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Member of Congress tweets something anti-Semitic (1 Viewer)

zftcg

Footballguy
Fresh off of invoking the anti-Semitic trope of dual loyalty, Rep. Ilhan Omar has done it again!

C’mon @RepJerryNadler—at least pretend to be serious about fact finding. Nadler feeling the heat big time. Jumps to Tom $teyer’s conclusion—impeaching our President—before first document request. What a Kangaroo court.
Everyone knows that spelling the name of a wealthy Jew with a $ instead of an S is a go-to move for anti-Semites. It is past time for Pelosi and the Democratic House leadership to take action against her, up to and including her expulsion from Congr--

... wait, what's that? I'm being told that tweet was not from Rep. Omar, but rather from Republican Congressman Jim Jordan:shrug:

Look, if you've read my posts on this board, you may know that I hate the constant efforts to play "gotcha" with charges of hypocrisy. I think it's frequently a way to take cheap shots at your political opponents without actually engaging the substance of the issue.

But this is such a clear-cut case, I'm going to make an exception. If you criticized Omar for invoking anti-Semitic tropes, there's simply no way you can give Jordan a pass (and vice versa). They're both disgusting, and they both should be universally condemned.

Jordan tweeted this on a few hours ago on Sunday afternoon, so it's too early to accuse anyone of hypocrisy just yet. But within the next couple days, we'll have the opportunity to see the GOP's response to this vs. how they responded to Omar. I hope to be pleasantly surprised, but I wouldn't bet on it happening.

 
But this is such a clear-cut case, I'm going to make an exception. If you criticized Omar for invoking anti-Semitic tropes, there's simply no way you can give Jordan a pass (and vice versa).
I disagree with the vice versa part. I liked the intro to your post. But my reaction to it was, “Wow, I didn’t think Rep. Omar’s previous tweets were anti-Semitic, but this new one isn’t open to question. I’m done giving her the benefit of the doubt.”

I stand by my opinion that writing “$teyer” is way worse than criticizing pro-Israeli lobbying groups.

 
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I disagree with the vice versa part. I liked the intro to your post. But my reaction to it was, “Wow, I didn’t think Rep. Omar’s previous tweets were anti-Semitic, but on this new one, there’s no doubt. I’m done giving her the benefit of the doubt.”

I stand by my opinion that writing “$teyer” is way worse than criticizing pro-Israeli lobbying groups.
Agreed.

Being rational (and perhaps even skeptical) about our foreign policy with Israel is NOT being anti-Semitic.

 
I disagree with the vice versa part. I liked the intro to your post. But my reaction to it was, “Wow, I didn’t think Rep. Omar’s previous tweets were anti-Semitic, but this new one isn’t open to question. I’m done giving her the benefit of the doubt.”

I stand by my opinion that writing “$teyer” is way worse than criticizing pro-Israeli lobbying groups.
I see your point in a vacuum. The $-for-S move is the kind of thing that I've previously only seen from neo-Nazis. But as someone who was initially inclined to give Omar the benefit of the doubt -- I figured she was just anti-Israel -- the multiple comments she has made over the past couple months have led me to believe she is genuinely anti-Semitic. Jordan may well be, too, but I haven't seen anything beyond this tweet.

Also, if all she did was criticize AIPAC, I wouldn't have a problem with it. In fact, I thought that her apology for the "All about the Benjamins" tweet struck the right note in terms of standing by her criticisms while recognizing that one should tread carefully and avoid echoing language traditionally used by anti-Semites. But she keeps going beyond that in her unscripted moments.

 
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I disagree with the vice versa part. I liked the intro to your post. But my reaction to it was, “Wow, I didn’t think Rep. Omar’s previous tweets were anti-Semitic, but this new one isn’t open to question. I’m done giving her the benefit of the doubt.”

I stand by my opinion that writing “$teyer” is way worse than criticizing pro-Israeli lobbying groups.
This was exactly my reaction. I viewed the comments from Rep Omar as anti lobbying not anti-Semitic, but this is pretty clear.

