GOP should consider voters’ many concerns

Once again, Republicans are attempting to persuade American Jews to switch their political affiliation from Democratic to Republican based on their support for the State of Israel. (Op-Ed by Kevin F. Moot and letter by Steve Landis in Wednesday’s Sun Sentinel.)

Once again, it ain’t gonna happen since American Jews are not nearly as one-dimensional as some partisans seem to think. While to many in my cohort of American Jews (somewhere north of 65) Israel is a vital factor in our decision about party affiliation, there are at least two factors that are constantly overlooked.

First, American Jews have many other concerns about the political stances of the parties. The positions of each party on topics such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other problems and challenges we face as Americans are powerful factors in the decisions made as to which party is supported. For many American Jews, the Republican position on these matters is perceived as totally wrong and the idea of having, for instance, one’s Social Security cut or curtailed may well carry greater weight than either party’s position on Israel.

Second, the younger cohorts of American Jews have a significantly lower attachment to Israel than my cohorts. So please, to switch allegiance based on one party or the other’s position on Israel will fail to resonate with these cohorts with the strength of more mature cohorts.

If Republicans want to attract more American Jews to their party, they need to bring their party more in line with what American Jews support.

That too, ain’t gonna happen. Though it’s nice to be wanted. Michael A. Poretsky, Boca Raton