Norman Podhoretz

This book makes a valiant but not totally successful effort to explain why Jews "earn like Episcopalians and vote like Puerto Ricans." The attachment to Jewish causes is well-known and legendary. Jews are active in academia, government and entertainment, as well as the professions. While most support Israel, on other issues most are quite liberal, almost socialist. Mr. Podhoretz tries to explain this contradiction.

He takes us on a long and rather interesting trek through European and then American history. Mr. Podhoretz demonstrates how, until Roosevelt, the Democrats/liberals were almost always aligned with the Jews. The Jews made Roosevelt his hero, notwithstanding his treachery. Thereafter things get more complicated. The Jews continue, with the notable exception of Jimmy Carter's 1980 election, to vote Democratic with more than a 60% margin. The closest he comes to a convincing explanation (spoiler alert) is a one-paragraph reference to genetics that I find rather convincing.

His lengthier explanation is that liberalism and tikkun olam have beome like a Torah in and of itself; and unfalsifiable religion. To me that's a cop-out; it's saying "it is because it is." However, the book is interesting and well worth reading, as much for provoking disturbing thought than it is for answering the question "Why Are Jews Liberals?"… (meer)

1737 Why We Were in Vietnam, by Norman Podhoretz (read 5 Aug 1982) Somewhat to my surprise I read this based on a recommendation by a conservative columnist. Podhoretz concludes we were in Vietnam for idealistic reasons, though it was imprudent to attempt what we did. I sturdily supported our Vietnam policy until 1968, when I became more dovish--but my heart was never really in my dovishness, though despising Nixon as I did I could be easy about opposing things he did. But this book is so rightist that it turned me off some, too. But the book is a good antidote to the liberal line on Vietnam.… (meer)