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Jeremy Goldberg: Barack Obama 'has an understanding and appreciation of the issues Jews are concerned with.' Last update - 07:48 04/01/2008 Campaigner works to connect Obama with Jewish voters By Marisa Katz Tags: Jeremy Goldberg, Iowa caucus  For Jeremy Goldberg, a Texan-born Republican turned Democrat turned Middle East peace activist, there is no question that Barack Obama is the candidate to bring much-yearned for change to American presidency. As one of the leaders of the New York City chapter of "Generation Obama," a national grassroots organization run by young adults devoted to promoting the Illinois Senator, Goldberg is "absolutely convinced Obama is the candidate who offers the leadership, vision and judgment to handle the monumental changes needed in Washington." Of the many facets included in his role with the group, Goldberg is also trying to connect Obama with Jewish voters - who he sees as being equally frustrated with the domestic and foreign policies of the Bush administration. Advertisement "He has an understanding and appreciation of the issues Jews are concerned with," explains Goldberg. "He can change the way the way the U.S. is viewed in the world, both with our friends and our enemies, which is in the interest of us and Israelis." To an outsider it may seem such sentiments are easy to find in the liberal New York city landscape, but this is Clinton's turf. After a few minutes with Goldberg, though, it becomes apparent all his endeavors are showered with the same enthusiasm. Goldberg has been active in the political sphere since graduating from Georgetown in 1999, although it wasn't always on behalf of the Democrats. In fact, Goldberg was initially aligned with the Republican party when he completed his undergraduate degree. But it was Bush's speech in 2000 at Bob Jones University, a school that bans interracial dating on campus and until 1971 did not accept African American applicants, that Goldberg realized the incongruity between his personal views on foreign policy and incumbent President Bush. His subsequent U-turn led him back to D.C. where, after a stint at a New York consulting firm, MarchFirst, he decided to create PoliVoice Inc., a firm devoted to creating high-tech services for non-profits, which included political parties. Eventually, Goldberg found himself in the offices of John Wallach, the founder of "Seeds of Peace," an organization dedicated to generating dialogues between youth, particularly Arab and Israeli teenagers. Wallach saw in Goldberg a younger version of himself, and was inclined to offer him a job as the director of corporate relations in New York. If it wasn't for Bush's "axis of evil speech," Goldberg might have brought together the likes of Iranians, North Koreans and Iraqis, with several others from around the world, to participate in a youth program designed to resuscitate an already strained dialogue. Although the "rogue" state initiative was put on hold, Goldberg continued his cross-cultural work around the world, becoming an avid promulgator of, as he puts it, "humanizing the other," through his Seeds of Peace work. And all before the age of 26. "I believe there is value in building relationships, no matter how you foresee the future evolving. It was amazing to be part of an enterprise whose idea was to create co-existence, but after five years," reflects Goldberg on his time with Seeds of Peace. "I needed to rethink what I was doing." It was then he returned to Columbia to get his Masters in international finance, with an emphasis on the Middle East. Although he was committed as a full time student, it only took a couple of minutes of listening to Barack Obama on the American television show "Meet the Press" to divert his attention. "I found every answer [Obama] gave to be atypical of the politicians who had been there before him," he says. Soon after Obama announced his candidacy, Goldberg directed his extra-curricular