Democratic stance on Civil Rights that drove them to the Republican Party.

How Truman defied the odds in 1948

Edited September 16, 200817 yr by Greg's GL

Now I'm curious. You have stated that you're socially liberal, so how do you rationalize the Republican's conservative stance on social issues?

I am socially liberal for the most part, with the exception of abortion. I do not agree with their stance on gays, stem cells, cloning, etc..some Republicans take it a little too far with those.

But on most every other issue, I do side with Republicans. Ficsal issues, taxes, smaller government, military strength, abortion, war of terror, education, 2nd amendment, etc..

We've talked about it here, there is no perfect party for anyone. No one will agree with their party 100% of the time. For me, the positives outweigh the negatives with Republicans.

So, I guess I rationalize it by siding with the party that I agree with, on the majority of issues.

This is an interesting article I found on MSNBC. With relevancy to this campaign, how the South ended up as a Republican stronghold. And it's NOT due to the Abe Lincoln Repubs. It's because of the Strom Thurmond Dixiecrats and their disdain for the Democratic stance on Civil Rights that drove them to the Republican Party.

How Truman defied the odds in 1948

Very true. Thanks for posting this.

This is an interesting article I found on MSNBC. With relevancy to this campaign, how the South ended up as a Republican stronghold. And it's NOT due to the Abe Lincoln Repubs. It's because of the Strom Thurmond Dixiecrats and their disdain for the Democratic stance on Civil Rights that drove them to the Republican Party.

How Truman defied the odds in 1948

Again, why I found the "party of Lincoln" comment by Guiliani so ironic.

Again, why I found the "party of Lincoln" comment by Guiliani so ironic.

You and me both. A lot of Repubs spout this same line, obviously ignoring the recent history of their party. More appropriate for today's Republican Party would be the party of Jesse Helms and Strom Thurmond.

On CBSNews.com I found this commentary from Ben Stein that disagrees with McCain's statement on the problems in Georgia. It's interesting in that Ben Stein is a staunch Republican and hawk.

Ben Stein on "Rattling Sabres With Russia"

It sure is quiet around here today. I'm starting to feel lonely...

Edited September 16, 200817 yr by Greg's GL

Today on KTRS here in St. Lous, Carla Fiorino was aksed if Sarah Palin had experience for running Hewlett-Packard. She said, and I quote "No. But that's not what she's running for".

Now, she can't run a company.......but can be POTUS should anything happen?

What is that?

You and me both. A lot of Repubs spout this same line, obviously ignoring the recent history of their party. More appropriate for today's Republican Party would be the party of Jesse Helms and Strom Thurmond.

They haven't been the party of Lincoln for 50 years.

Hi Jess. No, Colin Powell wasn't in the Clinton Administration. If memory serves, he may have been Chairman of the JCS when Clinton was elected, but he didn't stay there the entire term of his presidency.

The only administration he was in was GWB's.

He also was CJCOS under GHWB.

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?A...METRO/809160438

Dems sue to block Michigan GOP from challenging voters who lost homes

Edited September 16, 200817 yr by Roman

Fiorina: Palin Lacks Experience to Run a Company

Updated 3:17 p.m.

By Michael D. Shear

Former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina amended her comments from earlier today that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin could not run a major corporation like HP.

How? By saying that Sen. John McCain couldn’t run one either.

In an interview on NBC with Andrea Mitchell, Fiorina was asked about her comment. In response, she said, “Well, I don’t think John McCain could run a major corporation.”

Not exactly on message. But she went on to explain that the question is a red herring.

“I don’t think Barack Obama could run a major corporation. I don’t think Joe Biden could,” she said. “But it is not the same as being the president or vice president of the United States. It is a fallacy to suggest that the country is like a company, so of course, to run a business, you have to have a lifetime of experience in business, but that’s not what Sarah Palin, John McCain, Barack Obama or Joe Biden are doing.”

Earlier, Fiorina was asked about Palin by a host of the McGraw-Hill Show on St. Louis KTRS Radio: “Do you think she has the experience to run a major company, like Hewlett Packard?”

“No, I don’t,” Fiorina responded. “But you know what? That’s not what she’s running for.”

Fiorina has been a magnet for criticism as a frequent surrogate on the road for McCain. She caused controversy when she said health plans should pay for birth control if they pay for Viagra, a position that is at odds with McCain’s.

And her history at Hewlett Packard has become an issue. When she departed, she received a $21 million golden parachute, the very kind of payouts that McCain has condemned in the last several days.

Fiorina’s comment was the second gaffe for a McCain staffer today. Earlier, Doug Holtz-Eakin suggested that McCain created the Blackberry, a statement which was later called “boneheaded” by a McCain spokesman.

Quote This Comment September 16th, 2008 at 12:28 PM - PDT

On CBSNews.com I found this commentary from Ben Stein that disagrees with McCain's statement on the problems in Georgia. It's interesting in that Ben Stein is a staunch Republican and hawk.

Ben Stein on "Rattling Sabres With Russia"

It sure is quiet around here today. I'm starting to feel lonely...

This sounds like Stein is blasting whoever is pushing this.

Wonder who that was...........

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09...th-care-claims/

Journal Disputes McCain’s Health Care Claims

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September 16, 2008

Asked about McCain's Georgia position, Powell urges caution

Posted: 03:18 PM ET

Five former Secretaries of State weighed in Monday.

(CNN) — Five former Secretaries of State from both parties told CNN Monday the Bush administration’s hard-line approach on Iran needs to be abandoned by the next president – with one GOP foreign policy heavyweight calling the current White House position “ridiculous.”

"I would advise the president to fully engage with Syria," former George H.W. Bush Secretary of State James Baker said at a George Washington University forum co-sponsored by CNN. “I think it's ridiculous for us to say we're not going to talk to Syria, and yet the Israelis have been negotiating peace with them for the last six or eight months.”

Watch Colin Powell on the presidential race

(Powell's full comments will air on “The Next President: A World of Challenges” this Saturday night at 9pm ET and again Sunday at 2pm ET.)

Baker, who has endorsed John McCain’s presidential bid, appeared with former Clinton Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Warren Christopher, Henry Kissinger, who served under Nixon and Ford, and former Bush Secretary of State Colin Powell. Albright has been an active supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

As the former diplomats urged a cautious approach in the conflict between Russia and Georgia, Powell seemed to take a swipe at John McCain’s tough criticism of Moscow.

“Some debate in the presidential elections has basically been, ‘We are all Georgians now,’” said CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour. “What does that mean? It's the same as was said after 9/11.”

Responded Powell, “One candidate said that, and I'll let the candidate explain it for himself.” Pressed to explain his response, the retired general said the crisis called for caution.

“The fact of the matter is that you have to be very careful in a situation like this not just to leap to one side or the other until you take a good analysis of the whole situation….

“The Russian Federation is not going to become the Soviet Union again. That movie failed at the box office. But they do have interests. And we have to think carefully about their interests.”

Powell, who has not yet decided which candidate to back in this year’s presidential race, said Monday the election of an African-American president “would be electrifying,” Powell told a George Washington University audience, “but at the same time [i have to] make a judgment here on which would be best for America.

“I have been watching both individuals, I know them both extremely well, and I have not decided who I am going to vote for. And I'm interested to see what the debates are going to be like because we have to get off of this ‘lipstick on a pig’ stuff and get into issues,” he said

Now, wasn't Obama called naive for suggesting that the U.S. talk turkey with Iran?

Edited September 16, 200817 yr by Roman