Mercedes-Benz Washington Watch Auda Contact RICK ZERNER for Exceptional Personal Service & the Area's Best Selection of Fine Automobiles. No Change Bush's pro-Israel positions aren't translating into Jewish votes. JAMES D.BESSER Washington Correspondent R epublican leaders continue to gloat over predictions that PreSident George W. Bush's strong pro-Israel posi- tions and leadership in the war on terror will entice Jewish voters to the GOP side of the aisle, but a new Gallup poll splashes cold water on those predictions. The survey, which examined party identification by religion, found "little meaningful change in the ways in which Americans of any religious lean- ing identified their basic political ori- entation after Sept. 11." And that includes Jewish voters, whose identifi- cation with the Republican Party remains below 20 percent. In a series of polls, 50 percent of Jews surveyed claim Democratic affili- ation, about one-third call themselves independents and only 17 percent identify as Republicans. That stands in sharp contrast to Protestants, with 39 percent identify- ing as Republicans and 32 percent as Democrats. "The party identification of Jews appears to be remarkably stable," according to the Gallup report. "An analysis of over 30,000 Gallup Poll t. interviews conducted from 1992 to 2001 shows almost exactly the same distribution of party identification among the Jewish population, as is the case in the most recent year and a half." Marshall Wittmann, a senior fellow with the conservative Hudson Institute, said that the data reflects what GOP leaders have known for a long time: Despite the media hype • about a big shift, Jewish voters contin- ue to cling to old voting patterns. "I'm not surprised by the Republican numbers," he said. "Especially at the congressional level, the Jewish community is still a very tough nut to crack for the Republican Party: You hear many more positive things about Bush (among Jews), but that is unlikely to translate into votes for other Republicans." But the poll included one hopeful sign for the GOP, he said: the "surpris- ingly high" number of Jews who iden- tify themselves as independents. "Jews have been overwhelmingly Democratic in identification over the years," he said. 'Any weakening. of that identification has to be good for the Republicans. If you pushed most of these independents, they would still probably vote Democratic. Still, it's a departure from the New Deal generation." A top political scientist agreed. "The history of American party identifica- tion is that when groups are shifting from one party to another, they don't do it in one fell swoop," said Benjamin Ginsberg, a professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. "Generally, they do it through third party or independent phases." Multiple Views - ability in the face of a U.S. attack against Iraq, which incensed Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., a leading member of the Jewish delegation in the House. Decrying the one-man witness list, Waxman said that while "the topic of this hearing is important, I regret that the minority was not consulted in advance about witnesses for today's hearing ... To the best of my knowl- edge, the chairman did not send invi- tations to a single member of the cur- rent Israeli government." Waxman acknowledged that Netanyahu is "respected widely for his expertise," but noted that he "repre- sents only one point of view." Before the hearing, Waxman suggested addi- tional witnesses such as former Prime Minister Ehud Barak — a suggestion that was ignored by Burton. Last week, the American Jewish Committee and several other Jewish groups took advantage of the opening of the United Nations Security Council and the presence of scores of foreign ministers in New York to rein- force the administration's case on Iraq. "In more than 60 meetings, we've emphatically urged support for the U.S. position," Execuitve Director David Harris said. Israel's vulnerability to Iraqi attack is not the most important factor in the debate .. now raging in the Bush admin- istration and on Capitol Hill over the expected strike, but it is a growing Church-State Complication for U.S. policymakers. Iraq and homeland security are the big- That complication was highlighted ticket items on the table as Congress last week by former Prime Minister crashes toward adjournment in October, Binyamin Netanyahu, who appeared but a number of issues with church- before the House Government Reform state implications continue to percolate. Committee and said that that Israel Last week, the House leadership supports U.S. preemptive action against abruptly pulled from the floor a bill Iraq "even though we stand on the front providing education tax credits to help line, while others criticize it as they sit low-income families pay for private comfortably on the sidelines." But he and parochial schools. The reason, warned that Israel "must be protected," according to political analysts: They and said that the U.S. government didn't have the votes to pass it. should provide help with civil defense - Supporters say the measure could measures such as smallpox vaccinations. help poor families rescue their children -Much more worrisome, he said, are from failing inner-city public schools; reports that Iraq may be only months opponents say it would help only a away from a nuclear weapons capabili- tiny number of students and open the ty. "No gas mask and no vaccine can door to more direct public funding of protect against nuclear weapons," he religious schools. said. "Science has not yet invented Nathan Diament, director of the such a device." Orthodox Union's Institute for Public The former prime minister also Affairs, said the real problem was that warned that the Iraqi dictator would too many House members were out of likely share his nuclear technology town when the vote was scheduled, with terror groups like Al Qaeda. and he predicted the bill will resurface The committee, under the chairman- before Congress adjourns next month. ship of Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., has Opponents, including most liberal become Netanyahu's favorite Jewish groups, say that's a stretch. Washington soapbox. He testified before the same committee only nine days after With the congressional calendar clogged with appropriations bills and the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. the measure creating a big Department Netanyahu's appearance wasn't with- out controversy. He was the only witness of Homeland Security, finding time for the tax credit bill will be tough. ❑ to address the question of Israel's vulner- — Your Tri-State Source Since 1956 VIN DEVERS MERCEDES-BENZ • AUDI 5570 MONROE • SYLVANIA, OH 419/885-5111 www.vindevers.com Fast Fun Fitness For Her 0 ,0/1-ifist 39Mf11-60r 164 A unique 30-minute circuit exercise program, set to music that builds & tones muscle, while burning fat! Our ladies love it because it's simple, • it's fun and it works! Any age, any condition. Must be ready for a lifestyle change, not a temporary fix. 5548 Drake Road @ Walnut Lake Rd. 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