Would a Jew be able to be elected president (Eliot Spitzer)?

[Jacobtm]

My governor, Eliot Spitzer, is a very ambitious politician. As Attorney General, he was incredibly busy, and was easily the most widely known State Attorney General in the country, and probably more widely known than any governors besides Schwarzaneggar and Bush.

He easily won his race for the governorship in '06. On the campaign trail, he was frequently asked if corrupt businessmen were infact funding his Gubernatorial campaign, so that he couldn't do them anymore damage as attorney general. He usually responded that when Teddy Roosevelt was Governor, the Republicans stuck him as the Vice President so that he could no longer cause any "trouble" as Governor, and if you thought Governors couldn't shake up the establishment, you were very wrong.

The comparison to Teddy Roosevelt seems to extend out to Presidential ambition to me. I don't think he's made any announcements, but it seems to me that tthe first time after 2012 when the Democratic field is open, he'll be running for President.

In general, someone with his record would stand out in the primary. Amongst politicians who usually seem all talk, Gov. Spitzer will have a striking record of agressive action, the sort of action that Democratic primary voters ABSOLUTELY LOVE, squeezing money out of corrupt business, suing the federal government for lax environmental laws, etc.

I believe that were his name Eliot Smith, he would be great candidate and have a tremendous shot at winning. But could a Jew carry a state like Ohio, or Iowa, New Mexico, or even New Hampshire? By the time Spitzer runs, the new EC numbers will be in, and the southwest will be much more important, and the North East much less, so any Democrat will likely need New Mexico and Colorado to win. Could a Jewish man pull this off?

[memphis]

I don't see why not. America loves Jewish people.

[Padfoot]

I don't see being a Jew as an obstacle to the presidency.  However, I cannot attest as to whether Spitzer would be the right man for the job.

[Gustaf]

I don't think Jewish would be much of a problem. Anyone who hates Jews probably isn't a Democrat voter to begin with (probably not a Republican either).

[??????????]

Yep, why not? Most fundies I know have a "love affair" with Jewish people.

[J. J.]

Goldwater was of Jewish extraction and carried the more conservative states; Liebermann almost swung the election to Gore, possibly because he was Jewish.

[Kevin]

No him being Jewish will not be a problem at all, However him being a Northeast liberal will be.

[elcorazon]

Goldwater was of Jewish extraction and carried the more conservative states; Liebermann almost swung the election to Gore, possibly because he was Jewish.

huh?  you've got to be kidding me. you believe this?  I think Lieberman was a drag on Gore's campaign, through and through.

All that said, I do think a Jew could win.  I think being Jewish is clearly a liability, however, not nearly as big a liability as being female, but still a liability.  I think it is a greater liability than being black, although it's close.

[Gustaf]

You got to be kidding. Black is waaaay worse.

[Ban my account ffs!]

Well, considering that we elected another Jew for the senate when our last Jewish senator died in a plane crash and a Jew is actually running against the current Jew, I don't see why there'd be a problem, at least here.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Well, considering that we elected another Jew for the senate when our last Jewish senator died in a plane crash and a Jew is actually running against the current Jew, I don't see why there'd be a problem, at least here.

Wasn't the previous Senator for that seat Jewish also?

[minionofmidas]

Goldwater was of Jewish extraction and carried the more conservative states; Liebermann almost swung the election to Gore, possibly because he was Jewish.

huh?  you've got to be kidding me. you believe this?  I think Lieberman was a drag on Gore's campaign, through and through.

Lieberman being Jewish not just almost swung Florida to Gore.

Elsewheres, I don't see how he was "a drag" on the campaign, tho' he was a weak pick that didn't add as much as others might have. But that's nothing to do with his religion.

[elcorazon]

Goldwater was of Jewish extraction and carried the more conservative states; Liebermann almost swung the election to Gore, possibly because he was Jewish.

huh?  you've got to be kidding me. you believe this?  I think Lieberman was a drag on Gore's campaign, through and through.

Lieberman being Jewish not just almost swung Florida to Gore.

Elsewheres, I don't see how he was "a drag" on the campaign, tho' he was a weak pick that didn't add as much as others might have. But that's nothing to do with his religion.

a) I agree his Judaism was not his biggest problem
b) Although Gore arguably won Florida, I don't think Lieberman played much of a part in that, if any.
c) It's possible a better veep pick might have helped Gore in any number of states other than Florida that might have allowed Gore to win (Ohio, Missouri, Tennessee, New Hampshire, Nevada

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

No. A mormon or muslim would have problems tho.

