When will the United States elect it's first Jewish President?

[Bo]

After 2092. However, there are too many variables. The country was probably ready for a Jewish President ever since the 1950s-1960s. Joe Lieberman could have become President if Gore won in 2000 and then terrorists managed to successfully hit the White House on 9/11, though.

[Bo]

Russ Feingold could run in 2016 and win.

I think it's unlikely he'll run, though.

[Bo]

Spitzer would have been a good candidate had he not resigned in disgrace.

I strongly agree.

[Bo]

2012-2024 election.

Eric Cantor in 2016, if Obama wins in 2012.

lol

[Bo]

The problem is that Jews only make up 2% of the U.S. population, which might shrink to 1% in several decades. Catholics made up 28% of the population in 1960 (and the percentage was around that level for several decades before that). Blacks made up 13% of the population in 2008 (and between 9 and 13% for the preceding several decades). Thus, logistically, it is much harder and takes much longer to elect a Jewish President--there are fewer potential Jewish candidates than for other groups. Of course, Jews are overrepresented in politics, but still. Similarly, I think we will be ready for a gay President in several decades, but it might take much longer than that to get one elected.

[Bo]

Barry Goldwater should have been the first kind-of Jewish president in 1964.

He wasn't Jewish by religion, though.

[Bo]

I actually think Kerry would have beaten Bush if he was Christian.  Kerry never talked about his religion, but if he was a Christian he could have swayed a lot of Ohio voters.

If there were to be a Jewish President, he would probably have to start as a Jewish Governor and I can't think of any at the moment.

Some of my concerns are that will he/she be Pro-Israel and not put American interests first.  I think this is a serious issue, even for other candidates who are Catholic, Muslim, Asian.  Would they be willing to put America's interest first and put down other countries of their heritage if needed. 

I think all successful candidates need to be a "man/woman of the common people" and be able to make citizens "feel good"  Religion makes it easier to build Trust. 

Uh, Kerry was a Christian. Catholicism, together with Protestanism and Orthox Christianity, are different branches of Christianity.

[Bo]

While the 3 American presidents since 1967 who have made the most serious effort for an independent Palestine in the West Bank and Gaza (Carter, Clinton and Obama) all got a higher % of Jewish voters than their % of Gentile voters.

I think Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. made a much more serious effort to create a Palestinain state than Carter did.

[Bo]

I'd like to see Eric Cantor as a VP nominee personally.

I second this, especially in a year when the GOP has a good chance to win the Presidency.

[Bo]

In the 1950s- guilt over the holocaust may have helped elect a Jewish President. Now, there is no more real anti-semetism it seems. There is no barrier for a Jewish politician to cross with the election of Obama.

Hell, we ended up electing a dude whose last name was "Eisenhower" instead.

Who liberated Jews from concentration camps.

[Bo]

In the 1950s- guilt over the holocaust may have helped elect a Jewish President. Now, there is no more real anti-semetism it seems. There is no barrier for a Jewish politician to cross with the election of Obama.

Hell, we ended up electing a dude whose last name was "Eisenhower" instead.

Who liberated Jews from concentration camps.

True.  Just noting the humor in that a German American liberated half of Europe, freed the Jews, and then became US President.
It's like the ultimate bitch slap to the Nazis.

If only the bitch slap came several years earlier, several million lives could have been saved (including those of many of my ancestors and relatives).

[Bo]

In the 1950s- guilt over the holocaust may have helped elect a Jewish President. Now, there is no more real anti-semetism it seems. There is no barrier for a Jewish politician to cross with the election of Obama.

Hell, we ended up electing a dude whose last name was "Eisenhower" instead.

Eisenhower could be a Jewish name.

No, it can't.

[Bo]

Now, no doubt a much less likely event is the question of when will we have a President of Armenian ancestry (a question of personal interest to me)?  Well, I know that California had an Armenian governor (George Deukmejian) but is still waiting for a Jewish governor to be elected.

Dianne Feinstein could have been elected Governor of CA in 2010 had she decided to run.