efforts to getting the word out there. "The political system in Washington was proving itself to be incapable of dealing with the challenges facing the country," says Goldberg. "Obama offers a combination of strength and judgment relevant to being a great president now." His rallying efforts culminated in Generation Obama, an initiative that not only spreads the "Obama word", but also acts as a forum to engage young people in actively discussing the problems they are facing in America today. Goldberg religiously attends Obama events in New York City, and went to Iowa in lieu of a vacation over the holidays to help spread the word before the January 3 state caucuses. Part of the work, as Goldberg sees it, is getting the people to realize what Obama stands for, which is in essence why he is making a point to travel to ?2 degree weather and talk to native Iowans for hours about the senator. "When they understand his policies and approach they will be more inclined to vote for him," he explains. Obama's main competitor may have a more famous last name, but that does not faze him. "As soon as America is aware of what he stands for," Goldberg says, "they will follow their heart." On his rounds in Iowa, Obama continues to woo voters with his earnest call for change, while back in New York, Goldberg makes his own rounds among influential young voters, many of which are unsure for whom they should cast their ballot. Every so often, he attests, Goldberg finds his campaigning inadvertently reaches out to those he wasn?t even targeting. "While getting out of a cab the other day, the taxi driver stopped me," says Goldberg. "I had been on the phone in his cab discussing Obama. He said he was from Ghana, and then asked if he could shake the hand of a white man campaigning for Obama, a man who can change the world." Goldberg smiles, "That just further motivates me to do what I got to do. Because what we do here, affects the world." Related articles: Race for the White House / In Iowa, Obama and Huckabee widen their leads, but anything could happen Candidate wanted, no experience needed Pre-Iowa Israel Factor: We know Clinton, we want Clinton Bookmark to del.icio.us   'Bush go home' Israeli Arab parties join leftist protests against the Bush visit. Peace overture Syria says it isn't seeking a military solution with Israel.   1.   Team Ron Paul`s Secret Weapon 19:16  |  Dovy 03/01/08   2.   What the hell is this guy talking about? 19:34  |  common sense 03/01/08   3.   Even Jorg Haider had a `useful Jew` on his team 19:50  |  Jake 03/01/08   4.   Americans going for Obama not because of his Mideast positions 20:02  |  David Hoffman 03/01/08   5.   Re: What the hell is this guy talking about? 20:05  |  Ron 03/01/08   6.   Not all Jews are smart 20:47  |  Bobby 03/01/08   7.   Obama has no experience to in politics 21:05  |  Ben gurion 03/01/08   8.   Oy Vey 21:09  |  Bill 03/01/08   9.   Obama, grovelling to Israel for less than 4000 votes 21:40  |  Clickfool 03/01/08   10.   Obama 21:49  |  Dave 03/01/08   11.   connect 22:01  |  Shmuelshachor 03/01/08   12.   I don`t know about the rest, but I "ain`t" voting for any 22:02  |  Pssd off American 03/01/08   13.   Still not.. 22:45  |  Yariv 03/01/08   14.   I`m with Dave #8 22:48  |  Jason_M 03/01/08   15.   re Obama 23:14  |  steven 03/01/08   16.   Can Jews trust a president 23:23  |  Kay 03/01/08   17.   A Jew Supporting Barack Hussein Obama Is Crazy! 23:46  |  David 03/01/08   18.   Israel does NOT get U.S. economic aid 00:02  |  Sam 04/01/08   19.   why the semantics of hard-core prejudice 00:27  |  TimothyL 04/01/08   20.   McCain, Rudy or Romney are all better than any Democrat 00:31  |  Roni 04/01/08   21.   obama can play with the joos and muslims all he wants but 00:42  |  US citizen 04/01/08   22.   obama is a witless man 00:54  |  affirmativeaction 04/01/08   23.   Marisa Katz`s Boyfriend 01:05  |  ADR10723 04/01/08   24.   WE DON`T LIKE HIS KIND HERE! 01:11  |  Jerp 04/01/08   25.   