Any talk about this person? (Lowell - 10/18/2008 8:03:06 PM)
I was out of town, and unfortunately could not attend. After the flip, I reproduce Russ' e-mail about the event, and his call to action. For anyone who wishes a full primer on Obama's positions regarding Israel, Russ provides both suggested avenues of argument and links to many sources.
For a perspective on Israeli views of the candidates, I strongly recommend the two videos on this page:
(Russ' e-mail on the flip)
Friends,On Tuesday evening, about 25 of us met at J-------'s beautiful condo, to discuss the campaign and what we can do to influence Jews who may be undecided or leaning to McCain. We also passed out some good papers that document Obama's positions on Israel and other issues that are important to Jews.
Please note: Whether you have Jewish friends/family who are undecided or not, please forward this email to friends and family. Some of them will probably know others who are undecided and could use this information. And please, don't assume that Obama's current lead in the polls means that "it's over." It's most certainly not over, and our biggest challenge now may be complacency (which leads people to stay home on election day). Many thanks, Russ and Ruth
This email has:
1. A summary of the strategies we discussed for influencing those on the fence,
2. Links to articles, endorsements and short videos, all from Jewish leaders supporting Obama
3. An invitation to join a conference call tomorrow convened by Obama's Jewish Leadership Committee, which will include his deputy campaign manager, Steve Hildebrand (you have to RSVP to join the call) -- it's at the bottom of this email, and
4. A short summary of where Obama and McCain stand on two key issues: health care and Soc. Security (attached).1. Strategies for Influencing Jews (and others)
1. Reach out to people with whom you have a good relationship. When it comes to persuading others, nothing has the power of hearing from someone you like and respect. Keep it positive, friendly, respect their views, talk about why you support Obama. This use of relationships, of course, is at the heart of "the great schlep," an ingeneous idea connecting young Jews to their grandparents (see the second bullet, below).
2. Offer people sources of information that comes from highly credible sources. For many Jews, AIPAC is a trusted source of information. The 8th bullet, below, shows AIPAC's views on Obama and McCain (it sees them both as equally strong supporters of Israel. Another credible source for many is the Israeli military; the 4th bullet, below, has a link to a fine, short video in which retired Israeli military leaders offer their praise for Obama. And Robert Wexler is a highly respected member of the House of Representatives from Florida; his letter demonstrates Obama's strong support for Israel (7th bullet).
3. Use neutral sources of information with people who may be influenced by the smears and lies. Factcheck.org is strictly nonpartisan and highly respected. The third link, below, has factcheck.org's refutation of a number of lies about Obama.
4. Don't spend time with those whose minds are clearly made up. Unless you enjoy a good argument, there's nothing to be gained (and you're losing time you could spend with someone who's still deciding).
5. People read letters to the editor - send one! Consider sending letters to Jewish newspapers (Richmond has one); some of these papers have run ads and stories that distort Obama's record.
6. Point to Obama's excellent record of supporting Israel. The first and last bullets, below, give good information on his record.
7. It's important to know what is most important to the voter. For many older people, health care, the economy, and Social Security are the top issues. This email has good information comparing Obama and McCain on all of them.
8. Finally, tell your story concerning why you're so taken with Obama. Hearing people talk sincerely, from the heart, about their reasons for supporting a candidate, is powerful.
2. Some Facts About, and Endorsements of, Barack Obama
jewsforobama http://jews4barack.com/mythfac... - an excellent website with endorsements of Obama by leading Jews, facts that counter the lies being spread about Obama, links to Rabbis for Obama, and more.
CNN story on "The Great Schlep:" http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITI...
Factcheck.org refutes some lies and fabrications about Obama's statements:
http://www.factcheck.org/askfa...Retired Israeli generals express support for Obama: see the video, at http://vimeo.com/1882159?pg=em...
Jewish leaders in Chicago who know Obama well talk about their strong support for him. See the video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
National Jewish Democratic Council's comparison of Obama and McCain on a variety of issues important to Jews: http://www.njdc.org/uploads/ob...
Letter from Florida Rep. Robert Wexler, offering strong praise of Obama: http://jews4barack.com/mythfac...
AIPAC: Mr. Brad Gordon, Legislative Director for AIPAC, was asked how AIPAC rates the presidential candidates. He said the AIPAC doesn't issue ratings (like some advocacy groups do). However, he described AIPAC's stance on the candidates as follows:
"The two major presidential candidates have consistently taken strongly pro-Israel positions. When it comes to Israel, both presidential candidates are very solid."