Beyond BT reader wants to know why his rabbi makes him vote Republican

Beyond BT published a letter from a reader asking,

I have a question that I was wondering if you could post. I am not looking for a debate, only some answers. I, and probably a lot of other BTs, grew up in a staunchly democratic home. I do not think I even knew any republicans. What is up with frum Jews voting republican”

The kicker was at the end of the letter.

“Honestly, I do it because people I respect tell me to. What is the real reason?”

There’s…well…there’s nothing I can say to top that…so let’s just keep going.

Anyway, much discussion ensues, including a few of the expected frummie explanations of why the right-wing Republicans are closer to a Torah point of view, which I find just as convincing as when I read about how the Left-wing Democrats are closer to Judaism because of “Tikkun Olam” and of course, social justice.

Anyway, it was worth reading. One, because we get to laugh at the baal teshuvahs who don’t even know why they are voting according to “daas Torah,” and two, because Steve Brizel brings down a brilliant approach from Rabbi J.B. Soloveitchik (RYBS).

Brizel writes,

Like it or not, I think that it is too easy to say that the Torah demands that one vote for either party. RYBS once commented that the capitalism ( and i.e. conservatism) set forth in Bava Kamma, Bava Metziah and Bava Basrah is more than offset by the seemingly socialist ( and liberal) ideals set forth in the halachos Shemitah and Yovel.