Opinion: Anti-Semitism mars Dem rep races

The Island Now

Several Democratic Party congressional primary races in other districts have been marred by alarming anti-Semitism and even hatred of all whites. 

It is thus time to challenge the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, its Chairman Steven Israel, and all Democrats to take a principled stand in these races.   

While working on this article, I exchanged e-mails with the DCCC, and called Congressman Israel’s office.  Sadly, the DCCC had no position in the controversial Democrat versus Democrat races.  Moreover, in race No. 2 discussed below, a Democrat who ran a scurrilous anti-Semitic primary campaign is supported by the DCCC in the general election.  

Happily, about two hours after my phone call, Congressman Israel finally issued a public statement opposing the infamous Charles Barron (race No. 1 discussed below). But unhappily, Congressman Israel has not spoken up and taken a principled position in the other two races. 

(1)   Barron versus Jeffries Democratic primary:  A notorious former Black Panther, New York City Democratic Councilman Charles Barron, is running against decent Democratic state Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, in the Democratic Party primary on June 26 in New York’s 8th Congressional District, which includes large sections of Brooklyn and parts of Queens. 

Charles Barron is infamous for spewing anti-Semitic and anti-white hatred. 

At a 2002 rally for slavery reparations (which Barron supports), Barron said that he “want[s] to go up to the closest white person and . . . slap him, just for my mental health.”  (Just for my mental health, I hope Barron loses his primary.)

Barron held a memorial service honoring former Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi, and calls Qaddafi a “freedom fighter.”  In a November 2011 interview, Barron called Qaddafi, Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe, Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez “all of my heros.”  During the same interview, Barron declared: “America is nothing but a bunch of hypocrites.” 

Barron also undermined the Crown Heights black and Jewish communities’ post-riot efforts to restore and maintain good relations, with comments such as accusing Jews of having “a false sense of entitlement” because they have “their own” volunteer ambulance service.  (The “Jewish” ambulance service, Hatzalah, actually serves everyone, without regard to race, religion or ethnicity.  Hatzalah has saved thousands of lives of people in every “category.”)

In a speech in 2010, Barron stated that Israel should not exist, and accused the State of Israel of “aggressive, terroristic behavior and . . . piracy.”  Barron also outrageously analogized Israel to the Nazis, and stated: “You want to stop terrorism?  The biggest terrorist in the world is the government of Israel.” 

Sadly, several major labor unions have endorsed Barron and are getting out the vote for him.  Samuel Gompers is rolling over in his grave.

On June 11, several Jewish Democratic notables (including Ex-Mayor Ed Koch and state Assemblyman Dov Hikind) gathered at a press conference to denounce Barron for hate-mongering, trying to divide New York communities that should peacefully live together, anti-Semitism and enmity towards the State of Israel.  Alas, Congressman Steve Israel and the DCCC were absent from the press conference.  

Subsequently, on June 12, shortly after I spoke with Congressman Israel’s office, he issued a brief public statement condemning Barron.  (I don’t know if the timing is coincidental.)  Unfortunately, the DCCC has still taken no position.

(2)   Pascrell versus Rothman Democratic primary:  A second nearby Democratic primary of concern already took place, on June 5, in northern New Jersey’s 9th Congressional District.   The Passaic Arab community propelled anti-Israel incumbent Democratic Congressman Bill Pascrell to victory over relatively pro-Israel incumbent Democratic Congressman Steve Rothman, in an extremely ugly race.

Congressman Pascrell has staunchly defended convicted Hamas terrorist Imam Mohammad Qatanani, and actively opposes the federal government’s attempts to deport Qatanani.  Pascrell has long-time friendships with, and has received generous financial support from executives at a mosque whose leadership justifies Hamas terrorism.  

Pascrell also signed the notorious “Gaza 54 letter” (named for its 54 Democratic congressperson signatories) demanding that Israel must allow dual-use materials into Gaza (which could and would be used to build and fortify rocket launching sites).  By contrast, Rothman supported Israel’s missile defense systems (to protect civilians from the Hamas terrorist rockets).  Both had otherwise liberal voting records.