don`t vote for obama..... 02:15  |  maria 04/01/08   26.   Goldberg 02:39  |  Connie 04/01/08   27.   Goldberg`s REFRESHING! ...So Much Better Than AIPAC/Neo-Cons!!! 02:41  |  Proud Pal Defender 04/01/08   28.   VOTE OBAMA 2008! 03:35  |  Jew American Voter 04/01/08   29.   Obama will be a good President to help in Iraq 04:04  |  American 04/01/08   30.   Indeed Jeremy Goldberg is like fresh air 04:05  |  Mark B. 04/01/08   31.   Obama is like Rice 04:49  |  Brod 04/01/08   32.   Proud Pal Defender #21 04:59  |  schafe82 04/01/08   33.   Don`t be fooled 05:21  |  Natallie Durson 04/01/08   34.   OBAMA TO WIN IN 2008!!!! 05:58  |  NYC JEW 04/01/08   35.   He`s too young and inexperienced- Hilary is the go 08:28  |  M Thatcher 04/01/08   36.   NYJew 08:28  |  Connie 04/01/08   37.   All Muslim Americans are voting for Barack Hussein Obama too 08:34  |  Mohammed Hirandawi 04/01/08   38.   Go Osama !! Your nomination will guarantee Republican victory. 08:38  |  John Doe 04/01/08   39.   Court Jew? 08:43  |  NS 04/01/08   40.   Should America ask other people to pick their leader for them? 09:34  |  Clickfool 04/01/08   41.   #38Click--Talk About TONY BLAIR The "Poodle"...Then We`ll Listen. 13:02  |  Proud Pal Defender 04/01/08   42.   While the Obama victory is a sign that the Lobby is losing 13:08  |  lakshmi 04/01/08   43.   America At Its BEST! ...SO PROUD Of My Country Right Now. :) 13:08  |  Proud Pal Defender 04/01/08   44.   Bet on the younger generation 14:13  |  Alizah 04/01/08   45.   # 35 Mohammed 15:30  |  Bob M 04/01/08   46.   # 26 well-said 15:58  |  Mike the American 04/01/08   47.   OH Connie 18:00  |  NYC Jew 04/01/08   48.   John Doe you are too funny! 18:01  |  NYC Jew 04/01/08   49.   Report from the US 18:24  |  Ms D 04/01/08   50.   what Obama stands for? Nothing 19:00  |  Paul 04/01/08   51.   REspond TO PROUD PAL DEFENDER 20:17  |  TOBIA 04/01/08   52.   RESPOND #35 20:36  |  TOBIA 04/01/08   53.   Reponse to Connie 20:48  |  Stan 04/01/08   54.   To Clickfool (#9) on democracy 21:26  |  Morris Valentine 04/01/08   55.   2nd try,what this says is that the Lobby is losing ground! 21:45  |  lakshmi 04/01/08   56.   Ms D - Bravo 22:39  |  NYC Jew 04/01/08   57.   Obama, who is this guy? 00:06  |  FOX 05/01/08   58.   To Lakshmi (#55) 04:27  |  Morris Valentine 05/01/08   59.   To Clickfool (#40): "Those who live in glass houses..." 04:38  |  Morris Valentine 05/01/08   60.   Shame? 20:10  |  CC Cohen 06/01/08   61.   Obama is over-hyped 03:24  |  Theodor 10/01/08

Today Online Bush in Israel: West Bank outposts 'have got to go' Responses: 249 Palestinians: IDF strike kills two civilians in northern Gaza Strip Responses: 178 Bradley Burston: Mr. Bush, you were born to make peace Responses: 127 Early warning system fails to spot Katyusha strike in North Responses: 94 Jewish group asks AG to halt dig in J'lem Muslim Quarter Responses: 75 Rosner's Domain What does "change" mean for Israel? How many states between the Mediterranean and the Euphrates? (WTR) New poll: Who is the candidate that will have better policies for Israel? Rosner's Guest: Israel at present is not a light unto the nations Rosner's Mailbox: Anti-Semites within Ron Paul's camp More Headlines 03:14 Bush to tell Abbas: Choice is between 'state or chaos' 02:23 ANALYSIS: Bush visit gives PM a welcome pre-Winograd respite 22:14 Israeli Arab parties join leftist protests against Bush visit 23:37 IDF strikes kill two militants in separate Gaza Strip incidents 20:50 Coming soon to a Spanish theater: Anne Frank the musical 23:02 Syria says it's not seeking military solution with Israel 01:05 57 MKs vow to vote against evacuation-compensation bill 17:22 Bush quizzes Shas chief Yishai over threat to quit government 21:36 Police recommend indicting Minister Yaakov Edri for breach of trust Previous Editions Select Day 09 jan 08 jan 07 jan 06 jan 04 jan 03 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 28 dec 27 dec

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