Columnist questioning if Wes Clark (who is half Jewish), Jimmy Carter are really anti-Semites

[kerry-is-my-prez]

http://www.freemarketnews.com/Analysis/27/6786/carter.asp?wid=27&nid=6786

I responded back to him on his blog and said "Hello - Wes Clark is half Jewish - so no, I don't think he's anti-Semitic.

Just because someone disagrees with the actions of the Israeli government does not mean that they are anti-Semitic. If someone disagrees with the actions of the U.S. goverment - does that make them anti-white? or, if I disagree with the actions of an African government does that make me anti-black?

I have Jewish friends who disagree with many things that Israel does - one Jewish friend agrees with Jimmy Carter 100% - what does that say about him?

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[w4rma]

3. What's your point? (nt)

[Captain Hilts]

5. I'd read he'd never been to Jewish services.

So how can he be considered Jewish unless people think you can inherit acquired characteristics, such as religion.

[Warren DeMontague]

74. It's not that simple. nt

[kerry-is-my-prez]

20. I don't get it either.

I guess it's his/her way of calling me an anti-Semite.

[pagam]

8. Being jewish is a race?

Are you sure of that?

[TZ]

10. I'm Jewish, but I don't practice..

Its a religion and I think ethnic heritage is the best way to describe it. Race is a little iffy. Although there are certain genetic diseases associated with certain Jewish groups (Tay-Sachs disease for one) so you could maybe make a case for race. Technically anyone whose mother was Jewish, is considered Jewish period.

[BonnieJW]

11. It's not a race; it's a religion.

How can you convert to another race? A race is defined as a group of people who share similar PHYSICAL characteristics. Jack Benney and Sammy Davis, Jr.? Don't think so.

[mondo joe]

16. Being Jewish is BOTH a religion and a culture. A person can be one,

both or neither.

[TZ]

21. genetic testing

Then how come Jewish parents are tested for inherited genetic diseases like Tay-Sachs that most others aren't?

[JVS]

69. A religion rooted in the idea of a lineage going to Abraham, which puts bloodline into the equation.

There are some who have converted, but that is a rare occurrence.

[Warren DeMontague]

73. Eh. It's both. I'm half Jewish, and I'm a Atheist-Taoist-Discordian.

Hitler wouldn't have cared.

[mondo joe]

18. It's not a race, but it is an ethnic group. It is also a religion.

A person might be one of the two, both, or neither.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

23. For centuries Jews mostly always married other Jews, and although not a race

it is a passing down of strong cultural ties.

I consider myself a cultural Jew and do not practice Judaism.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

25. I'm a Jew. What kind of race is it if my mother is blond , blue-eyed and fair, and my dad had

almost jet black hair, dark skin and dark brown eyes?

[mondo joe]

34. There's no such thing as race within humans anyway,

scientifically speaking.

But there certainly are ethnic groups ansd cultures, one of which would be Jews.

[Tom Joad]

2. Check out Jewish Voice for Peace.

http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/

Buy the Carter book.

[Deep13]

4. Must be one of those self-hating Jews.

:eyes:

[Selatius]

6. Clark got in trouble from the ADL for mentioning lobbying efforts by Likudniks for bombing Iran

He didn't call them that though. He called them "NY money men" instead or something to that effect, which could easily be construed as a reference to the classic Jews control the economy spiel. That is what caused Abe Foxman to write him a letter in complaint over his phrasing of the words.

[OKNancy]

7. this is the quote from the article

Wesley Clark opposes the invasion of Iran, which Israeli strategists have since publicly proposed Israel do by itself. Clark, whose father was a Jew, refused to capitulate. He responded: "I will not tolerate anti-Semitic conspiracy webs to permeate the honest debate Americans must have about how best to confront Iran."

---
I must be missing something. How is that calling Clark anti-Semitic?

Edit to add: he is not calling Carter an anti-semite either. This person is critizing those who do.

[BonnieJW]

13. If his father was Jewish,

Clark is not. According to Jewish law, the Jewish blood line is carried through the mother.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

14. The headline: "ARE WES CLARK AND JIMMY CARTER ANTI-SEMITES?"

It's really a case of "yellow" journalism. Where the headline blares a sensationalistic phrase and then the article says nothing of the sort. It's really even worse that at least backing up the headline.

[OKNancy]

19. Yes it is. I think that's the point

Did you read the article? It in no way supports those who say that Clark and Carter are anit-semites.