 
I just watched Jim Jordan this morning interviewed by Chuck Todd, who happens to be Jewish. 

I dunno. It’s certainly an anti-Semitic meme. But if he says he didn’t realize that I would tend to give him the benefit of the doubt. 

 
I just watched Jim Jordan this morning interviewed by Chuck Todd, who happens to be Jewish. 
Are you implying Todd should have asked him about it? Because Jordan's tweet came after his MTP appearance.

I dunno. It’s certainly an anti-Semitic meme. But if he says he didn’t realize that I would tend to give him the benefit of the doubt. 
OK, let's unpack that a bit. What exactly do you mean by "benefit of the doubt"? If you mean that we shouldn't automatically assume he is an anti-Semite who deserves to lose his committee assignments or be kicked out of Congress or whatever, then sure, I agree. But I hope you don't mean we should ignore it completely and not demand that he explain himself and apologize for invoking an anti-Semitic meme.

I have to say, it's kind of weird that he hasn't said a word about it but you're pre-emptively assuming what his defense will be AND forgiving him for that hypothetical defense. Personally, I would like to hear why he felt the need to do that in the first place, and whether he recognizes it was wrong, before I consider giving him the benefit of the doubt.

 
Are you implying Todd should have asked him about it? Because Jordan's tweet came after his MTP appearance.

OK, let's unpack that a bit. What exactly do you mean by "benefit of the doubt"? If you mean that we shouldn't automatically assume he is an anti-Semite who deserves to lose his committee assignments or be kicked out of Congress or whatever, then sure, I agree. But I hope you don't mean we should ignore it completely and not demand that he explain himself and apologize for invoking an anti-Semitic meme.

I have to say, it's kind of weird that he hasn't said a word about it but you're pre-emptively assuming what his defense will be AND forgiving him for that hypothetical defense. Personally, I would like to hear why he felt the need to do that in the first place, and whether he recognizes it was wrong, before I consider giving him the benefit of the doubt.
With regard to Todd, I was simply noting that the two seemed to get along very well, and that if Jordan is indeed an antisemite it didn’t manifest itself there. 

Of course we shouldn’t ignore it. My presumption of what he will say is merely that. 

 
I just watched Jim Jordan this morning interviewed by Chuck Todd, who happens to be Jewish. 

I dunno. It’s certainly an anti-Semitic meme. But if he says he didn’t realize that I would tend to give him the benefit of the doubt. 
No. This was a mistake because he probably posts anonymously this way. That's it. There's no logical reason for the dig whistle other than that. None. 

 
With regard to Todd, I was simply noting that the two seemed to get along very well, and that if Jordan is indeed an antisemite it didn’t manifest itself there. 

Of course we shouldn’t ignore it. My presumption of what he will say is merely that. 
For the record, here is Jordan's response. Does it count as "not realizing" it was anti-Semitic if he simply denies it all?

Ian Fury, a spokesman for Jordan’s office told TPM that the dollar sign represents dollars and was used because Steyer is a billionaire.

“Tom Steyer is a billionaire pushing Democrats like Chairmen Cummings and Nadler to impeach the President. As you may know, the $ symbol represents dollars, of which Mr. Steyer has approximately 1.6 billion and has committed eight figures to fund far left-wing causes,” he told TPM in a statement Monday. “Congressman Jordan has always stood against hatred and bigotry. Also, according to public sources, Steyer is Episcopalian.”
(Personally, I love the "as you may know ..." Wow, I didn't realize that weird symbol we know as a "dollar sign" represents ... dollars. Thank you for that illuminating insight!)

 
Looks like Omar will get her first resolution passed.

Nancy Pelosi

Pelosi: House to condemn ‘forms of hatred’ after Omar words

By LISA MASCARO and LAURIE KELLMANMarch 7, 2019

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., sits with fellow Democrats on the House Education and Labor Committee during a bill markup, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 6, 2019. Omar again stirred controversy last week saying that Israel's supporters are pushing U.S. lawmakers to take a pledge of "allegiance to a foreign country."

WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday the House will vote on a resolution condemning anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, white supremacy and other forms of hate after freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar’s comments about Israel again sparked turmoil among Democrats.

 
Ian Fury, a spokesman for Jordan’s office told TPM that the dollar sign represents dollars and was used because Steyer is a billionaire.

“Tom Steyer is a billionaire pushing Democrats like Chairmen Cummings and Nadler to impeach the President. As you may know, the $ symbol represents dollars, of which Mr. Steyer has approximately 1.6 billion and has committed eight figures to fund far left-wing causes,” he told TPM in a statement Monday. “Congressman Jordan has always stood against hatred and bigotry. Also, according to public sources, Steyer is Episcopalian.”
What’s the ruling on this? Wikipedia says that his mom was Episcopalian while his dad was a non-practicing Jew. Steyer himself seems to be a practicing Episcopalian.

I don’t know what Jordan’s intent was, but I guess it’s theoretically possible that he was writing “$teyer” the same way some people write “Micro$oft” — without having anything about ethnicity or religion in mind at all.

 
To me the whole backlash from all the paid for politicians proved Omar's point. She shouldn't have apologized at all. She was right. It is about the benjamin's for those that aren't trying to use Israel to bring about Armageddon. And this every criticism of Israel is anti-semitism is crap. Just like trying to outlaw the BDS movement. 

As for these of course the GOP are hypocrites.  They dont care about anti-semitism it was just a useful cudgel and the Democrats played along as expected wringing their hands all the way. But then they don't like all these new folks in their caucus not shutting up and sitting down either.

Now someone can call me whatever they like but Israel is currently in violation of multiple treaties they signed, in violation of international law, and in violation of human rights norms. They are a rogue government in my opinion and the US should seriously be discussing pulling their funding until they aren't. But that won't happen because AIPAC has plenty of money and they know where to spend it. That isn't a trope it's reality. 

 
To me the whole backlash from all the paid for politicians proved Omar's point. She shouldn't have apologized at all. She was right. It is about the benjamin's for those that aren't trying to use Israel to bring about Armageddon. And this every criticism of Israel is anti-semitism is crap. Just like trying to outlaw the BDS movement. 

As for these of course the GOP are hypocrites.  They dont care about anti-semitism it was just a useful cudgel and the Democrats played along as expected wringing their hands all the way. But then they don't like all these new folks in their caucus not shutting up and sitting down either.

Now someone can call me whatever they like but Israel is currently in violation of multiple treaties they signed, in violation of international law, and in violation of human rights norms. They are a rogue government in my opinion and the US should seriously be discussing pulling their funding until they aren't. But that won't happen because AIPAC has plenty of money and they know where to spend it. That isn't a trope it's reality. 
I don’t really want to argue the points made here. I disagree with most of them, rather strongly, but @NCCommish and I have had this argument before, in depth, and I respect his POV. 

But I’m responding to this post because it should serve  as a warning to the supporters of Israel in this country like myself: the longer we continue to unequivocally support the Netanyahu regime, the more we immediately call all criticism of Israel, no matter how reasonable, anti-Semitic, and most important of all, so long as we completely ignore the very real aspirations of the Palestinian people, views like the ones above are going to become more and more popular. 

In our blind support we are sewing the seeds of Israel’s destruction. 

 
I don’t really want to argue the points made here. I disagree with most of them, rather strongly, but @NCCommish and I have had this argument before, in depth, and I respect his POV. 

But I’m responding to this post because it should serve  as a warning to the supporters of Israel in this country like myself: the longer we continue to unequivocally support the Netanyahu regime, the more we immediately call all criticism of Israel, no matter how reasonable, anti-Semitic, and most important of all, so long as we completely ignore the very real aspirations of the Palestinian people, views like the ones above are going to become more and more popular. 

In our blind support we are sewing the seeds of Israel’s destruction. 
Yes Tim and I have had this discussion before but I would like to make clear in case it isn't to anyone I am not now nor have I in the past nor do I intend to in the future call for the destruction of Israel. When I criticize Israel I'm criticizing the government not the people. We elect Steve King every two years who am I to talk about why do you elect these people? But I just wanted to be clear on those points.