[KEmperor]

Yes, but I would never vote for Spitzer, he's horrible.

[J. J.]

Goldwater was of Jewish extraction and carried the more conservative states; Liebermann almost swung the election to Gore, possibly because he was Jewish.

huh?  you've got to be kidding me. you believe this?  I think Lieberman was a drag on Gore's campaign, through and through.

All that said, I do think a Jew could win.  I think being Jewish is clearly a liability, however, not nearly as big a liability as being female, but still a liability.  I think it is a greater liability than being black, although it's close.

Lieberman had broad appeal and almost gave Gore FL, and possibly gave Gore PA.

[Lincoln Republican]

Yes, a Jew could be elected President, but not that particular individual, Governor Spitzer.

Spitzer is so far to the left he makes Barbara Mikulski look like a moderate. 

[DownWithTheLeft]

I'm going to say no, thankfully it seems like only Christians can be elected president in today's society.  Could that change?  Of course

[War on Want]

Goldwater was of Jewish extraction and carried the more conservative states; Liebermann almost swung the election to Gore, possibly because he was Jewish.

huh?  you've got to be kidding me. you believe this?  I think Lieberman was a drag on Gore's campaign, through and through.

All that said, I do think a Jew could win.  I think being Jewish is clearly a liability, however, not nearly as big a liability as being female, but still a liability.  I think it is a greater liability than being black, although it's close.

Lieberman had broad appeal and almost gave Gore FL, and possibly gave Gore PA.

Gore would have won PA almost for sure.

[useful idiot]

thankfully it seems like only Christians can be elected president in today's society

dude.....

[Torie]

My governor, Eliot Spitzer, is a very ambitious politician. As Attorney General, he was incredibly busy, and was easily the most widely known State Attorney General in the country, and probably more widely known than any governors besides Schwarzaneggar and Bush.

He easily won his race for the governorship in '06. On the campaign trail, he was frequently asked if corrupt businessmen were infact funding his Gubernatorial campaign, so that he couldn't do them anymore damage as attorney general. He usually responded that when Teddy Roosevelt was Governor, the Republicans stuck him as the Vice President so that he could no longer cause any "trouble" as Governor, and if you thought Governors couldn't shake up the establishment, you were very wrong.

The comparison to Teddy Roosevelt seems to extend out to Presidential ambition to me. I don't think he's made any announcements, but it seems to me that tthe first time after 2012 when the Democratic field is open, he'll be running for President.

In general, someone with his record would stand out in the primary. Amongst politicians who usually seem all talk, Gov. Spitzer will have a striking record of agressive action, the sort of action that Democratic primary voters ABSOLUTELY LOVE, squeezing money out of corrupt business, suing the federal government for lax environmental laws, etc.

I believe that were his name Eliot Smith, he would be great candidate and have a tremendous shot at winning. But could a Jew carry a state like Ohio, or Iowa, New Mexico, or even New Hampshire? By the time Spitzer runs, the new EC numbers will be in, and the southwest will be much more important, and the North East much less, so any Democrat will likely need New Mexico and Colorado to win. Could a Jewish man pull this off?

Elliot Spitzer could not be elected no matter what his religion.

[DanielX]

Could Jews get elected? Of course. There's a small but real chance our next President (or the one after that) could be a Mormon, and Mormons are viewed in a *far* more negative light than Jews by most Americans.

We nearly had a Jewish vice president. There are like a dozen or so Jews in the Senate. Quite a few Cabinet members and Supreme Court justices have been Jewish. It isn't exactly like Jews have never been involved in the political process.

[SPC]

thankfully it seems like only Christians can be elected president in today's society. 

So, you would rather have a communist Chrisitan than a conservative Jew? This is why people call you anti-Semetic, DWTL, and it is not without precedent.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

I think that there a certain Jews who could win the election.  Spitzer isn't able to do so yet, but maybe in the future.  Russ Feingold or Chuck Schumer have a good chance to win someday.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

No. Less likely in the future than now. Anti-semitism will come back in a BIG way in the west once the middle east implodes into peak oil/US failed imperial adventures related chaos.