Rabbis for Obama: GOP “creeping toward hate speech,” RJC McCarthyite
A pro-Obama group of rabbis says recent statements by John McCain and Sarah Palin are "creeping toward hate speech" and blasts the Republican Jewish Coalition for using McCarthyite tactics.
In a statement released Thursday, the group of 562 rabbis states that "increasingly those speaking on behalf of the McCain campaign have been demonizing Senator Obama as not being like us." As an example, the organization notes that a sherriff recently emphasized Obama's middle name of Hussein when warming up the crowd, and Palin's remark that Obama has been "palling around with terrorists."
The statement goes on to criticize the RJC for putting "forward a list of people known to be hostile to Israel" and then "dishonestly" suggesting that these people shaped Senator Obama's views on the subject. "The RJC approach harkens back to the classic Republican red baiting tactics of Joe McCarthy and Richard Nixon from the early fifties," stated the group. Here's the full statement:
Rabbis for Obama Denounce the Hate SpeechThe manner in which Senator McCain, Governor Palin and their supporters refer to Senator Obama is creeping toward hate speech. As leaders of the Jewish community we are well aware of the dangers of using inflammatory political language to marginalize individuals and groups. Increasingly those speaking on behalf of the McCain campaign have been demonizing Senator Obama as not being like us. They recently used a uniformed sheriff to warm up the crowd at a rally by emphasize the senator's middle name. At another event Senator McCain seemed shocked when one of his supporters stated that Senator Obama was an "Arab." That false belief is the fruit of the McCain campaign's emphasizing Senator Obama's middle name.
Governor Palin's assertion that Senator Obama pals around with terrorists is a false claim built on three distortions and a lie. In twenty first century America, no word is more emotionally loaded than "terrorist." Republican operatives who managed to convince American to believe the lie that the government of Iraq was connected to Osama bin Laden, think they can now convince Americans of another big lie, that 1960's campus radical William Ayers is connected to contemporary terrorists and that he is a close, influential friend of Senator Obama.
Anti-Obama hate speech is not limited to the official McCain Campaign. The Republican Jewish Coalition falsely labels Senator Obama as "reckless on Israel." They know that in the Jewish community this is the moral equivalent of crying fire in a crowded theater.
The RJC put forward a list of people known to be hostile to Israel and the dishonestly suggests that these people shaped Senator Obama's views on the subject. The RJC approach harkens back to the classic Republican red baiting tactics of Joe McCarthy and Richard Nixon from the early fifties.
562 rabbis would not endorse a candidate who is hostile to Israel. We have put our credibility as rabbis who love Israel on the line to publicly endorse Senator Obama for President because of the smears and lies coming from the other side. We have each individually devoted our lives to providing moral and spiritual leadership to the Jewish community. At this crucial moment in history, we step forward as a group to add our voices to those supporting Senator Obama. Never before in the history of the United States has a group of rabbis come together on this scale to work on behalf on a candidate for president
Jewish tradition teaches us that we should respect those with whom we disagree. Ben Azzi says, "Despise no person" We call upon the McCain campaign to return to a respectful conversation on the issues confronting our society.
Since it founding in June, by Rabbi Steven Bob and Rabbi Sam Gordon, Rabbis for Obama has grown to 562 rabbis nationwide. For additional information contact .
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The Rabbis are 100% correct. Obama and his supporters stand firmly with Israel and Jewish interests.
The hate and lies (like the post above) must be first denounced and then ignored so we can move forward as a nation.
Brack Hussein Obama clearly stated his position as against the Likud, regardless of whther they becoem the government or not. Oy-bama is willing to meet with anti-Semites such as Achmenajad without any pre-conditions whatsoever, but Oy-bama is not willing to recognize Likud as a legitimate partner in the government of Israel. I pry for Obama to be trounced as the anti-American and Jew hater that he really is.
