JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People

RJC fesses up to involvement in negative Obama poll

By Eric Fingerhut · September 16, 2008

The Republican Jewish Coalition has admitted it sponsored a negative poll about Barack Obama.

Politico reported Tuesday evening that the RJC took responsibility for the phone poll in swing states, which asked voters their response to negative statements about Obama. Those statements included reported praise for him from a leader of the Palestinian terror group Hamas and a friendship early in his career with a pro-Palestinian university professor.

RJC executive director Matt Brooks told the publication that his organization conducted the poll to "understand why Barack Obama continues to have a problem among Jewish voters."

Brooks denied that the poll was a "push poll" meant to influence Jewish voters, and said it was a traditional survey meant to gauge the opinions of Jewish voters.

A top Jewish Obama supporter slammed the RJC. "Peddling lies and hateful distortions to scare Jewish voters is reprehensible and deeply disrespectful to Jewish Americans," said Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.).