The truth is that every side is hijacking its version of the "Jew" or Jewish experience when it suits their cause - and there is, sadly, nothing new in this. The figurative "Jew" that is invoked has little reality but serves as the blank slate on which to project your fear and anxiety. For today’s Left, it’s mostly capitalism and post-imperialism/colonialism. For today’s Right, it’s mostly socialism and internationalism. Unfortunately, there is a handy Jewish trope near at hand, so take your pick. Rothschild/Soros, arch-capitalist and cheat/communist and thief, outsider refusing to assimilate/insider destroying society from within, weak and cowardly/powerful and controlling - the list goes on.
All of it distorts the living Jews' fundamental humanity. It creates an abstraction that allows former Governor Howard Dean to write about Jews squandering the nobility they have achieved through suffering because of Israel (which in any other scenario would be victim blaming). It allows others to support "Jews" as part of millennial beliefs.
Using "Jews" like that serves as a convenient distraction to the hard work of problem solving. It’s "if only the Jews ...", when progress requires the approach of "if only we ..." Maybe that’s just too much to ask for. Continuing to play the Jewish pawn is far easier.
23
"What we’re seeing is the absurd but logical endpoint of efforts to conflate anti-Semitism with anti-Zionism, and anti-Zionism with opposition to Israel’s right-wing government."
That pretty much sums it up.
The "Israel loving" white nationalists in the GOP are not the friend of the Jewish people, and as soon as they are done using Jews as political pawns they will turn against them faster than you can say "Send them back".
If I were Jewish I would be furious that these phony fascists were using my name to justify their racism.
26
How can the Republican party and it's supporters, who have come out of the closet (as it were), proudly advocating white supremacy and racism possibly name themselves supporters of the Jewish people? I sometimes think I must be going crazy! As the occupant of the white house said, there were good people at the Nazi rally in Charlottesville, as his lovely band of followers proclaimed "Jews will not replace us".. Does no one see the insanity of this claim? The worst part is we let these people get away with it instead of calling them on their hypocrisy.
Everyone who has been disparaged by this administration (women, gays, people of any color other than white, religious denominations other than Christians), must realize where this is going. If you are thinking it doesn't mean you, you are wrong. People often ask the question, "Why didn't the good Germans do anything to prevent the rise of the Nazis?" History will be asking the same question of us.
21
Thank you Ms. Goldberg for such a clear condemnation of Trump's and the Trumpian right-wingers' Orwellian double-speak. It is amazing how effective it is. George W. Bush's administration also used Animal Farm as an operating manual, but not at the steroidal levels now employed. And I don't think any of them were boning up on Hitler's speeches.
We all should be afraid. We all should be in the streets both figuratively and literally.
20
Well said Michelle
9
Thank you Michelle!
8
After the Holocaust was fully revealed German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemoller, in a startling confession of the acquiesence by German intellectuals and religious leaders, wrote the following:
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
President Trump’s racist rant about the four Congresswomen who should go back to their terrible countries of origin places the United States firmly along the path towards another racial explosion. While it is no longer fashionable to say these things towards African Americans it is “open season” against immigrants and other “people of color.”
Many Americans are in denial about the fact the United States is operating concentration camps for the detained people who have crossed the border into our country. Not all concentration camps are death camps such as Auschwitz and Treblinka.
During the heyday of fascism writer Sinclair Lewis wrote a famous novel called “It Can’t Happen Here.” In this story, after being elected, President “Buzz” Windrip takes complete control of the government and imposes a totalitarian rule with the help of a brutal paramilitary force. Sound familiar? It can happen here and it is happening right now.
17
As a Jew, I'm aware that my people have been the subject of every kind of attack for thousands of years. Jews are always one of the first targets in times of dissension.
13
Agreed.
5
"On Tuesday, an evangelical outfit called Proclaiming Justice to the Nations accused the Anti-Defamation League — the Anti-Defamation League! — of siding with anti-Semites after the ADL called out Trump’s racism."
Only the Ministry of Truth could come up with that one.
10
It was disturbing to watch the North Carolina crowd at Trump’s rally chanting “send her back”Immediately following his accusing the four Congress women of antisemitism.
The memories of Neo Nazis chanting “Jews will not replace us” , some of them may have attended the shameful Trump rally and were described by him as “fine people “,were a grotesque reminder of the extent to which this president’s madness is taking our country .
15
The bottom line is we have to get out the vote, retain the House, take back the Senate, and take back the Presidency in 2020. I'd love to see an elderly Jewish man as POTUS next time. :-)
10
Here we are just a couple of generations removed from the Holocaust and we have the shocking reality of American Jews embracing neo-Nazis, people who imprison refugees (including children) in squalor and those who chant “Send them back” about their fellow American citizens. Never again? Hardly.
26
As a Jew., it is imperative we remember one of the most recent terror attacks in America was carried out by a right wing anti-immigrant fanatic espousing the exact same language as Trump, who marched into a synagogue in Pittsburgh and murdered elelven Jews in the middle of Shabbos prayers.
Not by an America Muslim.
If we allow folks like Gorka to have their way with Muslims and Latinas, next they will be coming after us.
887
@Carlos Netanyu Are you Sephardi? My family roots are also Jewish and we were discussing that the rise of Trump is a combination of fascist rises in the 1930s and the Reconquista period of the 1500s and especially the Inquisition which was deeply rooted on a belief of glorifying a bygone era and conquer the Muslims/Jews to the South and their non-christian citizens. It became the rallying cry which allowed for an empowered Spain to begin the Conquests of the New World.
The tropes seen now echo throughout our history and repeatedly the myth of "Jews controlling society" is used to justify attacking them. That's why the North Carolina tiki torch wielding KKK people were screaming, "The Jews will not replace us!" It was reference to this conservative rooted idea that Jews like Soros are working to introduce nonwhite Hispanics to supplant the White majority.
We are living thru another cycle of bigotry and hate and people of all colors and faiths need to band together lest this red tide of Republican fear and hate consume us all.
81
@Carlos Netanyu One of the eleven was our family dentist and his wife and partner in the practice, is a Catholic. They were among the most caring and compassionate couples whom I have ever known and not just to each other.
As a couple, they volunteered their professional services to many needy communities including those who were in prison.
These two people did far more than our current POTUS (or the vermin who shot him) to contribute to the welfare and care of others.
And their faith was a big part of their lives and their reason for their volunteering to serve the less fortunate.
55
Don’t forget it was Saudi citizens who made up 9/11 death pilots. Trump’s so far into MBS, he’s made W. look like an outsider. W. made sure bin Laden’s family in America were on the only planes that flew out of this country that nite of 9/11. Can only imagine what trump will continue to give away to them after the pass on Jamal Khashoggi.
Now that we’re producing more oil than the Saudi’s, I wonder why we still cater to their every whim. We did more than enough to starve Yemeni children and their parents, not to mention intelligence and weapons.
59
Jews will decide for themselves what is and isn’t anti Semitic. As a non Jew deathly afraid of the abyss of bigotry into which Trump has hurled my country, I cannot fathom the sense of safety felt by Jewish people defending this president. The type of vitriol generated by the president at his rallies and on his Twitter feed have never, never been harbingers of anything good for the Jewish people.
481
@Victor
As a Jew may I say without reservation that no Jew .. in light of multiple lock downs .. recently added coded entry ways ... armed police and guards at every service , holiday and special events etc .. Orthodox Jews in specific garb afraid to appear in public ( including the local grocery store ) unless en mass or accompanied by body guards ( professional or otherwise ) ... etc - et al - ad nauseam is feeling the least bit 'safe ' safe in this country regardless of whether they're foolish enough to support Trump or not
19
@Victor Trump's rhetoric is toxic. But it's also transparent. The anti-Semitism on the far left is much more insidious. It hides behind a facade of anti-racism and social justice, and many people are taken in as the cancer spreads. Corbyn helped it go mainstream in the UK. Omar and groups like IfNotNow are probably its best chance of going mainstream in the US.
15
This kind of eerie trope has been used before......by father and son Trump and the Republican Party, and Russ Limbaugh and his kind all rolled together to form a quilt of nationalism, a very dangerous time indeed.
553
With clarity and conciseness Ms. Goldberg has laid bare an unholy alliance among white nationalists, Trump, right-wing American Jews and right-wing Christian evangelicals. What she has left out is Netanyahu's full-throated backing of Trump's presidency and the role of Jared Kushner and his family in creating the Trump-Netanyahu alliance. Netanyahu has thrown Israel's weight behind Trump and his dalliance with white nationalism. To Americans who think of Israel as an entity without divisions, factions or real internal conflict, who think of Israel as embodying only the highest moral good, who think of Israel as being only informed by an anti-fascist experience, Netanyahu's support carries an imprimatur of righteousness that conceals the truth about Trump's malignant white nationalism. And the ascendancy of that white nationalism carries real dangers for Jewish Americans. It is not just conservative American Jews who are flirting with disaster in their support of Trump, it is Netanyahu.
8
As a left wing pro-Israel Jew, I’ll concede that right wing pro-Netanyahu Jews have much to like about Trump’s policies and actions to-date. But no Jew should be seduced into thinking that they’re now on the white team. The evangelicals don’t think so and certainly the white nationalists don’t. If Trump, abetted by the feckless GOP, succeeds in ushering in an era where white nationalism dominates national politics, Jews have much to fear. First they came for the Muslims, then they came for the blacks, then they came for the Hispanics, then...
7
I definitely got a frisson down my back as I heard Trump try to protect Jews from Ilhan Omar. The President's rants try to sow animosity and tensions between People of Color and Jews. He again is throwing gas on the flame. I sure hope most Jews and People of Color don't fall into his trap.
8
Racism?
Don’t words matter anymore?
Why is this the confidently stated, go-to descriptor of Trump’s “go back” insult for almost all media/pols, including Michelle, except the rightwing?
This same “go back” sentiment, seen as racist now:
“Love it or leave it!!!” ...
... was often hurled at mostly WHITE anti war activists in the 60s/70s, whose criticisms of US interventions were slammed as lack of love of their country. (Like Trump says abt ilhan/“squad”, with his idea of what that love is being the right one. of course!)
Let’s say there’s ultimate god-sealed proof Trump is, at present, a racist. That does not necessarily mean the phrase he used was racist, does it? It seems more linguistically in line with what a fascist, authoritarian, xenophobe, or just a bullying dolt in a fight might say. Imagine if Trump had a white critic he loathed from a war/poverty ravaged majority white country. Where would one attach racism, in that case?
1
It's fashionable these days to say that the charge of anti-Semitism is being used to stifle criticism of Israel. But much of what passes for criticism of Israel these days is anti-Israel agitprop and conspiracist scapegoating, which has proved to be incredibly fertile ground for anti-Semitism. To echo Michelle Goldberg, it's worth asking how we reached this point, where the euphemism "criticism of Israel" can blind avowed anti-racists to the bigotry in their own ranks.
6
Spot-on, Ms. Goldberg. I would only add that Republicans support for Israel has nothing to do with fighting anti-Semitism, and everything to do with hatred of Muslims.
6
Trump is the same guy who said there were "good people on both sides" at the Charlottesville neo-Nazi protest where there was a torch parade of "Jews will not replace us"? This is the guy who is accusing others of being anti-Semitic? And we're listening to him?
5
Ms. Goldberg is spot on. Trump et al. aim to conflate leader, nation, race, ethnicity, religion, party. Their new motto? "Send her back." Send back the brown citizens, the citizens who believe in other religions, the critics. Yep. That's textbook fascism. In fact, this administration is behind the rise of anti-Semitic violence not only here but around the world. And yet they have the nerve to say they're doing it on the Jews’ behalf. That claim reads an awful lot like putting Jewish Americans in ghettos for their own protection. Clearly it was a grave mistake for the Jewish establishment to make an alliance with the conservative Christians who have now happily thrown their lot in with a this white supremacist demagogue and fascist.
5
This is all so sick to pull Israel
and Antisemitism and anti-Zionism
and Judaism into this battle. Jews
always seem to be the canary in
the mine. Please, leave Israel and
Judaism out of it. Everyone involved
has an agenda and none are any good
for the Jews.
8
The best "GET OUT"
Remember Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria's full speech about racism at the Air Force Academy?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU0RfhvYN8s
2
So Trump made a stupid remark in response to the Congresswomen's statement. What else is new? By no means am I excusing this, but my point is that the Dems need to stick to the issues instead of calling out Trump for something the left already knows. He's going to use the bait to rally is base in order to further deflect from his legal issues. The result is exposing this ugliness, and meanwhile the right won't care.
The Squad need to realize that politics involves having a thick skin and compromising.
7
Racism is evil, period. And this is an ugly fact. We have to condemn it no matter where it comes from or what form it takes. Those who don’t,
come across as condoning it.
Is this what Americans are becoming?
3
Divide and conquer is a tried and true strategy of evil-doers as, unfortunately, has been the scapegoating of Jewish people.
I sincerely hope America's diverse population doesn't fall for it as the Trump supporters tries to re-enact the destructive practice of authoritarians, totalitarians and monarchs of past centuries. They would simultaneously oppress and disempower their wider Jewish populations, while employing a select few as tax collectors and the like -- buffers between their elite, entitled (actual and figurative) cadres and the average-janes and -joes of the time; and leading the general populace primed to loathe and blame and persecute their Jewish compatriots and neighbors whenever the political and/or military and/or religious rulers deemed it an expedient method and time to deflect the disaffection of their masses.
I don't agree with
everything Ms. Omar or others of her so-called "squad" (an unfortunate self-moniker) has said or implied. But the deep bigotry of Trump's base, or elements thereof, concern me much, much more.
And don't be fooled: when the moment is right, they may very wellcome for you, too.
Remember their chant, "Jews will not replace us" and remember the telling regret of a mid-(20th) century modern European pastor Martin Niemöller: "First they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Jew. Then they came for.. but I did not speak out... Then they came for me..."
https://www.azquotes.com/quote/544715
3
The left disagrees with the policies of the Likud party or at least those related to Palestinians. In addition, here in the states, the left disagrees with many of the policies of the GOP as they relate to further disenfranchisement of the masses with the aggrandizement of the few. You can love your country as much as anyone else while dissenting against certain policies. There are lone bigots in every group, however, that is not the tenet of the left or the Democratic party, can the right and the GOP honestly say the same thing? What our governments do, they do in our name. The main difference between the left and right is that the left are naive enough to act with a conscience and sense of humanity for all people.
Trump's entire political repertoire is based on scapegoating and labeling those who don't agree with him for the benefit of his angry base (disproportionately minorities and women). His base, united by skin color, Fox Nooz talking points, and a distorted sense of entitlement, willfully ignores all inconvenient facts. It is the easiest way for them to absolve themselves of any and all responsibility for their personal woes - no effort or self control required.
Thank God this mass does not constitute a real majority, or we who dissent would have no way out.
Don't forget to vote, Folks. The majority of us see this delusional disaster for what it is... If we turn out in 2020, we can turn things around. It may very well be our last chance.
3
Bravo. What an excellent column!
3
Trump is very aware that his tactic of of mentioning anti-semitism is a dog-whistle to a certain segement of the Jewish population who support Netenyahu's policies no questions asked. He is trying to woo those Jews who have historically supported Democratic ideals to abandon the Democrats and switch to the Republican Party by producing actions favorable to Israel and her supporters. He is even fighting Netenyahu's proxy war with Iran just to spite Obama. Fortunately, those Jews who can see through these tactics and aren't as ideological rooted in conflating criticism of Israeli policies with anti-semitism are speaking out against blatant attempt by Trump to pander to them.
4
The Republican Party and 45 shamelessly and intentionally stress the anti-Semitic fervor to incite and engender rage with their shrinking support base by viciously assaulting the four Congresswomen of colour for exercising their First Amendment freedom of speech, their right to dissent ,which is rationally justified and logically emboldened. The GOP/45 full court press here is to foment racial internecine, sow xenophobic divisiveness, accentuate anti immigrant hysteria to assure electoral survival. These courageous multi cultural, multi racial, multi religious influential females in Congress are just as entitled to express their opinions as any person in America. Yet the GOP/45 consistently condemn the women of strength by invoking anti-Semitism as the reason to justify these inept attacks. Ms. Goldberg's compellingly and convincingly penned column squarely addresses and disposes of this canard. Moreover, 45 and the Republicans were totally complicit in refusing to condemn House Minority Kevin McCarthy's viciously designed anti-Semitic tweet posted on the eve of the November 2018 election: "We cannot allow Soros, Steyer, and Bloomberg to BUY this election! Get out and vote Republican November 6th. #MAGA," McCarthy wrote in the tweet. McCarthy enjoyed the fame in the spotlight but inexplicably retreated by deleting the very smear he knew was intended and calculated to disparage Jewish persons, the trope: money, international financiers, control. No 2 ways about. Race matters.
4
The exploitation of anti-Semitism by Republicans is, first and foremost, an obvious lie with destructive intent. That is, not only is it absurd at face value, they know it is absurd, and they are, obviously and quite consciously, inverting reality toward evil ends. Racism was a huge factor in Trump being elected. Trump is an obvious racist and an obvious anti-Semite: his actions make him so. And he is supported by frighteningly large swaths of American society and the entire Republican party.
4
Reading this piece, I could not get the image of the Neo-Nazis marching in Charlottesville out of my head nor the words they chanted. "Jews will not replace us". I can disagree with friends who are Jewish about Israeli policies, but I do not question their value as human beings or see any one of them as some existential threat to my well being. In my darker moments, I will admit to hoping maybe we should replace some of these misguided chanters with folks from other places who show empathy, compassion and love for their fellow travelers on this good planet earth.
3
In his heart, Trump has no place for anyone except for himself. I am not even sure what he hates leave alone what he likes. It is about himself. He will do just about anything to please his goals. This man is just shallow. The shallowest man ever to lead the free world!
3
Gorka tops the "most despicable" list of people who have worked for the Trump administration in my view.
He also is an incredible hypocrite.
But what is to be expected from a right wing radio show hate-pundit?
3
Once again, I deplore the phrase "of color".
Every human on this planet is a "person of color", since everyone's skin has a color!
I am a Caucasian dermatologist and the color of my skin is light. The color of many people happens to be deeply pigmented and dark, and many are in between in their pigmentation.
An albino has skin of color - it's white.
This odious phraseology is odious, stupid, and complete biologic nonsense.
5
When someone objects to the use of the word "racism" to describe the demeaning words of their political allies, it is like someone coming up to your burning house and saying, "Before you call 911, do you really think that calling this "fire" is fair?
4
Ms Goldberg creates a false dichotomy between anti-Semitism and legitimate criticism of Israel's policies. There is a third category that is quite prevalent: demonization of Israel that is neither anti-Semitic nor legitimate criticism of Israel's policies. For example, accusing Israel of genocide against the Palestinians, or of building an "Apartheid Wall" without mentioning anything about the suicide bombings that caused it to be built. Ms Goldberg protests conflation of anti-Semitism with legitimate criticism of Israel's policies, but she conflates legitimate criticism of Israel's policies with demonization of Israel, and in so doing legitimizes that demonization.
6
If someone can tell me why we must consider Israel our friend, please explain it to me. Israel (not the Jewish people) has used the United States for decades for money and protection but has given nothing back.
7
My House 'Representative' has been one of the most apt republicans in this endeavor to use Jews as political pawns and disingenuous cries of "anti-semitism" in the name of lobbing attacks at her Democratic Colleagues.
She has endless tweets on her feed decrying Ilhan Omar and other members of congress for being anti-semetic. She was instantly on the front lines, trying to skewer AOC for 'anti semitism' for using the words "concentration camps".
Yet on Tuesday, a serious, credible threat against the Mt. Sinai Synagogue in Cheyenne, WY was announced by the Board's President on the Synagogues facebook page:
"Last Thursday, the FBI notified Wyoming’s Department of Homeland Security that a man was due to be released from the V.A. Hospital. The man had talked about joining far-right groups and shooting up a synagogue, but not specifically Mt. Sinai. The FBI also said he owned a gun, but was not specific on what type. The first call Homeland made was to us… we were notified before the Cheyenne Police."
Jews in the Capitol city of the State she represents are literally and directly threatened by Right-Wing antisemitic violence. Since this threat has been announced publicly, Liz Cheney has made social media posts, given speeches, issued press releases decrying House Democrats and trying to falsely associate them with antisemitism, while seemingly ignoring completely the very real, credible threat that Right-wing Violence poses to her own Jewish Constituents It is truly despicable.
5
Where, on the spectrum of anti semitism, would you put a man who uttered the words, “there are very fine people on both sides”, when one of those “sides” had just marched through a city square chanting “Jews will not replace us”?
Donald Trump is the quintessential projectionist. Literally every criticism he utters about others is true about him.
4
Nothing about the supposed love of Jews by Evangelicals and the new Republican Party surprises me. As a now 70 year old retired New York lawyer, I learned 50 years ago during boot camp at Parris Island that, as a Jew, I was at sufferance in the United States. It was there that when inquiries were made of me for the issuance of my tags the DI (drill instructor), upon learning that I was Jewish, screamed at me, "You gonna waste all this good Marine Corps training on Israel, boy?" To which I responded, "The private is an American first sir," hoping to assuage him. What we are witnessing today is the remnant (albeit 40 - 45% of the body politic) of what has been the United States from its inception.
4
I am sorry to hear from so many Jews that they seem to mistrust the left as much as the right as progressives have not repudiated Omar's statements. But I suppose it is a natural response to the endless attacks and criticisms Jews have suffered for millenia. Please so not lump us all together even though some of us do criticize Israel for some of its policies. Trump's support of Netanyahu does not make him a friend of the Jewish people as attacking one group of people such as blacks or Hispanics makes him a threat to all people. Perhaps we have been too fixated on Trump as an enemy of our country. Is Omar a threat to you or anyone? Only if enough of us choose to interpret her words as leading to violence and I pray that will neer occur here. From my mouth to God's ears.
This is quite consistent with Trump's logic. Which is that whoever is against the ruling government of a country is against that country. According to that logic the Italians that fought against Mussolini were anti-Italian and those that oppose him are anti American. So, if you disagree with the policies of Netanyahu you are not only anti-Israel, but flatly anti-semite (forgetting that the Palestiunians are themselves members of the semitic people). But wait! Of course all this logic is supended if you were against Obama or you are now against Merkel and Macron. Up to what point can this man play on our stupidity? I suppose just until we let him do so.
2
Bravo, Ms. Goldberg. You have said many true and important things here. Conflating Anti-Semitism with criticism of Netanyahu's policies is a canard that must stop. Unfortunately, it is fellow Jews who have led with this dishonest tactic. If it were true nearly 50% of Israelis would qualify as Anti-Semites. Now is the time for all people of good faith to push back this hateful, wave of mindless, dishonest nationalism preening as "patriotism." It is about as American as a Reichstag fire.
6
It is lamentable that so many people confuse Zionism and Anti-Semitism. The two are different issues. Many Jews oppose the occupation of Palestine and the cruel treatment of Palestinians by the Israeli state and Zionist settlers. These Jews are not Anti-Semites, rather they retain the honorable tradition of liberal and egalitarian values. Using "Anti-Semitism" as a shield for racism is a perverse exploitation of the Jewish historical experience.
119
I will say it again and again. I have never met a person who was ONLY racist or just a homophobe or sometimes a sexist misogynist. It's a package deal. Bigots hate everyone. For Trump and his base to act as if the are defending Israel and Jews while attacking people of color, women, LGBT and immigrants is absurd and unbelievable.
6
The GOP is a party of lying hypocrisy! Sickening.
3
I'm Jewish. Trump (his protestations to the contrary notwithstanding) is an anti-Semite, one who believes that Jews (like the people of color he decries) should go back where they came from - in whatever it is that passes for his mind, that means that all Jews should return to Israel, despite the fact that most Jews have no relatives in Israel closer than the Diaspora (the Scattering), which began some 600 years BCE and continued for the next millennium. I have no known ancestors in Israel; if I were to go back to where my known ancestors came from, I would be parceled between Russia (my mother's grandparents), and Germany, Bavaria, England, and Ireland (my father's grandparents). This is of a piece with his racism: anyone who is not European and Christian doesn't really belong here, and should return from whence they came.
There are those who think that a picture of Trump with a pair of African American women is proof he is not racist, and that could not be further from the truth. I've known too many racists who have a friend of the race(s) they decry, who are fine with individuals they know being their friends, but lump all other members of whatever the group is into stereotypes, and expect all non-familiar members of the group to act within the stereotypes; their friends are exceptions to the rule - and yet they do not see their own hypocrisy.
3
“The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” - 1984
3
Well done, Michelle.
2
Music to my ears, thanx Michelle.
2
Donald Trump has just reversed himself and praised the racist chanting at the rally the other night.
2
I'm Jewish and have studied in Israel. I have family that lives there. And I hate Israeli politics. I think Netanyahu is a horrible leader, and a bankrupt man who thrives on conflict with Palestinians. So, am I an anti-semite now? I stand with Ilhan. When you speak truth to power, power loses its mind.
6
Trump is a racist, a nativist, and a misogynistic to the core, he's also deeply anti-Semitic: "'When they start asking people to go back where they came from, that’s the first line of attack on the Jewish people over centuries,' said Ben-Ami. It’s terrifying enough to have a president who says such things. It’s an almost incalculable insult for Trump and his enablers to act as if he’s helping the Jews when he adopts the language of the pogrom."
4
76 years old, Jewish, Marine Corps veteran, lawyer, writer, teacher. American born second and third generation Jews.
I have experienced mild anti-Semitism in my life: a tennis club that did not want me; a hostile neighbor or three. However mostly I have identified as an American who is unaffiliated and gone my way as I wished. I exalted in feeling that no Jew in history in any country had it as good as I did.
One day recently in a local high school a boy who is Hispanic screamed anti-Semitic rants at me unprovoked. The high school principal, an African American, not only did not punish the student but his investigation, he claimed, did not fully support my recitation of the facts. He suggested I gilded the lily (my words not his). He was intent on letting me know that he had experienced far worse and I should not be so outraged. (I think he enjoyed it.) I quit.
Things have changed in America. It is hard to pinpoint it, but things feel different. And why shouldn't they when we have a POTUS and millions of Americans who seem to delight in fascism? What Jew who has studied history is not fearful of fascism? It is perfectly logical to say today it is others and tomorrow it is us.
