Major Jewish Supporters from 2008 Still Back Obama

Despite rumors of Obama’s Middle East policies affecting supports from Jews.

President Barack Obama may attempt to tap into every type of supporter he had in 2008, including Jews.  And so far, recent statistics show that major Jewish donors will still support Obama, despite reports that the president's Middle East policies would discourage Jewish voters.

On Dec. 16 in Washington, D.C., the president delivered a keynote address to thousands of Jewish Americans at the 71st General Assembly of the Union for Reform Judaism in Washington, D.C.

During the speech, Obama reaffirmed America’s support for Israel in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"We stand with Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. America's commitment and my commitment to security of Israel is unshakeable," Obama said, according to YNetNews.com.

"I said in September at the UN, no nation can tolerate terror or accept rockets targeting innocent women and children. It's hard to remember a time when the administration gave more support to the security of Israel, don't let anyone to tell you otherwise, it's a fact," the president said.
The president also reasserted his pledge to make the Islamic Republic to stop its acquisition of deadly weapons.

"We are determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. And that’s why we’ve worked painstakingly from the moment I took office with allies and partners, and we have imposed the most comprehensive, the hardest-hitting sanctions that the Iranian regime has ever faced…And that’s why, rest assured, we will take no options off the table," Obama said.

Although the speech may have been Obama’s reelection pitch to Jewish voters, the move may be necessary as Jewish newspaper Forward reported that top fundraisers from the president’s 2008 campaign have decided to stick with him for 2012.

The most recent data released by the campaign shows that DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg has raised more than half a million dollars for the 2012 campaign. Nine of the top 2008 Jewish fundraisers are missing from the 2012 list because Obama has appointed them as ambassadors to different countries, and federal employees are unable to fundraise in a political campaign.

Comcast executive David Cohen was among new top Jewish supporters, and has raised more than one million dollars. Film producer Harvey Weinstein was also at the top of the list.