Jewish Democrats want end to Holocaust rhetoric
After a season in which Republicans and at least one Democrat invoked Nazis and the Holocaust to characterize political opponents in the health debate, a national Jewish Democratic organization has launched a "pledge campaign" to demand that candidates condemn and refrain from "abusive Holocaust rhetoric and anti-Semitic language."
The National Jewish Democratic Council is starting with candidates in the Illinois election for U.S. Senate, but organization officials say they plan to expand around the country in the coming weeks.
"In the current toxic political environment, an increasing number of voices have employed inappropriate Holocaust and outright anti-Semitic rhetoric to score political points," Ira N. Forman, chief executive officer of the council, said in a statement. "At an official House Republican press conference before 'Tea Party' activists in November, for example, political rhetoric opposing health insurance reform invoked disgusting Holocaust imagery and outright anti-Semitism. Top political leaders including House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) and House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-IN) stood before a crowd that held a banner displaying a stack of dead bodies at Dachau, titled 'National Socialist Health Care Plan, Dachau, Germany - 1945.' Yet another sign suggested that 'Obama takes his orders from the Rothchilds' [sic].
"This is just one of many vile examples that rabbinic movements and other national organizations have taken a stand against. This is not a partisan issue and such speech is simply not acceptable to the Jewish community. Republican and Democratic candidates alike must disavow such rhetoric. Starting in Illinois and expanding around the country, NJDC will call upon candidates for federal office in 2010 to pledge to renounce anti-Semitic and abusive Holocaust language by any supporter."
The NJDC release does not mention Rep. Brian Baird, the Washington state Democrat who described outbursts by critics of Democratic health care legislation at town hall meetings last summer as “close to Brown Shirt tactics.”
Or, for that matter, perhaps the most notorious example by a prominent figure, the lengthy bit by Rush Limbaugh last year comparing “the Democrat Party of today and the Nazi Party in German.”
“Well, the Nazis were against big business,” Limbaugh said. “They hated big business and, of course, we all know that they were opposed to Jewish capitalism. They were insanely, irrationally against pollution. They were for two years of mandatory voluntary service to Germany. They had a whole bunch of make-work projects to keep people working, one of which was the Autobahn.”
At the time, Jewish Democrats pressured Cantor, the House minority whip, who had said that the GOP needs Limbaugh, to repudiate Limbaugh's comments.
Comments
I am beginning to think that by the nature and shallow quality of the posts of most of the Right-wing screamers of Limbaugh and Beck inspired propaganda talking points, that a profile of such individuals can be approximated. They are, for the most part, sad little creatures who have subscribed to doctrinaire hard line Right-wing dogma because they think that in doing so, they can add a measure of machismo to their pathetic existence, caused by the rejection they received during adolescence, by females.
The bullying attitude they project when engaging others on the Internet is in sharp contrast to what they revert to once they leave the key-board, which I suspect is shaped by a reality where they are set upon by the Neanderthals in their life, and are incapable of dealing with the brighter people around them as well. Many of them cleave to the symbolism of extremism, which is represented by the posters that adorn the walls of the parental basements in which they reside. I don’t know how closely any of them resemble this approximation, but I’m sure that a significant number of these bloviators do in fact reflect this templet. The Right-wing could very easily end any analogies, or comparisons, of themselves to Nazis, if they just stop acting like them.
Posted by: Robert Littel | January 25, 2010 6:41 PM
Robert Littel, I couldn't agree with you more. I just read your post to some friends of mine here at my favorite bookstore, and added the comment, "Wow, and I thought I was a good writer." I'll buy anything you're selling. I myself am a conservative, because I'm for small government, conservative fiscal policy and strict monetarism. I want people working not by the govt spending money, but by keeping inflation at bay and taxes low, which allows businesses to grow. I am on the right mostly because the center has disappeared, and because the left is so left now. I also think the New Left is highly antisemitic. Mostly, and sadly, as a conservative, I try hard to distance myself from the Republican party and its religious-right orientation. When I talk to other conservatives, I find myself debating every issue with them. The likes of Limbaugh and other idiots who are entertainers all, and who speak to an uneducated audience, I have no use for. You said it best. I just wish I had said it first! Thanks for your insight.
Posted by: Pamela Sue Alexander | January 25, 2010 11:13 PM
I agree it was wrong to show a picture of holocaust victims to attempt to show support for a political cause. However, when Mr. Limbaugh cant point out how the Nazis and their socialism discriminated against the Jews and didnt want them to earn or to even have money then I believe someone is being too sensitive. If he used this example to compare the socialism of then to the socialism of now, so what? His point was that socialism can lead to bad things. I dont believe he was being too extreme by pointing out something that went very wrong with socialism. What we all need to keep in mind is that in the book of Genesis, God tells Abraham that He will bless "those who bless you." In other words, one of the reasons that America has been so blessed is that it has supported Israel. However, what will the reaction be by liberal Democrats if you point that out to them? They would most likely rather spend time complaining about Rush Limbaugh. So how will America be blessed with this new liberal type of socialism proposed by the current Democratic party? It wont. Islam wants Israel destroyed and anyone who supports Israel, so they can have their kingdom complete. That is why 911 occured. The message is, "you better not support Israel." Our current president supports Islam. So a good message that Jewish people need to hear is, dont be so quick to support the Democratic party and dont be quick to criticize the Republicans. The Republican party supports Israel much more than the Democrats. This mess wont be ended until after the rapture of the church, then the 7 year tribulation (spoken of in the old testament), then the return of Christ for 1000 years. Now who supports Christians more? It sure isnt the Democrats.
Posted by: Clay | January 26, 2010 12:21 PM
Clay - You are a blithering idiot, plain and simple, but mostly simple. You make the simpletons described above, as the base of hate driven politics of the doctrinaire Right-wing pseudo-fascists, seem like compassionate Mensa members by comparison. You better hope your god doesn't have a hell created to punish people for stupidity.
Posted by: Robert Littel | January 26, 2010 1:31 PM