 
Yes Tim and I have had this discussion before but I would like to make clear in case it isn't to anyone I am not now nor have I in the past nor do I intend to in the future call for the destruction of Israel. When I criticize Israel I'm criticizing the government not the people. We elect Steve King every two years who am I to talk about why do you elect these people? But I just wanted to be clear on those points.
I hope you didn’t think I was implying that you were calling for the destruction of Israel. What I am saying is that Israel ultimately cannot survive without some sort of just settlement of the Palestinian dilemma, and we in this country are stubbornly refusing to accept that fact. 

 
I hope you didn’t think I was implying that you were calling for the destruction of Israel. What I am saying is that Israel ultimately cannot survive without some sort of just settlement of the Palestinian dilemma, and we in this country are stubbornly refusing to accept that fact. 
No I didn't but I thought i should be clear for others.

 
While speaking to American Jews, Trump referred to Netanyahu as “your prime minister”. 

Dual loyalty? He’s not mine, Mr President. 

ETA: you know which Israeli thinks, like I do, that Netanyahu is a corrupt racist? Gal Gadot. She’s campaigning against him. Smart, beautiful and on the right side. 

 
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>>Trump to Jews: "How the hell did you support President Obama? How did you do it? How'd you do it?" People in the room remind him that they didn't, since they are the Republican Jewish Coalition....<<

Dale.

 
Any fellow members of the tribe find this as vomit-inducing as I do?

Former senator Norm Coleman, chair of the Republican Jewish Coalition, is leading a Passover Dayenu (it would have been enough) in which Donald Trump replaces God. "Had President Trump ONLY passed the largest tax cut in history: say it with me. DAYENU."
:X

 
What is it with all these religious folks? Well I guess it's getting easy to see why non affiliated has passed both Catholics and Evangelicals as a percentage of the population. 
As someone pointed out in the replies to that tweet, the Republican Jewish Coalition is far more Republican than Jewish, as evidenced by the fact that they had their big event on Shabbat.

Of course that's true of any religious group that affiliates with the Trumplican party. I'm not aware of any widely practiced religion whose doctrine is compatible with turning away refugees, greeting asylum-seekers by tearing small children out of the hands of their parents and throwing them in cages, or cheating on your wife when she was home caring for your infant child and then paying your partner in adultery hush money to keep her quiet.

 
What is it with all these religious folks? Well I guess it's getting easy to see why non affiliated has passed both Catholics and Evangelicals as a percentage of the population. 
I view religiosity as almost an entirely separate issue from moral behavior. The bad people who are religious use that to justify their misdeeds; the ones who aren't find some other rationalization.

 
It should also be pointed out that Trump has endorsed and praised the president of Hungary, a nationalist who is openly anti-Semitic. 

 
It should also be pointed out that Trump has endorsed and praised the president of Hungary, a nationalist who is openly anti-Semitic. 
Trump engages in anti-Semitic tropes all the time.  He's been doing so as a politician at least since December 2015, when he told the RJC that he was "a negotiator like you folks, we are negotiators. Is there anybody that doesn't renegotiate deals in this room? This room negotiates them -- perhaps more than any other room I've ever spoken in" and "You're not gonna support me because I don't want your money. You want to control your politicians, that's fine."
 

Every single person who supports Trump and called out Omar for her supposedly anti-Semitic comments should be forced to address this obvious hypocrisy and not let off the hook until they do.

 
Trump engages in anti-Semitic tropes all the time.  He's been doing so as a politician at least since December 2015, when he told the RJC that he was "a negotiator like you folks, we are negotiators. Is there anybody that doesn't renegotiate deals in this room? This room negotiates them -- perhaps more than any other room I've ever spoken in" and "You're not gonna support me because I don't want your money. You want to control your politicians, that's fine."