Should we all be of one mind on this? Of course not. When are we of one mind on anything? Just be watchful and never forget you are a Jew, because others do not forget you are.
7
Thank you, Ms. Goldberg!
I am continually angered and frustrated that any criticism of the Israeli government and their brutal treatment of Palestinians is immediately attacked as anti-Semitism. Using that "logic" any criticism of the Mexican (or Irish, Italian, or Spanish) government is anti-Catholic and should not be tolerated.
4
This is a result of the long standing campaign to equate opposition to Israeli policies with anti-Semitism, and Israel's diligent cultivation of the religious right in this country as its supporter. Since Trump straddles both camps, opposition to Trump equates opposition to Israel and, by extension, anti-Semitism. It's just the chickens coming home.
4
Thanks for Ms Goldberg finally pointing out the elephant in the room. Divide and conquer. Find the wedge and keep driving it until you reduce the opposition to splinters.
Well-paid social engineers and data hacks financed by the Koch Brothers have refined it but it started with using abortion to split the immigrant Catholic vote from the rest of labor. Rinse and repeat.
4
The America that I believed in growing up (child of the 60's) was one of Justice, Equality, Fairness, Brotherhood and Open Arms for Immigrants coming to our Country.
In reality I, and those of my contemporaries, discovered those beliefs were not shared by all Americans. And they are not shared by all Americans in the 21st Century, however, I believe the Majority of America still believes and wants the ideals I believed growing up.
We are in an ideological war, not just a political disagreement, against the dark side of America. I have no hope that those that are committed to Hate, Racism, Xenophobia or Misogyny will ever change. So it is a base of Deplorables that Clinton spoke of that described Trump's base.
They are Deplorable ... so our only hope is to Organize and Vote Out every Republican on the Ticket from Dog Catcher to President.
We need to fix this broken Country!
5
Lets not forget that Trump's fear mongering about the "caravan" incited a deadly attack on a Pittsburgh Synagogue.The concern for the safety of the congresswomen is justified when the president uses false attacks to gin up hatred against them.The president and his Republican enablers will have blood on their hands of anything happens to these women.
3
Thank you for this, Michelle Goldberg. I hope NYT "forgets" to take this down and leaves it front and center for a while, so that it catches the attention of hundreds more.
2
I agree with the thesis of this piece, and must say, it's nice to see it in print. But Trump's legion isn't the first clown act to weaponize the sure-to-get votes of 'anti-Semitism'; it's been a sanctimonious tool of a lot of actors and trolls for 7+ decades.
But there is the smell of a much stronger odor coming from Trump and his legion when they try to put a label of bigotry on anyone. I still cannot believe this fine country elected such an indecent person. What in the world were they thinking?
3
Right on, Michelle! Love your moxie. Keep up the fight.
3
Nicely written piece. One of the problems is that there are Jews in the US who are willing to suspend disbelief and will support right wing candidates that they see as being pro Israel, despite the very anti semitism that often underlies that support. First of all, if Jews think Trump is somehow pro Israel or not anti semitic, because he put the US embassy in Jerusalem, then explain to me not only his history of anti semitism, not just public pronouncements, but where it was proven he discriminated against Jewish clients in his business empire, even in fairly recent times. More importantly, how do you claim the man is not anti semitic when he embraces the white supremacists, who don't view Jews as 'one of them', these groups he embraced are not just anti immigrant, anti black, anti Asian, they are viruntly anti semitic.
As far as the evangelical Christians go, right wing Christian groups, especially the evangelicals, made it all but impossible for any large scale Jewish immigration to the US in the 30's (they and the US Catholic Bishops), and more importantly, they decided to support Israel when fundamentalist preachers started claiming that the second coming would only happen if Israel existed and the kicker, that evangelicals believe that for the second coming to happen, Jews have to convert to Christianity (and yes, with a very big '....or else' attached to it). Like the entire GOP, and more than a few Trump voters, Jews have turned a blind eye, at their peril.
3
Again I will say this. Trump and the Progressives are in conflict not just because they differ, but also because they share a central false narrative, which is: "It is all about me. That is the purpose of my freedom, so I can attain my basic rights." But freedom is not there for things in themselves, but because we share a need and a right, that will be protected by each of us, by insuring that others will have their rights. The time has come to function as We the People, without believing this will continue to marginalize me by my 'otherness,' or that all these 'others' are here to rob me of my hard earned money. This is not a problem that will be solved by politics alone. We must come together on grounds deeper than politics. However any one comes to this place of sharing is what they must do on their own------that is the only right use of it is "all about me." You work not just for you but also for a greater good, a higher power than the "just me." This also means you work with others you disagree with, not just your tribe. When lawyers who are Jewish, (there are no Jewish lawyers or Mexican judges), work, so prisoners who are devil worshipers, are free to worship in their way, they do so knowing if any can be excluded, they can be excluded, so they must work so no one is excluded from basic rights. This is also just basic common sense, but one of the greatest magnitude. Despair not! We have come a long way, and
we are going onto a greater thing called WE The People.
2
With help of the right wingers in Israel, all critic against Israel is seen as anti-Semitic. Problem is that Israel is an apartheid state, so to not criticise Israel is the same as giving racism a free pass.
3
Michelle, thank you for clearing that up for me. I’m not a racist and feel inwardly proud my kids interact and hang out w people of different cultural backgrounds but I was starting to suspect I was anti-Jew because, as you explain, I’m very much against what the Zionists are doing in Israel. But if you were going to call me anti-Jew so be it. It’s good to know that being against the policies of Israel is not anti-Jew. Again, thank you for that.
10
Jewish people have been carrying Trump's water for a very long time. We can start the list with Roy Kohn, and go on and on and on from there, right up to the inner circle of the White House. How about writing a column on why Jewish people continue to do so? What's in it for the Jewish people to support this man?
1
I married a Jew, my three boys are Jews, I'm no anti-semite. I am, however, progressive and opposed to the settlements in The Gaza and such. I think Netanyahu dehumanizes the Arab population living in and around Israel. I think he stokes the flames, much like Trump, to use fear as a means to push forth his agenda. Being opposed to policies or leaders doesn't make me hate a whole people! Do not compare me to the right-wing bigots who so often do hate a whole people; Jews, Mexicans, the list goes on and on. We have nothing in common.
20
The media is largely to blame for this, by allowing the term anti-Semitic to be thrown around so casually. I have studied Omar's words repeatedly-- None of them are anti-Semitic. To criticize politicians for being beholden to their donors is not anti-Semitic in the least. We all criticize dozens of them for allegiance to defense contractors, Pharma, oil, ad infinitum.
Neither is it anti-Semitic to say that Jews have an involvement in banking or media that is larger than their statistical proportion of the human population. It's a fact, what's wrong with that? Only if you secretly (or not so) harbor some animosity towards them would that bother you. Indian Americans have an outsized representation at my hospital; African Americans do in the music world. European Americans do in farming. None of these statements should be offensive.
Polticians pounced on Omar for calling them out-- yes she did it recklessly and tactlessly-- just as I call out Reps. for their huge donations from (and perceived allegiance to) oil and defense, and the media allowed it to stand. Now we are here. Yes, history must be continually explained and illuminated and observed and respected. But "anti-Semite" is far too volatile a pejorative to be tolerated inaccurately.
5
Hey, Michelle, loved this one, but then I always do. I, too, have watched trump wrap himself up in Israel’s flag, if not literally but certainly figuratively, at first with curiosity and then with the dread of what I know happens to anyone or thing that he claims to love. List of casualties too long to put in limited space. Thank you for putting it all together here in a clear, concise way. It must be like keeping up with one of those giant deep-water squids having to go from one sordid mess to another, while tracking five more that can happen at any second. Humble praise, but I marvel at your tenacious abilities. Must have been an exhausting week.
2
How does a low-life such as Sebastian Gorka end up anywhere near the White House? He's long been known as a right-wing ideologue long on bluster and short on facts.
Yes, he fits perfectly with the Trump regime, but that's a pretty low bar for government service.
7
Trump has long ago forgone any semblance of credibility so nothing he says can be held at face value.
8
The Republicans only require one thing to join them, you must hate. When Trump's political power is spent, the Republicans in Washington now supporting him will gleefully turn on him. I look forward to that day.
10
There is antisemitism on both the left and the right. However, criticism of the current government is not similar to the anti-Zionism in the 1930's and 1940's, and anti-Zionism in the 1930's and 1940's was not antisemitism.
Grandparents and parents were anti-Zionist. They feared that creating a Jewish homeland/state in the Middle East surrounded by Arabs - some hostile, some welcoming - would result in decades of conflict.
They felt that giving the Florida everglades - or a section of that - or maybe a big chunk of land the size of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode somewhere in Arizona would work out better for everyone.
2
Please ... explain what existential threat means? The DNC seems to think this explains everything. I'm hearing it in the debates, in news articles, interviews etc. This is a terrible mistake in trying to define the "threat" that we face with the climate change, raciism, misogynistic language, anti-Semitic language and basically everything associated with hate we face in the leadership of this country. Stop with this term. Find a better way to explain it. As it stands, this term means nothing to me (a communications, outreach and education specialist). How do you think the rest of the country is hearing this? This is a great article, but you lost most of us on the term existential threat. Define it, because, if this is the way to define the movement to divide us, we have already lost the 2020 election. The republicans will have a field day and the Dems will be lost trying to say why existential threat matters and what it means to this country. I know this sounds trite given the depth of this article, but somebody really need to examine this term and what it really means because every candidate for the democratic party is using it and seriously, its a useless term.
2
Observations from an old Jew, me:
1. Extremism in any direction, left or right is not good for anyone and particularly not good for Jews.
2. Any Jew who doesn’t recognize the deep historical tie between anti-Semitism, racism and anti-LGBT sentiment does so at their extreme risk.
23
Nixon's southern strategy writ large.
Used on Reagans first day of his 1980 campaign in Philadelphia MS (MS burning) Talkiing states rights
Why didn't anyone say something? One dare not criticize St Ronnie of the KKK
8
Trump is a hypocrite. Having columns of tiki-torch carrying, uniformed, white nationalists chanting "Jews will not replace us," and "Blood and Soil" (a Nazi slogan) comprise some of the "very fine people on both sides" in Charlottesville. Yet Ms Omar's words invite condemnation from Trump in his strongest language. If Trump really cared about anti-Semitism, he would have condemned the obscene behaviour of white fascists immediately, but he did not. It is grotesque that Trump attempts to grandstand on condemning strongly Ms Omar's language, while ignoring that which is worse from among the white nationalists that comprise part of his base.
22
I’m saving this column to my reading list. It’s such an eloquent expression of a very important point. The fundamentalist Christians I grew up with (so prevalent around here) do exactly that—they mask an inherent anti-Semitism with a sort of jingoistic pro-Israel verbiage. [I keep flashing that horrible image of Mrs. Roy Moore crowing, “Some of our best friends are Jews!”] Virulent anti-Muslim prejudices, far from being justified by a veneer of knee jerk pro-Netanyahu buzzwords, actually are evil cousins of virulent anti-Semitism.
16
The far right is attempting the neat trick of supporting Israel while being anti-Semitic at the same time. Evangelicals in particular have concocted a pro-Israel theology even as they regard Jews as imperfect. A lot of this, I think, is "the-enemy-of my-enemy-is-my-friend" thinking. They hate Muslims and Muslims hate Israel -- so Israel must be okay! Indeed, I suspect that many on the right support Israel because they think the left opposes it -- just as they don't believe in climate change because liberals do.
17
Rational Jews should be squirming today when Politicians like Lindsey Graham, Cotton , Giuliani et al along with the Christian Fundamentalists use the term Anti-Semite and their Love for Israel. This does help the Jewish Interest nor Americas interest in Israel or the Middle east. It shuts down any meaningful discussion and strokes the flames of name calling / branding of those who disagree. Rational American Jews are pawns in racist ideology to be pandered to when it suits the present Nationalist ideology.
11
Religion produces nothing good. Freedom from religion would solve many self created problems such as this absurdity.
11
This is a particularly pernicious tactic of what has become an openly racist right wing.
Any Jew who understands history knows that fascism is not our friend. When bigotry takes over the government, Jews do not fare well.
Trump and the GOP are attempting to divide us, because they cannot win elections if the rest of us are united. Don’t take the bait.
21
Trump's true feelings about anti-Semitism -- along with those of many of his ostensible supporters -- can be summed up in a single word: Charlottesville.
The only difference this time around is in the unprecedented breadth of their hypocrisy, e.g. accusing the ADL of siding with anti-Semites (!!).
12
Thanks Michelle
9
Right on Michelle!
10
You’re absolutely right. But the enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend. I can be disgusted by Trump’s comment without making a hero out of Omar.
7
Most people, the world over, Jewish, Christian,Muslim or atheist (or a horde of other religions) are good kind decent citizens. A few are not so decent and a very small number are bad people. It doesn't matter where you go - this is true.
Trump is one of the very small number.
10
As a Jew, I have believed Trump to be anti-Semitic for quite some time. His accusations against Ms. Omar that she is anti-Semitic don't ring true, but they do fit his pattern of accusing others of what he himself is.
I pray for Israel to continue to exist and for peace in the Middle East, but Mr. Netanyahu is not "my" prime minister and Israel is not "my" country. I am American-born and proud to be an American. It is highly insulting to accuse any American Jew of dual-loyalty and/or allegiance to Israel over the United States.
16
I love the Jewish faith and culture and have great respect and admiration for it and its myriad contributions to civilization. I have great empathy for the trials Jews have endured over centuries. Pogroms and concentration camps are unthinkable horrors. However, the United States taking on Iran, which Netanyahu and Mr. Bone Saw would love to see us do, will be the end of the United States as we know it. We simply can't afford it. We've already fought two wars over there on credit cards and we haven't helped anyone but the military-industrial complex. And Israel must do justice for the Palestinians. How many times has Netanyahu said: First and foremost, Israel will always be a Jewish state. In a perfect world, Israel would merge with Lebanon, the Heights, the West Bank, Jordan and Gaza to form a big multi-ethnic democracy. The United States is a great example of multi-ethnic democracy. Now we need to be a better country and better influence in that troubled area. In short, we need to preach what we practice.
8
What I can't believe is that Trump (and many of his defenders) continue to equate Israel's defense with that of the U.S. We are not Israelis. We should be able to have discussions about the issue of Israeli influence on our elections (including funds from various groups, visits to our Congress, etc.) without being considered antisemitic. The constant verbal linking in every statement about these four Congresswomen of our country to Israel is unnecessary and insulting to many people's intelligence. Especially people who, like myself, are certainly not antisemitic, but supporters of peace in the Middle East.
15
The division works both ways. It will be very clear after Trump leaves office. Ilhan Omar is not an answer for our countries needs.
10
It's called "Projection". Blaming others for the exact horrible things that you do. Trumpists and today's Republican Party use it all of the time.
They use it so much, it should be it's own news subgroup in newspapers, "today's projectionists".
It is one of those last refuges of cowards and horrible humans like Gorka and Trumpists.
24
Ms. Goldberg articulates quite astutely the magic behind the shell game that the right wing is playing with their overwrought, disingenuous use of the anti-semite tag to smear those who do not agree with the beyond right wing policies of the Trump and Netanyahu regimes.
The same right wing evangelicals hurling anti-semite accusations at Jews who oppose Trump, are the ones who would deny Jews membership in their country clubs.
Catholics should also understand that the Bob Jones University crowd they have cozied up to, if they have become one issue, anti-abortion voters for Trump, are the same people who still hate on "Papists" and whose parents and predecessors were part of the KKK, not solely based on race, but also on hate for Catholics. Being raised Irish Catholic I got to see this dynamic at work first hand.
The right wing uses groups they disdain wherever they can, but will hate on them in their safe havens nonetheless.
22
"Republicans are only a short step away from such shamelessness when they try to deflect from the president’s racism by accusing his foes of anti-Semitism."
This is the only sentence I take issue with. The GOP have no shame. Whatever they have to do (no matter how abhorrent), whatever they have to say (no matter how ludicrous), they'll do and say to win. To look like winners. To be number 1. To bully and talk over all others. To run things. Trump is the personification of GOP values. And yes, I do meant personification. I don't believe he's human; he's never shown any signs of being human.
5
As usual, Ms. Goldberg presents a well thought out argument. I would like point out an important issue that seems to be overlooked.
For those in the Jewish community who embrace Christian Zionists' apparent support for Israel, it is important to point out that their support stems from the requirement that the third Temple be built in Jerusalem prior to the Rapture. Only Jews can rebuild their own temple. Hence the need for a Jewish state.
When the Rapture occurs (after the Temple is rebuilt and other prerequisits are completed), true believers will be taken up to heaven and nonbelievers (including Jews) will eventually be cast into the "lake of fire."
Christian Zionist's disingenuous support for Israel should be seen a Trojan Horse that is supposed to result in salvation for them and damnation for others (including Jews) and should be be repudiated by all true supporters of Israel.
22
Right wing accusations of anti-semitism are misguided. Hebrews and Arabs, including related Muslim ethnic groups share similar linguistic, cultural, and genetic roots. Calling a Muslims congresswoman anti-semitic is an oxymoron. Criticisms of Israeli policies are appropriately based on anti-Zionism, and such criticism is not a bad idea.
3
Michelle Goldberg at her best right here.
12
As revolting, racist, and anti-Semitic Trump unquestionably is, and how willing he and his followers are to exploit racism and anti-Semitism for political gain, it is nearly impossible to see Goldberg, or her Squad, as any sort of champions in the fight against Trump as they are masters of America's worst gift to the world after Trump, outrage culture, (or call-out culture, or cancel culture, choose whichever you like.)
The outrage culture the Squad lives in gave us a world in which Ilhan Omar told us President Barack Obama was no different than Trump, he only got a way "with murder" because he was "polished" and had a "pretty face and the smile". Further, members of the Congressional Black Caucus, who have lived in the South their entire lives and faced horrible racism, faced public shaming via social media by these same four women for supposedly being no different than white supremacists. When Nancy Pelosi asked these four to stop, she became a victim of that same outrage culture, and was also publicly shamed for being a racist.
It would be a lot easier if the problem here was only with Trump and the right, but it isn't. To outrage culture facts and critical thinking don’t matter because virtue is synonymous with identity and everyone is racist, and once everyone is a racist, no one is a racist, (not even Trump and actual white supremacists).
10
I wish the Democrats had fought against the anti-semitism of "The Squad" with the same vigor they are going after Trump.
But, the Democrats could not even condemn the racism of Omar by name.
I will remember that in 2020.
10
The beast is awaken and it's appetite is insatiable.
It needs ever more lies, more corruption, more twisting of logic, more divisiveness and clearly the demons of racism and antisemitism are back in the open, and are being used as tools for manipulating the credulous and for justifying the unjustifiable. To what more extremes will Bully number one go to keep his ring of power, in his drunkenness for this absolute power and his terror of losing his position and being held accountable.
5
Divide and distract. At rock bottom, that's Trump's strategy, just as it's been since his initial escalator descent in front of a paid crowd.
Trump has zero plans to expand his base. Instead he'll seek to divide his opponents as the threat increases. Or he'll taunt them into a mud wrestling competition, much to the delight of the male chauvinist pig.
And when Trump is in the middle of a bad news cycle, he'll wave a shiny object to distract from things like kids in cages, pedophile friends, or other unflattering news.
As frequently pointed out, don't pay too much attention to what Trump says. They're mostly lies or provocative invective.
Instead, pay attention to what Trump and his fellow swampsters are DOING. Of course one can condemn the lies and malicious talk up front. But the real stories are the deeds. These include Russian collusion, campaign finance felonies, obstruction of justice, mismanagement of foreign affairs (hello H bombs and ICBM's), fake national emergencies, and placing incompetents and industry shills into important positions. That's not to mention neglect or mismanagement of asylum seekers, gun violence, income inequality, crumbling infrastructure, trade policy, the federal budget, the environment, and our alliances.
Trump will divide and distract from now till election day. Race, immigration, and 'socialism' will be the fulcrum. Keep reminding yourself of the abominable deeds that extend throughout Trump's life and now his presidency.
12
Interesting. Add in that Kellyanne Connway's incoherent defense of Trump's racism involved repeatedly asking a Jewish reporter what his ethnicity was.
Many of us have such mixed backgrounds, it would be hard to disentangle them. My adopted niece, for example, is half Filipina and yet I'm fairly sure her father (my brother) is a Trump follower, and he absolutely adores her. She is likely to face this kind of racism.
Trump said those people at Charlottesville who were shouting Nazi slogans like "Jews will not replace her" were very fine people. I'm pretty sure that is more anti-Semitic than most of us have heard.
Republicans have lost it.
8
llhan is also at fault when she shrugs off Islam's responsibility for radical Islamic terrorism by saying some people did something (conspicuously omitting: inspired by Islam). No. The statement will no doubt feel sincere to her own heart but that don't save it from being intellectually disingenuous by covering up both cause and widespread support by many, not some. She should own up: "There are way too many deeply troubling exhortations in the Quran and in the teachings of many imams and Islamic opinion leaders that foster religious intolerance, violence, and persecution, and I distance myself from these and want to be a powerful, unambiguous counterforce. I understand your angst and the piercing looks you give me for visibly identifying as a Muslim. In the same way that I hope you understand my angst and mistrust for both the institutional, systemic repression supported by many Christians and the radicalized terrorism threat on the rise that the historical and recent implications of your identity accutured within the Christian tradition pose to me as a Muslim. I understand and want to be patient with your more than justified prejudice toward my allegiance and I want to reach out to you to help heal your distress and to ask you to help atone mine over Christian violence and repression toward Muslims, and to reconcile."
Only the apologetic and historical responsibility taking Christian West-accultured, Judaism-accultured, and Islam-accultured can reconcile with each other.
5
The term "anti-Semitic" has long been weaponized to be used against any criticism of anything Jewish... when the vast, overwhelming social narrative that is being called out as anti-Semitic is actually legitimate criticism of Israeli governmental policy and has little to nothing to do with the Jewish religion or it's practitioners.
6
I am equally concerned about anti-Semitism on the right as on the left. I do not think it wise to trust the Evangelical Christian community. It's nice that they visit Israel but i fear they don't actually see Israel as a modern, diverse and democratic country. They only see Jews as useful guardians of their holy sites as they await their prophesies, including the conversion of Jews, to be realized. The far left on the other hand demonizes Israel reflexively and views Jewish national identity and only Jewish national identity as inherently and fundamentally racist. Frankly, I while I believe there is and should be plenty of room - and there is and always has been - for disagreement here and in Israel about proper policy, J Street is, at best, naive. But Rep. Omar is not naive and will continue to bash Israel at any and every opportunity. Bashing Israel, and only Israel, is becoming part of the progressive agenda. Trump is seizing on this ugliness and highlighting it to split the Democratic party apart. Omar is as much his tool as that of the anti-Zionists. My peer group of proud American Jews who are staunch Democrats, staunch Zionists and hopeful that both America and Israel will make better choices in their next elections is worried. At this rate, Trump might conquer again in 2020 with a lot of help from "The Squad."
6
Unfortunately, to the majority of those that read this, this article is, however insightful, simply so much preaching to the choir. As for those that maybe should read and understand it, well, I would think that it will be more likely instead be brushed off as so much more “fake news” from that “enemy of the people”, the “communist” NY Times.
As they go back to their “send her back” chants.
2
During the Vietnam War the chant against the protesters of that war was, “ love it or leave it” , meaning love your country and the war or leave America . That war the chant and bumper sticker message from millions of middle class Americans for years. Love it or leave it has absolutely nothing to do with racism . It is extreme patriotism and nationalism. Every country in the world has it, especially Israel!
It's ironic that Michelle Goldberg claims that Trump's defenders are (figuratively) using Jews as "human shields," when Hamas (literally) violates international law by using Gaza's civilian population as human shields. I'm sure that Michelle Goldberg, Ilhan Omar, Max Berger, and other self-professed champions of Palestinian human rights, all find this practice deeply troubling. Maybe they just haven't found the words yet.
16
Thank you, Ms. Goldberg, for writing this article. It is a much-needed dose of sanity in an increasingly insane world.
6
Has Rep. Omar ever expressed any gratitude for the sanctuary and opportunity given to her by the USA, or noted how comparatively few rights women have in her country of origin?
29
@NJ Keith She put her nose to the grind stone! She put herself through school! She worked! She paid her taxes (unlike trump) and she became a public servant!
WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT???
15
@NJ Keith If she hasn't nor should she.
Thank you for saying this. The Jews in my family have not been all that upset with Rep. Omar; some agree with things she's said, some disagree, some have no particular opinion. In other words, not a big deal to them.
What they don't like, all eight of them, is being used as a hammer.
21
You are absolutely correct.
5
As the son of a Naturalized American who left what is now the Ukraine with his mother, 6 brothers and sisters, aunt and her 4 daughters as refugees of restrictive laws and pogroms I applaud both Michelle Goldberg's column today as well as David Brooks column.
My father's refugee travails were similar to those of current refugees. The reasons and processes of leaving one sovereign nation for another are not necessarily different in the 21st century as in the 18th, 19th, or 20th centuries. Only the languages are different.
Ms. Goldberg rightly understands the nature of how antisemitism is used by politicians, governments, and non-governmental organizations as well as believers in fundamentalist forms of religions.
32
You are correct.
1
Trump and his MAGA hat racists are brought to you by the Republican Party. Eisenhower must be turning over in his grave in light of what has become of the GOP. They are a disgrace to America and everything it has fought and died for!
33
Trump supports Jewish people...but only if they live in Israel.
22
What about his daughter?
The problem is capitalism and greed which has created global climate disaster. That disaster is masked in all this talk about Nazi Germany and U.S. immigration problems. That's not to say that U.S. immigration isn't a problem, especially when it is mis-handled and under funded. But this talk of Nazi Germany, anti-semitism, immigration, borders, walls, etc...is put in place by those making the problem so the common citizen will have someone else to blame. Follow the money.
11
I bet Trump himself doesn't care much about Jews, in spite of his son-in-law being one. He stereotyping of Jews about various occupation shows what's in his heart. In the tribal NYC he wasn't in Jews' camp.
