Antisemitism is Okay if You Are a Democrat
Antisemitism is a hot button issue. A lot of attention is paid by the leftwing media when a Republican says something that could be remotely interpreted as antisemitic. But when prominent Democrats stake out clearly antisemitic and anti-Israel statements, they are largely ignored. It is usually a one-day story with no harsh criticism – and definitely no repercussions.
Even Jewish leaders – and officials of the Anti-Defamation League – who are all over television condemning “right-wing antisemitism” — remain relatively silent when it comes to Democrats. Perhaps that is because those seen on television representing the Jewish community are mostly … left-wing Democrats.
We have seen this double standard in play with the recent resolution introduced by Texas Republican Congressman August Pfluger. It stated that “the State of Israel is not a racist or apartheid state. Congress rejects all forms of antisemitism and xenophobia, and the United States will always be a staunch partner and supporter of Israel.”
Certainly, no good American could possibly find objection of such a resolution affirming America’s longstanding policy regarding Israel. But nooooo. The resolution passed in a bipartisan 412 to 9 vote. Nine Democrats voted against that resolution.
The resolution was prompted by two events – the visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog and antisemitic, anti-Israel comments by Congresswoman Jayapal, head of the Democrats’ Progressive Caucus. In a speech at a Chicago conference, Jayapal called Israel a racist nation for its treatment of the Palestinians who keep sending rockets into Israel.
She walked back her comments – walk back being something short of a correction or an apology. She said that she did not mean that the state of Israel was racist – only the government policies. That is like saying North Korea is not an authoritarian state, it is just Kim Jong-un’s policies. Jayapal said her comments at the conference were only intended to “defuse a tense situation at the conference” (You just cannot make this stuff up.)
The nine voting against the resolution supporting Israel as a non-racist democracy — and critical ally of the United States were:
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.)
- Rashida Tlaib (Mich.
- Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.)
- Summer Lee (Pa.)
- Ilhan Omar (Minn.)
- Cori Bush (Mo.)
- André Carson (Ind.)
- Delia Ramirez (Ill.)
- Ayanna Pressley (Mass.)
They are mostly aligned to what has become known as “the squad.” If they were Republicans, the left-wing press would be excoriating them on a daily basis – referring to them as a bunch of crazy antisemitic extremists who have taken control of the entire GOP.
You will note the absence of Jayapal from that list. She voted in favor of the resolution, but her explanation was peculiar. She said the resolution was a political trap to get the antisemitic members of Congress to appear to be … antisemitic. She went on to say that the resolution was intended to “target” and “divide” Democrats.
The vote on the resolution was not the only time that these folks expressed their antisemitism and distain for Israel. Rather than being known as “the squad,” a more apt name would be the “Pro-Palestinian Caucus.”
The BDS Movement was an effort to have businesses and governments “boycott, disinvest and sanction” Israel. In other words, to treat Israel the same way we treat Russia, China and Iran. As a subtext, supporters of the anti-Israel BDS Movement claim Israel as guilty of war crimes. They call Israel a “terrorist state.”
Among the members of Congress who have expressed support for the anti-Israel BDS Movement are Rashida Tlaib. Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Pramila Jayapal, Mark Pocan and Cori Bush. Sound familiar?
To understand the depths of their animosity toward Israel, you need take a deeper dive into some of their specific histories.
In 2012, Ilhan Omar tweeted the “Israel has hypnotized the world. May Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel.” In describing the financial contributions of the Jewish community support Israel policy, Omar said, “It is all about the Benjamins, baby” – referring to Benjamin Franklin, whose image is on the $100 bill. In 2021, Omar said she “chuckles” when Israel is called a democracy – claiming it is an apartheid state. Again in 2021, she accused Israel of “terrorism” for attack Hamas positions – ignoring the fact that Hamas constantly attacks Israel and has been declared a terrorist organization.
Omar has accused American Jews of having an “allegiance to a foreign country.” She later claimed that she was not challenging the loyalty of Jews, but the lobbying influence of Jewish organizations such as AIPAC (American Israeli Public Affairs Committee). She seems to draw an impossible distinction between Jewish people and organizations run by …. Jewish people on behalf of Jewish people.
