In NY9th, Orthodox Jews Voted Their Conscience, Not Their Affiliation

Just how much of a repudiation of the Obama Administration's policies was the election of Republican political novice Bob Turner (photo right) over Democratic NY state Assemblyman David Weprin in the special election for the New York Ninth Congressional District? Well, here's a hint: the large Orthodox Jewish community in the Ninth apparently voted heavily in favor of the GOP's Turner, in preference to the Orthodox Jewish candidate, Assemblyman Weprin. And the issues that drove votes away from Weprin were (1) his decisive vote in the New York State Assembly for gay marriage, and (2) anger over the Obama's Administrations lack of support for Israel. Concerns over Israel led to cross-party endorsements of Bob Turner by former New York City Democratic Congressman and Mayor Ed Koch and by Weprin's fellow Orthodox Jewish Assemblyman Dov Hikind (Democrat-Brooklyn). Hikind summed up the race nicely, when he said that he hoped the election of a Republican by the heavily Democratic Brooklyn and Queens congressional district would "send a message to President Obama about his failed, disastrous economic policies and his reckless policies toward Israel."

I am proud that the Orthodox Jewish voters of the New York Ninth Congressional District chose their principles over feelings of religious or ethnic loyalty in electing Bob Turner to Congress.