[UTUSN]

9. I knew this CARTER smear will keep popping up. Link to DEBUNK

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x16763
Yesterday, Monday 1-22, I caught a couple of minutes of this HATE monger. One of his callers said he heard CARTER use the phrase "so-called holocaust." The clear implications were that CARTER was denying-the-Holocaust and is anti-Semitic. HANNITY, of course, POUNCED on this, saying that his crack staff would get on this to produce a tape.

Today I happened to be in the car again, and the only local talk radio station is ALL wingnut, so do NOT conclude that I listen as a FAN.

If HANNITY had come up with something damning, he would have run it in the first hour, at the TOP of the hour. Instead it was in the final 20 minutes.

So he played the tape with a downer of an introduction, saying he will "let you decide" how to interpret it.

So on the tape, a kid asked CARTER how WW II started. CARTER said (paraphrasing), "It started with Adolf HITLER, the leader of the German nation. He carried out aggression against neighboring countries because the Western democracies didn't stop him early enough. And then he carried out ONE OF THE MOST HEINOUS CRIMES IN HISTORY, THE EXTERMINATION OF JEWS, THE SO-CALLED HOLOCAUST."

It is ABSOLUTELY TOTALLY CLEAR that there is NOT ONE DROP of Holocaust-denial here. CARTER's use of the phrase "so-called" is an IDIOM, a COLLOQUIALISM, meaning "THAT WHICH IS CALLED THE HOLOCAUST. It is called SO/THUSLY: the Holocaust."

There is NO bottom to HOW LOW these loathsome, HATE MONGERING WINGNUTS will go.

[OKNancy]

15. This is a debunking article actually

the article linked is a debunking article, not one in support

[kerry-is-my-prez]

24. I read it more closely and realize that you're right. I just changed the headline.

I wish the columnist would have come up with a better headline. Many bozos (like me) have a habit of only reading headlines, skimming an article or of only reading the first few pargraphs.

[TZ]

27. You don't think that was an accident do you?

You are pretty typical of many. They do deliberately mislead at times...

[saltpoint]

12. Two major, much-admired Democrats, and the media

is smearing them.

Seems as if we've seen this pattern before.

The corporate right-wing media doesn't like us to be the good guys.

[TZ]

17. terminology here

Now a lot of the hate groups misuse the term "zionist" but technically that means someone who thinks that Israel has a biblical right to its land. You can be Jewish and not be a zionist. I happen not to agree with a lot of what Israel does. There are many Jewish right wing religious zealots as is the case with Christians and Muslims.

[Meshuga]

22. There is no such thing as a half Jew

You are either Jewish or you are not. If your mother is Jewish and your father is not then you are Jewish. If your mother is not Jewish but your father is Jewish then you are not Jewish.

If Clark's mother is Jewish then he is a Jew. Otherwise he is not Jewish.

[AliceWonderland]

29. This is not true

There is an enourmous debate about "who is a Jew." It depends on the specific sect of Judaism -- eg. if your father is Jewish but not your mother, were you raised in the Jewish faith? Different Jewish communities, from Orthodox to Reform, will approach this question differently.

My beloved is half-Jewish; his father was a Hungarian Jew who escaped to Switzerland, then the US after Kristallnacht. Out of the whole family only one of his father's brothers survived Auschwitz. His mother was American, and not Jewish. Some might consider him Jewish, many wouldn't, and he struggles -- I never realized there was such a debate until I met him, and I saw all the books in his bookcase grappling with the question, who is a Jew? and what does it mean to be half-Jewish? He could legally go live in Israel under the Law of Return -- he is the child of a Jew and would have been subject to discriminatory laws in the 30s and 40s. He observes Hanukkah and High Holy Days. He studies Hebrew and his Tanakh has a place of pride in the house. He refuses to "convert" because he feels he shouldn't have to.

So, your statement that "there is no such thing as a half-Jew" is incorrect. There is a large body of literature on the subject, and many people who debate the question.

[Meshuga]

32. By Reform Jewish standards yes

your husband is a Jew (a whole Jew) but still he is not a half-Jew. There is no such thing as a Jewish race for him to be half anything. Ask any Reform Rabbi if your husband is a Jew and they will ask, "Was he raised as a Jew and he was a bnei mitzvah?". If you say "no" the Reform Rabbi will say that he is not a Jew but if you say yes then the Reform Rabbi will consider him a Jew (a whole Jew).

