The Great Schlep
The Great Schlep is a political initiative led by the Jewish Council For Education And Research and endorsed by T.V. comedian Sarah Silverman. The campaign urges both Jews and non-Jews to visit grandparents in Florida and persuade them to vote for Barack Obama. For people unwilling or unable to do engage in the proper Great Schlep, there's an option for a "mini-schlep" phone call.1 More than 100 people participated in the schlep Columbus Day weekend by traveling to Florida, and thousands more phoned relatives.2
Fast Facts
- Took place Columbus Day weekend, October 11-13, 2008
- "Schlep" is Yiddish for "to drag" or "to move slowly"3
- Jewish Council for Education and Research: "new pro-Obama political action committee"4
- Florida regarded a key swing state
- Florida has a large population of retirees, particularly Jewish retirees
- Silverman's family is Jewish, originating from Poland and Russia
Quotes From the Silverman Video
If Barack Obama doesn't become the next president of the United States, I'm gonna blame the Jews... I'm making this video to convince you, all of you, to schlep over to Florida and convince your grandparents to vote Obama.
These are the people who vote in Florida, and the Florida vote can make or break an election. If you don't think that's true, then why don't you think back to two elections ago when a little man named Al Gore got f_____d by Florida.
You know why your grandparents don't like Barack Obama? Because his name sounds scary, it sounds Muslim... Barack is a Hebrew word; it means 'lightning.' And I would much rather have a president whose name means 'lightning' than a president named John whose name means 'toilet.
You don't have to use facts. Use threats. There's nobody more important or influential over their grandparents than their grandkids.5
Related Pages on Mahalo
Sarah Silverman | Sarah Silverman Obama Video
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