Probably the one time that concern over the Jewish vote did make a difference concerning US foreign policy in regards to Israel was at the very origin of that state, at the time of the 1948 presidential election, in which the Democratic nominee, Harry Truman, found himself in a four way race, in which he was facing not only Thomas Dewey for the Republicans but also Strom Thurmond, back then a Democrat, who was running on a "Dixiecrat" ticket, and former vice president Henry Wallace who was running as a Progressive. For Truman, the candidacy of Henry Wallace posed a particular challenge, since he threatened to play a spoiler role in the state of New York. Thomas Dewey, the Republican nominee, had of course been governor of New York, while Wallace was threatening to siphon away liberal voters from Truman, especially Jews, who were attracted by Wallace's staunch support for the Zionist cause. There is therefore some reason to believe that Truman's decision to grant recognition to Israel was motivated at least in part by the fear that defection of Jewish voters to Wallace, would have made it possible for Dewey to carry New York, thus enabling him to defeat Truman.
Jim F.
On Thu, 27 Feb 2003 14:40:36 -0500 Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com>
writes:
> loupaulsen at attbi.com wrote:
>
> >The argument that US politicians have to do the bidding of
> right-wing
> >Zionists in order to court the Jewish vote and get elected is also
> >unconvincing and is basically mistaking effect for cause.
>
> Jews are something like 3% of the U.S. electorate and concentrated
> in
> New York and LA, places that Republicans almost never carry in
> presidential elections. Right-wing Christians are the major
> pro-Israel force in electoral politics.
>
> Doug
>
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