21
This is more of the goofy up-is-down, good-is-bad blather that is now regularly deployed by trump and his fascist fan club. Problem is, it's so ridiculous nobody's buying it, including America's Jews. Since these rightist clowns don't have anything to offer besides hate, lies and defamation, they regularly resort to this kind odd inversion of reality. This is a well worn fascist tactic, the aim of which is to make logic and argument meaningless. The sooner we get rid of trump and his trolls, the sooner we can start restoring some sanity to the country's political discourse.
18
Being against Netanyhu and his Palestinian policy is no more anti-Semitic than being against Trump is anti-American
55
Really good one.
1
On Omar comparing BDS to boycotts of Nazi Germany, Soviet Union:
“Millions of Holocaust survivors and their descendants, as well refugees from Soviet oppression living in Israel, will find such comparisons unfathomable,” said Democratic Majority for Israel president and CEO Mark Mellman. “I find them odious. In an effort led by parties of the left, the German Parliament officially labeled BDS as ‘anti-Semitism’—and they were right.”
28
@R. R. Omar and Mellman are both wrong. "Democratic Majority for Israel" denotes a strong bias, not objective thinking.
You are so right. The man setting in the White House is the prime example of this travesty and every decent American knows in his heart that this man is a racist and he also uses those of the Jewish faith around him to claim otherwise. He is a racist and he is willing to turn against Jews in the United States just to be re-elected. Just wait and see.
22
I do believe that Jerusalem is Israel's legitimate capital - which doesn't exclude that it might also become the legitimate capital of a new and peaceful Palestinian political entity. I nevertheless felt insulted that Israel was handed that recognition by a man whose America First inauguration slogan knowingly echoed that of Hitler-friendly American white nationalists during the 1930s and who continues to shout his visceral racism to the world. This being said, I am not willing to give a pass to anti-Zionists, many of whom keep voicing antisemitic tropes, if only in the hope of expanding their audience. If leftists don't want to risk being labelled antisemitic, they should ban anti-Zionist rhetoric - this wouldn't contradict their legitimate right to criticize any Israeli policy as often as they criticize Chinese policy for example.
8
If the Republicans care so much about antisemitism they should talk to their alt-right supporters and tell them to stop spreading conspiracy theories about elite Jews controlling the US and the world. Tell them to lay off George Soros. And tell them to stop trolling Jewish journalists. Stop the doxing, stop the harassing phone calls. Steve Bannon, former campaign manager for Donald Trump, was proud to call Breitbart News where he was the editor, the voice of the alt-right. Trump should be leading the country in expressing outrage about white nationalist shootings in synagogues. He is the president isn't he. There is a lot he should be doing but telling women of color who are members of Congress to go back to where they came from is not one of those things.
17
The embrace of Israel and Jews by the evangelical Christian Right and Fascists like Trump and Gorka is indeed laughable. But now Jews have to worry about attacks from both the far Left and the far Right; it has become a two front war. Lucky us!
23
At the end of the day, we need to remember the proverb that when they came for me their was no one left.
14
The evangelicals don't just want a secure, democratic Israel to be nice. They want all the Jews to go back so the apocalypse can begin and everyone who doesn't convert is tortured and destroyed, Jews included. Revelations is a horrifying book of the bible and these people believe the bible.
33
What's going on now is evidence that the right wing no longer holds a monopoly on Anti-Semitism. It's now intruded itself into the liberal/left. Under the guise of humanitarian cause. With this we see the phenomenon of Jews who self-identify as liberals unwittingly allying themselves with anti-Jewish forces that have effectively sold themselves in the public forum as working on the behalf of the Palestinian people. A demonstration that hatred of Jews is a malleable dynamic that can be accommodated into any contemporary environment by virtually any society that allows it.
31
@Rose
My sentiments exactly, Rose. There are at least three virulent strains of Antisemitism on the scene today:
- Neo-Nazi white supremacy
- Muslim Antisemitism
- Leftist Antisemitism
The latter two have melded together in a grotesque alliance of antisemitic terror-apologists masquerading as virtue-signaling ‘social justice warriors’ and ‘critics of Israel’. Nauseating.
30
Self hating isn't even in the ball park.
4
Oh, come on. Plenty of us Jews have accused Omar and Tlaib and Ocasio-Cortez -- and anyone who criticizes Israeli policy -- of anti-Semitism.
Then, when others pick up on this, they're said to be exploitative.
I've never been more ashamed to be Jewish.
12
Yes but I also have never been more ashamed of being an American.
5
Don’t really agree with that. Being Jewish has made a lot of us side with underdogs who have been persecuted by racism, whoever is handing it out. I personally didn’t take it that way, equating a Benjamin with money as being anti-semantic. I love bagels and lox too, but I don’t take a friend saying so as anti-semitism. I don’t think Ms. Omar meant it that way, and she has apologized for it. She seems astute enough to not purposely make enemies with her words. Trump, on the other hand...
1
Trump and his followers, to name names Lindsay Graham, need the Jews as shields. Without waving the righteous banner to defend the Jews, they having nothing in their argument except that the four young women of color are communist/socialist and they hate America. Telling people that socialism is going to rob them of their freedoms is a pretty stale argument in a country where 70 percent of the population lives under constant financial stress.
21
And, also, send us all , those with very light tan skin ranging to with very dark brown skin, - - there is no such thing as black or white or yellow skin - - , back to southern Africa where we all originated.
As our ancestors migrated northward, - - often due to climate change, we needed less melanin because the Sun in the northern parts of the planet Earth is not as strong.
Oh, and also, people with different shades of brown skin, from dark brown to tan, copulated, some lovingly and some violently [rape] and created different shades of skin.
Migration, throughout prehistory, now and onward, is caused by dangerous climate change , - which modern humans cause, as well as by economic deprivation coupled with greed, that is not sharing with each other.
And, lastly, humans suffer from Stranger Anxiety which causes the rejection of and also violence toward strangers, other human beings we are unfamiliar with.
5
Michelle, great column. I hope you expand on the last few graphs in your next column about the roots of Christian nationalism and dominionism. These are not merely theologies, but politico-economic ideas with organized adherents. And they are true threats.
13
So the right has its antisemites, too. Okay. I've been a Democratic voter most of my life, and the House's unwillingness to stand up to its members' antisemitism this year has been a watershed for me. It does not help me at all to hear that the right has its antisemites, too.
23
Been trying to get this trough the heads of my Jewish Republican friends for years. Thanks for putting it into words a lot better than I could have
21
Michelle Goldberg is brilliant at cutting through the dross and mire thrown by the right, while clearly calling a spade a spade, no matter how disguised it may appear to be: “the language of the pogrom.”
I am in awe!
Thank you, Michelle, for your clear reasoning and analysis in the face of right wing hypocrisy and slight of hand.
Yes! They’re out to use anti-semitism as a sort of “human shield.’”
14
This article is so beautifully and insightfully written. Thank you Michelle.
12
Outstanding column Ms. Goldberg! One of the best i have read this year anywhere!
16
I wonder if one looked at old newspapers from before men like Hitler, Mussolini, Orban, Duterte, Putin and their ilk were legally elected, how much hand wringing and talk, talk, talk there was. I've done it as much as anyone. Is there no action for once that can be taken to stop the destruction of humanistic values and the golden rule as an operative principle in a nation before the worst happens?
This all started when LBJ turned the two parties upside down, and supposedly said to Bill Moyers, "I think we lost the South." (to the Republicans). The "southern strategy" was born. Build a coalition on the worst principles and you will get a party without conscience.
Racism is as American as apple pie, but totalitarian hating of law and democracy did not used to be. Now the GOP is a danger to the nation, and we have a cult of hate parroting tweets of hate and broadcasting of hate by a billionaire former Australian, Rupert Murdoch.
Where are the heroes like Joseph Welch who showed up McCarthy for the fraud and indecent man he was. Who will directly ask the GOP and Trump daily, ""Do you have no shame?" Why is it taking so long to get judges to enforce subpoena's?
The land of the free, home of the brave, will we ever get it back? It always had flaws, but this era is off the rails madness of barbarism. The Democrats should be ashamed also, for their impotence. Courage, please, now!!
42
I'm an Orthodox American Jew and I'll take Donald Trump and pro-Israel evangelicals any day over Ilhan Omar and her cheerleaders on the radical left, Jewish or otherwise.
24
Right-wing Evangelicals are both anti-Semites and support Israel.
How is that possible?
Because their support for Israel is not to help Jews.
Go watch some right-wing Evangelical TV shows long enough and they will explain that the prophesies in their bible say that in order to have Armageddon and the Second Coming of Christ, first greater Israel must be united.
This has nothing to do with Jews except that he Jews are being used as pawns in their prophesies.
After Israel is united, the next step to Armageddon in these prophesies is a global war, centered on Israel. Will that be good for Jews in Israel? If the Evangelicals decide that Israel must be nuked up bring back Jesus, Trump will.
When Armageddon comes, all the good Christians are supposed to go to Heaven and the Jews will be "left behind."
When a column of Neo-Nazis marched chanting "Jews will not replace us!" Trump called them "fine people" to reassure his anti-Semitic Evangelical base that he is on their side.
When Trump moved the embassy to Jerusalem, that was another signal to his anti-Semitic Evangelical base that he is on their side. It has nothing to do with helping Jews.
Jews that think that right-wing anti-Semitic Evangelicals, who support attacks on Synagogues are on their side are being played.
The Holocaust was a violation of world Justice. The Jews are not helping themselves by allying with those that are against Justice.
Ally with the Left, who fights for Justice, or be left behind.
53
Trump's base is made up largely of persons who want to end the existence of the Jewish people. Those people are the religious "Christians" who believe in the rapture. Convert or off into the firery lake.
30
Omar and the squad have never said nor done anything anti-semitic. People that think that they have believe themselves to be above accountability based on their ethnicity and no matter what crime they commit, they will simply throw that label in their opponent's faces. No one under 40 is buying it anymore. Unfortunately, decent people have to wait until a few generations of these hateful ethnic supremacists are gone before the world can heal.
16
Agreed, it is grotesque for Jews to somehow be used as a cudgel in a racist attack. However, no need to go further than the antisemitic smears that Ilhan Omar has used against Jews and Israel. Trump is using the left’s clear acceptance for antisemetism to argue that it is okay for the right to be racist. It turns my stomach and makes me feel more alone than ever.
19
As a (godless) Jew I’ve always found it oddly unsettling to have deranged Christians like Michele Bachmann and Mike Pence beating the drum of Zionism. I support Ilhan Omar, as do most of the other young Jews that I know.
38
Michelle - you forgot to mention Mr. Trump’s defense of white nationalists in Charlottesville. They were shouting anti- Jewish sentiments.
21
How can Trump's base, which accepts neo-Nazis and white supremacism (Protestants only), also condemn anti-Semitic comments? Is there a split in his base?
10
Thank you Michelle, so glad someone finally put 2 & 2 together on paper, duh, how hard is it?!
6
This is spot on. When you support the white nationalist agenda of Trump and the GOP, you are supporting anti-Semitism by default. Trumpism is a much greater threat to the American Jewish community than Ilhan Omar's criticism of Israeli policy.
26
Just a reminder. Evangelical Christians support Israel because they need all of the Jews to return there so that Jesus can return. They don't love Jews. When Jesus returns, Christians will be saved. Jews must convert or die. A frightening number of Americans believe in the violence and vengeance of the Book of Revelation. (The "Left Behind" series has sold more than 80 million copies.) All non-Christians will be eliminated. With friends like these. . . .This is the voting bloc Trump relies on. American Jews and rational thinkers should reject this ancient nonsense and the believers who champion war and bigotry in the Middle East and the United States.
29
Maybe Pompeo could read this when the end times come.
9
Before he decides what a human right is, I hope.
So we all descend mostly from the Proto-Indo Europeans from 8 thousand years or so ago. Linguists are in the process of actually tracing words back to gain insights as to what the PIE actually were. Archeology and DNA research is everyday coming up with more and more information which basically proves we are all descendants of the ancestors of those we hate. Who doesn't know that Aryan was hijacked by the Germans to justify their master race and resulting actions against the Jews. When those in America advocate for racial purity on the basis of skin color or western civilization heritage, they really don't have a clue as to where they really came from. These are canards for those who seek power and an indication of motivation for those who follow them. DNA tests of so called purists should be mandatory, at least we will know what part of Africa they came from.
2
You would be sadly surprised at how much they don’t know and don’t believe, which they then pass on in their schools to keep their children as much in the dark as they are. Also, home schooling is on the rise more and more. And guess who has all the guns, too?
1
American Jews didn't make an alliance of convenience with Christian Zionists. Christian Zionists are only a monolithic group in their staunch support of Israel. When Hezbollah was firing thousands of rockets into Israel a Jewish friend of mine who was visiting Israel at the time saw hundreds of Christian Zionists heading to Northern Israel where the bombs were falling while British Laborites were putting up signs that said, "We're all Hezbollah". Most Western European countries were blaming Israel for being attacked just as they did when the Israelis destroyed Iraq's nuclear reactor back in 1981. A friend in need is a friend indeed. Michelle Goldberg take a listen to Bob Dylan's "Neighborhood Bully" some time. Art speaks louder than argument.
19
Yes, Omar is an anti-Semite but you don't effectively fight anti-Semitism using racist invective, telling people to go back home. First them came for the Somali immigrants...then they came for me.
13
Bravo
7
It’s OK to question Jewish loyalty to the US, but tell someone who made an equally unkind statement that his statement is racist. Perhaps if one has a nasty thing to say, it brings about a response at the same level.
8
No, it is not OK to question Jewish loyalty to the U.S. It’s code word. It means “I don’t trust you should America have a disagreement with Israel.”
It’s the same argument that created the Japanese internment camps during WWII. White Americans didn’t trust Americans with Japanese ancestry.
3
Antisemitism never dies. We get it from all sides. Keep your eyes and ears open and call it out when you encounter it. NEVER AGAIN !!!
21
Trump is a demagogue and will say and use any issue to get re-elected. Trump will a 180 at anytime as he believes in nothing but his own endless wonderfulness. Anti-Semitic remarks by anyone are unacceptable as they lead to violence from the holocaust to temple shootings. Trump stirs up hatred siding with white nationalists who often rant anti-semitic slogans now in public. Trump did not attack those chanters in Charlottesville as they are his supporters Trump is a vile lying loudmouth looking to be the center of attention 24/7 and using the presidency to do it.
6
Trump should be gone already.
1
Yes. As an American Jew I don't want to be defended by or associated with racist Nazi sympathizers. And while I believe that Ilhan Omar's forced apology doesn't erase her evident anti-Semitism, or her dislike of Israel, I also believe that she's 100% American and that today her home country is America.
The bottom line is that Trump and his enablers not simply racists, they are a shande for America in every way, and using Jews as a shield against charges of racism is just another example of contemptible doublespeak.
17
While surely there are some anti-Semites out there, the term is now thrown around to simply shut someone down. Say something negative about a person who happens to be Jewish? Speak your mind about something you don't like about Israel? You, my friend, are an anti-Semite, and as such your opinion is to be dismissed.
Are you an American speaking out against US policy? You're un-American.
Said something about a woman? You're a misogynist.
Etc.
That's not to say these labels aren't sometimes valid, but lately they've been thrown around too much, simply to invalidate dissenting opinion.
10
Absolutely spot on, Michelle. Thank you for the frightful assessment of racist thinking, the nuance, and your continuing commitment to unmask it all.
12
Thank you!
4
Anything to divide us no matter how grotesque.
339
@Robert O. Well said. I couldn't tell, though, if you were referring only to Trump or to Trump and Omar alike.
5
@Robert O. American Jews may have nothing to fear from the new congressional critics of Israel but let's be clear the Democratic party does. These politicians are going to push moderate and liberal Jews into the arms of the GOP creating a permanent Republican majority. It's incredibly hypocritical for Democrats to say we support the state of Israel when they have members who are publicly undermining them by supporting the BDS movement. To say the BDS does not call for the destruction of the Israeli state is either willful ignorance or outright lying. As a Democrat, I'm embarrassed that we tolerate pro-BDS advocates in our party.
This from the BDS founder!
“A Jewish state in Palestine in any shape or form cannot but contravene the basic rights of the indigenous Palestinian population and perpetuate a system of racial discrimination that ought to be opposed categorically….Definitely, most definitely we oppose a Jewish state in any part of Palestine. No Palestinian, rational Palestinian, not a sell-out Palestinian, will ever accept a Jewish state in Palestine.” –Omar Barghouti (BDS co-founder) at 5:50 in this video:
https://vimeo.com/75201955
“I am completely and categorically against bi-nationalism because it assumes that there are two nations with equal moral claims to the land.” -Omar Barghouti
“The real aim of BDS is to bring down the state of Israel….Justice and freedom for the Palestinians are incompatible with the existence of the state of Israel.” –As’ad AbuKhalil
8
Why are you surprised?
2
The right-wing and the left-wing in the US are accusing the other side of anti-semitism while ignoring it in their own ranks. I can assure you that many of the readers of this publication are in extreme denial about anti-semitism on the left-wing. Or they go into immediate defensive mode about "criticism of Israel is not anti-semitism." Some isn't, but a lot of it is.
The big difference between left-wing and right-wing anti-semitism in the US is that the right-wing anti-semitism is violent and lethal whereas the left-wing anti-semitism is not....yet.
183
@Jonathan Bein You have conflated anti-Semitism with anti-Zionism, exactly the mistake this column warned against. Some on the Left are anti-Zionists, not anti-Semites. The Left does not hate Jews. The Left does not want to destroy or displace Jews. The Left doesn't even hate Israel, it just strongly disagrees with Israel's Settlement and Palestinian policies.
222
@Jonathan Bein For it to be truthful, the final sentence of your first paragraph should read: "Some may be, but most of it isn't." As Andrew Wohl points out, you fall into the same mistaken formulation that Michelle Goldberg's important column warns against. There's some fundamentally flawed thinking in this country right now. What I can't tell is how much of it is deliberate.
73
@Jonathan Bein I thought it was productive that the author of this column acknowledged Omar's anti-Semitic remarks (although giving her credit for "expressing regret" is a bit further than I would go, since at every opportunity Omar has emphasized that she did not regret the remarks). That said, "go home" is obviously not an appropriate response, and the reason why not isn't that Trump is anti-Semitic too; it's that nativist bigotry is just as bad when applied to more recent immigrants as it was when it was applied to our (Jewish or Irish or Italian) parents and grandparents and great-grandparents when they immigrated.
62
Goldberg writes: "It’s true that Omar has said things that were freighted with anti-Semitism, for which she has expressed regret." Regret? When and where? Yest Omar keeps doing it over and over again. How can Goldberg defend Omar's anti-Semitism?
29
@Shadai Can you cite exactly her "anti-Semitic" remarks -- as opposed to her criticism of Israel, Zionism and the "not-to-be-questioned" American largese toward this one foreign country?
14
Boycotting israel is not anti semitic.
6
In fact, in an interview just a few days ago, she said that she does NOT regret her words and clarified that her 'apology' was of the "if anyone was offended ...." variety.
4
Michelle:
Don't kid yourself. Ilhan Omar is every bit as much a racist as Donald Trump is, which is why she is such an easy and inviting target for his racism and MAGA rallies. He is simply picking off the low-hanging fruit.
27
It doesn’t help that Omar and Tlaib have made anti-Semitic comments. Plus Ocasio-Cortez has been mum on the subject which says a lot. Also, see the bill introduced by Omar, Tlaib, and Lewis, House Resolution 496. It clearly paths the way for BDS. It also argues using the example of the Nazi Germany boycott from 1933-1941. Is that okay? As long as this fight stays in the foreground it is going to hurt the Democrats as a party. The Dems will condemn Trump’s words, but when it came to condemning Omar’s words they had to hide it in a general condemnation of every mean thing ever said, and that weakened it and showed that the Dems are also weak in condemning their own. You would expect a party to get nervous about condemning their president, but why would you be afraid to condemn a freshman representative?—says a lot.
31
Have they? How come none of you guys can quote them accurately, or quote them at all?
2
Trump is a person who believes that he's excused from anti-semitism because he has a Jewish son-in-law. Sort of like all the people who say that they aren't racist because they voted for Obama.
14
@shar persen
Obama was elected president twice by a majority of American voters - are you saying many of us are racist? I hope not.... :-( Maybe I live in a bubble but I find the USA to be the least racist country I've ever lived in and I lived in a bunch of countries before settling here and becoming a US citizen. I think the notion that the USA is a racist country is a big horrible lie at least from my experience living her for more than 25 years.
1
@shar persen
Your statement is like the proverbial ham and eggs:
the hen is involved, the pig is committed.
President Trump has a Jewish daughter and Jewish grandchildren; he is committed.
2
Please note that Trump has been the US President most supportive of Israel, and that it is the AOC squad that has been attacking Israel.
14
Please note that Trump has supported Netanyahu, not Israel, and that none of you seem to be able to quote what AOC said accurately, or at all.
1
@Mon Ray
Support of Israel has zero to do with tolerating an encouraging anti-Semitism, particularly against American Jews, as Trump as the Republicans repeatedly have. Trump supporters repeatedly try to to evade this.
There’s a reason (many actually) that Trump gains such vociferous support from neo-Nazis.
2
I sometimes vigorously disagree with Ms. Goldberg, but this is one time she has hit the nail square on the head. The manipulation of feelings about the holocaust and the situation of Jews generally has been manipulated by charlatans for a long time now. It's time to ask ourselves how can all get along, and all of us means all of us, no exceptions. Israel with its own obsession with its own ethnic purity needs to understand this.
The same applies to American Evangelical Christians with their illusion that God gave history and America to them. Above all, the American people, and, yes, the people of Israel, are never, ever, going to make their way with Islamic and Arab humanity unless we realize that they exist as much by the will of God as anybody else, even if we quarrel about the meaning of that loaded three-letter world.
Above all, the whole leadership of this country, including the Republican Party leadership, desperately needs to repudiate that party's flirtation with white racism. There is NO FUTURE of any kind for any kind of racism in this country. Conflict, hatred and covert violent messages lead to the death of community and a real history for the American people. It's just that simple and hard.
7
Jews have a word for this kind of behavior: chutzpah! As Ms Goldberg points out, some American Jews have made a deal with the Devil by allying themselves with right wing Christians who have their own reasons for supporting Israel unrelated to any philo-Semitism. But they are not alone in their folly. Netanyahu has done the same thing, allying himself with among others, the autocratic Victor Orban of Hungary, a man who traffics in anti-Semitic ugliness. This is Jewish folly: any Jew who thinks that Trump and his allies are for Jews and Israel, is sorely mistaken. I would venture to say that this belief in Trump is potentially even dead-wrong.
19
@Lesothoman
Multum in parvo. The wisest comment in this thread.
1
Why is this an issue of race? The squad is four first term congresspeople who came out shooting their mouths off about what is wrong with America. They are frequently critical about what they perceive is our terrible system. but when they receive legitimate criticism they hide behind their women of color victim-hood.
We are all immigrants. Most people didn't come here because life was great where they lived before. Omar, in particular, has said very offensive things, then plays the victim when rightly attacked. It would not hurt her, or any of the others to visit their ancestral homelands to find out why their relatives decided to come to the US. Maybe they would see what others have seen when they went on trips abroad.
If four white men were spewing some of the hatred that these four do, they would be attacked too. Only they couldn't play the race card.
19
Excellent piece, Michelle. This particular disturbing hypocrisy badly needed illumination.
5
@Biscuit Agreed. This has been bugging me for the past week and has not received media attention. Michelle provides an excellent analysis.
7
I am a Jew. I am a liberal democrat. When you mention "If Not Now" and attempt to frame that organization as "Jewish," you discredit yourself. They may call themselves Jews but this organization is about as Jewish as Louis Farrakhan - someone who wishes every Jew to disappear off this planet, and someone whom "If Not Now" refuses to discredit. "If Not Now" is basically the Log Cabin Republicans of the Jewish Democrat sector i.e. are self-loathing to the max. Those who associate with If Not Now believe deep down in their hearts that Jewish lives matter less than all other lives on this planet, or at least that's what their behavior would lead you to believe.
16
It is only under this “president” that I have seriously considered taking Israel up on its Right of Return. Like many of the other respondents, the current environment reminds me of the stories my parents and grandparents told of the old country, and of the ghettos of Krakow, Warsaw, and of Auschwitz. These stories include their arrival to the US.
Jewish doctors were not allowed to practice at established hospitals, so they started their own. Jewish attorneys were not allowed to join prestigious firms, so they started their own. My high school even had the nickname of ‘Jew W.’
So when I see and read what America has and is becoming, like others, I am afraid. But we have weapons: the pen, wielded by writers such as Ms. Goldberg, and the voting booth. Vote, write, protest, and donate.
Never Again.
12
@Peter Hornbein
Peter I hear you! - If Trump theoretically told all the American Jews to "Go Back To Your Country!" it would certainly hurt us just like it hurt the Squad because we're all born here but in the end it would be a wake up call because as Jews we are inextricably defined by our history which we never forget as people who were led out of Egypt by Moses and given us Israel the promised land by God. So even though we are Americans, that's only temporary because if we're ever told and even forced to leave at least we Thank God have a land - the holy land of Israel to go to.
It is also grotesque to downplay the anti-semitism of Ms Omar and those who defend her comments. She has no problem marginalizing Jews when convenient. That does not make Trump and his supporters any less abhorrent. But let’s at least acknowledge that the a faction of the left tolerates racist behavior from public figures if Jews are the target.
28
Orwell’s Ministry of Truth (MinTruth) writ large. In this mis-administration up is down and 2 + 2 does certainly = 5.
8
The way claims of anti-semitism are being used against Jews is an attempt to flatten us. When we no longer own the right to call out anti-semitism, and that term is thrown back at us for our own political points of view, it is an attempt to annihilate us. It nearly makes my eyes pop out of my head!
11
“When they start asking people to go back where they came from, that’s the first line of attack on the Jewish people over centuries,” said Ben-Ami.
Precisely. I've been listening to the statements Trump and others have been making and they scare me. So much of the rhetoric is characteristic of what the Nazis did prior to WWII and the round ups of Jews and other enemies of the state. The most frightening statements Trump has made have been those calling journalists enemies of the state. More frightening still is the continued silence of the GOP. Trump and the GOP are colluding to create a country that is not America. It's becoming more and more of a repressive regime and one where no one in power objects because they want to keep their power.