For a person with a Jewish father, by Reform standards, he has to be raised as a Jew and demonstrate Jewish identity. Your husband seems to have a strong Jewish identity so he is considered a Jew by us Reform Jews.

There might be a large body of literature making a case that your husband is a Jew but there is nothing saying he is a half-Jew since there is no such thing.

If Wes Clark had his bar mitzvah, confirmation, and calls himself a Jew then Reform Jews will consider him Jewish (not half but whole) but this does not seem to be the case.

[Adelante]

48. Wes doesn't call himself a Jew, that's right

He claims Jewish ancestry on his father's side. He himself was raised a Baptist in Arkansas. He never knew his Jewish father, who died in Chicago when Wes was four, even was Jewish until he was in his early twenties, at which point he reunited with his father's family and remains very close to them to today.

[Meshuga]

61. Thanks for the info WesDem

He can claim Jewish ancestry and not identity. He is neither Jewish or half-Jewish he is a Baptist Christian from Arkansas who has Jewish ancestry on his father side of the family.

[mondo joe]

31. That depends on what you think Jewishness is.

Per the religios tradition, it is passed on matrilinealy.

But today there are many secular Jews who are not hung up on that tradition, and consider being Jewish simply an ethnicity and so recognize people as partially Jewish.

[TZ]

35. quite true

I am quite aware as well, that since I was never bah mitzvahed (see how bad I am not sure of spelling) many orthodox and even some conservative would say I am not Jewish. Secular Jew based on heritage. Quite proud of it too. I do know some of the traditions but not all...

[Meshuga]

37. If you are born of a Jewish mother

the orthodox and conservative will consider you Jewish. Even if you kick and scream and say that you are not Jewish. As opposed to someone who was born of a Jewish father who could follow Judaism to the very little detail and not be considered Jewish by the conservative and orthodox.

[TZ]

40. Both parents Jews..

Maybe its just the orthodox wingnuts, but I thought I remember hearing one group say that if not bar mitzvahed or go to temple (sadly never, maybe one day..) you are not Jewish. I could be wrong. I freely admit I am a secular and somewhat ignorant jew...

[Meshuga]

43. No, they will say you are a Jew

And you would have no problem getting an ultra-orthodox rabbi to officiate in your wedding but you would have to marry another Jew. You are a Jew no matter what you do. There is no way out for you! :-)

[Meshuga]

38. Well

Only the secular Jews who are ignorant about Judaism might use the term half-Jew. That does not make someone be considered a half Jew to the Jewish community as a whole.

[mondo joe]

39. "Ignorant about Judaism"?

Or simply disagree about it?

[Meshuga]

41. Ignorant about Judaism

Or disagree with judaism, I guess. But that still doesn't make a Jew or a non-Jew to be a half-Jew.

[mondo joe]

42. Again, matter of opinion about what you think being a Jew is.

Who is a Half-Jew?
A Half-Jew is someone who has one Jewish parent, and one non-Jewish parent. This is the simple answer to a complicated question: now it gets harder. According to halacha (the legal part of the Talmud), a Half-Jew doesn’t exist because a Jew must have a Jewish mother, or must have converted. So, conventional Jewish wisdom has long held, either you are a Jew (if your mom is, or you converted), or you aren’t. A Half-Jew, well, that just hasn’t been an option. Now, times do, of course, change. Some strains of Judaism (Reform, for instance) have altered their rules, and now say a Jew need only have a Jewish parent and upbringing. Still, an identity that acknowledges both the Jewish and the non-Jewish sides has not been well-explored…until now.

http://www.halfjew.com/html/faq/

[TZ]

45. Very interesting discussion

I must say as a secular jew who grew up with very little of the core religion in my house (my hebrew is limited to the Hanakkuh prayer) its been enlightening. But let me see your guys opinion my sister married a non-jew. They have a little girl. Of course it says mother is Jewish she is Jewish. My brother in law is claimimg that according to the christian tenents that he grew up with the FATHER is the religion. Either of you guys hear that. They fight alot about if Stephanie is Jewish or not. I never heard this Christian tenet but I could be ignorant..

[Meshuga]

46. A website with great deal of authority

Looks like a satirical site to me.

[mondo joe]

47. If you don't recognize people as Half Jews, I guess it would look satirical to you.

There are some who see it through the eyes of tradition and religious law.

There are some who do not.

[Meshuga]

53. It's satirical and ignorant

I see that by looking at the definition for a half-Jew given by that website which gives this sorry definition for "Halacha".