Jayapal accuses the Israeli government of engaging in outright discriminatory and racist policies against the Palestinians. She is one of several antisemitic Democrats who boycotted Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s recent address to Congress. Others include Senator Bernie Sanders and Democrat Representatives Omar, Ocasio-Cortez, Tlaib, Bush and Bowman.
Even after the vote on the resolution, Tlaib called Israel an apartheid state. In 2018, Ocasio-Cortez referred to the deaths of Palestinians as a “massacre” and a “human rights violation.” She has repeatedly called Israel an apartheid state – and has consistently voted to cut off military aid to Israel.
They are a small group of Democrats in Congress who consistently express antisemitic and/or anti-Israeli views. They use their congressional offices to articulate such polices – and to vote against Israeli and Jewish public policy positions. And yet there is little outrage among the majority of Democrats or the media that supports them. When what the members of this group say or do becomes sufficiently outrageous — and in defiance of America’s interests — there may be a one-day story, but never any consequences. Antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment is imbedded in the Democratic Party. We should all be concerned.
So, there ‘tis.
“She said the resolution was a political trap to get the antisemitic members of Congress to appear to be … antisemitic. ”
Wow, she said this? A quote?
Or are you paraphrasing using antisemitic twice for effect?
It’s time that every single one of these in the squad be brought up in charges and put in prison and / or deported FOR GOOD! Great men and women have walked the buildings where they now s–t on everything good! The are utter guttervtrash without ANY morals or scruples! They MUST be dealt with in the harshest manner of the law as we can see most if not all have at minimum caused riots and treason with their toxic smart mouth responses, attitudes and abuse of power in their roles. This MUST cesse immediately!
Civil war IS going to break out in our country and we certainly cannot be fighting both a civil war AND WWIII! IT IS COMING PEOPLE AND MANY OF YOU REFUSE TO SEE IT!
LMS, that’s so funny. You hail from a party where White Supremacists regularly attend your rallies and you think folks who condemn Israel over the Palestinian is a racist issue; an issue that has two sides with weapons being tossed both ways and you pick Israel as being right. And you want to charge them for their free speech and then deport them. Deport where might I ask?
Then you have the gall to say “Great men and women have walked the buildings where they now s–t on everything good!” after your party JUST DID THAT on 1.6.2021 for real. Piss too. Bring on your civil war; we can send in the Florida State Guard, they are well trained to quell these types of disturbances from right-wing whack jobs.
It’s funny how the right now embraces Israel, Blacks, Jews, Hispanics, in words at least. But on the ground, they tell blacks in Florida that some benefitted from slavery. In Free Florida, they accept unaccredited conservative non-profit organization created curriculums. These guys are well known for anti-immigration trash talk and pooh poohing systemic racism and now approved to provide classroom materials to Florida schools. DeSantis approved. Trumplicants tell Jews that Kushner gave them Middle East Peace as the rockets fly by, and they tell Hispanics — how the f*$* did you get around that wall? Really funny.
Larry, Your confusion with this tome is obvious. Anti-Semitism means you are against the Jewish people. Anti-Israel means you are against the country of Israel. I doubt that you will find many democrats who are anti-Semitic (though RFK, who claims to be a democrat, is a possible exception). But there are many of us who are fiercely anti-Israel-I would not consider stepping foot in that country, though there are many interesting sights to see and I am sure most of the people are lovely. Why? The government is theoretically a liberal democracy, but those of us without blinders see their illegal occupation of the West Bank and continually attacking the Palestinians to be anathema to a ‘fair’ government-note it isThe government we oppose, not the people. I understand there are definitely two sides to this conflict, and Palestinians have not been angels, but I expect better from the Israeli government. But, I can already hear the response-this is from Mike, we know he is antisemitic, which of course is a delusion in Larry’s mind, a red herring he has made up to take away his concern that some of his readers might think he is Jewish…
+1 MF. Same issue with many Muslim nations; hard to pick which one to pick on :>)
There are also us liberals who love the religion but are skeptical of Israel’s heart in negotiation a Palestinian peace accord although now that Jared has solved all that with the Abrams Accord, not sure what the fuss is about :>(
I would set foot there in an instant and always heartbroken I could not wrangle a business trip there.