McConnell could, if he had the nerve, speak out against Trump's statements and he would be followed by the rest. So could some other senators and representatives. They don't have the nerve or the ethics. What they are doing is allowing a petty tyrant far more power than he should have. In the process they are assisting the continued wrecking of America. I hope they enjoy it when it backfires on them.
15
If I say "I have real problems with many Israeli policies," I risk being accused of anti-Semitism. Yet, when speaking of Charlottesville and specifically of Neo-Nazis, the president says "There were good people on both sides," and then has the chutzpah to declare that others hate Israel, something is very wrong.
What is wrong is that this president speaks highly of Israel in order to garner Jewish support here and highly of evangelicals here for the same reason. Face it. He is a hypocrite in presidential clothing.
14
This column screamed to be written. Thank you.
8
Thanks for explaining this weaponizing of the term anti-Semite. I've been waiting for someone to ask Trump this week how he is so outraged at Omar Ilhan's "anti-Semetic, vile and disgusting statements" but had no problem saying that "There were good people on both sides." in the White Supremacist march in Charlottesville. They were chanting, "The Jews will not replace us!" Yet, Trump refused to utter one critical word against the White Supremacists group. Don't the Trumpers see any hypocrisy in Trump's rabid support of Israel and his complete unconcern regarding the White Supremacists terrorists?
10
The Republican party has been traveling down this road for over 40 years and Donald Trump is only the culmination of that.
It is no surprise to anyone who has been paying any attention that in 2019 we are hearing the call to go back where you come from. They hate any one who has a different color of skin or is not a conservative born again Christian.
The Racist and Fascist have always been with us, but the modern Republican party and Trump have allow them to come out from the shadows. They have been embolden to express their Racist and Fascist thoughts and beliefs for all to see with no shame.. And for that I am ashamed to call myself an American.
9
My God, it’s so ugly. The troll under the bridge is running around eating everything in sight. The ogre is chomping limbs and torsos. The monster is no longer waiting, folks. It is upon us.
3
Do you know why the name of a certain German chancellor always comes up in political discussions -- especially about Republicans?
It's because the late chancellor was sum of all fears when it comes to political leadership. He is universally known as evil, and any politician who uses his methods should be called out on it.
--The Big Lie.
--Ethnic scapegoating.
--Rallying supporters around a racial identity.
--Promoting one racial identity as "good" and another as "bad."
--The use of concentration camps.
--The use of political terror and the fear of a "knock on the door."
--Militarism.
--Promoting a mythical past in which all was good.
--Personal grandiosity.
--Irrationalism.
12
Amazing how Trump and Republicans distort history and truth so easily and are believed without Question. Your article is perceptive and raises points that have been bothering me personally as I wonder how these distortions occur without question or rebuke.
Suggest Democrats decide how they’ll handle Ilhan Omar et. al. Guarantee he/their statements will be used by Republicans as the election approaches and Democrats won’t be prepared. Suggest they are dealt with now to protect the future. Republicans claiming Democrats are anti-Semitic come to us Jews. Suggest that history of Nazi Germany be read and reviewed. It'll be shocking to realize the initial Jewish and Jewish organization support for Hitler, check it out.
Israel, Jews are only embraced by Trump and Republicans as long as "they are useful for votes". Attitudes will change if they are no longer useful for Republican agenda. It's a "business deal", not a philosophical embrace.
8
When Trump moaned about alleged anti-semitic remarks from Congresswoman Omar at his rally, he was preaching to the wrong choir. The crowd did not care about Jews. In fact, they probably would love to "send back" American Jews as well. Trump is the prototype of the old moneyed class disdain for the Jewish people.
7
"It’s true that Omar has said things that were freighted with anti-Semitism, for which she has expressed regret." Did she express regret for expressing the clearly anti Semitic ideas or for having them? I think she regretted expressing those ideas. There is no sign she changed her mind or anything.
However, I agree with Michele that a current President can not say those horrible things to a current House member. Even an anti Semitic Israeli hater like Omar...
18
The substance of your article is true.
However, many of the details are not.
Omar has made many anti-Jewish statements.
When called out on them she apologizes, pleads ignorance, and then, resumes her behavior. She is a serial offender and indefensible.
She as well as many of her famous colleagues are in way over their heads. They repeatedly make anti-Semitic comments and then say, It's not what you think. I like Jews - as long as they denounce Israel and support the left.
Europe, the cemetery of 1/3 of the Jewish people, has become the capitol of Jew hatred. From the UK, where Corbyn and his Labour Party are daily linked to Jew hatred to France where Jews are being murdered and the establishment wrings its hands and says, This is not a good thing, and then it happens again, the American left has attacked Jews more and more as Jews.
By the way, you mention occupied Palestinian territories.
This is a misnomer, factually incorrect.
It is impossible to occupy one's own territory.
Jews were driven out from these lands, the lands described in the Bible, in 70 AD by the Romans. We have returned to our land and we are not leaving.
The Omars and her ilk love to attack Israel and Jews. When will they condemn the many lands that oppress their own peoples, women, gays, Christians and others?
Their answer is silence. I call this hypocrisy.
25
The hypocrisy is Trump supporters’ silence, and the silence in your comment, about Republican Party’s dissemination of anti-Semitic propaganda as a campaign tool and it’s soliciting of the support of literal neo-Nazis, which has led directly to synagogue massacres in America.
All the dissembling in the world can’t change the Republicans’ complicity.
6
@simon sez
Bravo! I have copied your words and will send them to family and friends. Well said.
6
I do not agree with you on the subject of Palestine, but I do agree with you on the subject of Ilhan Omar.
Yes, just as antisemitism has been a political weapon for a variety of causes Trump shows that philo-semitism can play the same role. Men like Sheldon Adelson and Congressman Lee Zeldin have taught Trump, or he has taught them, how being pro-Jewish supposedly and pro-Israel can become a weapon in the rightwing arsenal. One hopes Jews are not fooled by all this. Evangelicals, with their phony love of Israel, will probably easily be fooled.
8
This has nothing to do with Jews. It’s all about the Evangelicals baby!
Evangelicals must be in a terrible bind. They can’t take the Bible at its word and support Trump at the same time. They are smart enough, though, to hold two opposing narratives in their heads and Trump just made that easier for them. It’s not that Trump is racist. It’s that Omar is anti-Semitic. See how easy that is?
6
Didn't Democrats want to send Gorka back to his country?
In 2017, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) asked the White House to hand over Gorka’s immigration paperwork to the House Judiciary Committee. Democrats threatened to deport Sebastian Gorka, a naturalized U.S. citizen.
7
"It’s an almost incalculable insult for Trump and his enablers to act as if he’s helping the Jews when he adopts the language of the pogrom." I don't believe Trump has the required education needed to understand what a "pogrom" is.
6
Somehow I am not buying that Trump, a New Yorker with a Jewish daughter and son-in-law, with Jewish grandchildren, who finally got around to moving the American embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Israel's capital in West Jerusalem, where it should have been all along, is in the least anti-Semitic.
13
Lots of groups, particularly on the Left, use either Jews or Israel, when it’s sutes their social or political purpose, when neither one has to do with their cause. The Black Lives and the Me Too movements are two such groups. It should come as no suprise that the Right will do the same. Let’s not forget it was Ilan Omar who started the anti-Semitic assault and it was AOC who compared the detention centers on the southern border to Nazi concentration camps. There is a vast difference between the two. It’s an insults to the victims who died in those concentrations camps.
It is long overdue for people on both side of the political divide to have a basic understanding of the facts and stop using Jews and/or Israel as political football when they have nothing to do with the issue at hand.
16
Well stated. Just reading it twisted my logic into a pretzel.
1
Even the far right "Christian" support for Israel is based on the belief that Jews will all "return" to Israel and be converted to Christianity. It is, at its core, anti-Semitic.
12
And neither does turning four congresswomen who have a history of antisemitic dog whistles or flirting with those who do traffic in antisemitic dog whistles into champions of racial diversity has little to do with fighting intolerance.
15
Ilhan Omar got into how water with Jewish Congress members because of language they found offensive. Jews are very sensitive to anti-Semitic tropes and with good reason given their history. She has apologized for that, not being a Jew or growing up knowing Jews she had could not have known how to criticize pro-Israel (or more precisely pro-Netanyahu) American policies while avoiding land mines that alarm Jews. Some still insist that her apologies are not sufficient, not clear exactly what it is they want from her, but the one thing she will not do is stop criticizing Israel and American support for Netanyahu. It is the personal vicious attacks on her that are un-American. Nothing wrong with opposing her political views, but she has much a right to express them as those who do like her views. Being called an anti-Semite by real anti-Semites is beyond disgusting.
6
No, Representative Omar has not apologized for her anti-Semitic remarks. Just days ago, she stated that she did not apologize for her words, she merely regretted how they made people feel.
That is a classic non-apology.
Had Representative Omar claimed ignorance that her words were steeped in anti-Semitic stereotypes and promised to be more sensitive in the future, I would have accepted that as an apology. Had she said “I’m sorry,” or “I apologize,” that would have been welcome, too. Representative Omar did none of these things.
10
It's Trumpism too the max. You always accuse your opponents of what you are guilty of.
8
22% of American Jews support Trump. What's up with that?
I would hope they would reconsider that support in the wake of this mess of hate Trump has spewed.
6
The headline says it all. When the trumpies started with the charges of antisemitism, my very first thought was "sure, like you really care about that". A very good number of the people waving the trump flag have a long history of antisemitism as does the American South. Now all of a sudden they are defenders of the Jewish people? Sure (sarcasm intended)
7
I've long believed that Christian "philo-Semitism" is merely the anti-Semitic wolf dressed in sheep's clothing.
6
Trump is attempting to pillory Ilhan Omar and others in her group for ant-semitism; Ihan made remarks for which she apologized. On the other hand Trump aligns himself with white supremacists who are fundamentally anti semitic. We seem to have forgotten that the neo nazis in Charlottesville, many of who Trump determined to be "fine people" were chanting en masse, "Jews will not replace us."
4
@PaulM
"Ilhan made remarks for which she apologized"......and then she made the same remarks again.....and again...
5
@Michelle Goldberg Michelle, as a Jew, I have have been saying since Fat Donald & his supporters started with their "praises" & "defenses" of Israel & Jews, that this is nothing more than hypocrisy, coming from the mouths of people who would never give a Jew the time of day in their daily lives. They only use us and Israel for political reasons. Nothing more. I find their new found " love" and support for Jews and Israel to be the height of, what I call, "coffee table anti-Semitism." It's similar to the other old racist trope, "Some of my best friends are black." Words coming from people who actually don't know blacks, or in this case, Jews. Does anyone really believe that Fat Donald's "God fearing, Jesus loving" Evangelical supporters would ever give a Jew the time of day? What's worse, those "good" people know nothing about Jesus, his life, his teachings, and most importantly, how He lived his life. By their daily words and deeds and support for Fat Donald, they only pay lip service to Jesus Christ.
6
Islamists have understood well how to couple Muslim anti-Semitism with the American left’s vague notion of “social justice.” They have succeeded in couching their agenda in the progressive framework of the oppressed versus the oppressor. Identity politics and victimhood culture also provide Islamists with the vocabulary to deflect their critics with accusations of “Islamophobia,” “white privilege” and “insensitivity.” A perfect illustration was the way Ms. Omar and her allies were able to turn a House resolution condemning her anti-Semitism into a garbled “intersectional” rant in which Muslims emerged as the most vulnerable minority in the league table of victimhood.
— Ayaan Hirsi Ali, July 12, 2019
21
Brilliant threshing/fleshing out of the insanity and infamy that comes from this president and now the GOP as well as evangelicals and Jews who bargain w/the devil as Jeremy Ben-Ami puts it. Ethnic-Jesus baiting with Trump and Bibi in the center. Trump's perhaps gone too far this time and now the crowd is showing its colors. I think Horthy was a bit more complicated as is Hungary's past to place him as an anti-Semite, but with Germans at your throat, god knows what one would say. It didn't work anyway the Germans came in full force toward the end of WWII. The Admiral got to leave to live in Portugal, that bastion of democracy. We are in a very ugly place now in our country. Jews, foreigners and immigrants, blacks, Mexicans, Irish, Japanese have all been blighted by the ugly face of many "isms." It is a virus and must be contained at every place it breaks out.
3
Thanks for this excellent article Ms. Goldberg.
This is a perfect storm brewing, fueled by four dangerous forces. The right-wing Christians, who want the Jewish people to be all returned to Israel so the second coming of Christ can happen - and everyone can be incinerated in one place; the white supremacists who are paranoid the everybody is out to replace them, the Zionists who desperately want a state where they live as royalty - all aided and abetted by the insatiable greed of the GOP willing to limbo beneath the lowest moral pole imaginable to get to their money. A very dangerous nexus indeed!
4
Simply because trump's daughter and son-in-law happen to be Jewish doesn't mean that he is not an anti-semite. He is obviously, at least to me, anti-everything that doesn't agree with his view of the world with him as the supreme leader of the easily led masses.
If anyone doubts the ease with which anti-everything can spread they have only to read Jonah Goldhagen's amazing book on "Hitler's Willing Executioners". It is frightening.
5
The "oldest hatred" continues to rise throughout the world, the United States included. Sadly, Anti-Semitism has found VERY fertile ground on BOTH the Left and the Right in this country. Ilhan Omar, Rashid Talib, and Donald Trump can spin their comments, accusations, and regrets all they want, but in the end, they really do seem to deserve one another...
And as for Jews, tragically, it's deja vu all over again...
12
If my being Jewish were as obvious to others as somebody else being Black, every Jew in America would quickly see through the charade. The ability to "pass" gives us an immunity that allows us to ignore the plight of others.
Until it doesn't.
10
Yes and yes.
2
Here in Deep South South Carolina, at a time when blacks were barred from voting or holding office, the most powerful man in the state legislature was a Jew. I bring this up, not to minimize the anti-Semitism that Speaker Sol Blatt may have encountered, but to point out that even in the Old South, Jews didn't suffer the all encompassing discrimination that blacks suffered from.
When you know our history of relatively mild anti-Semitism, then you know when you hear that term being bandied about, there must be something else at play. That something is Israel - in particular the settlements issue. Anti-Semitism is a useful tool for pro-settlement activist and politicians to shut down any debate on the issue - even if it leads to such bizarre situations of a man like Max Berger and the Anti-Defamation League being branded Anti-Semitic. What's next, Donald Trump being labeled anti-golf?
5
I agree that it’s beyond wrong to characterize the ADL and its supporters as anti-Semitic. As well, it’s ludicrous for Donald Trump and his supporters to justify their hateful attacks on the squad by using American Jews as protective cover.
The four Congresswomen attacked by Trump are American citizens and elected officials who deserve respect for the office that each holds, and who should feel free to criticize the government of Israel or any other nation.
At the same time, none of the above justifies anti-Semitism, whether it’s mild or not, and whether it’s expressed in South Carolina or by Ilhan Omar.
6
And Trump has the gall to slime Rep Omar and their small group saying, "they hate Jews" when they occasionally have lamented a prejudicial association of Jews with the support of Israel.
Poles would probably have no problem voting to aide Poland.
Spaniards Spain, the French le France, etc up to a point.
But at the same time, hay que realizar, that everything that
looks the same can be just another created illusion.
Israel, officially a secular state, is the beneficiary of more foreign aid (called aid to security) than almost any other country, while the GDP per capita there is pretty healthy, better than Miss. and Italy.
Careful there old boy, someone might accuse you of being
an Anti-Semite.
3
Claiming in your article that Ilhan Omar apologized for her supposed anti semitic tweets is a lie.On her interview with CBS the other day she said she did not feel the need to apologize.
As a point of reference you should review the anti semitism in the British socialist party, its reaching awful heights.To make believe Omar and for that matter Tlaib are not anti semites because they are Democrats and only good things come from the mouths of progressives is disgusting.
16
Dotard can't possibly have an anti semitic bone in his body...after all he pushed his daughter (and primary love interest) to marry into a Jewish family not for business advantages but for love. Right?
1
Uh oh the conservatives have hijacked the liberal playbook of calling anyone who disagrees with them a bigot, and the author would like the playbook returned. It’s a book for those who have already lost the argument so I’d be glad to see it returned to its rightful owner.
2
This is an attempt of Trumpism to own the Jewish community. Once you buy into his rhetoric he will control you completely going forward. Just like his criticism of the US while visiting Putin was applauded and liberal criticism requires deportation, Jews too will be subjected to his whim.
If criticism of Israel is anti-Semitic, then what must be criticism of Iran? Anti- Muslim? (America? Anti-Christian? Italy? Anti-Christian?)
None of this makes sense to me. AThis is a confusing time of lies and deception. We are well on the way to fascism by way of control of the truth.
4
It is all about framing the discussion. No Jew can hear "send them back" without shuddering at the horror the phrase invokes--yet Jews are supposed to think it is Republican support for them. This is crazy making.
But Republicans are so effective at distortions and lies that their phrases and memes, and the lies themselves, are routinely adopted, and then perpetuated endlessly--even though they make no logical sense: supporters gleefully repeat them and detractors have to constantly "unpack" or debunk them to prove their lack of substance.
For example, who first called the four freshmen congresswomen at the heart of the current racism controversy "the Squad"? Trump supposedly was quoting a Congressman. I would like to know his name. "Squad" sounds a great deal like "Squaw". Trump is attacking five women, not just four, without ever having to mention Elizabeth Warren's name.
Yet, the four congresswomen have, unknowingly, adopted that pejorative term for themselves, and the media has now adopted it without a thought for its origin or its ramifications.
This is ugly, and someone other than Trump must take over framing the debate if truth is to prevail.
1
Trumps statements were clearly racist and inflammatory, but certain members of the Squad have done themselves no favors with the Jewish community and should be repudiated for those reasons alone. "Send them back" is a racist chant. "Don't reelect them" or "run someone else" is not.
3
Further evidence that Trump is the Antichrist concerns his slogan MAGA - Make America Great Again.
Jews Muslims and Christians would never call any human institution great. Greatness only refers to God.
Muslims say Allahu Akbar - God is great.
Jews pray three times a day to HaEl HaGadol HaGibor veHaNorah - The great powerful and awesome God.
Jesus says For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
There have been human despots throughout history who assumed the title Great, such as Alexander the Great, Peter the Great, Catherine the Great &Frederick the Great. However America is opposed to monarchy and tyranny so Americans should not be enthralled with these kinds of titles.
Even the Catholic Church, which is so powerful and wealthy, refers to itself as the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. It never says it is great. (Certain Popes have been designated as Great, such as St. Gregory the Great and St John Paul the Great. That I cannot explain.)
Any believer in God says that God is great and we humans aspire to His blessings: to be blessed by God but not to be great, which is usurping God and that is exactly what the Antichrist does and encourages others to do.
The New Testament says that one of the characteristics of the Antichrist is that he will deceive the very elect, which is precisely what Trump has accomplished with his American Christian supporters.
2
My grandparents in 1903 emigrated from Hungary to escape the pogroms of the ancestors and/or relatives of the neo-Nazi Gorka. I have to laugh when I read about the love of American Christian fundamentalists for the State of Israel and the Jews, when in fact their only goal is Armageddon and the Rapture with the second coming of the white non-Jewish Jesus. Their hypocrisy knows no limits. They are as just as truly anti-Semitic as Gorka. Jews can be counted with the Chinese, Italians, Germans, Irish, Poles, Central and South Americans, Africans, Middle Fasteners, Muslims, Southern Europeans, and every other non-white, non-Christian group wishing to be a part of the American dream, but excluded, demonized, and with entrance discriminated against.
3
If the author can't discern that the rise of anti-Semitism is rooted in the left wing of the Democratic Party and is ignorant of the fact that Nancy Pelosi can't get a vote in the House on condemnation of the Boycott Israel movement then her conclusions are understandable.
10
A sincere thank you
1
More meta-news, the kissing cousin of fake news: your story is a story about other stories, not about whether the anti-Semitism label is deserved.
Meta-news is has infinite possibilities, like a Mandelbrot function where the output of the last cycle automatically becomes the input for the next.
I am certain that somewhere out there, dozens of lazy journalists are writing about your story.
2
My father is a holocaust survivor. He supported Trump during the campaign. I told my father I thought Trump was a nazi and he vehemently disagreed. He told me Trump loves Israel and the Jews. I rolled my eyes. He is visiting with us here in Manhattan this week. Yesterday I went out wearing my “Impeach 45” t shirt. Upon seeing it my father urged me not to wear it outside lest I get “beat up”. I told him that if a mob attacks me for expressing my political view, then it’s 1930s Germany all over again. He agreed, but I didn’t have the heart to underscore the irony to him.
8
I have never seen such twisted reasoning and irrelevant argumentation. The entire Left is anti-Israel and anti-Semitic in its attacks on the Jewish homeland and its embrace of anti-Semitic Palestinians who question the right of Israel to exist. Omar’s anti-Semitic statements are not a shield but a stake in the heart of all Jews. That Goldberg who is herself Jewish should join her in her attacks is nothing but an exercise in self-hate which parades as the political fashion statement of the day but if carried to its extreme will result in the destruction of Jews in Israel and elsewhere.
14
I have not understood how a president who says, "there are fine people on both sides", when one group was carrying tiki torches and chanting "Jews will not replace us!" through Charlottesville is portrayed as pro-Jewish.
3
@Scott Keller
The "fine people on both sides" refers to two groups of people:
One group wanted to have all the statues of Confederate officers removed from the town.
One group wanted have the statues remain as either memorials to family members or historical reminders.
There were fine people on both sides: Black Americans who viewed the statues through the prism of slavery; and White Americans who viewed the statues through the prism of history.
The late-comers to the scene were the troublemakers.
They were not "fine people".
The governor of Virginia should have anticipated problems with the third "not fine" group and taken steps to prevent the problems from getting out of control.........and possibly did anticipate problems but did nothing to prevent them. Why not anticipate and control the problems? Negative publicity that could be useful even if it had a high cost?
2
Let him “rot”. Thank you Michelle.
1
Let me tell you about my high school history teacher of the late 1960's. A WWII Navy veteran, submarine service, from Pennsylvania coal country, worked his way through college, a family man, conservative but open-minded, and a devout Catholic. Besides history, he would give much needed "life advice" to his students. One relevant tidbit....
"Know how to spot a raving anti-Semite? Anyone who says, 'Some of my best friends are Jewish' are the worst ones around." Sure enough, my old teacher has been correct through the years.
Count the times that Trump has said this in one form or another. Forget about that he has a Jewish son-in-law and a daughter who converted to Judaism. Just like his father and grandfather before him, he despises Jews.
Yes, we have a white nationalist inhabiting the White House with all the requisite prejudices: Blacks, Hispanics, Jews, Muslims, immigrants, and more.
How did this happen?
4
“I've known rivers:
I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the
flow of human blood in human veins.
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.”
From “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” by Langston Hughes
There is a terrifying scene of a river in Terrence Malick’s movie, “The Tree of Life.” I watched it a dozen times. In its simplicity, it is a story that is almost impossible to watch. I force myself to watch it; I say—“We cannot be like this!”
A healthy dinosaur breaks away from its clan, walks across a river. On the other side, the dinosaur discovers among wet river rock a wounded dinosaur laying on its side. The wounded animal quivers, struggles to breathe, aches with anticipation for what is to come. Suddenly, in a flash, the healthy beast stomps on the cold, pitiable and wounded beast. He holds his webbed foot on the quivering animal’s head. In a few moments, he walks away.
Google “Dinosaurs in Tree of Life.” Watch the minute and half sequence from Malick’s glorious film. Then read Michelle Goldberg’s column—"Defenders of a Racist President Use Jews as Human Shields”—again.
Doesn’t Malick’s aggressive dinosaur become a metaphor for religion, for the Jews and the Mormons, the Muslims and the Catholics, for Jerry Falwell’s Bible belt fundamentalists, for Trump’s Christian nationalists?
Religions are not happy unless they are stomping on someone’s head.
3
The anti Israel narrative started with Obama and continues with Omar, Tlaib, etc. It’s extraordinary difficult to separate anti- Semitism and anti Zionism unless you use extremely nuanced language. Omar and Tlaib haven’t figured it out yet nor will they. The liberal Jews who helped elect Omar certainly have buyers remorse. The Jews have tried to be friends to people of color and continued to get kicked in the gut by the rants of Sharpton, Jackson, and Farrakhan. Ms. Goldberg, you have hopelessly joined the ranks of self haters. Jews as political shields, ridiculous.
14
First the came for the Trump Era:
First they came for the illegal immigrant
I did not speak up, because I am not an illegal immigrant.
Then they came for the journalists
I did not speak up, because I am not a journalist
Then they came for the liberals and the socialist
I did not speak up because I am not a liberal or socialist
Then they came for the Jews
I did not speak up, because I am not a Jew.
Then they came for me
There was no body left to speak for me.
It is only a matter of time that a Trump rally goes from "send them back" to "Blame the Jews".
6
This ploy will never work with the Trump core. Nativism has a long history of anti-semitism. And there are not many Jews living in red states. Just more Trump lies and rants.
3
"...He is interested in two things, and two things only—making you afraid of it, and telling you who's to blame for it. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you win elections..."
-The American President
1
Let's also remember that Trump said that there were very fine people on both sides after a white supremacist rammed his car through a crowd of protestors while a bunch of neo nazis chanted "Jews will not replace us."
3
This is the centennial of Red Summer when pogroms against African American communities happened across the United States. Trump and the GOP are playing with racist fascist fire.
We the People of the United States, no matter our color creed sexual orientation or whatever, cannot allow this.
1
Michelle, as they say, "Whew, girl, you are hitting it now." Yes, it is amazing that the republicans are using anti-semitism as a shield and weapon, but then again, they are shameless. Their supporters often ignorant to anything that doesn't excite their emotional response.
2
Perceptions are reality and I perceive Trumps antics at his rally's to be similar to Hitler's demagoguery during the 1930's. It's interesting to view the audiences of both authoritarians and their reaction to their heroes rants. How easily led some are.
4
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
Rev. Martin Niemöller
4
Perhaps you night consider putting quotes around the word "Christian."
3
Antisemitism seems to be a very popular charge to level at one's enemies these days, no doubt due to its political potency. It is particularly jarring however, when used by right wing fascists.
