This interview is part of Moment’s Jewish Political Voices Project. To learn more about the project, click here. To see our other participants, click here. To see all posts from Nina, click here.
Age: 72
Occupation: Retired Nurse
Location: Deerfield Township, OH (Cincinnati suburbs)
Party Registration: Democratic
Jewish Denomination: Conservative
2020 Vote: Joe Biden
Current 2024 Vote: Joe Biden
Family: Divorced, one daughter and one grandchild
News Sources:CNN, MSNBC, Punchbowl News, Axios, POLITICO, Sabato’s Crystal Ball
What issues are most important to you?
Democracy is number one, because we’re in danger of losing it. Israel is important, but I don’t really think anything’s going to happen to Israel, whether Biden’s elected or Trump. I think the biggest danger to Israel is Benjamin Netanyahu. He really, really has ruined Israel, to the detriment of Jews all over the world.
Do you support Biden because of his record or because he’s “not Trump”?
I really feel very betrayed by Biden. I think he has no business running. I probably will vote for him but not enthusiastically. And I won’t work for him. And I don’t intend to give him any money. I think he lied. Who runs for president when you’re 81 years old? It’s crazy. My interests in the economy are totally different from a young person’s interests. I bought my car with cash. I even bought my house with cash. The economy’s better now than it was. But when I go to the grocery store, everything’s gone up. I understand how young people are upset. But you know, gas is very cheap here—$2.79 a gallon. I guess Biden doesn’t get credit for anything.
Is the rise of antisemitism influencing your vote or affecting your political outlook?
You wouldn’t believe what a Christian friend of mine said to me on the phone. She said, “well, the way Israel has been conducting this war, that’s why people are so antisemitic.” She had the nerve to say that to me! “So in other words,” I said, “the way Israel’s conducting the war means I’ve got to walk through guards and guns to go into the synagogue for my Chinese dinner on Christmas? Is that what you’re saying?”
Are you hopeful about America’s political future?
I believe that if Trump is elected—and many of the Republicans are saying this too—this could be our last election.
Is the Hamas attack of Oct. 7 influencing your vote in November?
October 7 has had a big effect on me, but not politically. I would never vote for someone like Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan [a Palestinian-American who is deeply critical of Israel]. My representative is Greg Landsman, who is Jewish. He beat a Republican [Steve Chabot] who had been our representative for 26 years. So let’s hope Landsman gets re-elected. I’m going to our temple to hear him speak. Of course, he’s sympathetic to Israel. And I will vote for Sherrod Brown to be re-elected to the Senate. He hasn’t come out pro-Palestinian or anything like that. So I’ll vote for him.
Do you feel the 2024 presidential election will proceed smoothly, or do you fear controversy over the result?
There’s going to be controversy. I’m not really hepped up about voting this time around. Last year I moved back (to the Cincinnati area) from Florida (it had nothing to do with the politics in Florida, because they didn’t affect my life). My friends in Florida were all Jewish, and they all hated Trump. Of the women I played mahjong with there, nobody liked him. I don’t have any friends who like Trump. The three people I play mahjong with here in Ohio all hate Trump.
What are you seeing in your area politically?
Greg Landsman had to cancel a town hall up in Lebanon, Ohio, because of antisemitic threats. They did not make public what was said, only that they had to cancel. They rescheduled it and I went. It was very informative. All was quiet. No protesters.
If you could snap your fingers and pick a president today, who would it be?
This sounds really crazy; you’re probably not going to believe this, but if former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie maybe would have ever gotten the (Republican) nomination, I would have seriously considered voting for him.