Good luck with your big half-Jew movement!

[mondo joe]

60. You don't need to get so cranky just because not everyone holds

to religious law.

[Meshuga]

62. I don't care if they don't hold to religious law

I am just pointing out the ignorance.

[Captain Hilts]

51. To non-Jews [such as I am] what your parents are doesn't dictate what you are.

I know that does not jive with the standards of many Jews. It would to some of my friends and wouldn't to others.

It's kind of like my Jewish friends referring to my Catholic friends as "WASPs." That's kind of funny, and not correct. But not intended to offend and not taken that way.

[Meshuga]

55. But in Judaism it does

For the orthodox and the Conservative you are a Jew if you are born of a Jewish mother or if you convert. No matter what you do they will consider you Jewish.

The Reform Jewish movement will consider you Jewish if you are born from a Jewish parent and were raised as such.

The Jewish People is a tribe and to be part of this tribe you have to meet certain requirements (being born into it or conversion). There is no such thing as half-membership. You either are a member or you are not.

[mondo joe]

59. And what makes you a member or not has changed over time, and

continues to change.

To you it's a tribe. To some it's simply ancestry. I don't see any reason to disrespect them because of some religious law.

[Meshuga]

64. Not according to me

It's according to the Jewish community. You are right the rules have changed and the answer to "who is a Jew?" depends on the Jewish movement. One movement is more liberal than the other as far as seeing people as members of the tribe because some recognize the change and some don't.

The suggestion that people who don't even consider themselves members of the tribe have some sort of authority in trying to change the rules of the tribe is dumb.

[mondo joe]

66. There is no authoritative voice for the Jewish community.

There is no Jewish Pope.

The standard of what counts has changed over time, and continues to change.

Not so different from other religions - some say there's no such thing as a gay minister, some say there is. Some say there's no such thing as a gay wedding, some say there is.

For those who recognize Judaism as simply an ancestry, they are half Jewish. For those who see it as something else, it's not.

Jewishness is just a construct.

[Meshuga]

67. No shit

That's why we have different movements with different opinions. Each movement set their own standards for religion but we see each other as Jews even if we differ in opinion since we are part of the same tribe. We all know that a Jew is a Jew and a non-Jew is a non-Jew. There is no half membership to the tribe. But you don't seem to understand a basic thing about Judaism since Judaism is much more than a religion.

"Half-Jew" implies that there is a Jewish race.

If you marry a recent convert to Judaism are your kids considered half-Jews? If a person who has no religious affiliation whatsoever marries a Christian are the children of the marriage half-Christians? :eyes:

[mondo joe]

68. "Half Jew" doesn't imply race, but ancestry.

Scientifically there is no such thing as race anyway.

There is no Christian ancestry, so your question is neither here nor there.

Now you continue to be mistaken in thinking that those who say there are half jews don't know a thing about Judaism or are ignorant. We are well aware of the history and the different movements.

It's not that we don't know - it's that we have a different opinion.

[Phx_Dem]

63. I'm with you MrWiggles

I don't really understand this 1/2 jew idea. I get the idea that one aspect of judaism is racial, but there is not one single racial "type" for jews. Judaism is about the process, which is why an observant jew can also be an athiest.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

26. As with your Jewish friends, I'm Jewish & also disagree with many things that Israel has been behind

and years ago would have heated arguments with my parents about the Israeli treatment of the Palestinians.

[VOX]

28. One of the newer right-wing tactics. If you don't favor bombing/occupying certain ME countries...

You get labeled by RWers as "anti-semitic," their "reasoning" being that those countries are hostile to Israel.

Similar to being called a "traitor" if you dare to question the right-wing party line here.

It's an insanely simplistic, black-and-white world for the RW -- no need to look at the details, facts, or complexities of issues -- their world turns on a simple "yes" or "no" to just about anything.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

33. A Rovian tactic.....

n/t

[Adelante]

50. Republican Jewish Coalition

Plain old swiftboating.

[oberliner]

30. The concern about Wes Clark had nothing to do with Israel

It had to do with his remark about "New York money people".

A remark that inspired him to write a letter to the ADL clarifying what he meant.

Critical comments about Israel do not make a person anti-semitic.

Comments suggesting Jewish "control" over the US or the media could indicate that a person is anti-semitic.

Thankfully, Clark clarified what he meant by his potentially misinterpreted remark.