While listening to the recording of Trump's supporters chanting "Send Her Back!" I was seized by the realization that these people are about a millimeter away from launching the next Kristallnacht. It will be directed against Muslims at first, but once the barbarism ramps up to full, open force it will be directed at any and all minority populations that they perceive to be "other". I don't expect Jews will be immune.
3
Ahh, yet another 'tu quoque.'
("You too!" - pronounced "too kwoh-kway") an ad hominem fallacy concludes that a claim is false because:
1) it is inconsistent with something else stated or
2) with other actions
No Omar didn't say anything that was anti-semitic. She criticized Israel.
3
,Then why did Ilhan Omar just introduce a Bill supporting BDS in Congress? Now she's going to waste taxpayer money so she can have Junket to Israel.
7
@Karl Well, no. In point of fact Omar did not criticize Israel in the remarks she now "regrets." Instead, she made a scurrilous accusation about the motivations of those who don't share her simplistic and rabidly anti-Israel views.
Ironically, Omar accepted campaign contributions from CAIR.
3
All too true, Aipac has become part of the Republican party machine and the very Orthodox Jewish communities here celebrated when Trump was elected.
It was in response to the valid perception that Obama and most Gentile progressives do not like Bibi and his policies. But that does not make them anti semites.
Evangelicals embrace the Biblical concept of Israel but would not like one of their children to marry a Jew.
The overt racism, xenophobia, misogyny and covert antisemitism of Trump and his enablers does need a whitewash to cover it up. They have cleverly found the hypocritical charge of anti semite to work against Democrats.
9
Now for a little good news. I'm confident that most of our country realizes that there is no good bigotry, not Trump's and not Omar's.
I'm also confident most Americans understand the difference between being fair-mindedly critical of Israeli policies and having an obsessive and unhinged hatred of Israel and its people.
And I think many of us realize that Trump's latest bigoted remarks were a ploy to force the Democratic Party to unite around the party's fringe and thereby undercut the leadership.
7
The evangelical right loves Israel because it wants Jews to be gathered in there so Jesus can return. On issues other than Israel that are important to American Jews, they are either opposed (religious discrimination in the workplace or schools is the logical outcome of living in a “Christian” society) or are only helpful inasmuch as it helps their causes too (private school vouchers.). As long as their ultimate aim is conversion of the Jews, they cannot be considered friends.
6
Trump's actions and words indicate that he is, in fact, a racist. That the GOP has no one who will confront his racism tells you all you need to know. They do not need Judaism as a shield. Their supporters love Trump and his racism.
3
But like 45, relish any opportunity to turn up the flame a bit. Fear sells, and earns votes.
3
"Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true.”
--Martin Luther King, Jr., 1963.
2
One of the most sincere and incisive short commentaries I've ever read in the Times. Bravo!
5
Send Gorka back. He has no skills and has never added positive value to our society in any way, to the contrary.
3
Well stated. Thank you for addressing this issue. My cousin, a devout Trump supporter who doesn't have even one Jewish friend to his name felt Trump's brutal Twitter diatribe again IIhan Omar was justified because of "her terrible anti-Sematism (sic)" Sadly, few of Trump's core supporters understand the complexities of the Jewish experience throughout history nor are they even aware of the history and complexities in the creation of the state of Israel AND it's relatively recent turn to right wing leadership. The Evangelicals, the Orthodox Jews and White Supremacists make VERY odd bedfellows.
3
"When the right presents Trump as an enemy of anti-Semitism, it goes beyond hypocrisy."
Hypocrisy of this magnitude is what will inevitably result from the acceptance of the amount and magnitude of lies Trump utters on a routine daily basis.
The press needs to be prepared with phone/tablet video evidence in hand at every event where Trump is present, to dismantle and disprove his lies RIGHT TO HIS FACE.
He must be confronted immediately, in real time, repeatedly without the traditional deference usually accord a President.
His platform of hate and lies must be destroyed.
It must become a vehicle of near constant humiliation.
And I hope this goes without saying, but it cannot be limited to antisemitism.
Every lie must be dismantled.
1
Notwithstanding tribal hatred between Irish Catholic/Protestant Northern Ireland residents, both sides pragmatically supporting local opposing sect politicians effectively providing effective services.
1
American Jewish leaders and organizations (including AIPAC) seem totally comfortable with this conflation. I certainly have not seen an interview with the leader of a major Jewish organization apposing it, so what's the problem exactly?
4
This avoids the elephant in the room.
Democrats do oppose much that Israel is doing, specifically to the Palestinians, but also much else.
Republicans are supporting all of the very worst things done by Netanyahu.
Democrats do support what American Jews commonly think of as the best things about themselves. Republicans do belittle and oppose those very things, and trash them around the world.
So what is antisemitic in this situation? Is opposing Netanyahu's worst actions antisemitic? Is enabling them a claim on defending American Jews?
This subject can't be explained in detail without mentioning the problems Democrats have with Netanyahu and his cohort of right wing extremists.
They can't talk about that without seeing the strange far right shift of Israeli electoral politics.
Trump is antisemitic for exactly the reasons he supports and enables Netanyahu and his ilk.
4
Spot on, Michelle Goldberg. Thank you so much for your clarity and insight.
2
The hypocrisy is astounding! Thanks Michelle!
5
Thank you for this.
1
"It’s true that Omar has said things that were freighted with anti-Semitism... But it is grotesque to argue that that excuses racism against her"
What racism? Trump said she should go fix Somalia before she decides to attack the US and Israel. Sure it's rude and inappropriate, but, in fact, not actually racist. Meanwhile, you're admitting that Omar is an anti-Semite. Is Trump really wrong to condemn that?
13
The real danger of Trump is his complete self-interest. Anything, -anything- that he believes secures his money, his power, his control is what he will support. All that's necessary is for someone to sell him on the deal. In this case, pretending to be four-square for the Jews brings him something. To-morrow, pretending to be four-square for Muslims may bring him something else. None of it has any validity. Nothing he says has any validity. He is as hollow and -inutile- as a human creature can be and still breathe.
2
I see that Gorka may be "officially" gone, but that matters not. I am absolutely certain that he, Bannon, Miller along with Fox are programming their Puppet President.
3
There was a time when it went without saying that if you were a Democrat, you were ardently pro Israel, no and, ifs, or buts about it. Not anymore. The Party is trying to be all things to all people and is devolving into nothing for nobody.
10
What I gather from this disturbing article, and from the many comments it has elicited, is the frightening realization that it can happen here. True, Trump claims to accept Jews and want to protect Israel, but whenever a government tolerates and even encourages hatred of any ethnic group ---be it Moslem, or Mexican migrants, or people of color---it does not end up well for Jews. Eventually, the Jew too becomes a target. It can "happen here" and be as shocking and as unexpected as it was for the German Jews, who felt themselves firmly and securely established in German society.
5
Religion is no longer the last refuge of scoundrels - it's the very first. And, apparently, any religion will serve.
2
We need a President who likes and defends other humans rather than hating and despising others and constantly looking for excuses for doing so.
2
I will not excuse obnoxious remarks made by anyone, not President of U.S. and not Congress members. And for those who are separating anti-Israel from anti-Semitism, as Michelle Goldberg constantly rushes to do: let me just say that the two anti attitudes are much, much more closely linked than given credence to.They all come from hatred and/or selective choices.
8
Criticizing the policies of Israel and a corrupt Netanyahu are not anti-semitic. Just because Trump has a Jewish son-in-law doesn't make him pro-Israel either. Finally, the president's speech exalting the white nationalists in the Charlottesville protest march as "very fine people" after they yelled that "you will not replace us" about Jews speaks volumes about Trump's equal opportunity BIGOTRY.
6
OK. As a Trump voter, I do occasionally worry he might really, with no doubt, say something bad. Not like NYT bad. That is when only half of the conversation is quoted, but, real racist joke, kind of bad.
At every rally he highlights the economy and points out employment numbers. For some time he has mentioned African American, Asian, and Hispanic employment numbers and they are at all time highs.
If, at one of his rallies says something to the effect, "African American unemployment has never been lower. There haven't been this many African Americans working since......"
You may finish that sentence as you wish. But, until he ends it in a way I find disrespectful, he's got my vote. And, when you the, NYT and the MSM, he was racist towards the four women of color, be advised, I pay attention to every word, syllable and tense.
I could be wrong, but, a transcript of his speech won't provide anymore description of these women, other than, they are women and are members of congress.
By the way, ask anyone over 60 when was the last time they heard or saw a bumper sticker "America. Love it or leave it."
Late 70's?
1
Perhaps the junior senator from Montana should return to his home state---and never return to Washington.
3
Omar's criticism of Israel was not remotely anti-semitic and required no apology.
If she weren't a Muslim no one would think of charging her with it.
5
Not so.
Omar’s statements invoked hateful anti-Semitic stereotypes (Jews have too much money; Jews have dual allegiance to Israel.)
Omar has stood by her statements, even though she regrets how they make people feel. That’s not an apology.
6
Thank you for for this essay. It is good work in every way. This is another example of something dear being bought and sold for political gain.
1
This is a wonderful, easily understood column, ms Goldberg. After reading many of the comments I am struck, again, by how much space and time we commenters have given to the subject of Donald trump’s motives and psyche. That he is despicable and dumb is a given, but we have for months seen how easily he can be manipulated by his ring of advisors and those who would use him for their own political, professional and financial success. Our nation’s collective misery needs relief from this reckless cabal.
1
Thank you, Ms. Goldberg.
1
Is Truth, Beauty & Goodness a valid goal for every man, woman, child, race or religion? Is it also a valid goal for any politician or political party? I ask this question because I’m very confused about the reactions to what Donald Trump has said just this week.
I’ve always assumed that most people, deep down, are good except for circumstances that take part in their lives from day to day. I really believe that if anyone is really given TRUTH, the vast majority of souls will choose TRUTH over FALSEHOOD!
To me, it’s just so simple!
“You shall know the Truth, and that Truth will set you FREE.”
Now, here’s the paradox.
Let’s say I give you two apples. This should be a no brainer if I ask you how many apples I’ve given you. I gave you two of them: Right?
A Democrat says, “One of those apples is larger than the other one!”
A Republican says, “One is Green and the other one is Red!”
Both answers are correct, but once we get into details, a simple obvious truth about two apples gets clouded into meaningless arguments that obscure the simple Truth that I gave you TWO Apples.
Donald Trump and most of his sidekicks won’t admit that saying to an elected official of Congress “Send her back!” is Racist.
Instead, most of them will argue about the “Shadow of a hair turning!”
It appears to me that the right-wingers who are the first to angrily shout “Anti-Semite” at Rep Omar and other liberals, pretty much NEVER call it out in their own party. Where is the equal level of outrage at Steve King?
5
Here we go again, the super right, the bigot Trump and the super left Michelle and the squad getting the ink.
A majority of Americans are tired of the extremes, white bigots on the right and entitled identity obsessed, social engineers on the left.
We had an election with the two sides in 2016 and Trump won by a tko.
If you want America to get back on track with moderate, progressive advancement and get rid of the greatest threat to our democracy Trump, since the Civil War have the democrats nominate a moderate progressive.
Right now it is Biden, but it could be anybody white, black, young, old, male, female. just not another Hillary.
5
The partnership eagerly sought by the "American Jewish establishment" with evangelical Christians has been a bitter disappointment, and it's noticed by gay Americans.
As usual, Ms. Goldberg hits the nail right on the head: using Jews as human shields. The right-wingers, many of them fundi Christians who have no particular fondness for Judaism, have real talent for spin, for trying to redefine a situation that is it's exact opposite. It's the "All-women-love-me*" syndrome.
*DJT
1
It's a tale of two insidious forces: Anti-semites who want us Jews to vacate the lands of our births, and Israeli Zionists and their supporters who view anti-semitism as the means to scare us out of our homelands to pack the 'Zionist project' and shore up the demographic undermining of Palestinians in this Mutual homeland referred to by many as 'The Jewish State'. But we were warned long ago by Jewish essayist Ahad Ha'am, way way back in 1897 in "The Jewish State and Jewish Problem" that Zionism, as a political ideology, had a potentially fraught future ahead of it: "But a political ideal which does not rest on the national culture is apt to seduce us from our loyalty to spiritual greatness, and to beget in us a tendency to find the path of glory in the attainment of material power and political dominion, thus breaking the thread that unites us with the past, and undermining our historical basis." Material power and political dominion- Pure Trumpism.
2
Ms. Goldberg in effect, states that only progressive organizations are fit allies for Jews. What about the British Labor Party that voices support for Hamas and Hezbollah that commit terrorist actions against Jews? Indeed, what about our own Democratic Party that refuses to forthrightly condemn anti-Semitism? Ms. Goldberg advises that we should ignore these realities and disdain organizations that forthrightly support Israel and Jews like Christian Zionists. Ms. Goldberg is entitled to her views but Israelis certainly do not endorse them. The left wing Labor Party got about ten percent of the vote in the last election, and for good reason. Only here in the U.S where Jews are so respected and protected that foolish reasoning by Jews can exist and even flourish.
8
Again the Times is all set to focus the majority of its attention on the candidates' theatricality and not on their platforms, voting history, leadership styles and ethics. Sensationalist article titles are not helpful in this public climate.
In-depth investigative reporting about the issues is what is needed--over and over again. The Times is a leader in this area and should step up its decisive, specific and dispassionate reporting.
Focusing on dysfunctional and hypocritical anti-Semitism also does little to deeply address it.
3
There is no doubt that Trump is a racist anti-Semite. But American Jews need to be very careful. Israel should be open to giving back some captured territory as Ben-gurion advised. But Israel must get something in return for that effort such as recognizing Israel’s statehood and right to exist. On the other hand, American Jews who embrace Evangelical Christians as a protector need to be very aware that true believers who are Evangelicals believe that the return of the Messiah will be accompanied by the destruction of the Jews. Ultimately Jews probably have no true friends and must rely on their own strength and wisdom to survive.
1
Thank you so much for writing about Trump and Trumpers use of “antisemitism.” You said exactly what I’ve been feeling.
2
I am so glad you joined the Times opinion writers. You are clear and, from my point of view, correct almost all of the time.
3
Finally! When Trump came out with that line, in his North Carolina rally, about "anti-Semitic screeds", I almost did a spit take. I am quite sure that that crowd would know what a "screed" is, and if they did, would be asking each other whether or not that was a bad thing. I have sat in absolute bewilderment watching the Republican party and right wing Christian operatives align with right wing Israeli politicians to put the entirety of the Jewish diaspora into the center of their supremacist fever dreams without the necessary resounding cry of "not in my name".
1
I have always been mystified by the blithe acceptance of right wing Christian support by some in the Jewish community. Don't you know what they have in mind for you? Let's put it this way: you won't be around to find out.
4
When will Mr. Ben-Ami name these dangerously wrong "Jewish leaders" who conflate Anti=Zionism and Anti-Semitism? All Americans need to understand that anyone can disagree with Israeli state policy without hating Israel. All Americans need to remember that we can disagree with Mr. Trump and his policies and still love our country. All Americans, including Mr. Trump himself.
1
"And then they came for me"
2
Ms. Goldberg, did you ask Mr. Ben-Ami precisely which Jewish leaders " 'made a deal with the devil' "? Your commentary is trenchant about Trump and Gorka and Sen. Daines, all hateful indeed, but when you use your column to parrot J Street's denunciation of AIPAC and Ben-Ami's antipathy towards Jewish organizations who disagree with his group's naivete, you ignore two facts: first, not every leader who is in the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations is a handmaiden to Christian evangelicals and letting Ben-Ami tar all of them publicly with that aspersion is just being lazy; and, second, leaders of groups like the Anti-Defamation League, Hadassah, and the American Jewish Committee --none of whom are in bed with right wing devils--understand what you and Ben-Ami stubbornly refuse to see, namely, that there really are people with guns and rockets and tunnels who would like to see Israel gone and not just the occupation of the West Bank.
7
Thank you for saying what must be said. In 1921 the Association of German National Jews was founded. This nationalist organization grew to support Hitler, and we know how that ended. How does this help us understand about the current rise in "Anti-Semitism" and "Anti-Otherism" now? This not only a Jewish issue. Everyone should fear Anti-Semitism for what it represents, but too few do. How many religious leaders give Trump a "pass"? We have heard not one speak loudly, not one. They should be screaming mad, but they are complicit. Suppose a Catholic Bishop stood on the steps of St. Pats on Fifth and spoke out against that recent rally? Unimaginable? How many Catholic and Evangelical leaders use "dog whistle" terms like "pro-life" as a way to sway voters towards severe conservatism? Do Rabbi's in Williamsburg inform their faithful about the increasing risks within the Trump administration, or are they becoming more insular, not even allowing children to learn English? It is not enough to have a privileged daughter or son in law the WH to insure against Anti-Semitism.
1
The details here are important. Who really understands the breadth of this? Thank you, Ms. Goldberg, for pointing them out.
There is darkness all around us. Those of us who seek to be open, loving, kind and conscious mourn every day.
The Anti-Defamation League is anti-semite? Amazing. What next, the NAACP hates blacks?
So Omar said things that were “freighted” with anti-Semitism. So, she’s not really anti-Semitic, it’s just her words? I guess it’s sort of like how some people “did something” on 9/11.
9
@Mike You've got it. Even Nancy Pelosi got it. "I didn't call the President is racist. I said his words were racist."
" ,,, in every generation there are those who rise up against us to annihilate us ... " from the Passover Haggadah.
We've seen this playbook before: Ferdinand and Isabella couldn't do it, Hitler couldn't do it, and Trump certainly can't do it.
Excellent article, Ms. Goldberg. Those Zionists who support Trump should realize that those who lie down with dogs, get up with fleas.
BTW, your statement that "Jews have thrived here as they have in few other places in the world" is inaccurate; Jews have thrived in the US as they have nowhere else in the world. God Bless America as Irving Berlin's mom used to say.
2
The thought that Trump uses anti-Semitism as an excuse to vilify the Democrats and the Democratic representatives is sickening. Trump, throughout his business career, has expressed anti-Semitic tropes and, now using defense against this vile sentiment as a basis for his attacks is patently anti-Semitic on it face. Anyone believing this nonsense is as hateful as he is.
3
Perfect analysis of the realities of the Trump circles. “Victims” is their calling card, strategy and fall-back. Like the boss, they’re all liars.
I find it very hard to believe that you could seriously consider Americans turning into an ethno state which is a threat to Jews. In part because it has always practically been an ethno state and also the country is in the majority with the Democrats. Why don’t you focus on keeping the Israelis secure?
1
Donald Trump and those who support him and lie for him will maybe realize
at some point that he is a weak racist bully. He is just an ordinary type with
extraordinary power. We must not a!low him a second term. Freedom of
speech is why we have him and we must all defy his effort to deny it to others!
I just love the way Michelle Goldberg thinks. What a tremendous asset she is for the NYT. I'm not a relative, boy friend, pal...just an appreciate reader of her fine tuned intellect and expression.
1
Trump is and will always be the strongest defender of Jews in America and the Jewish state; the same Jews that were abandoned by FDR and Obama. Trump never once made a statement about these women that had a thing to do with their skin color or ethnicity. If these women were pale White's of European ancestry, and they still were avowed haters of America, Trump would have still told them to go back to where they or their parents came from - end of story.
3
Wiith friends like Sebastian Gorka, who needs enemies?
1
Thanks for this very important clarification of who the real anti-semites are in the US. A lot of that also applies to the UK btw.
1
Thank you Michelle! As a Jew you have reflected my uneasiness with the current right wing relationship to Jews and Israel, including the right wing in Israel!
4
And they say that Trump doesn’t read.
Thank you for this column.
1
While there is some antisemitism on the left the antisemitism on the right is far more overt and dangerous. It has already led to two recent attacks on synagogues in the US and hate crimes against Jews have been documented to have sharply increased in the last few years. The right is angry about nonwhite immigrants and many on the right say the Jews are behind this immigration. George Soros of all people was blamed for organizing the caravan. The white nationalists who back Trump represent a threat to Jews and every other minority group in the US.
6
"Montanans are sick and tired of listening to ... anti-Semite, radical Democrats"? I suppose you could ask Maury and Dov, two native Montanan Jews I knew during my short tenure out that way in the late '70s, individuals who lived lives of fear because of the faith they practiced. I suppose it's possible that things have changed there over the past 40 years, but color me dubious, Senator Daines.
2
Ever wonder what the avowed anti-Semites filling Trump bleachers think when he condemns people who “hate” Israel? Huh? What? Sometimes, you can detect puzzlement crossing the faces of fans actually listening to Trump’s rants. But, they roar at anything, even his 100th tedious walk down Memory Lane to The Apprentice. Pavlov, roll over.
2
Exactly. American Jews fall in line with this poseur at their peril. I have no doubt that when he's finished with black and brown people -- excluding them, diminishing their rights, establishing them as servile to his white nationalist supporters, or worse -- he will be coming for the Jews. And the Greeks and Italians and Iberians and anyone else he deems "lesser" beings to the Norwegians and the Swedes (whose heritage he appropriated for himself for decades) and the Northern Europeans in general. I don't buy for a moment that he has an affinity for Jews (or, for that matter, for his son-in-law) or that he supports Israel other than as a cynical means to his end of being re-elected so he can avoid incarceration. It is sad and disappointing how blindly many Jewish voters have embraced him, despite the hate directed at others. And whether or not that hate is ever directed at them, they are in the unenviable position of being able to empathize with what it feels like when people "other-ize" you. I pray (though not even a believer) that we are delivered from this evil in 2020, and before we are embroiled in WWIII or our planet is destroyed, or democracy dies. The imposter in chief's supporters have, indeed, made a deal with the devil. A deal that the rest of the world may be relegated to suffer.
1
It must be said, again, that criticism of Israeli policy is not anti-Semitism. Nor, for that matter, is criticism of American policy anti-American. Republicans have redefined America to be only that which Republicans say that it is, and that is the overtly bigoted cult of personality of Trumpism. To think that the Trumpist base, white nationalism and Evangelical Christianity, cares about Jews for any purpose other than as a shield for their own bigotry is ludicrous.
2
Say what you will, but Omar, Tlaib, Pressley, and AOC, a.k.a. “the Squad,” are driving the Democratic Party over a cliff. These four now represent the public face of the Democratic Party. And the majority of American citizens will NOT buy whatever leftist agenda attempting to sell.
9
Goldberg's criticism of right wing attempts to pose as defenders of the Jews is right on target. But the distinction that she assumes between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism is questionable. It is one thing to be critical of Israel--most American Jews are critical of Israel in one way or another. It is a different thing, however, to deny that Jews, like every other people, have a right to their own national homeland. Anti-Zionism is dangerously close to anti-Semitism, and in some cases crosses the line.
7
I am a white Southerner, who can remember vicious racism. Neither Trump or these young Congresswomen are remotely racist. They do not think much before the speak and none of them know any history. People who endlessly use Hitler, fascism, and the holocaust as their sole historical reference point are ill-educated. They received their education from films and television. Compare with Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter.
This is all political - the Russia collusion attack on Trump has failed. The attacks on his private life have fizzled. The tax issue is going nowhere. Associating Trump with Epstein is already a dud! The chants of "racist" will go go away. Because we all know he isn't a racist or homophobe.
The same is true of right-wing hysteria about the "Squad'. Their attacks on each woman fizzle-out because, we all know that they are young and like Trump are not skilled at making speeches. Like Trump they are poorly educated and when speaking they wander into dangerous waters - nothing more dangerous than speaking about race or ethnicity in America.
We need a leader like Tulsi Gabbard who speaks seldom but when she does she is very judicious!
4
@Redneck
Agreed, Tulsi is a great choice. And perhaps you, who seem to be a rare voice of reason and restraint, should be her running mate.
@Samuel Russell.
Yes, I think the world of Tulsi Gabbard but I guess she is a 'no - hoper' as far as getting the nomination is concerned.
Well said and perfectly reasoned.
5
In an otherwise thoughtful column, this writer again goes off the rails in continuing to promote the misleading, intellectually lazy and now dangerous idea that Congresswoman Omar has made statements "freighted with anti-Semitism". This idea, so beloved by the demagogue currently squatting in the White House, rests not on the actual content of what she has said but on her alleged transgression of "tropes". Tropes should be deconstructed, not worshipped. Especially now.
Look at Omar's statement that, "I should not be expected to have allegiance/pledge support to a foreign country in order to serve my country in Congress...I am told all the time that I am anti-American if I am not pro-Israel. I find that problematic, and I am not alone."
I applaud that statement. We all should. Chuck Schumer should. That's the oath she took when she became a citizen. Instead it's been used to flay her and expose her to vicious attacks.
For too long our Israeli policy has been off-limits to inquiry and debate. If we're not permitted to even talk about whether these policies serve our own national interests, then questions about allegiance seem not only natural but necessary.
As for the tropes, if they're to be regarded as sacred, what about the Israeli diplomat who said Nikki Haley would be missed, because after she left Israel would only have one ambassador at the UN. Is he anti-Semitic?
This kind of thoughtless labelling has got to stop. Especially now.
17
@Ellen V.
100% agree, specially since whatever she said that was so offensive, is never quoted, only referred to in those terms. Ilhan says what literally any Muslim, anywhere in the world, thinks, regarding American sponsorship of Israel, and the wound of Palestine on the Muslim psyche. You can be an Indonesian Muslim, a Pakistani, a Somali. Doesn’t matter. The injustice is felt universally. Only in America are we splitting hairs about tropes.
3
@Ellen V.
You live in PA, I think. I live in Minneapolis, on Omar’s district, which also includes the suburb of Saint Louis Park, the largest Jewish community in Minnesota.
Rep. Omar was invited to give a speech at one of the local synagogues. She refused to attend. She indicated she wouldn’t step
inside a Jewish house of worship. She dismissed her own constituents because they were Jewish. This isn’t just anti-Semitic tropes. This is anti-semitism, period.
BTW, I don’t defend Trump. He too is racist.
7
Thank you so much Ms. Goldberg for drawing this line in the sand. I am black and Russian-Jewish, who was fortunate to make the Taglit deadline some years ago. From my journey then, and spending a week afterwards with an off-duty Lieutenant who worked as a coffee deliverer, I greatly appreciated the Israeli serviceperson, his discipline, the stories we shared and seeing Scorsese's Gangs of New York, which he thought just bloodlust and awful. Like Birthright, yet a lesser awakening, was the Million Man March, albeit Louis Farrakhan. From these life experiences, I am decidedly neutral and in favor of a 2-State Solution. You can discount these experiences of mine, but isn't all the Jewish Diaspora significant?
