Did Palin Falsely Imply Mayoral Opponent Was Jewish?

Hmmmm....

Did Palin Falsely Imply Mayoral Opponent Was Jewish?

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/15/did_palin_win_mayors_job_by_je/

 

By M.J. Rosenberg - October 15, 2008, 11:35AM

An excellent piece in the New York Times reveals something about Sarah Palin that I did not know. She became mayor of Wasilla, in part, by using hints about the supposed Jewish ancestry of her opponent, the incumbent mayor, a fellow Republican named Stein. Palin turned a municipal election into a Christian crusade.

From the New York Times: "The traditional turning points that had decided municipal elections in this town of less than 7,000 people -- Should we pave the dirt roads? Put in sewers? Which candidate is your hunting buddy? -- seemed all but obsolete the year Palin, then 32, challenged the three-term incumbent,...

"Sarah comes in with all this ideological stuff, and I was like, 'Whoa,'" said Stein, who lost the election. "But that got her elected: abortion, gun rights, term limits and the religious born-again thing. I'm not a church-going guy and that was another issue: 'We will have our first Christian mayor.'"

Stein was shocked. No opponent had ever used his religion against him even though his name is Stein.

'I thought: 'Holy cow, what's happening here? Does that mean she thinks I'm Jewish....," recalled Mr. Stein.

Stein, a Lutheran born with a name that sounds Jewish, didn't have a chance.

But now, for Jews, its payback time. Reports out of Florida show that Jewish voters who had been wary about Barack Obama have now returned to the fold, largely thanks to Sarah Palin. A "This Is A Christian Country" Vice President is the last thing most Jews want, even Jewish Republicans. On top of that, she's running against Joe Biden.

No wonder we're pulling ahead in Florida.