Usually people who vote take an interest in the policies and platform of a candidate. What policies are the Rabbis in favour of and who espouses them. Obama seems to have mesmerized the supportive rabbis by his oratoral skills. Personallly I find his proposed policies to have negative consquences for the American people and his foreign policies to be unachievable and naive. The U.S. needs a strong leader that will make it`s enemies fearfull of attempting to test the resolve of the U.S.and it`s allies, and I do not see this strength coming from Obama, but I do see it coming from McCain. Both candidates say they support Israel, but which candidate would come to Israels aid if a conflagration with Iran occurs. Remember, McCain said “We will not allow another holocaust to occur.” Obama said he would speak to Ahdamajhad without preconditions. Who would you really like to have in your corner when thigs get tough?
By and large I refrain from commenting on the outrageous attacks on the RJC on this website. However, in this case I feel I must respond. This is the ultimate hypocrisy on the part of these Rabbis. They attempt to wrap themselves in the veneer of ecumenical legitimacy by opining on the actions of the RJC and how they relate to Jewish law and tradition as if somehow by virtue of their title, background and pulpit they have standing. In effect, as overt and unabashed partisans for Obama, they are attempting to portray themselves as referees when in reality they are wearing the other team’s uniform.
I for one am very disappointed in them.
Beryl,
What did I say that is not true?
Do you deny that Obama refused to “reject” Sharpton’s endorsement until Tim Russert and Hillary Clinton asked him at least three times? It’s on record, both video and transcript.
Do you deny that Obama endorsed Al Sharpton and his National Action Network? The picture and endorsement are on Sharpton’s Web site, not the RJC’s.
Do you deny that Obama solicited and accepted MoveOn.org’s endorsement? You might as well deny that the bright thing in the noon sky is the sun.
Do you deny that Obama belonged to Jeremiah Wright’s racist church for 20 years, or that said church cheered for “There were a whole lot of white people crying?”
Unless you can deny these things with a straight face, you have no cause to give me the lie.
Let’s admit it - both parties will lie to each other, to the ‘American public,’ and to themselves. Neither party is 100% honest and neither party is 100% disengenuous. Every election comes down to one thing: which is the lesser of two evils - no more, no less. I have to believe that I’m not the only person who is fed up with both parties, and find politics and government deeply troubling all around. Neither candidate and neither party is going to be our saviour (politically-speaking); either could take us straight to hell.
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Bill Levinson
10/17/08 03:41 AM
The rabbis for Obama (I think they should call themselves “Kapos for Obama") are accusing the Republicans of what Obama and his close associates actually do: promote racial and religious hatred. Here is what Obama enables and empowers:
(1) Louis Farrakhan, racist, anti-Semite, and Catholic-hating bigot. Obama refused to “reject” his endorsement until Hillary Clinton and Tim Russert cornered him like a rat during a nationally televised debate.
(2) Al Sharpton and his National Action Netowork: racists and anti-Semites.
(3) MoveOn.org: anti-Semitic, anti-Israel, and anti-Catholic
(4) Jeremiah Wright: racist, anti-American, called Zionism racism and advocated divestment from Israel.
(5) Michael Pfleger. I am not sure what calls a white person who exults, “There were a whole lot of white people crying,” because he would have to hate himself to be a racist. “Dregs of society” might fit him, though.
(6) The Trinity United Church of Christ, which gave Pfleger a standing ovation, and is therefore racist.
(7) Otis Moss, who thanked God for Pfleger and his message (see above).
(8) Barack Obama himself, given the racist content in “Dreams From My Father.”
Re: “562 rabbis would not endorse a candidate who is hostile to Israel.” I know of numerous rabbis who advocate the destruction of Israel, because worship of left-wing ideology is more important to them than Judaism or even common decency.
Re: “Governor Palin’s assertion that Senator Obama pals around with terrorists is a false claim built on three distortions and a lie.” Obama does pal around with terrorists. He launched his political career at the home of William Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn. Ayers, although he was never convicted, admits he is “guilty as hell and as free as a bird.” The only difference between Ayers and Timothy McVeigh is that McVeigh was a competent bomber and Ayers an incompetent one, so Ayers did not manage to kill anybody.