Sep 15, 2012 9:57 PM GMT
Today I ran into some neighbors I hadn’t seen in several months. They are Jews, lifelong Democrats. Two years ago after they had returned from Israel, I asked them about the reaction among the Israelis. At the time they said the Israelis they talked to liked Obama and did not like Netanyahu.
They just returned from another trip to Israel, and I asked them about the opinions among Israelis this time. I asked them specifically if Israelis were worried about Iran. They said they were and mentioned everyone had gas masks. I asked about the opinion about Obama this time. They said the Israelis realize Obama does not care about them and do not expect he would help if the situation with Iran becomes acute. My neighbors are American citizens in their first loyalty of course is to the US, but they are concerned about the US posture towards Israel.
So I asked them who they were voting for this time. They were distraught and said they may not vote at all. Obama has lost them but they could not see themselves voting for Romney. I asked why? They didn’t have a good tangible reason except he was a Republican. I said he was among the more moderate Republicans. They said well look who he chose for a vice president. We discussed Ryan, his approach to save Medicare, not touching anyone 55 years old and older. I also explained how Obama raided Medicare to pay for Obamacare, is establishing a panel to determine if someone should receive coverage for particular medical problem. For example the panel might determine someone is too old to get a hip replacement. That is something that seniors today should be concerned about.
They had never heard this before surprisingly. I asked them where they get their news? They said immediately they would never listen to Fox News. I said fine but it’s obvious that you’re getting the news from sources that are highly loyal to Obama, and are not giving you the true picture. I mentioned as an example the news outlets were worried about Romney saying something that was absolutely correct and consistent with what most Americans feel, that being we shouldn’t be apologizing to those who want to damage our embassies. The news outlets were trying to cover the absolute failure of Obama’s mid-east foreign-policy because Romney spoke while Obama was obviously huddled with his political advisors trying to figure out what to say.
I also mentioned something we had discussed before. That being if they always vote for one political party without regard to the issues or the competency of the candidates, that party will take their vote for granted and not have to earn their vote. Right now the Democratic Party has thrown the Democratic moderates under the bus, and are being driven by the left-wing progressives loyal to Obama. Even though Bill Clinton is supporting Obama, he knows and everyone knows that Obama is nothing like Clinton, who moved to the center. Probably the best thing that could happen to the Democratic Party in the long run is for them to lose and let the moderates reassert control of the party as was during the Clinton years.
I can’t say that I succeeded in one conversation in having them vote for Romney as opposed to not voting at all. But they are certainly going to think about some things that they hadn’t thought about before. What this suggests is the importance of talking to people whether it’s neighbors or even making phone calls. I realize making phone calls is outside the comfort zone of many people, but I would encourage this because we have to get outside our comfort zone if the issues are important to us. Much of the media is corrupt and dishonest. Even though they have less influence than in the past, they still are influential among many who don’t get their news from varied sources. You don’t have to be a gifted orator. Just a common sense discussion may open the eyes of people who have been fooled for too long.
They just returned from another trip to Israel, and I asked them about the opinions among Israelis this time. I asked them specifically if Israelis were worried about Iran. They said they were and mentioned everyone had gas masks. I asked about the opinion about Obama this time. They said the Israelis realize Obama does not care about them and do not expect he would help if the situation with Iran becomes acute. My neighbors are American citizens in their first loyalty of course is to the US, but they are concerned about the US posture towards Israel.
So I asked them who they were voting for this time. They were distraught and said they may not vote at all. Obama has lost them but they could not see themselves voting for Romney. I asked why? They didn’t have a good tangible reason except he was a Republican. I said he was among the more moderate Republicans. They said well look who he chose for a vice president. We discussed Ryan, his approach to save Medicare, not touching anyone 55 years old and older. I also explained how Obama raided Medicare to pay for Obamacare, is establishing a panel to determine if someone should receive coverage for particular medical problem. For example the panel might determine someone is too old to get a hip replacement. That is something that seniors today should be concerned about.
They had never heard this before surprisingly. I asked them where they get their news? They said immediately they would never listen to Fox News. I said fine but it’s obvious that you’re getting the news from sources that are highly loyal to Obama, and are not giving you the true picture. I mentioned as an example the news outlets were worried about Romney saying something that was absolutely correct and consistent with what most Americans feel, that being we shouldn’t be apologizing to those who want to damage our embassies. The news outlets were trying to cover the absolute failure of Obama’s mid-east foreign-policy because Romney spoke while Obama was obviously huddled with his political advisors trying to figure out what to say.
I also mentioned something we had discussed before. That being if they always vote for one political party without regard to the issues or the competency of the candidates, that party will take their vote for granted and not have to earn their vote. Right now the Democratic Party has thrown the Democratic moderates under the bus, and are being driven by the left-wing progressives loyal to Obama. Even though Bill Clinton is supporting Obama, he knows and everyone knows that Obama is nothing like Clinton, who moved to the center. Probably the best thing that could happen to the Democratic Party in the long run is for them to lose and let the moderates reassert control of the party as was during the Clinton years.
I can’t say that I succeeded in one conversation in having them vote for Romney as opposed to not voting at all. But they are certainly going to think about some things that they hadn’t thought about before. What this suggests is the importance of talking to people whether it’s neighbors or even making phone calls. I realize making phone calls is outside the comfort zone of many people, but I would encourage this because we have to get outside our comfort zone if the issues are important to us. Much of the media is corrupt and dishonest. Even though they have less influence than in the past, they still are influential among many who don’t get their news from varied sources. You don’t have to be a gifted orator. Just a common sense discussion may open the eyes of people who have been fooled for too long.
