Dear Shnitzel,
Your make an intelligent argument. However, (1) if the askanim to not get what they want from the politician for the community, (But they do get a pot of cash.) than there is a serious failure of leadership in that community. If they do get what they want for the community, yet the focus is on the corrupt deal, something is wrong with the whole community structure. (2) Most of America just votes for whomever. Based on party, race, media coverage, or some meaningless opinion. (3) If Yidden would care less about politics, they would just vote accordingly and move on. Then, other than political insiders nobody would know that the Jews are swinging the vote. It used to be like this in Lakewood. (They resorted to accusing the askonim of bribing voters.)
Elections in the USA are not the same as in an Italian city-state. Elections do not mean much to the social contract of everyday Americans. The political bureaucracy pays significant attention to who votes and especially to larger blocs. While I have full faith in you to vote intelligently, any politician that has been at it a few years can make some religious statements and hoodwink a bunch of Frum voters. (What went on in Lakewood when I was there.)
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