January 13, 2012 | 9:18 pm

New York’s 9th Congressional District

Posted by Steven Windmueller

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Originally posted on September 14, 2011

Tonight’s stunning victory by Robert Turner, a Republican, over Democrat David Weprin may provide a window into the 2012 Presidential campaign. No Republican has held this seat since 1923. This seat was most recently held by Anthony Weiner, who was forced to resign in June. The seat itself may be reapportioned later this year, as New York needs to reconfigure its Congressional representation.

To the voters in these blue-collar Catholic and Jewish neighborhoods of Queens and Brooklyn, President Obama’s message is apparently not resonating. What must be understood as well the President won this district receiving only 55% of the vote; in comparison, Al Gore won the 9th District with 67% of the vote in 2000.

With a median income of only $45,000, the families in this part of New York City may well be responding to the economic concerns of the nation. In an array of polls taken in advance of today’s election, Jewish voters specifically referenced the President’s Israel policies as the basis of their employing this election to send a critical message to the White House.

This district, with its large Orthodox constituency, blue collar base, and immigrant population, maybe an interesting point of measure for key segments of the 2012 Jewish vote. Yet, it is too early to make any definitive statement pertaining to the 2012 election. But there are clear indicators that at least some key groupings within the Jewish community are prepared to make a definitive statement!

The Wind Report will be regularly posting commentaries related to the 2012 Elections and the Jewish vote.

Steven F. Windmueller, Ph.D.
Rabbi Alfred Gottschalk Emeritus Professor
HUC-JIR Los Angeles Campus
213-765-2190
www.thewindreport.com

January 12, 2012 | 12:00 am

2012 Elections and the Jewish Vote

Posted by Steven Windmueller

Originally published September 14, 2011

The forthcoming Presidential election promises to be a challenging time for America. For Jews, a number of key issues will be particularly significant as we enter this political cycle. The American-Israel connection will continue to play a defining role. Economic issues, national security concerns, and the general state of U.S. foreign policy priorities will all be seen as important to this community. Among various Jewish constituencies, domestic interests including job-creation and educational initiatives, immigration reform, and health and social service programs will be seen as compelling.

At the outset of the 2012 campaign, it would appear that American Jews, as in the past several national elections, are divided along party lines. One of the compelling issues however will be to determine if President Obama has experienced an erosion of support, and if so,what might be the nature and depth of that voter dissatisfaction.

The Wind Report will seek to capture the key elements related to the Jewish vote, as it unfolds over the next 14 months.

Your comments and questions are solicited.

Steven F. Windmueller, Ph.D.
Rabbi Alfred Gottschalk Emeritus Professor
HUC-JIR
Los Angeles Campus
www.thewindreport.com

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January 6, 2012 | 3:12 pm

What is The Wind Report?

Posted by Steven Windmueller

The Wind Report serves as a repository of my writings and research covering a fifteen year framework. It is being made available in this format as a way to share my ideas pertaining to communal policy and social trends. The website is divided among a number of specialty areas that allows the reader to select particular subjects of interest.

I welcome your thoughtful feedback, as I continue to explore new areas of inquiry. Collectively, this material reflects this unique moment in time with its various social and economic uncertainties. The articles and documents that comprise this site seek to examine the implications of these transformational times on the state of political behavior, institutional leadership, organizational culture and management, and our global society. The Jewish community is seen here as a laboratory of study, just as it represents an important and sustaining voice in the contemporary world.

Thank you for taking the time to journey through these commentaries.

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