[FrenchieCat]

65. This "concern" about Wes Clark has nothing to do with

anything....Kill the mesenger to distract from the message.

The NEW YORK Post doesn't seem to have "problems" stereotyping.... http://www.nypost.com/seven/01222007/news/nationalnews/n_m__gov_throws_sombrero_into_ring_nationalnews_.htm

but yet, Clark saying New York money people......means Jewish folks automatically? When I look up Money people in New York, I don't see as many Jewish folks in the line up. representing collectively around $22 Billion of New York money:

Keith Murdoch, Donald Trump, David Rockefeller, Austin Hearst, Charles Dolan, Tom Golisano, Mario Gabelli, Michael Jaharis, Kenneth Langone, J. Flowers.

What do you know? Some hefty New York Money People... none of them Jewish.



http://www.observer.com/20070129/20070129_Jason_Horowitz_politics_newsstory1.asp according to this article and nobody is getting upset about the use of the term. I guess it only upsets people when used in the same paragraph as the word Iran.

I believe those who are making something out of his lone comment are the ones perpetuating that New York Money People can only Mean Jewish folks. So who's going after them! :eyes:

[JNelson6563]

36. They just throw all mud within reach

and hope some of it sticks. Typical. Or, as one bright young lady might put it, "unfortunate but not surprising".

Julie

[Cha]

44. I don't believe Wes Clark and Jimmy

Carter are anti-semites for a second.

The corporatefascistmedia likes to stir up shit against people who support DemocraTIC Principles.

[Behind the Aegis]

49. A couple of things...

I am not going to hash out the "half-Jew" thing because that has been beaten about up-thread. However, to my knowledge, Clark was not raised as a Jew, and therefore is not a Jew. He may have Jewish roots/heritage, but it is not the same thing. Also, saying something like "Wes Clark is half Jewish - so no, I don't think he's anti-Semitic." really makes no sense. Even if he were half-Jewish, for the sake of argument, it doesn't preclude him from being an anti-Semite. Anyone can be anti-Semitic; including Jews!

You are correct that disagreeing with the actions and/or policies of Israel doesn't mean that someone is anti-Semitic. There are plenty of people who do just that and aren't anti-Semitic in the least. There are some critics who are biased against Israel and some who are anti-Israeli bigots; they may or may not be anti-Semitic as well. Then, there are those who are anti-Semitic in their criticisms of Israel. Disagreeing with Israel doesn't mean the person is anti-Semitic. Being Jewish, knowing someone Jewish, or having once viewed a Jew on TV doesn't mean a person is incapable of being anti-Semitic.

The issue with Clark was a misspoken quote. I haven't seen anything in his past that would indicate to me he is anti-Semitic, or even harbors an anti-Israeli bias. His letter to the ADL cleared up his misquote as far as I am, and several others are, concerned.

As for Carter, I don't know that I am ready to say he is anti-Semitic either. Though, recently, he has made some outrageous statements. I do think, however, he harbors an anti-Israeli bias that borders, or even crosses, into anti-Israeli bigotry.

[TZ]

54. I agree with you

I didn't catch all that Carter said but the little I did hear was troubling and did sound distinctly anti-Israel. If I can quote from another thread through at least I don't think he said that Jews are responsible for all the wars..:-)

[Behind the Aegis]

56. Shalom and welcome!

I don't know that we have crossed paths before, so welcome. I hope you know there is a Jewish Forum for your viewing pleasure (and with a donor star, your posting pleasure ;)).

As for the quote, no, that was Mel Gibson and I think most, surprisingly not all, posters here would qualify him as an anti-Semite!

[TZ]

58. Thanks

Yeah, know that was Mel "My father is a holocaust denier" Gibson. Just a lame attempt at humor really. I'll be a donor soon I expect and then check out the Jewish Forum.
Shalom- that's the limit of my Hebrew but my Great-Grandma is probably rolling over in her grave and thinking "Oy Vey." (almost my only Yiddish):hi:

[Adelante]

52. Matthew Yglesias wrote about this yesterday on TAP

If anyone is interested:

Smears for Fears
Wes Clark just got caught up in the rigged rules for discussing Israel-related issues in America.

By Matthew Yglesias
Web Exclusive: 01.23.07

Retired General Wesley Clark is, like me, concerned that the Bush administration is going to launch a war with Iran. Arianna Huffington spoke to him in early January and asked why he was so worried the administration was headed in this direction. According to Huffington's January 4 recounting of Clark's thoughts, he said this: "You just have to read what's in the Israeli press. The Jewish community is divided but there is so much pressure being channeled from the New York money people to the office seekers."