Additionally, I am of the African Diaspora and have experienced many sides of the conversation at hand, valuable and valid to you also I hope. And similar to Immigrant Justice and racism, I think that for us to not align racism with anti-Semitism is destructive to our social and cultural longevity, because the architecture of those contradictions can not withstand, and will crumble. All of us with conviction against bigotry and hate of any form should unite against a monger and peddler. I hadn't previously recognized the "your country" and "your prime minister" comments as also anti-Semitic, but here I do see there are!
3
In 2016 it was "build the wall" and "ban all Muslims" In 2020 it's "send them back", and "if you don't love America, leave it". In Trump Word that means that if you don't love Trump, leave America. We cannot confuse politics with racism. They are not the same thing. The current WH is using politics to promote racism as the Republican platform. The Republican Party elected Trump, the Republican Party abets Trump, the Republican Party IS Trump.
13
There isn't any excuse for President Trump's ugly rhetoric. To that extent, Michelle Goldberg and others are right. But I wonder if she realizes on some level that she's made her own "deal with the devil."
If not, she might consider the generation of children in Gaza who could have grown up without the scars of conflict, about Hamas's theft of public resources for its military programs, or about its brutally effective crackdown on protesters whose slogan was, "I want to live with dignity." Unfortunately, none of this is surprising from a group whose motto has been, "We love death more than the Jews love life."
The reality is that Hamas and the Palestinian Authority are active players in keeping the occupation going. By choosing to ignore this reality, Goldberg and IfNotNow are complicit in helping to perpetuate the occupation they claim so vociferously to oppose.
11
Both sides do it, but one side is blind to it.
3
I'm a native-born U.S. citizen and Jewish. Ethnically, I also have Middle Eastern ancestry. Both my spouse and I have ancestors who survived the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust. We know what we're seeing. And Ms. Goldberg is exactly right. If anyone believes that Trump's internment camps will stop at Hispanic children, think again.
A chant that thousands of his rabid supporters continue to scream is "Jews will not replace us." The neo-Nazis and KKK at Charlottesville screamed "blood and soil", and he told us they were some very fine people. The man who gunned down nine innocent Jews at the Tree of Life synagogue criticized Trump for not going far enough.
The fact is, any American Jew and any American of Middle Eastern ancestry is a target now. Trump is desperate to stay in power, and his vicious base will soon grow dissatisfied with the internment of only Hispanic children. And he needs to keep feeding the beast. His base wants to target millions of us, and they're some of the most heavily armed Americans. I wouldn't be surprised at Trump's next wave of internment to include Jews and those of Middle Eastern ancestry on the pretext that he wants "to protect us" from his vicious supporters.
Oh, and this is not some hysterical rant from a teenager or twenty-something. I practiced law for nearly 40 years. I'm in my mid-60s and am so thankful that our family has citizenship in another country. We only hope we'll be able to leave before Trump seals the borders.
15
Surely Trump is divisive and not within the inclusive American tradition. Unfortunately the writer is more comfortable with left wing antisemitism than with the variety on the right. I say at the moment Omar has more political support and name recognition than any right wing Representative. She is the greater risk.
Trump's Jewish supporters are assuming the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
8
Ironically, Trump more than likely is not the first Trump family member who has shouted out "America First!" Between 1933 and 1941, there were antisemitic isolationist bigots who held rallies and screamed the same thing. They wanted our country to reject refugees from Europe seeking asylum, and they didn't want us to "interfere" with what was going on in Europe during that time, either.
The chant at Trump's rallies has the same racist overtones as the chant his father used when he rallied against immigrants during an era where such a rallying cry was unconscionable.
Nevertheless that IS what was shouted back then.
Trump is his father's son.
4
An excellent and thoughtful piece. As a Jew, I have worried since he took office that Trump would divide, and thus weaken considerably, the American Jewish community. His support for, at best, ill-advised and, at worse, reckless policies was one thing. This latest use of "anti-Semitism" as license to harangue Omar and the Squad is vile and dangerous because it creates a toxic atmosphere in which justifiably-angry, desperate citizens may feel warranted in their support for words and deeds that are truly, unlike Omar's, anti-Semitic.
8
I don't have a problem with criticisms of Israel's policy. I do have a problem with Evangelical Christians using the existence of Israel as a means to their own apocalyptic end.
10
Thanks for the information about Warren. That crosses her off.
As for Omar, I hope you don't expect me to carry water for her, especially not after that phony-baloney apology.
9
Michelle Goldberg:
Thanks for this concise and spot-on article!!!
8
When anti-choice activists try to shut down women's health care centers and abortion clinics by imposing restrictions (like mandating doctors gain admitting privileges), they're doing it "for the benefit of" women.
When the trump administration tried to have the citizenship question added to the census, they were doing it to "help enforce" the Voting Rights act.
And when trump attacks four women of color, he, and his party are only "coming to the defense" of Jews.
This list could go on. There are many examples of republican led efforts to kill something by purporting to help that same thing. It's what criminals do.
11
Thank you for this piece, Ms. Goldberg. It's about time that someone fleshed out this bizarre turn of events: Republicans and conservatives - a bloc which has always in my lifetime contained a minority of the Jewish-American voting population, for good reason - presenting themselves as the guardians against anti-Semitism.
Just yesterday I was discussing with a fellow Jew how ludicrous it was to hear Lindsay Graham on TV lecturing me, granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, about anti-Semitism! "Jew-splaining" from Southern Christians is something that I never thought I would experience.
But this has been going on for a while, starting before the 2016 election. I recall noticing it around the time of Jeremy Corbyn's rise in the Labour Party when crtitcism of Israel and Netanyahu really began to heat up both in the UK and here and charges about "anti-Semitism on the left" spread across the pond from the UK to the US. Republican operatives pounced on that and at the time I felt that they were just looking for an opportunity to divide the Jewish (predominantly Democratic) voting bloc, to peel off voters (and donors) if they could and just to cause division for division's sake as a means of weakening an important source of Democratic power. I still feel that holds true.
This is just another exploitative tactic by the American right wing who are playing footsie with fascism indeed, just trying to reshape its parameters a bit to better exploit and cause chaos and division.
7
I do not wish to alienate members of “the tribe” or my fellow Americans of any faith.So without detailing my reasons, I will state my conclusion that the current professed adulation of Israel and it’s “people” by politicians and clergy of other faiths is grounded in cynicism and politics.
But I do want to reject the phrase used so often that it is presumed true, just as the Declaration of Independence declared all men created equal. No, America was not founded on Judeo-Christian principles. If that phrase were meant to establish that our Constitution was founded on the ethics of the descendants of Abraham, then Islam is wrongfully omitted from the deceptive phrase. The extent that our system of government incorporates Christian beliefs is another debate; but the Founding fathers were not Talmudic scholars, and did not consult the scroll. At most they extended to Jews and others the protection of our laws.
The current use of the phrase is not intended to reflect the inclusive nature of our political experiment; rather it is an extension of another American tradition: exclusion of the other, the foreigner; the Chinese, Irish, Italians or Germans seeking to work their way to a better life; the Jews whose very lives were at stake. Judeo-Christian today is a dividing line, and Islam among other beliefs is on the “other side.”
I resent the inclusion of “Judeo” in that false slogan which has been used to prove America is the opposite of the ideals we should aspire to achieve.
4
Just look at the likes of Sebastian Gorka, and how he carries himself. Trump's body guards aren't body guards.
They're bouncers.
6
A brilliant commentary and opinion. Thank you Michelle for this profound analysis on the warped and convoluted world of Trump's racism and his defenders and supporters.
5
Yes, the breathtaking hypocrisy of Trump's supporters is highlighted by the sudden concern of elected representatives from the mountain west and southwest. Anti-Semitism being such a big issue here.
Show them a map of the world and they couldn't pick out Israel on a bet.
5
I'm an American Jew. Both of my parents served our country in WWII. My father was a photographer in the Army, stationed on Okinawa. My mother enlisted as a WAVE in the Navy. I couldn't be prouder of both of them.
My brother has been doing our genealogy for the last 7 years. He's discovered that our one extended family line lost over 20,000 family members to the Holocaust.
That one fact ensures I will not be cowed by ignorant people who want to misrepresent Jews and their continual, age-old struggle for acceptance and dignity.
Anti-Semitism is cowardice in the face of ignorance, deceit and unbridled, pathological lying. We will not allow our religion or our people to be used as puppets or scapegoats for demagoguery.
10
Netanyahu and his right wing zealots have made a compact with American Christian evangelicals to shield any criticism of Israeli policies, even if they do not conform to American values of justice and fairness to be branded as antisemitic. The GOP for all practical purposes considers any criticism of Israeli policies as antisemitic as well even though they don't serve American interests. It is time to vigorously oppose and call out such unpatriotic nonsense.
8
Trying to rationally argue the hypocrisy of hyper-partisans is a waste of energy.
1
Talk about providing cover for anti-Semites!
The day after Ilhan Omar introduces a bill which is nothing more than thinly veiled anti-Semitism (consider the bill's context and objectives, not just the words), Michelle Goldberg goes on the attack against people accusing Omar of anti-Semitism.
Goldberg says that Christians who fight anti-Semitism have "appropriated" the issue, implying that anti-Semitism can somehow be appropriated and that Christians cannot be against certain types of bigotry.
Then Goldberg incorrectly states that Rep. Omar has expressed regret for making anti-Semitic statements when, in fact, Omar has clarified that her regret was only about how her statements made some people feel and has stated that she does not regret her past comments.
Goldberg also dismisses any concern about Max Berger making statements about being friends with genocidal terrorists because she says they were a joke. Really? Is that what "Social Justice Activists" make jokes about? What other genocidal terrorist groups has Max Berger joked about being friends with?
This is not meant to defend Trump's statements about "sending her back to where she came from". Those statements were wrong and indefensible. However, so is pretending that Ilhan Omar is not anti-Semitic.
11
@Bill Rep. Omar is defending our First Amendment rights to join boycotts and express unpopular views. How is that anti-Semitic? I am more concerned with legislators who want to make swearing fealty to the controversial regime of a foreign country a condition for receiving disaster aid and other benefits from their own state and federal governments. I find THAT un-American.
4
@sharpshin
Your First Amendment rights to boycott and express unpopular views are not at risk and do not need defending. Any individual is entitled to boycott anyone they want, including Israel, and say whatever they want, without worrying about breaking the law.
And nobody is asked to swear fealty to Israel to get state or federal aid.
While her bill does not mention BDS, does any reasonable person really think it is not specifically about BDS?
Her bill does specifically mention boycotts against Nazis and, since making comparisons between present day Israel and Nazi Germany is anti-Semitic (see IHRA definition of anti-Semitism), her bill is thinly veiled anti-Semitism.
1
Have you ever considered the possibility that Trump is disingenuous and at the same time the squad (I almost said "Gang of Four") is in some ways the embodiment of the New Antisemitism? To me, it is a no brainer.
6
Immature idealistic freshmen like the Squad think Israel and Zionism are racist concepts and want them destroyed. It seems to me as if they are trying to take the national stage in order to slowly change American opinion against Israel.
The realistic Donald Trump on the other hand has made it clear that America stands by Israel 100% by taking the Embassy to Jerusalem. Trump is telling the world that Israel is here to stay and there is no negotiation on that point.
I can understand the Squad's disagreements with Israel but ask them to grow up. America is not going to abandon Israel for historical, humanitarian and geopolitical national interests. But if the rest of the world, including Iran, accepts Israel's existence then maybe things will start to improve.
The rest of this nonsense about who's the anti-Semite and who isn't is just noise.
5
@rpe123 The American attitude toward Israel IS changing in case you haven't noticed dozens of recent polls.
For the reasons, look to Israel's government and policies, increasingly more extreme, more bellicose and more resistant to the ideals of a just and equal society at peace with its neighbors.
We don't really have "shared values" with a country that rejects absolutely the idea that it is a nation of ALL its citizens. With the "Jewish nation" law and Bibi's demonization of Arabs and migrants, nationalist supremacy has been enshrined in Israel.
1
Ms. Goldberg, thank you for writing this article and pointing how phony Trump is when he accuses those who disagree with him as being anti-Semites. Sadly your cogent reply will not stop those who benefit from Trump‘s perverse mentality; they would still use every accusation, howsoever false, because it will help Trump win. Another Trump’s trick is to accuse those who disagree with Trump or dislike him as “they hate America”. Through his talks and deeds, Trump has shown time and again that he hates American constitution, loves dictators, thinks American war heroes are losers, does not like free press , hates legal immigrants unless from Norway, and does not believe in the rule of law. Basically Trump hates quintessential American values that make America what it is. Trump hates what American stands for, and yet he has the gall to accuse others of hating America. Mr. Bone Spur had a chance to show how much he loves America but he did not go to Vietnam. Instead of grabbing guns he grabbed girls (echoes of Epstein?) That says it all. The sad thing is Republicans are supporting his rhetoric because they put their self-interest and their party above America. Republican party leaders should stop wearing American flags on their coat lapels.
2
I think this covers it all.
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me.
Martin Niemoller 1946
8
For an alleged racist Trump sure does some funny things like creating low unemployment for minorities, trying to keep illegals from stealing low wage American jobs and pursuing criminal justice reform. And it's not Trump or the Republicans who are seeking to silence speech, overturn the Electoral College or pack the Supreme Court. Just pointing out some inconvenient facts.
3
@Chris
Trump did not create any jobs. The market does that.
Undocumented immigrants are not "stealing American jobs." You can't claim that and at the same time laud Trump for low unemployment.
The Electoral College denies the American public the right to one-person, one-vote.
And the Republicans have already packed the Supreme Court.
4
To say illegal immigrants do not steal jobs is to be oblivious to the housing and landscaping industries as well as the commercial cleaning workers.
Unfortunately Jewish leaders in Congress and their associates equate criticism of Israel’s policies and behaviors and/or support of Palestinians with anti-semitism. And stating the obvious fact that there is a powerful pro-Israel lobby in the US, just as there are many other powerful lobbies, is considered outrageously anti-Semitic, even compared to Neonazi marches.
2
@Larry Figdill: There is a tremendous difference between:
1) invoking anti-Semitic stereotypes (dual allegiance, financial greed) when speaking of American Jews and Israel; and
2) vigorously criticizing the policies and practices of the Israeli government.
The latter is fair game and an open subject for political debate. The former is classic anti-Semitism.
Anyone who is confused on these points needs to research the manifestation of anti-Semitism throughout history.
3
The chant at Trump rallies of "America First!" was also chanted between 1933 - 1941 at rallies his father attended. Back then it was shouted by isolationist bigots who not only did not want us to "interfere" with what was going on in Europe. They also were claiming that people emigrating from Europe to this country were not true Americans, they were an infestation, they were filthy, they were strange, and they did not want them to come here.
The immigration process at that time was being formulated to address the aspect of seeking asylum. The people who shouted "America First!" at their rallies wanted to ensure that the immigration process be as arduous and restrictive as possible.
And so although some people made it in, thousands were also rejected.
Trump was, is, and will be his father's son.
That's why the KKK's official newspaper endorsed Trump for president in 2016, and that's why they still do endorse him.
2
I’m a Jew and don’t feel any threat or slight from Omar. I disagree with Israel’s policies too. I am not anti-Semitic. I am much more concerned about the rise of Nazis and white supremacists in this country and our President’s support of them.
10
A truly excellent column. Particularly well-written and well-reasoned.
2
I seem to remember a story of an American being detained in Israel 10 or so years ago and complaining that he or she shouldn't have been detained because he or she was an American, an ally, the answer by the Israeli was that they "had the Americans in their pocket." They could do whatever they want. Of course the Saudi's have said the same thing. So many Americans, so many pockets to fill, and it seems they are all in the ME and it seems so many Americans waiting to fill them.
Thank you, this is a very timely column and much appreciated!
Just for the record, one of the lies that Trump told his rally in Greenville was that Omar was guilty of "vicious anti-Semitic screeds." When you say in your column that Omar has said things that are"freighted with anti-Semitism," I think it is important to be clear about what it was she actually, how typical these words are for her, etc. (I know you've handled this thoughtfully in other columns). There is a natural tendency to skip over the details by using a quick label, but in this case it will take no time to harden into a perceived fact that people like Trump can leverage.
2
Omar has never said "things that were freighted with anti-Semitism." She has spoken out about AIPAC, of course, and its influence on US politics. It is those who equate AIPAC with Jewishness (and criticism of AIPAC with anti-Semitism) have a lot of explaining to do.
For the record, AIPAC's politics align most closely these days not with Jewish American, but with evangelicals...
Can we please give this canard a rest now?
6
@Gideon Brenner: You are incorrect.
The widely criticized remarks of Ilhan Omar invoked classic anti-Semitic stereotypes:
1)Financial greed (“It’s all about the Benjamins, baby.”)
2)The myth that Jews cannot be good citizens because they will put their religion/Israel ahead of the nation in which they live. (Ilhan Omar’s reference to American Jews and Israel’s supporters having greater allegiance to Israel than to the U.S.)
Like Representative Omar, I am critical of the Netanyahu government and am happy to debate Israeli policy on Palestine. But that doesn’t give Representative Omar or anyone else the right to stoop to anti-Semitic slurs.
2
Hits the nail on the head. The hypocrisy that defines Trump and the GOP has been laid bare for all to see, even though most of us have recognized it for the last 50+ years. There is no walking this back. We must never forget, not in November 2020, or for many years and elections after.
31
God help us when the nativists and the Confederates join forces. And one of our major political parties defects to them. Let us say with teddy Roosevelt: we stand at armageddon and we battle for the Lord!
238
@Rhporter
They have joined forces..
40
@Rhporter
God out of it would be better.
21
How can an illegal (under international law) half century occupation of an entire people, numbering in the millions and costing us ten of billions, be maintained and continued without the defense of anti-semitism thrown at critics?
6
I am a Jew and I am as disgusted by Ilhan’s anti-Semitic comments as I am by Trump’s xenophobic tweets. There is no difference between anti-Semitism on the right and the left: both are despicable and dangerous. You spit in my face with the old anti-Semitic canard of “double loyalty” and
Benjamins” and then you expect me to come to your defense? Forget about it. As long as the Democrats don’t repudiate the anti-Semitism of the Squad, they won’t get my donations or my support. Let the fate of Corbyn’s Labour in the UK be a cautionary tale: anti-Semitism does not pay politically or morally.
204
I totally agree. I shared a piece here which amplified the reasons why I agree with you post regarding the danger of Omar.
37
@Mor You seem to forget, the House, led by Democrats, passed a censure motion against Omar for her statements, calling them out as anti-Semitic. Omar publicly apologized. Leading Democrats publicly denounced her statements explicitly for their anti-Semitism. There has been no such level of reprimand or denunciation by Republicans for Trump's racist and anti-Semitic comments.
261
@Mor, at this point in the US, there is a difference. Right-wing anti-semitism is violent and lethal. Left-wing anti-semitism has more of a lawfare than warfare flavor.
39
The GOP knows they are toxic to any and all minority groups and their base is finite. They are chasing probably the only white cohort they think in their mind they add to the ranks at all from.
4
The Trump camp's pretense of taking a stand against anti-Semitism when attacking the four Democratic representatives is a taunt, plain and simple. Everybody knows it's phony. That's why they love doing it.
They're saying, "We can slap you with both sides of our hands. We can mock the standards of decency and justice that are your very lifelines before destroying them altogether -- and there's nothing you can do about it."
There is something, though. And all Americans who are not lost souls must come together and do it.
7
You can make every legitimate point there is to make. But in reality, you are feeding the monster which elected him in the first place. Boycott Individual-1 and his base. Their minds are closed. If we Democrats will spend all of our time and energy registering Democratic voters especially in swing states there will be a new occupant in the White House in January 2021. Cease and desist, please.
6
I agree, except that I don't find anything Ilhan Omar said to be anti-Semitic. What she said about AIPAC and money and US government support for the right-wing policies of the current Israeli government is true.
29
What has happened to US politics... they are crawling out of the woodwork!
If Evangelicals have the audacity to accuse Jewish social justice organization, then it is high time, every organization for social justice and anti-defamation, calls on these so-called Christian organizations anti-Jesus!
They have (at this point in time, including the 40-42% populace supporting Trump), gone against all his teachings (kindness, humility, love, forgiveness, honesty, standing up in face of evil, sanctuary) in their ugly, hateful rhetoric.
4
I no longer listen when people ascribe personal motives behind the statements of others. It is all speculation. Calling people racists, bigots and anti-semites, based on personal interpretations of people's statements, is a.waste of time. It isn't news and anyone can do it. There is no way to prove or disprove this type of stuff. People should ignore it all.
2
@willt26 It has nothing to do with motives. You can look at the statements on their surface. Some statements are racist. Some are anti-semitic. It has nothing to do with "proof."
@willt26
I know racism and bigotry and anti-semitism when I see them and will continue to denounce those who are party to them.
2
Thank you Michelle. I've been asking around among my friends and it seems few people are aware of the real reasons christianist and evangelicals "support" Israel.
1
Gorka is a guy in search of a Country. His folks fled Hungary and became British citizens in the 1960's. The current Hungarian government has an arrest warrant out for him on firearms charges. Not sure why he is here and based upon his history, there is no reason in the world why he had a security clearance and worked in the White House. Intolerance is in his blood and he has clearly demonstrated it. His usage of Antisemitism is laughable at best, frightening at worst, as his history is utterly checkered with Antisemitism. Frankly, if someone should be shown the door, it's Gorka.
8
Thank you Michelle. Everything you said is spot on. Also, it struck me immediately when he used the word "antisemitism" DT was/is stoking conflict within the Jewish community. Of course it has always been there. But to what end do these republicans fan its flame?
5
I rarely get viscerally effected by columns in the NY Times but this one caused stomach churning. It was clear that Trump and many of his minions were racists and anti-Semitic, but to turn this around is as upsetting as anything this man and his supporters have done in the last several years. Looking into a mirror they should see themselves as racist, misogynistic, anti-Semitic, and perhaps worst of all truly Un-American in their behavior and actions.
11
They turned it around with help from the squad, unfortunately. Democrats shooting themselves.
The "speech" by Don in Greensboro, NC in front of what can easily be described as a rabid crowd made me once again realize, much clearer than previous times, how similar Don's presentation style is approaching that of Hitler. Some may consider my statement hyperbole but that "speech" and the crowd's reaction sent a shiver up my spine.
12
@OK Sun Storms: The big question going forward will be, Is this the new, repetitive 'Lock Her Up' trope? Build the wall lock her up, send her back? Maybe the fourth will be 'Kill them all'.
This man is inciting violence. The most powerful man in the world is inciting violence.
He does not deserve to be president. He deserves to go to prison for all his many crimes against America.
3
My ancestors made a concious decision to emigrate to America, not Palestine, in 1905. They made a concious decision to stay in America after the founding of Israel in 1948. They taught us that first and foremost we are Americans and should be grateful for the gifts bestowed by this nation. As a Jew and an American, I swear no allegiance to the government of Israel. I stand in opposition to the policies of Bibi Netanyahu. I support the rights of all Americans including Representative Omar to voice their opinions and criticize both the American and Israeli governments. And I am not an anti-semite!
23
That’s a reasonable stance, but Representative Omar invoked anti-Semitic steoreotypes (control of wealth; dual allegiance of Jews to Israel) in her statements.
Policy criticisms of the Israeli government are fair game. The use of harmful and hurtful stereotypes are not.
Would the Times’ readers accept slurs against racial minorities or those identifying as LGBTQ? If not, why is it acceptable to invoke stereotypes with respect to Jewish Americans?
2
I wonder what our western world would look like if we all were forced to go back to where we came from. I heard it as a post war immigrant kid from Germany. Then as we settled I heard it from 'our kind' with regard to the differently colored who came later.
Who actually belongs anywhere if that is how we measure belonging? Did the Chinese, the Japanese, the African Americans, and all people of differing color really belong in Canada. No, according to how they were treated. Even the people who were here before us didn't belong after we conquered them.
"Go back to where you came from", and "Send them home", are the oldest tropes in human history. The other is not us and we are better than them. That Trump is finding such traction with this incendiary speech is chilling.
As a person one generation away from the rabid fury of Hitler's Germany, I have met and listened to those who were there and those who took up that evil mantle afterwards. I can't believe I am hearing those things again. We are selling our souls for dime.
After all this time on earth, we're still back where we came from. Unbelievable!
7
The incredible nuance and accuracy of Ms. Goldberg's piece will likely go over most American's heads, and in particular supporters of tRump. As a non practicing Jew and life long Dem, I am sickened by Jews who support tRump because they think he is a great friend to Israel. As if making this deal with that devil is worth the daily assault of his lying, racism, undermining of the rule of law and his support of white supremacists. And then we have the squad and tRump's reaction to them. I am vehemently opposed to their policies, yet I fully respect their rights as duly elected AMERICAN citizens to speak their mind. When Jews conflate tRump's treatment of them as support for ridding the world of anti semites, they have it so wrong. Who shall save us from this madness?
7
It seems clear to me that if Trump were to turn his ugly brain against Chuck Schumer, distorting the Senator's words to accuse him of dual loyalty or worse, that same crowd would be shouting, "Send him back, send him back."
4
The Vitezi medal Sebastian Gorka wore at the White House symbolized Hungarian resistance to Soviet tyranny. The Hungarian Order of Vitézis was founded in1920 to reward heroic soldiers. It awarded medals and land titles, which were hereditary.
After the the German invaded Hungary, the Nazis took the order, which was disbanded at the end of WWII. The order was later resurrected by Hungarian exiles who fled the Soviet dictatorship. Sebastian Gorka’s father Paul Gorka, was never a member of the original order, but in 1979 the Hungarian patriots awarded him a "Vitéz" medal "for his resistance to dictatorship" in 1979.
5
@William Case
Sebastian Gorka is the vile, lurching embodiment of anti-Semitism, no matter how much Trump supporters try to disgracefully whitewash that.