During the Pascrell-Rothman primary campaign, Arabic campaign posters for Pascrell and op eds urged the “Arab diaspora community” to “elect the friend of the Arabs” and “a true Arab” over “the Jew.” (Pascrell actually has European heritage.)  

Pascrell campaigned alongside individuals who are particularly hostile to Israel and the U.S., including another Imam reportedly connected with Hamas and notorious Muslim Congressman Keith Ellison.  (Congressman Ellison insinuated that 9-11 was an inside U.S. government job, organized the “Gaza 54” letter, and frequently bashes Israel and proposes anti-Israel legislation.)  

The anti-Israel Arab-American Institute’s James Zogby helped organize the Arab community to elect Pascrell.  (The district has significant Arab and Jewish populations.)

Pascrell also refused to denounce supporters who hurled anti-Semitic dual loyalty charges at Rothman.     

Sadly, Congressman Steve Israel, the DCCC, and the entire Democratic Congressional delegation were silent in the face of these internecine anti-American and anti-Semitic slurs. 

(There were press reports that, prior to the NJ-9 primary, DCCC Chair Steve Israel offered $1 million to Rothman to run in another district.  This would have automatically kept Pascrell – the defender of the convicted terrorist Imam – in place in NJ-9.) 

Pascrell’s landslide defeat of Rothman left commentators wondering whether there is any place left in the Democratic Party for supporters of the State of Israel.

Interestingly, Pascrell’s opponent in the general election will be “Shalom in the Home” television star Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, a moderate Republican who won a three-way Republican primary.  Rabbi Boteach is trying to keep the general election from turning out to be as nasty as the Democratic primary was, and reached out to meet with Pascrell.  However, it takes two to keep an election clean. 

It is too late now for Congressman Steve Israel and the DCCC to undo the vicious anti-Semitism that led to Rothman’s primary defeat.  However, Congressman Israel and the DCCC should, at the very least, comment on what occurred in the primary, make sure that Pascrell receives no DCCC support in the general election, and insist that Pascrell should run a clean general election campaign.  

Instead, however, the DCCC advised me that it is now supporting Pascrell against Rabbi Boteach.  Apparently, as long as you have a “D” after your name, it doesn’t matter if you lend support to convicted Hamas terrorists or allow an anti-Semitic smear campaign to be run on your behalf.  

(3)  Berman versus Sherman Democratic primary and election:  Across the country, in California’s 30th Congressional District, two liberal Democratic incumbent Jewish Congressmen, Howard Berman and Brad Sherman, are pitted against one another as a result of redistricting.  Congressman Sherman won the Democratic primary (42 percent to 32 percent).  

However, California’s odd election system pits the top two primary vote-getters against each other in the general election, even if they both are in the same party, so Berman and Sherman will compete again in November (and there will be no Republican Congressional candidate on the ballot). 

The Berman versus Sherman race is not marred by the maliciousness found in the NY-8 and NJ-9 Democratic primaries.  However, one candidate (Brad Sherman) is far more deserving of support by those who consider themselves to be pro-Israel and understand that a nuclear Iran threatens U.S. security.  

Shamefully, at Obama’s insistence, Congressman Howard Berman, who served as House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman during the first two years of Obama’s administration, refused to allow the Iran sanctions bill come to a vote for 18 months.  Berman also agreed to Obama’s demand for presidential waivers which weakened the sanctions bill that was finally passed.  

The long delay and weakening of sanctions occurred despite the imminence of Iran’s nuclear capability to annihilate Israel and cause grievance harm to America.  As payback, Obama took Berman along to Obama’s George Clooney fundraiser.

The shameful Obama/Berman sanctions delay is good reason for supposed pro-Israel, pro-America leaders to support security-conscious Brad Sherman over Howard Berman.  Yet, the only comment from Steve Israel has been regret that Sherman and Berman are expending Democratic resources fighting each other.  It’s time for something more.

 

Elizabeth Berney, Esq.

Great Neck

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