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Not necessarily. There's less of a positive to campaigain on your "blue blood" roots as those with longer term roots don't have much an identity of it. At least no Massachusetts would try such a thing, even there have been some WASPs elected to office.
I don't know about Massachusetts, but in Philly, Ed Rendell did an excellent job playing up (and toning down) his Jewish roots at the appropriate times. The flip-side wasn't exactly WASPiness, but it was sufficiently "non-threatening gentile" to get others (particularly other white ethnics who may otherwise have voted against him) on his side.
Besides, the whole blueblood persona is more subtle and can simply be reflected in the way one walks, talks, and dresses. Explicitly heralding Colonial-era ancestors and old money ties would be far too garish/nouveau riche.
Last edited by ElijahAstin; 09-16-2014 at 12:38 PM..
I don't know about Massachusetts, but in Philly, Ed Rendell did an excellent job playing up (and toning down) his Jewish roots at the appropriate times. The flip-side wasn't exactly WASPiness, but it was sufficiently "non-threatening gentile" to get others (particularly other white ethnics who may otherwise have voted against him).
Hmm. Jewish-ness might be different from other "white ethnic" as it always has seem more "other", especially historically.
Hmm. Jewish-ness might be different from other "white ethnic" as it always has seem more "other", especially historically.
That's probably true, but I would also think that Irish/Italians/Polish, etc. in similar situations would similarly need to pay heed to their own group without alienating others. Obviously, this would be a much bigger concern 40, 50, 60 years ago than today.
I don't know about Massachusetts, but in Philly, Ed Rendell did an excellent job playing up (and toning down) his Jewish roots at the appropriate times. The flip-side wasn't exactly WASPiness, but it was sufficiently "non-threatening gentile" to get others (particularly other white ethnics who may otherwise have voted against him) on his side.
Jews don't typically play up their Jewishness in political campaigns. You really don't even hear Chuck Schumer talk much about being Jewish. Appeals to the Jewish community are usually less direct.
For example, Tom Knox puts signs all around the Northeast and Roxborough saying "Tom Knox: 100% Irish Catholic." It can't get any more blatant and direct than that.
Jewish candidates typically won't be that bold ("Mike Bloomberg: 100% Jewish!"). However, during a speech they might say something like "Iran is the greatest threat to world peace and stability today" and then everybody gets the point.
Jews don't typically play up their Jewishness in political campaigns. You really don't even hear Chuck Schumer talk much about being Jewish. Appeals to the Jewish community are usually less direct.
Someone like Chuck Schumer doesn't really have to. Rendell, who as a person isn't that attached to his Jewish roots, needed to make more of an effort--again, at the right place and time. Some family members of mine were closely involved in his campaign processes, and they told me as such. The Jewish vote in Philly was, and remains, a very important consideration.
Jewish candidates typically won't be that bold ("Mike Bloomberg: 100% Jewish!"). However, during a speech they might say something like "Iran is the greatest threat to world peace and stability today" and then everybody gets the point.
Just because they're not as loud about it doesn't mean they don't turn up and down the notches when necessary and appropriate, as your latter example reflects. Things like Jewish Exponent interviews, synagogue appearances, etc. are where it really counts. Those would be the proxies for the "Ed Rendell: 100% Jewish, but never mind my shikse wife!" signs .
Another interesting thing about Fast Eddie: by living in East Falls, joining the Cricket Club, and summering in Ocean City, among other things, he was able to tap into a much wider array of networks than if he had been a Bustleton/Philmont/Margate kind of guy.
Last edited by ElijahAstin; 09-16-2014 at 01:02 PM..
Someone like Chuck Schumer doesn't really have to.
Neither did Rendell. Or Dianne Feinstein.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElijahAstin
Rendell, who as a person isn't that attached to his Jewish roots, needed to make more of an effort--again, at the right place and time.
How is Rendell not "that attached to his Jewish roots"?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElijahAstin
Some family members of mine were closely involved in his campaign processes, and they told me as such. The Jewish vote in Philly was, and remains, a very important consideration.
Just because they're not as loud about it doesn't mean they don't turn up and down the notches when necessary and appropriate, as your latter example reflects. Things like Jewish Exponent interviews, synagogue appearances, etc. are where it really counts. Those would be the proxies for the "Ed Rendell: 100% Jewish, but never mind my shikse wife!" signs .
If you're not loud about it, then that's not really "playing it up." Joe Biden debated Paul Ryan on NBC and spent an inordinate amount of time talking about his Irish upbringing in Scranton, "malarkey," the Irish work ethic, Irish toughness, etc. You don't hear that type of talk out of Jewish politicians.
Jewish candidates typically won't be that bold ("Mike Bloomberg: 100% Jewish!"). However, during a speech they might say something like "Iran is the greatest threat to world peace and stability today" and then everybody gets the point.
Bloomberg doesn't really the style of a "white ethnic" candidate compared to say Ed Koch. Though I agree with your point. Speaking Ed Koch, from the link I posted earlier:
I was always very conscious that I was Jewish. And it wasn’t anti-Semitism that caused that. I was conscious that I was Jewish and very proud of it. And then when I became politically active it all changed. When I became politically active it was in the Village and the Village was overwhelmingly Italian, the constituency. And if I was going to succeed, if I was going to win the races that were going to be waged against Carmine De Sapio and others, it would be necessary — you’d have to be a fool not to understand that it was imperative that I become as involved with the Italian community as I possibly could. And I did. I formed the local organization called the MacDougal Area Neighborhood Association to clean up the street. One thousand Italians joined it. I mean, they were so angry at everybody else ruining the neighborhood. And they appointed me the leader, they voted for me. And it wasn’t like it was a sharp lesson that you had to learn — that if you helped people, if they thought you were honest with them — that they would actually vote for you even though you were not, in this case, Italian.
Jews don't typically play up their Jewishness in political campaigns. You really don't even hear Chuck Schumer talk much about being Jewish. Appeals to the Jewish community are usually less direct.
For example, Tom Knox puts signs all around the Northeast and Roxborough saying "Tom Knox: 100% Irish Catholic." It can't get any more blatant and direct than that.
Jewish candidates typically won't be that bold ("Mike Bloomberg: 100% Jewish!"). However, during a speech they might say something like "Iran is the greatest threat to world peace and stability today" and then everybody gets the point.
Ed Rendell is not known for being very religious yet when he won PA Governor he had his rabbi by his side at the podium who is said to "cater to the Russian Immigrant population in Northeast Philly"-whom are mostly Jewish. So I do think it can be turned up or down as Elijah said.
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