2
Your obtuseness never ceases to amaze me, particularly a refusal to see Anti-Zionism as Anti-Semitism. Criticism of Israel in the context of anti-Zionism is an outright denial of the right of Jews to have their own homeland. And when criticism or blame is set solely on the shoulders of Netanyahu, rather than 70 years of Palestinians saying no to Israel and no to its existence, and continues to call for the death of Jews, or to pay people to kill Jews, than there is a conflation of criticism of the Israeli government with anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionism. Further, to summarily dismiss the support of Christian Zionists as having made a pact with the devil is insulting to Christians, Zionists, Israelis and Jews. Citizens concerned about the strength of the US-Israel relationship, Israel's security, continued terrorism by Palestinians, Iranians and their proxies, should not be dismissed as devils. The real devil are those who make pacts with terrorists, nations overtly dedicated to destroying Israel and America and those citizens bent on undermining this nation's support for the only democracy in the Middle East. Its perversion is so deep, it makes Trump look rational.
14
@FredSchmitz
A great many of us Jews disagree with you.
Zionism goes beyond simply advocating a safe place in the world for Jews. It is in essence theocratic, insisting on Jewish rights above all others.
Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud are autocrats in the worst tradition: elected leaders pretending to be democratic, just like Donald Trump.
Isreal is maintaining what is almost an apartheid state against the Palestinians, and has been rightly criticized for it by the international community. It is punishing a whole people for the excesses of Hamas.
4
@Fred Schmitz Her obtuseness?
1
Thanks Michelle. This needed to be said and it needs to be said over and over again.
It also needs to be stated explicitly that by attacking the four congresswomen as “communists”, Lindsey Graham has simply updated the old “Jew-Bolshevik” canard of the 1930s. In his pitiful bid to justify Trump's hate fests, Graham offers a broadly anti-immigrant and "anti-socialist" reworking of the formula to reassure Trump’s enablers and followers that they are not really racists. His motives, however, are the same as the motives of those that preceded him: to vilify "outsiders" and political opponents as "alien" and "illegitimate by nature.”
Kellyanne Conway’s question to a Jewish reporter regarding his “ethnicity” is cut from the same red, white, and black cloth.
11
Good piece.
Now why is it we give Israel $4 billion a year in assistance?
What do we get from that?
5
@TMaertens
The military aid we give to Israel (and to other countries) is provided in the form of credits in an account at the Federal reserve (and not in the form of a check that can be used anywhere). Those funds can only be spent in the US to buy weapons from US manufacturers.
the weapons manufacturers do their very best to sprinkle the manufacturing plants over as many congressional districts as possible. That way, members of congress who vote "no" would be voting to kill jobs in their own district.
The aid is basically a well disguised form of corporate welfare. It is as much intended as a jobs program as help to a foreign country.
The military-industrial complex is just a form of your tax dollars at work, in a relatively antisocial way.
8
The weird thing about this column is it implicitly suggests that American Jews not only can't be racist, but only support Trump because he's good for Israel. Jews, being human, are born just as prone to racism as other people. And, if we take a look at Israel, it would seem many white Jews don't particularly like having to live with black Jews.
You can see this kind of approach in the analysis of Jared Kushner's actions in support of Trump. It is always portrayed as him merely being expedient, against his true beliefs. These columnists never contemplate the apparently unthinkable idea that Mr Kushner may dislike certain minorities just as much as Trump. The line is he can't be a racist because he's Jewish.
Lets be clear -- some Jews support Trump because they, like him, are racist against other minorities, and not simply because it is politically expedient.
6
Aside from the fact that this is scarcely the last word on Mr. Gorka, Goldberg presents zero evidence that Trump is “making citizenship racialized and contingent.” Zero. And instead of worrying about Gorka, she should be more afraid of the normalization of antisemitism among so-called Progressives, especially those demonstrable antisemites Omar and Tlaib.
7
@HMI
If you think their alleged anti-semitism is "demonstrable," please demonstrate it.
I have heard no anti-semitism, only justified criticism of the Israeli government.
2
Trump is the anti Christ, deceiving the Evangelicals and sullying Jesus' Name for future generations.
We can all be grateful that he reveals to us the ugly underside of American culture and the blazing hypocrisy of its churches and other religious institutions (Uncle Ben Carson for example.)
Here's a theme for the Demos:
MAGIC - Make America Generous Inclusive Caring.
4
PS. As a lifelong Christian, I have read the Bible and it’s final chapter Revelations, what amazes me is how the “Christians” who support Trump do not see the similarity between the Revelations description of the anti-Christ and Trump! It’s chilling!
5
Bravo. But tell this to Sheldon Adelson.
5
That's just terrific, Michelle. Turn Omar into a hero and shun her anti-Semitism that is rooted in her Islamic religion. As a Jew whose family - and thousands of others - in Egypt was devastated by Islamic hatred and action, I am deeply offended.
12
My present congressman is Lee Zeldin does not seem to understand the meaning of his silence to the cause of his ancestors.
Because Trump is presently supporting Israel doesn’t mean he will in his next term,or tomorrow.
3
Totally disagree with this article. First of all, I don't beleive our President is a racist any more than is Nancy Pelosie which "the squad" claim her to be. The chant was wrong, and must be corrected. But don't dismiss Ohmar's numerous anti-semite comments, which this writer excuses because she once apologized. If this "squad" represents what many women wanting more representation in Congress brings...were in trouble.
6
Meanwhile, the progressive set's new symbol of tolerance, peace, love and understanding Ihan Omar just introduced a resolution in Congress this week supporting the BDS movement against Israel. Needless to say, Michelle Goldberg and the rest of the woke crowd who are trying so hard to turn this purveyor of antisemitic dog whistles (It's all about the Benjamins; Israel hypnotizes the world) into a champion of tolerance will remain silent -- along with the usual mainstream media enablers -- less risking muddling the grand story line.
12
@JW
Please provide a cite so we can read this proposal instead of your regurgitation of what's being dribbled out of the mouth of Sean Hannity.
1
Michelle Goldberg...always perfectly on target!
4
We are but one brick away from Kristallnacht.
When your worldview is centrally zero sum, you view any gain by another as a loss for yourself. And when income inequality or corporatist forces of globalization do you real harm, you search for someone to blame. A corporation, although stated real by Mitt Romney and declared to have free speech rights under Citizens United by the Supreme Court, remains an intangible thing.
Since you cannot see a corporation as an entity, your search for those responsible for your shrinking power is easily diverted by a racist with a microphone to your neighbor who might wear an hijab or a yarmulke.
A fire is sustained by three things: fuel, oxygen and a source of ignition. Our unsustainable income inequality coupled with global forces taking jobs and hope amidst a rebellious earth is the fuel. Our president brings the oxygen. Social media carries it throughout the country like our bronchial tree inflates the lungs.
Somewhere today there is a disaffected youth or an incel with an arsenal of assault weapons muttering to himself as he loads his magazines.
And, riven by anger stoked by endless political war, we have no fire department when the match is struck.
4
One thing Americans must keep in mind, and I think most do, is the fact that the Jewish people, in the name of their faith, have never launched a full-scale coordinated attack upon the United States of America.
4
This is a superb and pointed piece of writing. All very true. My blood boils when the Trumpites starting spouting about anti-semitism.
6
It was not long ago that fundamentalist Christians were, as a group, known as anti-semitic. But they have since merged with the right-wing political class that conflates the meaning of words as part of a disinformation campaign. The right-wingers are pitting Jews against one another for cynical purposes while their Christian sheep now revere Israel, not because of the Jewish people but because it's the location of the "second coming". There are a few demagogues like Gorka who are making a career out of this while getting lots of attention. These are frightening times in America. What was down is up and what was up is down.
1
Another view into the Republican bizarro world where down is up and night is day.
They say these things with such conviction that you almost think they believe them. Maybe they’re so rabid to dominate the world regardless of cost that they actually end up believing their own nonsense. Is there a vaccine for this sickness?
1
All the same stuff. If you criticize his version of America, you hate America. If you criticize Israeli policies, you hate Israel. These views are about as anti-American and anti-Jewish values as you can get. These are attacks on free speech and willful ignorance of the facts, intended to control people who do not understand either. They are just tricks, dangerous tricks for ulterior motives. It is hard not to think about how we will all feel if we wake up next year to another round of him, Stephen Miller, the lot of them.
4
We went to the Auschwitz exhibit at NY's Museum of Jewish Heritage last weekend. As others have noted, the many historical parallels between our time and the years leading up to Hitler's rise are eerie. The centrality of racism and preoccupation with the Jews in right-wing discourse then and now is striking considering that then in Weimar, as now in the US, Jews were less than 2% of the population. One major difference today, of course, is the existence of a far-right government in a Jewish state --and its cheerleaders here-- helping to drive the antisemitism narrative.
5
Just an excellent and necessary column, Michelle.
3
Obviously, anti-Semitism is abhorrent whether it manifests on the left or right. But as this piece only grudgingly admits, anti-Semitism does persist on the left, in the form of blatantly anti-Semitic statements on the part of Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib--statements that Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats have failed to outright and specifically condemn. Omar and Tlaib openly support the BDS movement against Israel, which Pelosi knows is anti-Semitic and said so in her speech at the AIPAC convention in March. Harsh criticism of Israeli policy towards Palestinians is fine, but when it crosses over into blatant anti-Semitism, as it does when Omar and Tlaib support BDS and traffic in classic anti-Semitic tropes, that's beyond that pale and must be recognized as such. The Democrats have failed to do so.
12
I am the grandson of a former vice president of AIPAC. Ilhan Omar didn't say a single untrue word about AIPAC. She basically just reiterated their stated mission. She also did not say that American jews have a dual loyalty. Her words have been endlessly distorted and she's been smeared as an anti-semite in order to silence legitimate criticism of Israel's human rights record.
6
Well said, Ms. Goldberg.
2
Far be it from me get involved between the President and members of Congress, but let's keep our Jews and their organizations straight.
Max Berger and IfNotNow go far beyond anti-Zionism, or rather to be exact, their idea of "occupation" is 1948:
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/deconstructing-ifnotnow-a-partisan-and-slanderous-organization/
His joining the campaign of Elizabeth Warren does not grant him Jewish activist legitimacy. Rather it taints the campaign of Elizabeth Warren.
"It’s true that Omar has said things that were freighted with anti-Semitism, for which she has expressed regret."
Freighted (what a phrase) with antisemitism. Note Ms. Goldberg, you correctly wrote antisemitism and not anti-Zionism. And she expressed regret only when called on it and until her next "freighted" antisemitic statement, regret and let's do it again.
And then there is her pro BDS legislation with Reps. Rashida Tlaib and John Lewis:
https://www.jpost.com/American-Politics/Ilhan-Omar-introduces-pro-BDS-bill-to-Congress-announces-visit-to-Israel-595991
Of course this is only anti-Zionist and in the name of freedom of speech. And of course BDS targets 1948 Israel, but what is the existence of Israel compared to her view of free speech?
What Mr. Trump is doing or not doing, I leave that to do Ms. Goldberg. But your view of Jewish society and antisemitism, as long as it colored by the likes of IfNotNow represents one small sliver of that society. Do not deign to speak for it.
10
This is a very wise and important column by Michele Goldberg. Those of us who are white Christians and have supported Israel for many years are furious at Donald Trump’s cynical co-opting of a genuine desire of American Jews that Israel survive and prosper.
While American Jews want to see Israel reach its potential, they want their own home – the United States of America – to reach its potential as a beacon of fairness and decency.
Most, if not all, Jewish friends with whom I spend significant time are troubled by Benjamin Netanyahu and his dehumanizing of the Palestinians. They see Netanyahu as very similar to Donald Trump in his selfishness, dishonesty, racism and often-desperate efforts to hold onto political power at any price. The greatest existential threat to Israel today is Benjamin Netanyahu.
On the domestic front in America, the fact that Donald Trump surrounds himself with white supremacists like Sebastian Gorka, who are anti-Semites to the core, is disgusting. When Trump then feigns common cause with America’s Jewish community, it is outrageous.
Trump apparently considers himself immune to a charge of being anti-Semitic, because his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is a Jew. By such simplistic calculation, Donald Trump and his supporters truly “have used Jews as human shields.”
Michelle Goldberg has this awful man in the White House pegged correctly.
5
Michelle Goldberg’s column should speak to all Americans of conscience. One does not have to be Jewish to recognize the truth of her argument. Anti-Semitism is always the opening salvo of the demagogue and our demagogue in chief has shown through his words, not his opportunism with regard to Israel, that he is an anti-Semite despite his daughter and son-in-law.
3
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I've been saying this for years, but don't have the platform of a Times column.
Black is white, down is up in Trump world. Reverse racism is the problem in America. The Earth is not warm enough. Wages are a bit too high.
And people like Trump, who dogwhistle white supremacy and encourage hatred, are now the friend of America's Jews? If Trump continues to have his way, we will go back to the time when Jews are excluded from membership in civic organizations and bullied in neighborhoods and schools.
3
I think much of this is confusing criticism of Israeli politics with anti-semitism. One can criticize the policies of the political entity of Israel and not be anti-semitic.
2
This is Michelle Goldberg's best column yet.
3
I find this entire right wing embrace of Jews and Judaism as uncomfortably weird. As an American secular Jew I have always somewhat minimized any connection to Jewish theology or Israel in my social and commercial affiliations. I never came into contact with gentiles who were enamored with protecting Jewish values, until some Trump supporters I know started sounding like 19th century Zionists. What's up? It's one thing not accepting us, but to love us to death is too strange. Can't we as a nation go back to simple religious intolerance which is easily identifiable?
2
Thank you, Michelle, for helping to stave off 1984.
2
At last, an article that puts these issues in the context to which they belong. Ms. Goldberg might have added that the alliances Netanyahu has made with alt right, anti-Semites in Europe — based on a shared islamophobia — has hastened the use of allegations of anti-Semitism by all sorts of unsavory people.
2
I'm Jewish and I wish, instead of indulging in limitless accusation of others more people were willing to criticize Israel and to self-criticize. There is victimization, but it's not the whole story.
Some Jewish-Americans have been instrumental in creating a climate of fear regarding questioning Israeli policy, stigmatizing anyone who criticizes Israel and incentivising blind assent to every Israeli policy. (Omar is right.)
Many other people are simply silent.
This is all going to change as the right-wing becomes as disillusioned as the left.
.
7
Superb column. Concise, articulate, informed, fearless.
Michelle Goldberg—perhaps the most excellent NYTimes Columnist acquisition of recent years.
You are in the right place, and we are indeed fortunate.
16
I try to sort out my understanding of these issue by adhering to the quote of Mark Twain. "True patriotism, the only rational patriotism, is loyalty to the Nation ALL the time; loyalty to the Government when it deserves it." As a patriotic American, I am consistently loyal to America but I am not loyal to our current government, which I believe has been unfaithful to our fundamental values. As a Jew, I am not "loyal" to the State of israel since it is not my country, yet I am fiercely loyal to the concept of the legitimate existence of the State of Israel since its founding. And I certainly have neither loyalty nor respect for the current government of Israel.
20
@JerryVi:ve been waiting for someone to invoke Twain's principle; more than a century later, it is spot on!
It also raises the question of what anyone means when they call someone "pro-Israel."
2
@JerryV
I would say that the Native American people deserve their own country precisely as much as the Jewish people.
1
@Fran Taylor, Why not? And while we are at it, why is it okay for you to question the idea of a Jewish-majority State, while there are over 50 Muslim-majority States?
5
Concise and illuminating. Thanks for this analysis!
10
I remember, on some TV show at age 15, seeing Stokely Carmichael and an avowed white supremacist agreeing with each other, rather amicably, about creating a black only country fashioned from American land. Can't remember the host or the actual program - a long time ago - but, yes, sometimes those strongly opposed to the other can eerily agree on certain issues.
Anti-Zionism isn't totally anti-Semitism, but close to it. Sadly, at least 3 of the 4 novice women Congressional reps. do not believe Israel has the right to exist. I know you, Michelle, grapple with the conflation of the two, but like most of us, have difficulty teasing out the difference.
As to Trump, it's laughable that he speaks to audiences on anti-Semitism when many of them care less, or harbor some degree of it. His outbursts, for lack of basic speaking skills, are worse than his bite. It's also laughable that "going back" refers to every American, outside of Native Americans, who presumably came from elsewhere, too. Yet, I remember the late Helen Thomas, whom President Obama liked, telling Israeli Jews to "go back" to Poland and Germany.
Did she forget what happened to the Jews of her native Lebanon, and nearby Syria? Crudeness, in her case deliberate meanness, infects lots of people.
17
@Rosalie Lieberman
Please don't start with "the right to exist" trope again.
And absolutely untrue that "at least 3 of the 4 . . . do not believe Israel has the right to exist".
4
I’d like to know how you know that three of the four Congresswomen believe “that Israel has no right to exist.”
What is it...telepathy? Because if it’s not, what exactly is your evidence for such a thing?
EXACTLY, mind you. None of this, “everybody knows,” or they once said, “it’s wrong to shoot Palestinians,” jazz.
What exactly is it?
3
@Rosalie Lieberman
Also, the majority of Israeli Jews are not Ashkenazi Jews. They are Sephardi or Mizrahi (Oriental) Jews, many of whose parents and grandparents were expelled from Arab lands at the founding of the State of Israel.
It's too late to ask Thomas now, since she's dead, but the rabbi who interviewed her should have asked, what about these Jews? Where should they go back to?
1
Thank you Michelle; you eloquently put into words what has disturbed so many of us over the past week. Donald Trump is above all else transactional and without core beliefs or principles. He will support Jews and Israel as long as it benefits him personally or politically. The Jewish community and the state of Israel must recognize that we will be far better with a President whose actions are based on morality and principles rather than personal or political expediency.
23
With Omar, Trump is doing what many families do on a micro level. As "patriarch" he is shaming and scapegoating the members who dare to confront, protest, speak some truth. The family patriarch may spin "unconditional love" or "loyalty to family" anything to take the focus of the glaring dysfunction and keep the others obedient.
Trump and his cronies have found a powerful tool to scapegoat and shame: anti-Semitism coupled with anti-Americanism. Tee up the base rage, keep the dysfunction bubbling, no self-reflection, no evolution, no functional leadership The patriarch must keep the power, and never change or admit fault. If anyone else steps out of line they may feel the the onslaught. So the message: stay quiet, don't judge the boss, keep in line, put on a MAGA hat, cheer, become a GOP troll. Mob mentality. USA! USA! USA! pseudo-patriotism.
The irony, dissent is the most American thing to do: look at our history and WHY we are great.
23
Thank you for this. Having it logically laid out makes me feel like I’m living in a little less of a nightmare now.
9
Great column. Very insightful. Michelle is very sharp on this subject.
9
It is a big mistake to think anyone in the religious right thinks about anyone but themselves as good. They are very exclusionary as to who they include in this category.
19
I'm a luke warm Trump supporter. Everytime he does something like this, I wonder if I can continue to support him. The divisiveness and hatred is so great. I liked his mocking of political correctness but this is ugly. I think the economy is good and I appreciate we aren't in more endless wars.
Then comes the left reaction and the hatred and divisiveness comes back, but now, it's directed at me.
When I read the comments on here, it opens my eyes to how much my fellow Americans despise people like me. How little they think of people like me. How much they want to punish people like me.
There is only one or two D candidates that even remotely seem to want my vote. The rest seem like they want to tap into that hatred of me.
4
I’ve always believed that Trump believers reverse engineer their support. That is they down deep simply agree with his message of white supremacy then say things like the economy is great.
It’s interesting that at the same time they can’t tell you why Trump deserves the credit. Answer: he doesn’t. The upward trajectory is a continuation of Obama’s economy, goosed with a tax cut that increased the deficit and gutting of environmental regs, for which future generations will pay dearly.
13
@Tim I am curious to hear which of Trump's policies have earned your support?
2
Can you please articulate an actual positive vision for America that Donald Trump has promoted? I’m sorry but “American Carnage” doesn’t do it for me. Neither does “Make America Great” because he obviously stole that slogan from Ronald Reagan who was a more convincing actor/liar.
4
Ms. Goldberg, great reporting and analysis!
The underpinning story for all the events you've written about, I think, goes back to ancient times in Greece. This immorality play is the oldest story in the book; people will ally with anyone or anything to get what they want.
It's all about selfishness. History shows that people will do anything to preserve their lives. Torture, maim, kill, sell friends, relatives out, whatever.
And this is Trump's true plank in his platform. Self above all. And himself above that.
14
Omar will 'go back to where she came from' on November 2020, where the voters in her congressional district, will decide where to send her. From my point of view, I hope that is back to Minneapolis, not to DC.
12
Please try and explain why without contradicting Michelle’s superb arguments here.
Extremely important piece written with such clarity and moral authority about the racists and fascists in charge. Ms. Goldberg shows us that the press is, in fact, one of our best hopes for preserving democracy in this country.
13
Bloody well said. The alliance of convenience with the hard core believers in biblical prophecy was seriously unwise and counterproductive.
11
While a appreciate much of this column's message I am baffled as to whether words have any real meaning. What is a Semite? Hebrew and Arabic are both Semetic languages. The definition of a Semite is someone who's mother tounge is a Semetic language. Ms. Omar was born in an Arabic speaking country, presumably speaking Arabic making her by definition an Arab and therefore a semitic person. Yet she is being called anti-Semitic.
I find the designation of many non-Hebrew speaking people of European extraction as Semetic through their Jewish identification a racist notion in that it adopts an identity by an assumed racial inclusion. Is this not a "racist" proposition? Does ignoring Ms. Omar's Semetic heritage to the point of calling her anti-semetic not have a racist nature to it?
I raise this because of the easy assumptions of Semeticness and anti-Semitism along with seeming immunity from being anti-Semetic do to ones assumed Semitic identity seems to me a racist proposition where racism itself is rooted in rather nebulous notions about
the entire proposition of race. When do we end racism by looking beyond the rather shallow distinctions of our muddled concepts of racial identity?
My wife was born a Hebrew speaking Israeli of largely Polish extraction who has the majority of her life been a U.S. citizen and resident with a large family residing in Israel. When I ask her about her racial-ethnicity she shrugs and says these things are all part of her but are not her identity.
5
I am so very very glad for this editorial, and so very very grateful to Michelle Goldberg for writing it. These sentiments very badly needed to be said and I am surprised that no elected official has made this essential point thus far. I've e-mailed my congressman and my two senators to drive home this precise point, and I would urge everyone to do the same. Is there no end of the disgraceful horror of the Trump 'administration' and its loathsome enablers?!
14
WOW. And thank you again Michelle for your insight and ability to put things in perspective.
There is the world as each of us know it.
And then there is Trump. And.His.Minions.
10
Thank you for this! I felt like I was losing my mind this week, reading the sanctimonious statements from Republicans actually using anti-Semitism as a justification for Trump's vile, bigoted attacks on Rep. Omar.
And though I agree with Mr. Ben-Ami about some Jewish leaders aligning themselves with right-wing Christian Zionists, I think there needs to be clarification that this is more a case of religious extremists partnering up with other religious extremists, rather than a condemnation of all American Jewish leaders. Of course it's important to recognize this alliance and how it's shaping current policy, however all of the rabbis I know are out there protesting Trump and fighting for social justice. Which makes sense, since the vast majority of American Jews are liberal and did not vote for Trump.
8
More people in America should read this insightful summary of the dangerous path we now travel. Please share it.
8
The Anti-Defamation League? You mean the Defamation League. They should remove "Anti" from their name. Any lawyers here wanna file a complaint forcing them to remove "Anti" from their name? It's misrepresentation.
2
This is Orwellian language at work, say the contrary of what you mean with a smear to undermine it. Trump allows the chant of his premise "Send her back" and then says he interrupted it (spoiler: he didn't), in this way the silent republican majority is appeased and the right-wing fanatics got the message that they can shout it.
11
Michelle Goldberg is an incredible, brilliant writer. She just explained this which has been baffling me all week. It seems complicated until someone can write with such clarity. Thank you. I can now explain to others who have also been wondering what is going on. And oh, my, how disgusting and scary. As she says, it is an "almost incalculable insult." And actually I think of Trump as an incalculable insult to humanity. We were fooling ourselves to think "America is better than this." We are not.
6
While this article attempts to articulate certain aspects of contemporary Jewish life, it is unarguably far more complicated, and reductive perspectives can be misleading. Liberal Jews in the US have for generations told themselves that it was due to their history as a persecuted minority and their ability to prosper in America that it was their responsibility to help other minority groups prosper. But this image is false, and there is a long and contentious history between Jews and POC that has never been addressed and has been allowed to fester for decades; Rep. Omar should be a red flag to liberal Jews everywhere, because she is far from alone in her opinions, including a very real and prevalent commitment to groups like the NOI in POC communities. A kind of flipside to this but deeply related to it is the American Jewish community's perception of itself as white, which has everything to do with both a Christian state (which the US is) and a history of Jewish immigration and assimilation. From certain Jews aligning themselves with white America in order to obtain their prosperity to a very real perception of members of the Jewish community exploiting POC communities, liberal Jews in America have idealized their place and their relationships to minority communities who feel very differently. It is time for us Jews to start worrying about our own community, which will hopefully be a prompt for us to begin dealing with the myriad complex problems our diaspora currently face.
2
I couldn't bring myself to read this opinion piece--sorry, Michele--because I so despise Gorka and people like him that just reading his name ruins my day. An excellent article, though, I am sure.
4
Just skip to the next paragraph. It’s well worth the read.
1
well said and purely truth to power.
2
Thank you for Michelle Goldberg's insightful and important distinctions between anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism and opposition to the current right-wing Netanyahu regime. Evangelical Christianism's appropriation of anti-Semitic tropes serve their apocalyptic, dispensational ideology. We need to pay more attention to the outsized role that right-wing, nationalist evangelicals play in dividing our politics and nation.
6
Montana is a beautiful state but that beauty cannot hide the stain that is Senator Steve Daines.
7
Trump attacked these representatives not because of color or racism. He attacked them because of their high profile, lack of experience, their immigrant status and that they are female. This is his disturbing method of degrading the opposition. My own wife, with two advanced degrees, a professional license(attorney) is dismissive of females in politics.
3
Ivanka and Jared are Jewish.
Trump developed a grudging respect for the Jewish millionaires and billionaires whose political power in the real estate, media and entertainment businesses he contended with over the years in New York.
