Political Stitch: Knitting for Obama

By Lana Gersten October 16, 2008

In the weeks after Sarah Silverman released her now infamous video urging voters to descend on Florida to persuade their grandparents to vote Obama, young Jews have carried out the mission, known as the Great Schlep, in many ways. Some 100 people actually did schlep down to Florida on a recent weekend to deliver last-minute pleas, the New York Times reported. Others picked up the phone to make their appeal and many used the Internet to spread the word. Lisa Anne Auerbach, an artist working in Los Angeles, was inspired to knit.

Auerbach produced a sweater and skirt set with a message. On the front, big white letters read, “My Jewish Grandma is Voting for Obama. Is Yours?” And on the back: “Chosen People Chose Obama.”

Although Auerbach, 40, is no stranger to political art (she made sweaters in support of John Kerry in 2004), she created this outfit to celebrate her grandmother — a 93-year-old who lives in Chicago, and who, without any persuasion, already loves Obama. Auerbach said that this particular design is also dedicated to all those Jews who are proud to vote for the Democratic nominee.

“There is obviously a concern by a younger generation of Jews that their grandparents might be the turd in the proverbial punchbowl, throwing the election to [McCain], voting against Obama due to misconceptions about his religion, ideas of Israel,” Auerbach said in an e-mail to The Shmooze. “That conversations over bingo and blintzes could change their minds is so lovely, so sweet, so important.”

Auerbach completed her one-of-a-kind outfit last week, and it’s available through Gavlak, a gallery in — where else? — West Palm Beach, Fla.

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