This, of course, is true. I'm Jewish and I don't think the United States should bomb Iran, but Thursday night I was talking to a Jewish friend and she does think the United States should bomb Iran. The Jewish community, in short, is divided on the issue. It's also true that most major American Jewish organizations cater to the views of extremely wealthy major donors whose political views are well to the right of the bulk of American Jews, one of the most liberal ethnic groups in the country. Furthermore, it's true that major Jewish organizations are trying to push the country into war. And, last, it's true that if you read the Israeli press you'll see that right-wing Israeli politicians are anticipating a military confrontation with Iran. (For example, here's an article about the timing of the selection of a new top dog in the Israeli Defense Forces; Benjamin Netanyahu is quoted as saying that the new leader "will have to straighten the army out, rebuild Israel's deterrence and prepare the defenses against threats, first and foremost, against Iran.")

Everything Clark said, in short, is true. What's more, everybody knows it's true. The worst that can truthfully be said about Clark is that he expressed himself in a slightly odd way. This, it seems clear, he did because it's a sensitive issue and he worried that if he spoke plainly he'd be accused of trafficking in anti-Semitism. So he spoke unclearly and, for his trouble, got … accused of trafficking in anti-Semitism.

James Taranto, who writes the hack "Best of the Web" column for the online version of The Wall Street Journal's hack editorial page, likened Clark's views on this to the notorious anti-Semitic forgery The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Scott Johnson of the influential and moronic right-wing Power Line blog argued that "Clark's comments are not simply 'anti-Israel,'" and asked "is it a only a matter only of parochial concern to American Jews that they are now to be stigmatized without consequence in the traditional disgusting terms -- terms that used to result in eviction from the precincts of polite society -- by a major figure in the Democratic Party?"

Needless to say, Clark did not stigmatize American Jews. Indeed, he went out of his way to note that the American Jewish community is divided on the issue. Michael Barone's sneering attack on Clark also managed, almost incidentally, to reveal Barone's own understanding that Clark's remarks are substantially correct. Barone observed that it's "interesting to see a Democratic presidential hopeful denounce 'the New York money people,' people whom Clark spent some time with in 2003-04."

continues

http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=12394

Edit: fixed formatting

[k_jerome]

57. the ADL thinks his choice of words was inappropriate...

“While we know (Clark) is a good friend of Israel and is not an anti-Semite, he still engaged in inappropriate language by talking about how Israel and Jewish money will move this country to war on Iran,” Foxman said. “At a time when Jews are being accused of bringing about the war in Iraq, that’s very disturbing. We know this is not the real Clark — but he said it. We’re worried because these ideas seem to be moving into the mainstream. It’s not just David Duke anymore.”

ADL Director Abraham Foxman

http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=13527

The ADL leader told Clark that he had “bought into conspiratorial bigotry”

[high density]

70. Oh yes! Clark's biggest fan, k_jerome, is here!

I've seen talking heads from Israel on cable 'news' for years trying to get us conditioned for a war with Iran. What Clark has said seems right on to me. What's the problem with speaking the truth? Why is it not possible to criticize Israel about real problems without being called an anti-semite?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

72. Oh, it was just a matter of time...

"Ignore" can be your friend; in this instance it has definitely been mine.

[JohnyCanuck]

71. Re. the money and influence angle, I like this response

from the Matthew Yglesias article linked above.

Needless to say, Clark did not stigmatize American Jews. Indeed, he went out of his way to note that the American Jewish community is divided on the issue. Michael Barone's sneering attack on Clark also managed, almost incidentally, to reveal Barone's own understanding that Clark's remarks are substantially correct. Barone observed that it's "interesting to see a Democratic presidential hopeful denounce 'the New York money people,' people whom Clark spent some time with in 2003-04."

And, indeed, it is interesting, for demonstrating the bizarre rules of the road in discussing America's Israel policy. If you're offering commentary that's supportive of America's soi-disant "pro-Israel" forces, as Barone was, it's considered perfectly acceptable to note, albeit elliptically, that said forces are influential in the Democratic Party in part because they contribute large sums of money to Democratic politicians who are willing to toe the line. If, by contrast, one observes this fact by way of criticizing the influence of "pro-Israel" forces, you're denounced as an anti-Semite.

http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=12394