Bottom line: I do get what they were trying to say, they sure said it stupid. And Jeffries is not Pelosi, they wouldn’t get away with this shit with her at the speaker podium.
All sorts of diversity in the Democratic rainbow :>)
Mike f …. You seem to be ill informed on the statements of several of the squad directed at Jews — not just Israel. They have been chastised on several occasions by fellow Democrats. And your old trope is as dishonest now as it was when you said it in the past. In your nastiest criticism of me personally, you change my last name to a common Jewish name. You tie it to the negative characterizes with which you ascribe to me as a pejorative — and by extension to an obvious Jewish name. That is antisemitic by definition. It could not be more clear. And as far as you claim that I am concerned readers may thing I am Jewish is untrue. You are just spewing nonsense. You have yet to explain what good purpose you see in gratuitously changing my name? People do that as a means of insult. If that is your purpose, it is antisemitic. I have had people change my name as a childish insult, but only you have used a Jewish name as the vehicle of your insult.
Larry, Much of your tome is devoted to those who voted against celebrating Israel as a non-racist society-that is not anti-Semitic, it is anti-Israel. And the only reason that my ‘Horowitz’ comments are offensive are because you take them as such. You speak with forked tongue-those of us who are truly not anti-Semitic could give a shit if someone changed our last name into a Jewish sounding name. Like so many other things that conservatives say-when you point fingers at a liberal you are actually pointing out your own faults…
Mike f… You have descended to the level of idiocy. You have repeatedly established you antisemitic tendencies — or at least your willingness to use antisemitism as a trope. You still did not answer why you would change my name to an obvious Jewish name as part of you insults of my character. That is because there is no good reason. Give it, man.
Larry, As per usual, when you have no logical response you resort to bullshit. You are terrified that some of your readers might think you are Jewish-that is why you find Horowitz to be such an offensive name-obvious and logical. It should not be offensive, but as I was reasonably certain you would find it so, I tested you, and you proved me right. You wrote a piece above with few actual anti-Semitic views expressed, but a lot of anti-Israel comments by these democratic legislators, most of which I totally agree with. Israel is turning into an authoritarian, conservative religious state (which undoubtedly is one reason republicans are delighted with them). I disapprove, I am anti-Israel. I love and respect my many Jewish friends, I am not anti-Semitic. You on the other hand have shown yourself to be a mixed bag-who considers the name Horowitz to be a slur. You need to look in the mirror and do some serious soul searching as to who you really are…
Mike f … You lean to being antisemitic. You “I have Jewish friends” is laughable. We all have Jewish friends and mine a very close friends — almost family. It is YOU who connected a perfectly good Jewish name to pejoratives about me. Your thought process is blatant and obvious. And you idiotic claim that I am afraid to have readers think I am Jewish is nonsense. In fact, many of my fans are Jewish. I participate in Jewish discussion groups — and am invited to speak to Jewish community groups. And you should recall my past commentary stating why I love the Jewish community. Unlike you, I have never said, written, implied or believed anything that is antisemitic. In that regard, you are just an effing liar. So, there you have it … you are an ignorant lying antisemitic low life and your dishonest one-note tune has run its course. End of discussion.
Anyone else lost their free-speech privileges on Alice’s recent 1.6 post? I see where some are posting, but not me, and not my friend, wink-wink-nudge-nudge with another name and email address.
Of course it may be a length thing too, Alice might have size issues :>)
What’s up Joe G???? Alice penalty box for Frankie boy?
These creatures do not belong in Congress, but in a madhouse. Unfortunately, Congress is now more like a madhouse, thanks to these six freaks.
Larry, Hard to imagine a more ignorant response than the one from yesterday, but I am sure that you will succeed in that endeavor in the future. Your personal insults do not affect me however, I consider the source and I guess I should consider them a badge of honor. Of course you normally descend to the level of personal insults when you have no logical comments to make. The premise of your tome is a lie-the Congress people you mentioned are anti-Israel, but you are too ignorant to understand that does not mean they are against those of the Jewish faith. Israel has an awful government, as the actions yesterday proved, and the US should back off their support of this authoritarian regime-certainly eliminate the foreign aid we have provided since inception.