The surprise is that we have yet to have a Jewish-American President. I do not mean Jewish ancestry; I mean someone Jewish by culture or faith. The political talent is strong among Jewish-Americans.
Yeah I think this is even more surprising than the Italian-American thing. 6% of current House members are Jewish (11% among Democrats), and 10% of Senators are (18% among Democrats only, 20% if you count Sanders as a Democrat). Jewish Americans are vastly overrepresented in American politics and have been for some time, yet the closest they've ever gotten to the presidency was Goldwater and Sanders.
I'm sure anti-semitism plays a role in it, but America has also elected and re-elected a black man with a Muslim-sounding name. With that in mind, it's a bit odd that Jewish people still haven't gotten there.
Goldwater was ethnically half Jewish and was raised an Episcopalian though. I don’t think a practicing Jew could’ve won a primary at that time. Even today I would guess most Americans view Judaism as a foreign religion. I never knowingly met a Jewish person until I was in college and even then only one or two.
Well I’m Jewish myself.
Thankfully I think America is definitely ready for a Jewish president now if you plan on running.
That's not going to happen, because
1. I'm too young.
2. I was born in Israel, although I believe my mom was an American citizen at the time of my birth.