He also admires the ability of accountants and lawyers who wear yarmulkes to count money and paint the best possible face on things.
His support for Israel is altogether a product of his cynical view that this gains him the respect and support of Jews and Christian Fundamentalists.
But for these facts, his blatant anti-Semitism would be very much more apparent than it already is.
10
@A. Stanton - Jared’s is Jewish for sure. But he sold his souls a long time ago, together with his father. Don’t conflate Jared with a minority of Jewish people, let alone all Jewish people.
Like Jared, I’m Jewish. Like Jared, I married someone who was not Jewish and converted to the Jewish faith.
What’s different between me and Jared is that I would never, ever, have married my wife if her father was a racist anti-Semitic who gets along with other openly racist, anti-Semitic, white supremacist, and the list goes on and on. I know my wife is not her father. She has a mind of her own. However, I wouldn’t want any association by choice with these people. Jared was corrupted much before he married Ivanka.
2
I'm Jewish. What Trump said was racist, and what Omar said was anti-Semitic. A few Republicans condemned the president, and a few Democrats condemned Omar.
Both parties are despicable, but if you conclude that all Trump supporters are racist, you must also concede that all Omar supporters are anti-Semitic.
The only real difference here is that the media is having a fit over Trump's comments, while Omar's slurs were largely ignored and quickly forgotten.
13
This one woman, one of over two hundred representatives , is driving the right wing crazy. Of all the problems we have why spend time on this? Its because they can't govern well, no health plan, increased debt, no infrastructure, increased education costs, drug prices increasing, further division of our citizens, no appreciable change in loss of jobs, High unemployment in our rural areas, no change in income inequality etc.
Yet our president and the repubs spend hours and days attacking a small , tiny woman who they have made into an icon of evil. Its part of their reality show but its not reality.
9
Of course Donald Trump and his cohort in the White House are raging bigots. We've had ample proof of that for literally years.
However, Democrats are neither going to retake the White House nor save America merely by pointing out that Donald Trump is winning the race to the bottom. They need to offer a clear alternative to the tribalism, us vs them, and illiberal tendencies that are increasingly dominating politics. The Democrats need to offer a true contrast to the Republicans not just different face and flavor of the same divisive and dangerous rhetoric.
Ilhan Omar's anti-semitic comments and downplaying of the 9/11 attacks as "somebody did something" don't excuse Trump's ugly nativist "send her back" comments. But the flip side of that coin is also true. Trump's attacks on Omar do NOT excuse her ugly behavior and language either. The Democrats are right to excoriate Trump but they need to be equally quick to disavow Omar's words and actions.
5
Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu are doing variants of the same thing, essentially claiming that support for them is support for the country, and opposition to them his hatred of the country. Because in Mr. Netanyahu's case the country is Israel, he and his allies of convenience such as Donald Trump then cynically can call their political opponents anti-Semites. But it's worth remembering that both Trump and Netanyahu are allies of convenience with a real anti-Semite: Victor Orban of Hungary. The actions of both Trump and Netanyahu in who they support and who they condemn show that what they care about is convenience for themselves, and not any matter of principle. It's necessary to keep repeating the truth, based on well-documented evidence, because people like Trump and Netanyahu certainly will keep repeating any lies that suit them.
6
Wow! Thank you so much Ms. Goldberg. This essay is packed with a punch that that truth can wield. The conflation point alone is one that should continue to be broadcast as a hideous, lying manipulation. The art of the con is this kind of manipulation that shouldn't be surprising, as it comes from the poster boy of con men. I'm so glad that Ms. Goldberg has reported here that there are groups of people who are fighting this horror. Just hoping for it to go away reminds me of the people who thought that the German government would protect them against the Nazis, only eventually to find out it didn't.
4
As a Jew, I can feel the temperature rising. My family and friends say I'm overreacting, being alarmist...but they're alarmed, too.
This is how it has always started. Just because we're not on the front lines of being the quintessential "other" being told to "go back where we came from", we most certainly are in the rear guard at the very least. They will eventually get to us if this madness is left unchecked. Don't think it can heppen here? See the German population in the 1930s. The prepared and the smart escaped before it was too late. Now the only question is: what will constitute "too late" this time? When do we go?
549
@TFD Part of what makes the situation so alarming is that it's coming from the far right and from the far left, which often disguises—and thereby normalizes—its bigotry with the language of social justice and anti-racism.
17
@TFD Well put! I believe that once one group is run into hiding they will find another group until eventually they end up at everyone's door. Fear, hate and racism is a beast that takes on a life of its own.
45
@TFD I agree. I think we're at about 1936. Many around me also think I am overreacting, but I am a student of Jewish history. Warren is a huge disappointment with her recent embrace of the anti-Israel caucus.
27
Ivanka and Jared are Jewish.
Trump developed a grudging respect for the Jewish millionaires and billionaires whose political power in the real estate, media and entertainment businesses he contended with over the years in New York.
He also admires the ability of accountants and lawyers who wear yarmulkes to count money and paint the best possible face on things.
His support for Israel is altogether a product of his cynical view that this gains him the respect and support of Jews and Christian Fundamentalists.
But for these facts, his anti-Semitism would be very much more apparent than it already is.
2
The problem is that never before has anyone in Congress openly spoken in praise for the doctrines of Osama Bin Laden and AL Queda ,directly from the terrorists texts ,while standing next to Chuck shumer and speaker Pelosi .In addition to not have any Democrat censure the speech of racial hatred and demonstrated direct rejection for the United States of America in general. The intent of the other "squad members " is clear ,their vision is not of assimilation of America nor Obamas transformation but a destruction by force of laws and anti constitutional ploys to complete open borders and world government.
4
Nobody praised Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda in Congress. Nobody. Not even Rep. Omar. She is anti-Semitic, but don’t forget why she’s here. Her country was destroyed by Al Shabab, a spin-off of Al Qaeda. Why on Earth would Rep. Omar praise the terrorists that destroyed her country, her life and her family?
1
@BWCA 9/11 ,never forget.
1
In England Jeremy Corbyn has been labelled and anti-Semite because he objects to Israel's treatment of the Palestinians this has caused Labor to loose much support. This same game is being played here, any one who disapproves of the action of the present Israeli government gets this label and thus concern for Palestine makes one an anti-Semite. This is not true but is being used as a ruse. The difficulty is how to protect against this labeling.
4
Corbyn has manifested his stark and undisguised Anti-Semitism in far more specific and disgusting ways than simply criticizing in a principled manner the current Israeli Government’s treatment of the subset of peace-loving Palestinians.
2
Trump does appeal to many sentiments expressed here.
When it comes to Omar, she is not that easy to defend regarding Jews and Israel.
She associates Jews with money, an old canard. It's all about the Benjamins, is her view. She later said she was misunderstood.
What is there to misunderstand?
Then she again voiced anti-Semitic statements.
I have no use for someone who uses her background, skin color, and Islamic faith to get a pass.
Her latest action is to present a bill to allow Israel to be boycotted.
It will fail as will she.
So Trump is not always wrong.
10
The party of Unite the Right uses Israel to its advantage in political battle. It blows my mind every time.
3
"It’s true that Omar has said things that were freighted with anti-Semitism, for which she has expressed regret."
Did she apologize? Or expressing regret for being quoted makes her less of an anti-Semite?
8
She apologized. The links are abundant in the comments.
She apologized. Trump has not apologized nor has any Republican, even though their rhetoric directly inspired the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre.
When the Republicans stop soliciting and accepting the support of neo-Nazis and the alt-right, let us know.
2
The sham "alliance" makes sense though: who better to blame when this all blows up than the people who have been blamed for political and economic turmoil since before Medieval times? Devious. Not clever, just devious.
2
Actually Gail, it is not that difficult to understand.
The GOP has always been the poster child for intolerance, cast as epitomizing anti-pluralism and immigration. So they have appropriated a strategy typically associated with the Left to attack the Left--to accuse it of antisemitism. They are not necessarily unpersuasive, even if their objectives are suspect.
The Christian evangelical and Orthodox Jewish alliance is about Biblical prophecy and eschatology. "Revelations" suggests that when human history ends, twelve thousand select members from twelve tribes of Israel will ascend to heaven.
I am no Biblical scholar so I have no idea who actually gets into heaven. But 144,000 out of eight billion--what was that proverb about the camel and needle?
I will leave it to the rabbis and evangelicals to work out.
3
Omar never said anything anti-semitic. Saying AIPAC, a lobbying group, buys politicians (aka "It's all about the Benjamins") to get them to support the right-wing Israeli policies is not controversial. It's actually a rather unsurprising yet true statement of how such groups control government policy with money. Same is true for the NRA, Wall Street, Military-industrial complex, Big Pharma, etc. Not an anti-semitic statement, and frankly, such accusations are being used as a shield to thwart any criticism of Israel. Her BDS support bill, which is also branded as "anti-semitic" by right-wingers (even though it simply states that *all* forms of Boycott, *for any cause*--not just on Palestinian subjugation--are protected under free speech), was co-sponsored by Congressman John Lewis, the renowned Civil Rights leader. Is he an anti-semite?
6
AIPAC has never made political contributions or political endorsements. Individual members have done so just as individual members of J Street have done so
1
I laughed when watching Trump's performance this week in North Carolina -- his audience loudly chanting "send her back" as Trump continued his speech with the complaint that "anti-semitic screeds" were coming from these women representatives. It must have been very confusing for his audience, that they were somehow to equate anti-semitism with anti-Americanism. That being said, the far left progressive movement IS anti-semitic. In fact, Jews are very much caught in the middle of two very hostile political forces.
2
this is a good piece and I generally agree with it. What Goldberg misses is that the BDS movement is anti semitic. How else do you explain, for example, not letting Jewish academics from Israel speak at European universities?
While it is proper to condemn those on the right who shamelessly exploit anti semitism it is not proper to ignore the anti semitism of the extreme left.
7
Fantastic article. Spot on.
Just a quick refresher, though:
Newsflash to all Jews: Do not not support a leader simply because that leader claims their support for Israel or the Jews. Why? Because Evangelicals believe that for the 2nd coming of Christ to happen there must be a state of Israel. Not often mentioned is the fact that they also believe that after a huge battle with the state of Israel, all Jews will perish the earth if they do not convert to Christianity. And of course, that's the end goal- no more Jews. Not surprisingly, Jews do not believe this scenario, so for now some are disingenuously willing to take the support of the Evangelical movement simply for political gain or power.
As my mom used to say, "be careful what you ask for".
6
Trump and his followers and the GOP are racist. We will continue see racist and bigoted statements being made non-stop.
This needs to be reported in the media however we also need on the front page everyday the Democratic 2020 Presidential candidate(s).
What their plans are for healthcare, repairing our infrastructure, environment, life sustaining pay for people and families.
Trump knows that a large part of the population falls captive to his smoke and mirrors and his hate. Let's not have the media all about him for the next 1.5 years up until the election.
3
How sad and true this all is. I would like to add that actually evangelicals use Jews as human shields, as you frame it. "I stand with Israel" is an evangelical bumper sticker, not because of any love for Jews but because, according to their reading of the bible, Jews need to be in their home state so that Jesus can come back ("Second Coming of Christ"). This is often referred to as Christian Zionism. So Republicans are actually out to get the evangelical vote. So many of the Republicans are evangelicals themselves (Pence and Pompeo, to name just two of them) and most likely push this narrative from inside the administration and Republican members of Congress. I am horrified at the infusion of religious (evangelical) dogma in our politics and everyday life. Citing criticism of Israel's right-wing political leadership as evidence of anti-Semitism is as ridiculous as calling Jews in opposition to Netanyahu anti-Semites. Along the same lines, Trump sees criticism of himself as anti-American as well.
4
We must also remember Trump’s reaction to the white supremacist march in Charlottesville. He refused to condemn them or their horrible chants while marching with torches. Instead he said there were good people on both sides. Now he’s painting others as anti-Semites. Absurd.
5
Here in Newton, we have a Jewish group suing the school commissioner, and two teachers individually, for what they allege are anti-Semitic curriculum materials. In reality, these are materials portraying the history of Israel from the Palestinian viewpoint, which are political, not religious. They may provide an incomplete picture, but that is what a history course does, provide context. Ironically, one of the teachers and the school commissioner are both Jewish, which plays into what you write about Jews attacking each other. These divisions are being exploited by people who use them to pursue their own agendas.
3
I think Trump's real point was for people to hear "anti-Semite" but think "Muslim," without his using that explicit word. It's all bigoted innuendo. His base doesn't think anti-Semites need to go back to anywhere -- but Muslims, definitely.
3
Thank you for this excellent column. As an American Jew with ancestors victimized by pogroms and the Holocaust, I'm appalled and furious to see how the right has so hypocritically derided anti-Semitism as a cover for their own racism.
6
I think the issue of antagonism toward Jews and criticism of Israel is inexorably intertwined and it's too simplistic to say they are separate issues.
In my view, calling for the destruction of the Jewish state is, ultimately, an anti-Jewish sentiment. And in the English language, we use the term "anti-Semitic" to describe that (for better or worse).
And if you look at opinion polls in the Muslim world regarding perception of "Jews" (not Israel), you see a crazy high level of bigotry.
And in France and Germany, you see European Jews attacked by young Muslims for what--for the supposed crimes of Israel. But I thought criticism of Israel was separate from anti-Semitism?
It doesn't work like that in the real world.
If Omar wants to show support for the Jews, then how about she declares Israel has the right to serve as the Jewish homeland, Jewish in character, in furtherance of Jewish self-determination?
8
Trump supporters who attend his rallies or cheer them on are anti anything that requires them to tolerate anyone different from them, even the white neighbor who drives an electric car. And Trump supports any anti that gets him a ranting audience. Those that can't govern rabble rouse.
As for Trump's anti-Semitism stand. He is setting up the middle east conflict.
1
"What we’re seeing is the absurd but logical endpoint of efforts to conflate anti-Semitism with anti-Zionism, and anti-Zionism " Michele has forgot to add "in her opinion". What exactly is Anti Zionism? Is it being opposed to the existence of the state of Israel as a place where very Jew can be safe? If Israel, didn't exist than where would millions of Europe and Middle Eastern Jews fleeing persecution would live? Back in places which persecuted and humiliated them for years? I think this denial of a right of Jews to have a state in the land with which they are historically connected is nothing but a new form of Anti Semetism. And Jews could be guilt of that as well, as Michele's opinion clearly shows.
Having said that, legitimate criticism of the policies of the state of Israel is not Antisemitic. There is a lot in Israeli policies that I disagree with. But that is not the same as questioning the right of Israel to exist.
3
With the exception of a few antizionist ultra orthodox Jewish fringe groups it seems to me that many if not most Jews do equate antizionism with anti semitism. Being critical of the current Israeli govt does not make one an anti Semite (any more than wanting Trump out of office makes one Anti American )and many Jews both in Israel and the USA would like to see Netenyahu gone from office,but in my opinion any of the “fine people” who support If Not Now are helping to ensure a second Trump term in office.
3
Trump's anti-anti-Semitism is a new form of the oldest anti-Semitism there is. A big part of the dynamic Goldberg describes is the widespread belief among rightwing evangelical Christians that they, not Jews, are - no joke - "the true Jews." They have appropriated Israel to themselves to such a degree that this becomes the only remotely workable explanation for why the large majority of American Jews oppose their agenda for Israel and Palestine. Thus, in Trump's invocation of anti-Semitism to attempt to shield himself against criticism of his open racism, he and they are referring an centuries old year old subtext to Christian and Jewish relations: "they didn't accept the Messiah, they aren't the true Children of Israel; we are." With this, anti-Semites substitute their own religious nationalist theology in place and rejection of an identity based not only in theology, but more so in a shared common familial and cultural history of struggle.
2
Seems to me Rube Goldberg could have designed the framework of this ever increasingly complex structure linking anti-Semitism with just about anything that pops into the President's mind with regard to 2020. This is the dirty world of innuendo, lies, slander, character assassination and deceit Trump lives in...and we're supposed to buy it as being representative of the real world? Truth has not taken a back seat on Trump's bus - it's been left standing at the bus stop.
3
thank you, Michelle Goldberg! The danger signs were there when Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder of the Museum of TOLERANCE, gave the inaugural blessing at Trump’s inauguration. It is an unholy alliance— and has lead to these claims by those who preach intolerance and hatred—of pretending to care about anti-Semitism.
2
Thank you, Ms. Goldberg. The American Jewish community voted 75% Democratic in 2016, and 80% in 2018. I think we have decided for ourselves who the bigots are.
These people who cite "Judeo-Christian values" in support of Trumpism need to drop my "Judeo-" from their twisted idea of Christianity. My values have nothing in common with theirs.
4
I didn't vote for Trump in 2016 but I suspect that that he won because his long history with the media makes 2 points clear; one being that he is not anti semitic, and two, that he is not anti gay.
Hilary, on the other hand, and with a long time in the public eye, has made comments such as calling young black men "super predators", and defending her husbands actions with other women.....as well as a less then stellar relationship with Israel.
1
@Tony
Tony,
Trump decreed that trans people cannot serve their country in the military. How is that support?
1
I agree completely about the self-serving manipulations that attempt to re-frame this racist binge as anything remotely anti-Israeli. Talk about grotesque political expedience.
You know what else I'm sick of? Listening to the unending, risible excuses for his followers. It's time the gloves came off. For years we've listened to innumerable pundits, journalist, editors, and commentators explain why it's okay to be upset with and disgusted by the president, but virtually everyone falls all over themselves to explain why we have to stop short of blaming the sycophants. But but but...they're losing their jobs, they're fearful, they've been left behind.
So have innumerable citizens in this country and none of us behave like these petty, vicious thugs.
The simple truth is this. Hillary Clinton, in what was an impolitic moment, told the flat-out truth. They ARE deplorable. Anyone excusing those chants, those rallies, those hate-fests where fomenting rage and racism rule the day is part of the problem. Stop excusing this behavior. It's inexcusable.
They're winning precisely because they hijacked the conversation and threw tantrums if anyone dared accurately label their behavior. We've wasted eons of energy excusing them, making up arcane explanations for why they behave as they do and in doing so we've created a monster. They are viciously prejudiced and unhinged and will be the undoing of this country if they're not stopped.
Vote him out. Show the world we're better than this.
5
I greatly appreciate the fact that Ms. Goldberg is an exemplary commentator: an informed, acute, articulate, and courageous observer and critic.
She understates when she needs to, and she pulls punches when doing that can help her comments get wider traction. But she doesn’t equivocate, vacillate, or pitch softballs in hard games.
I am sure that I am not the only one who would be delighted to hear more from her....especially as we all struggle to deal with this quite awful and terrifying set of events.
4
this column should be included in a book of American greatest political writings
Simply brilliant
24
Reader: (Speechless, she rereads Goldberg's column to make sure she has read it correctly. Upon finishing the column for a second time, tears appear in her eyes.)
13
Well said.
Racism is the defense against antisemitism.
Enriching the rich is the best way to help the poor.
Markets are the best way to save the environment from industry.
Spending on behalf of the public hurts them.
War Is Peace.
Freedom is Slavery.
42
EXACTLY!
..... thank you so much, Michelle. Shalom !
8
The mechanism is:
First, that there is an underlying fear/hate/prejudice against the "other", whoever that is, inherent in the human psyche. Those of us who are secure don't feel that so much and reject those urges. Those that feel insecure, are more likely to fear/hate the "other". Haven't we allayed some of that in the last 100 years? The trigger was a severe recession, a black president and a demagogue who has dredged up that latent fear. The uphill struggle, slow, mini-step at a time has been interrupted.
The Second mechanism is propaganda/lies/obfuscation. Gorka and Trump say the opposite of what they think, align themselves with the inherent prejudices and swear to be on the same side.
So how do you save the demagogue supporters? Their prejudices are firmly in place. Perhaps to make them see the horror of their chants and actions as a drift into Nazi-like hate that fooled and degraded the German people in the 1930-40's. So far they haven't recognized their actions for what they are. Should we hate them back? or realize their victimhood and keep trying. I fear the more we disparage them the more intransigent they become.
2
How long will it be until one of his enablers says “so what if he’s racist.”
22
I remember back during the violence and stresses of Civil Rights, when young people protested war and when people were polarized over everything from dress style, war politics, the nature of police force and the nature of patriotism.
And I remember small racially and politically mixed groups of emotionally charged people sitting down together and Communicating. Talking. Friendships were made on both sides. Disagreement continued on both sides. Democracy continued on both sides....and for the Country.
8
amazingly lucid and thoughtful analysis on an important but neglected topic. bravo!
7
Every week we ask ourselves: Can Trump go any lower?
And every week we have our answer: Why yes, he can.
What is so disturbing is the near silence and total capitulation of the GOP to Trumpism. Unless 2020 is a landslide victory for democrats that demonstrates a total rebuke of Trump, the only way out of this mess is for more more republicans to stand on the principals for which this country stands.
7
When Trump labels anyone who disagrees with him as being un-American, in particular, the four Congresswomen that he wants to "send back," someone needs to remind the American people of the famous quote by Carl Schurz, that has been so often misquoted by right wing extremists and white nationalists, who have shortened the quote by Schurz into the rallying cry, "My country, right or wrong."
In fact, Schurz actually said, "My country, right or wrong; if right to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right."
And what's especially interesting to note is that Schurz himself was an immigrant.
12
I’ve not always agreed with your perspectives on the current leftward shift of the Democrats, which I think often threatens a true liberal agenda, but this column was a brilliant analysis of a serious problem and a powerful, even terrifying description of how far Trumpism goes to destroying meaning and truth. If you can hold our Democrats to a similarly high standard and not let them use Gorka and Trump as excuses for intolerance of everything to the right of themselves, we might have a chance.
5
Heartfelt appreciation to Ms Goldberg for penning a clear and thoughtful commentary, which was long overdue. #45 is not only testing the limits, but also delights in being the chief provocateur of taunts that I hope will drive millions and millions of voters to the polls to reject him and those who’ve aligned with him.
Marty D
22
Thank you for this piece and its clarity. A spot of sunshine in the darkness of this administration's lies. You made my day.
30
Every American Jew knows that "Send them back" referred to them at one time. Many Holocaust survivors had to settle in Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Australia and South America because of a tidal wave of anti-Semitism slammed shut our borders.
56
Bravo.
9
Sadly, the election has become about race. Watching Harris go low at the debates and seeing it work for her, is an example. It plays right into Trump's strategy, and it may still work for him in 2020. The big mouths turned instant celebrities are drowning out the more numerous moderates in the Congress. More and more I'm tuning out, turning away from political news, skipping those pages in my morning paper, and certainly avoiding cable TV.
11
What’s wrong with talking about race? That actually affects non-whites…just because the debates don’t solely revolve around white people and their concerns doesn’t mean they’re overly progressive and pie-in-the-sky…
2
@DLP Harris didn't go low.
Amen!
1
My family is multi-religious and multi-ethnic. My great-grandparents on both sides came to this country to escape poverty and pogroms in Japan, Malta, Ukraine, and Russia. I was raised Jewish, but my mother's side of the family is half-Catholic, half-Buddhist.
They went through Ellis Island and all ended up in NYC. They worked hard at blue-collar jobs to provide a better life for my grandparents, who accompanied them as kids.
My parents had/have professional jobs and are upper class, in large part because of the hard work their parents and grandparents put in and the openness of this country. My great-grandparents and grandparents did face discrimination, but they stayed here nonetheless and became contributing citizens.
I will always think my family reflects one version of the American dream. I will think that regardless of the efforts by some of my fellow citizens to cast people like me as un-American. My family is just as American as Native Americans, people who can trace their family back to the Mayflower, and people who became citizens today.
26
There is never enough delineation between the state of Israel and the Jewish religion and its adherents. These seem to be conflated to the advantage of the speakers. On one hand, one can see an embattled small country trying to survive through its own devices (which seems to be a threat to its neighbors who have their own ideas of survival).
On the other, there is a people with an ancient religion, from which Christianity and Islam sprouted and have enormously benefited--an Abrahamic brotherhood.
No matter what side one is on, these must be placed in proper perspective.
19
The writer is right, but, she like many others needs to read Tom Friedman's column, twice. Being from Minnesota Tom understands the American electorate in those 6-7 states that will decide the election. They don't care about this issue, and every time Sanders & Warren (as example) pledge to "forgive" student loans the 68% of American's not attending college but still with mortgage, auto and other loans, recoil. The op-ed writers and other talking heads are leading the Democrats to another '72 or '88.
22
Ms. Goldberg, thank you for writing what I’ve been thinking and saying in private for quite some time.
18
Amazing that we are focused on one back bencher who has yet to do anything in Congress. Yes, she deserves to be criticized, but she does not represent the entire Democratic Party.
10
@Toasted In the same vein of thinking, Trump does not represent the entire Republican party. Actually she and the other freshmen in the House have done a lot. They have spoken out on issues while the older members have hesitated to say something. Perhaps these young ladies are a wake up call to everyone in congress regardless of party.
12
@Franklin Schenkb Sorry. Trump is the president. The republican president. The party chose him as their standard bearer. He occupies the highest office in the land. And you'll notice that no other republicans will dare criticize him. He does represent the republican party. Omar represents her district.
28
@Franklin Schenk- that is true, but he is "head" of the party, whereas the congresswoman is not.
1
Maybe I have to read Goldberg two or three times to really understand and enjoy the sheen of her phrases, but each time, it's well worth the effort.
10
We missed the signs leading up to 1933. We hoped that mankind's better nature would protect us. We were wrong.
We cannot afford to miss the signs in 2019. No compromises can be made with people whose goal is to undermine the principles of our democracy. To do so will be our undoing.
68
Very well said! I have chills reading your comment because it is so true!
2
Thank you for this important and informative column. I hope Jared reads it, comprehends these facts and changes. However, I believe he does not care.
23
Sadly, antisemitism is not confined to any single part of the political spectrum. It has been used, in recent decades and in different ways, but both left and right.
10
Bravo! Have been saying that for years. Like the US in alliance with the Soviets in WWII. Temporary and ultimately incompatible.
23
Thank you, Ms. Goldberg. Each time I've seen the clip of this week's horrifying rally, I've said to myself, "I'm confused: Aren't these the same people who can often be seen as anti-semitic?" And yet, you appear to be the first person to publicly validate my thinking. This mixing of messages makes an already-dangerous situation even worse.
25