Every single person who supports Trump and called out Omar for her supposedly anti-Semitic comments should be forced to address this obvious hypocrisy and not let off the hook until they do.
I am not holding my breath waiting to see them address that... :coffee:

 
It should also be pointed out that Trump has endorsed and praised the president of Hungary, a nationalist who is openly anti-Semitic. 
Eh, I'd quibble a little bit with the word "openly". Not saying Orban's not an anti-Semite, but he's one of those authoritarian nationalists who can't seem to decide whether he hates Jews or Muslims more (which is why Soros is such a convenient target, since he allows Orban to use anti-Semitism to attack Muslims).

As for Trump, I think he's a different kind of anti-Semite. He doesn't hate Jews the way the "very fine people" in Charlottesville do. He does tend to otherize us a little, though not as blatantly as he does with Muslims and other minority groups (I don't think his comments from this weekend reflect his belief in dual loyalty as much as they reflect his inability to distinguish between Israelis and American Jews). As with all things Trump, he views us transactionally. He wants Jewish accountants and doctors and lawyers because he assumes we're good at that stuff. And as with many issues once he became a right-wing Republican, he adopted the consensus GOP position of slavish devotion to Israel/Likud with the zeal of a convert and can't understand why liberal Jews (who make up the vast majority of American Jews) won't give him more credit. Meanwhile, he refuses to really condemn right-wing nationalists because his brand of dominance politics means you never apologize for the people on your side (though the fact that he sees them as being on his side is revealing in itself).

 
zftcg said:
As for Trump, I think he's a different kind of anti-Semite. He doesn't hate Jews the way the "very fine people" in Charlottesville do. He does tend to otherize us a little, though not as blatantly as he does with Muslims and other minority groups (I don't think his comments from this weekend reflect his belief in dual loyalty as much as they reflect his inability to distinguish between Israelis and American Jews). As with all things Trump, he views us transactionally. He wants Jewish accountants and doctors and lawyers because he assumes we're good at that stuff. And as with many issues once he became a right-wing Republican, he adopted the consensus GOP position of slavish devotion to Israel/Likud with the zeal of a convert and can't understand why liberal Jews (who make up the vast majority of American Jews) won't give him more credit. Meanwhile, he refuses to really condemn right-wing nationalists because his brand of dominance politics means you never apologize for the people on your side (though the fact that he sees them as being on his side is revealing in itself).
Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo is thinking along the same lines:

To Trump, Jews are outsiders. In some cases helpful outsiders but outsiders nonetheless. Trump’s an anti-Semite.

 
So I'm sure all our friends on the right will want to condemn this clearly reprehensible antisemitic remark- Florida GOP state rep Randy Fine called a fellow jew a Judenrat because he held a panel that was critical of the Israeli government. For those that dont know there are few if any insults more despicable to call a jew. That's the name given to Nazi collaborators who turned in other jews.

I await the collective outrage. 

 
So I'm sure all our friends on the right will want to condemn this clearly reprehensible antisemitic remark- Florida GOP state rep Randy Fine called a fellow jew a Judenrat because he held a panel that was critical of the Israeli government. For those that dont know there are few if any insults more despicable to call a jew. That's the name given to Nazi collaborators who turned in other jews.

I await the collective outrage. 
Fine is a real piece of work, and I agree that "Judenrat" is incredibly offensive; if anyone ever called me that I would want to punch their lights out. (I remember during last year's campaign, there was some controversy over the Democratic Lt. Gov nominee saying something possibly anti-Semitic when he was an undergrad at Harvard, and Fine wrote a piece saying, "As a fellow Harvard alum, I can tell you it was definitely anti-Semitic." It's like, congrats on the random dropping of an H-bomb that has nothing to do with your argument?)

At the same time, there is something weirdly pathetic about an elected official getting in an argument in Facebook comments with one of his constituents. It's almost like if one of the outspoken liberals/conservatives who posts here frequently was an elected official posting under his actual name, and you read an article that said, "State Rep. Opie today engaged in a extended back and forth with Congressman Sho Nuff." I feel like maybe the most appropriate response is to point and laugh (and then organize to defeat him next year).

 

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