After election, a wary eye on new prez

Voters speak their minds about President-elect Obama

By Malka Eisenberg

Issue of Nov. 14, 2008 / 17 Cheshvan 5769

A random survey of Five Towns residents finds most voters agree that Barack Obama’s election as the 44th president is historic, but most adopt a “wait and see” attitude towards his policies.

According to the Nassau County Board of Elections, the Lawrence Middle School polling station recorded that 81 percent of people voted for John McCain, the highest percentage in Long Island.

Election results show Cedarhurst voted 64 percent for McCain and 36 percent for Obama; Hewlett was 45 percent for McCain and 54 percent for Obama, Inwood, 36 percent for McCain and 64 percent for Obama; Lawrence totaled 79 percent for McCain and 21 percent for Obama; and Woodmere came in with 64 percent for McCain and 36 percent for Obama.

“I think it’s certainly historic,” said Michael Fragin, Lawrence Village Trustee. “I don’t see how anyone can disagree. It’s 40 years post segregation; if Obama had grown up in the south 40 years ago he couldn’t vote. He’s the first child of immigrants to be elected President and the first post-Vietnam War candidate who didn’t have to grapple with the issue of the Vietnam War. He’s African American and his relative youth is also historic.”

“I think it is historic,” agreed Mel Cweibeker, “but his relative inexperience might create tensions or problems. He may have a difficult time concretizing his ideas, and getting things done.”

“There’s no doubt that it’s historic,” echoed Rita Carp. “It’s the first time a black person was elected as president of the United States.”

Though she voted for McCain, Carp said she have liked to see more balanced coverage of both candidates in the Jewish media.

“I didn’t vote for Obama because I had real concerns about his policy towards Israel,” Carp explained. I know he was a member of Rev. Wright’s church and associated with Farakhan. It doesn’t make me comfortable that he’s getting congratulations from Arab leaders that want to wipe Israel off the map.”

On the other hand, Carp felt that McCain didn’t appear to “embrace the future” while she believes that Obama “[is] smart, used the internet well, energized young people and led through a grassroots movement.”

Fragin expressed concern over Obama’s relative inexperience.

“In a time of crisis economically and abroad it could be detrimental to the country,” he said. There is also an issue of one party domination; there will be a push within the democratic party to raise taxes and that could potentially have ramifications for the economy.”

Another issue the new president will face, he pointed out, is a “make or break decision regarding a nuclear Iran. The UN has found itself unable to deal with that directly.”

Most of those in the community who were supporters of McCain thought that he was better in terms of foreign policy plans for the Middle East, Fragin explained. People were therefore relieved when Obama picked Rahm Emanuel as his chief of staff, since he served in the Israeli army, his father is Israeli and he’s a “proven friend of Israel,” Fragin noted.

“I do think that hopefully this dispels the notion that he’s a Trojan horse for terrorists and is rabidly anti-Israel,” Fragin added “Time will tell as to how his administration shapes up. We live in a democracy. The majority has spoken. We should be supportive of the president.”

“I voted for McCain,” confided Stephen Bach, “but when I got up in the morning, I was hoping that Obama won and was relieved when I saw that he had. I’m tired of racism in this country and I hope this quashes it. If he could unite this country so we could focus on real issues like Iran then Iím all for it. What worries me is why is Iran rooting for him?”

“We have to wait and see,” said Carp. “If we disagree we have to make our opinions known in a respectful manner. We have to use friendly persuasion.”