When will the United States elect it's first Jewish President?

[Lincoln Republican]

When will the United States elect it's first Jewish President?

[Bo]

After 2092. However, there are too many variables. The country was probably ready for a Jewish President ever since the 1950s-1960s. Joe Lieberman could have become President if Gore won in 2000 and then terrorists managed to successfully hit the White House on 9/11, though.

[Psychic Octopus]

Russ Feingold could run in 2016 and win.

[Bo]

Russ Feingold could run in 2016 and win.

I think it's unlikely he'll run, though.

[pbrower2a]

Jewish talent in politics is just too good to ignore.

If we can elect the son of an African, then we have smashed a huge barrier for Americans not of descent from the British Isles, Germany, the Low Countries, and France.

I am going by religion -- not ancestry. John Kerry came close to winning, but he does not count as Jewish.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Soon, within a decade or two.

[Magic 8-Ball]

Spitzer would have been a good candidate had he not resigned in disgrace.

[Bo]

Spitzer would have been a good candidate had he not resigned in disgrace.

I strongly agree.

[hawkeye59]

Spitzer would have been a good candidate had he not resigned in disgrace.

I strongly agree.

[Conservative frontier]

2012-2024 election.

Eric Cantor in 2016, if Obama wins in 2012.

[Bo]

2012-2024 election.

Eric Cantor in 2016, if Obama wins in 2012.

lol

[milhouse24]

I don't think it will be someone who is orthodox jewish, at least hopefully not, like Lieberman.  Some people were worried that a Catholic President like Kennedy would take his orders from the Pope, and Kennedy barely won.  I can see Cantor doing well, he seems to minimize his religious views to the public.  Most Americans want a separation of church and state, especially if that politician is of a minority religion.  I know that America's been tied to Israel for decades, but until there is peace in the middle east, it will be too serious of an issue both domestically and internationally to have a Jewish president.  The Muslim countries would never trust us.  I didn't realize that Israel was a theocracy until recently, so I think much progress needs to be made to create a 2 state solution and a government that allows freedom for palestinians and Jews. 

[milhouse24]

Do you think that the Media hides the reasons for muslim terrorism?  Sure some terrorists may hate US intervention in the middle east or the spreading of a liberal culture.  But is the real reason for muslim terrorism the Israel-Palestine conflict? 

We are wasting billions of dollars bombing the wrong countries Iraq and Afghanstan and the public has no idea that the real issue is Palestine.  The powerful Israel and pro-Israel lobby may be influencing the media and govt to neglect Palestine.  These wars are ruining the American economy and lives to prop up another country. 

America has survived with freedom of religion, why can't Israel govern by the same policies?

[Хahar 🤔]

America has survived with freedom of religion, why can't Israel govern by the same policies?

Because it wouldn't be a Jewish state then.

[memphis]

American Jews tend to be too far left to be elected President, though I guess an exception could always be found here or there. Nobody could've predicted Obama a few years back.

[Electric Feel]

There shouldn't be a jewish state.

[Stranger in a strange land]

I think we've been ready for a Jewish president since the early 60s. We'll have one eventually, it will just take time. I'm guessing it will be sometime in the next 40 years.

[Bo]

The problem is that Jews only make up 2% of the U.S. population, which might shrink to 1% in several decades. Catholics made up 28% of the population in 1960 (and the percentage was around that level for several decades before that). Blacks made up 13% of the population in 2008 (and between 9 and 13% for the preceding several decades). Thus, logistically, it is much harder and takes much longer to elect a Jewish President--there are fewer potential Jewish candidates than for other groups. Of course, Jews are overrepresented in politics, but still. Similarly, I think we will be ready for a gay President in several decades, but it might take much longer than that to get one elected.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

When an excellent Jewish candidate comes along, right?

[justW353]

I like Anthony Weiner.  I think he's got a chance if he manages to get out of the House.

Feingold could be a good candidate in 2016.

Spitzer could have done big things.

[milhouse24]

America has survived with freedom of religion, why can't Israel govern by the same policies?

Because it wouldn't be a Jewish state then.

Does it have to be a Jewish state, and therefore non-Jews cannot live within its borders?  That seems pretty extreme and a violation of human rights.  Its also sound fascist.

[milhouse24]

The problem is that Jews only make up 2% of the U.S. population, which might shrink to 1% in several decades. Catholics made up 28% of the population in 1960 (and the percentage was around that level for several decades before that). Blacks made up 13% of the population in 2008 (and between 9 and 13% for the preceding several decades). Thus, logistically, it is much harder and takes much longer to elect a Jewish President--there are fewer potential Jewish candidates than for other groups. Of course, Jews are overrepresented in politics, but still. Similarly, I think we will be ready for a gay President in several decades, but it might take much longer than that to get one elected.

There are a lot of ambitious and educated Jewish professionals but since they are such a small part of the population, I would really have to determine whether their motives are simply to obtain power and prestige, or whether they can actually serve the best interests of the everyday average Christian voter.  We are divided by race, and gender in America but a common unifying force that transcends race and gender is religion. 

I would say that Obama connected to many Christian White voters and not just Black Americans, and it helped him win the White House.  I'm not saying its impossible for a non-Christian to connect to other Races and Gender, but its not as easy.  JFK had difficulty convincing non-Catholics and he's been the only Catholic President, yet Catholics are about 30% of the population.

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

Barry Goldwater should have been the first kind-of Jewish president in 1964.

[Bo]

Barry Goldwater should have been the first kind-of Jewish president in 1964.

He wasn't Jewish by religion, though.

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

Barry Goldwater should have been the first kind-of Jewish president in 1964.

He wasn't Jewish by religion, though.

If you're only counting practicing religious Jews, then you'll probably wait forever before one of them ever got elected President of the U.S.

Goldwater was in fact half-Jewish.