Editor's Letter

WOMEN'S

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN

DESIGNER

Exercise Your Vote

w

e Jews are passionate when it comes to politics.
We're activists, donors, fundraisers, volunteers
and voters. And we continue to diversify our
political stripes.
Michigan is a swing state this presidential election sea-
son. And while Jewish voters still vote overwhelmingly
Democratic, don't be surprised if a
quarter of our votes or more go to
Republican candidates, including the
presidential contender. GOP support
is growing. We're no longer as predict-
able. We no longer have a clearly dis-
tinct voice.
The number of Jews lining
up behind Joe Knollenberg, the
Republican incumbent, and Gary
Peters, the Democratic challenger,
in Michigan's Ninth Congressional
District race is another example of
how we have spread our political wings.
All this comes to mind as the Jewish community girds
for this year's Aug. 5 primary and Nov. 4 general elections
in which we'll fill a host of local, county, judicial, state and
national offices.
Because only 1 percent of the
American population gets involved
in political parties or runs for public
office, Jewish political involve-
ment does have an impact. It does
so not only by actively supporting
candidates and issues, but also by
heightening Jewish influence overall.
Significantly, Jews make up just 2 percent of the U.S. popu-
lation but vote in far greater proportion than many ethnic
groups. Our community may be divided on some issues, but
we understand the democratic franchise to form opinions,
bone up on issues and be part of a political process foreign to
so many other nations.

limits and kosher food fraud.
• Older-adult issues, like how we choose and fund services;
notably, the Jewish community has a higher percentage of
elderly than the population as a whole.
• Labor issues, like workplace discrimination because of
ethnicity or gender.
• Human rights issues that embrace Jews in other lands.
• Education issues, from support for public education to
the new phenomenon of publicly funded charter Hebrew-lan-
guage schools.
The November winner for president is likely to name
Supreme Court justices as well, keeping or altering the court's
current political tilt.
Foremost on the agenda is assuring a safe, secure, prosper-
ous Israel — our beloved (and embattled) ancestral home-
land. But this can't be the only issue that Jews consider before
we cast our ballots.

The Jewish Stakes
The Detroit Jewish community is directly tied to this election
cycle. We have a stake in the state's economic distress, dearth
of new jobs, tax structure, flight of young adults to trendy
urban hotspots and all-around bad vibes. Our vulnerable
populations are at greater risk — our older
adults who are frail, who have a disability or
who are on a fixed income; our special needs
community; our young families struggling to
meet expenses.
It's important for our elected officials to
know that more and more Jews are turning
to Federation for support; we're not immune
from the state's fiscal woes. Candidates
should be asked how they will protect the most vulnerable
populations among us.
Staff member P.J. Cherrin of the Bloomfield Township-
based Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) is right:
"We need to support candidates who understand the impor-
tant services the Jewish community provides with blended
public and private funds along with highly organized volun-
teer efforts!"
I'm eager to see the results of the JCRC's newly convened
Election 2008 Coalition. Its goals include planning voter
forums, sustaining Jewish concern and ensuring nonpartisan
access to issues and candidates.
From his perch as JCRC assistant director for public affairs,
Cherrin captured why the Jewish community is keen on
grasping each candidate's political hashkafah (worldview).
"We are one of the few constituencies for which foreign
affairs concerns play an important role in how we vote
Cherrin said. "Jewish community members want to know how
their candidates think about Israel's security needs, homeland
security threats and the importance of American involvement
in the Middle East peace process?'
We Jews can make a difference with our vote. I just hope we
don't squander it this year. ❑

In my view, v oting is
a responsibilit y, not a
whimsical act

Not A Privilege
The Detroit Jewish community has 58,700 people of vot-
ing age, according to the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit's 2005 population study. And the most important
thing we can do this election season is vote. It's a hallmark of
the democratic freedoms we so cherish in America.
In America, voting matters. The U.S. Constitution doesn't
compel citizens to be involved politically, or even to vote. We
can ignore Election Day, if we want, without losing the right
to challenge the records of elected officials. But the repre-
sentative democracy we live in sure works better when we're
informed, engaged and open-minded — and we vote.
In my view, voting is a responsibility, not a whimsical act.
As a minority in a heavily Christian nation, Jews must stay
involved. American planks of government are only as sturdy
and responsive as the public servants elected. Jews must
remain vigilant about making our collective voice heard in the
political arena to ensure that our rights are protected and our
priorities not lost.
Diverse as we are, Jews still have a political agenda that pul-
sates in areas like equal rights and social justice. Specifically,
agenda items include:
• Religious issues, like church and state separation, autopsy

1

O

1 10 1-

What other issues belong on the 2008
political radar?

I Z zi Is sitting out an election a practical form
0 0 1
I a. ILI of protest?

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July 10 • 2008

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